Valentine Harris, Sr.

Bio

Valentine Harris was a carpenter from Colrain, Massachusetts.  According to Massachusetts Soldiers & Sailors of the Revolutionary War, he was 48 years old in 1781, stood 5 feet, 9 inches tall, and had a dark complexion and dark hair.  He had at least three children, including a son named Valentine, Jr. By the 1800 federal census, the family was living in nearby Heath with six people in the household. All family members are listed as being "Free White", but they might have had lighter skin and the census taker might not have asked for their race. Valentine, Sr. died in Heath on Jan. 1, 1813, of “dropsy in the breast” (swelling caused by the build-up of fluids in the chest.)

 Military Service

Note:  most soldiers of color served as privates in the Revolutionary War, and it was unusual for them to hold higher ranks. It is possible that the records below are for more than one man named Valentine Harris.

• April 21, 1775; lieutenant in Capt. Oliver Avery’s Co. of Minutemen; marched from Charlemont, MA to Lexington, MA; served 17 days
• Sept. 1, 1776; Sergeant in Capt. Agrippa Wells’ Co., Col. Samuel Brewer’s Regiment; served at Fort Ticonderoga, NY for 3 months; pay included travel home (130 miles)
• July 27-Aug. 29, 1777; private in Capt. Jesse Stone’s Co., Col. Job Cushing’s Regiment; marched to Bennington, VT; paid for 1 month and  9 days, which included 6 days to travel home (120 miles)
• Sept. 22- Oct. 18, 1777; 2nd  lieutenant in Capt. Nahum Ward’s Co., Col. David Wells’ Hampshire County Regiment; at General Burgoyne’s surrender at Saratoga, NY; marched from Charlemont, MA; pay included travel home (80 miles)
• April 3, 1781; signed up for 3 years and received bounty from town of Colrain and money for travel to Springfield, MA

Sources Consulted 
Massachusetts Soldiers & Sailors of the Revolutionary War, pub. Secretary of the Commonwealth, 1891, Vol. 7, pg. 361

Heath, Massachusetts vital records