Harry Washington: An Enslaved Man’s Quest for Freedom
Escape from Slavery
Harry Washington, an enslaved man at George Washington’s Mount Vernon plantation, escaped to freedom in 1771. He fled again in 1776, joining the British forces in the American Revolutionary War.
Emancipation
In 1775, British Governor John Murray issued a proclamation offering freedom to enslaved people who joined the British army. Harry seized this opportunity, becoming one of over 20,000 self-emancipated people who fought for the British.
The Role of Enslaved People in the War
Despite the Patriots’ rhetoric of freedom, enslaved people were excluded from the Continental Army until 1776. However, Black soldiers played a significant role in the war, participating in major battles such as the Siege of Yorktown.
The Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris (1783) ended the war and stipulated the withdrawal of British troops without enslaved people. However, British General Guy Carleton interpreted this to include self-emancipated individuals who had previously been freed.
Flight to Nova Scotia
To avoid re-enslavement, Harry fled to Nova Scotia with the British in 1783. He was listed in the Book of Negroes as a 43-year-old man who had escaped from Washington seven years earlier.
Resettlement in Sierra Leone
Faced with poverty and discrimination in Nova Scotia, Harry and 1,200 other former slaves sailed to Sierra Leone in 1792. The Sierra Leone Company promised equal rights and land ownership, but the colony faced challenges and imposed oppressive measures.
Harry’s Legacy
Harry Washington’s story highlights the complex experiences of enslaved people during and after the American Revolutionary War. He defied the boundaries of slavery and fought for the liberty that was denied to him and others.
Contradictions of Loyalist Refugees
Harry Washington and other Loyalist refugees were caught in a web of contradictions. They were British subjects who supported the King, but they also resisted imperial authority. They were Americans who rejected the republic, but they later returned to the United States after the War of 1812.
The Meaning of Liberty
Harry Washington’s lifelong pursuit of freedom demonstrates the enduring value of liberty. He risked everything to escape slavery and live as a free man, a goal shared by countless enslaved people throughout history.