Follow the lives of William and Benjamin Frank, men of color who joined the Second Rhode Island Regiment during the American Revolution, as they navigate the challenges of war, ultimately ending up on opposite sides of the conflict. Join Dr. Shirley Green for this fascinating talk based on her book, Revolutionary Blacks: Discovering the Frank Brothers, Freeborn Men of Color, Soldiers of Independence.
The narrative follows the lives of William and Benjamin Frank during the American Revolution. In the book, Dr. Green takes the reader on a journey based on her family’s history, rooted in its oral tradition. Putting together the pieces of this puzzle through archival research, interviews, and DNA evidence, the author authenticates and expands the family’s oral history.
William and Benjamin Frank joined the Second Rhode Island Regiment in the spring of 1777, following the tradition of military service established by their father, a veteran of the French and Indian War. The brothers became part of a cohort of free Black soldiers serving in an integrated Continental Army. Following the brutal winter of 1777–1778 and the pivotal Battle of Monmouth, New Jersey, in June 1778, veteran soldiers of color from the Second Rhode Island, including the Frank brothers, were transferred to the newly segregated First Rhode Island Regiment. This unit was composed of Black and Native American soldiers, including enslaved men who were promised their freedom in exchange for service.
Dr. Shirley Green is the Director of the Toledo Police Museum and Adjunct Professor of History at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, OH and the University of Toledo in Toledo, OH.
Registration for this program is free! Follow the link to register.
This program is sponsored by the Friends of Philipse Manor Hall and Tompkins Bank.
