Leather Cap Company, “Connecticut Line”

The Sarah Riggs Humphreys-Mary Silliman Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution celebrates America 250! In anticipation of the July 4, 2026, 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the 13 Colonies, the DAR wishes to remind everyone of the sacrifices and heroism of everyday men and women who fought for our freedoms that we enjoy today.

The SRH-MS Chapter is celebrating February Black History Month by highlighting some of the men, free or enslaved, who chose to fight in the American Revolution. In 1818 several veterans petitioned for compensation for their service to America. In giving their depositions, they indicated they were in the Leather Cap Connecticut Regiment commanded by Captain Joseph Mansfield in 1777. Those who mentioned this Leather Cap Regiment were Dick Freedman from New York City who enlisted in 1777 and served to the end of the war; Ned Freedman of Fairfield who also was in Captain Joseph Mansfield’s Company. Ceaser Shelton of Bridgeport was a substitute for John Shelton’s son and served in Captain Peter Potter’s Company commanded by Col. Return Jonathan Meigs which he said was called the Leather Cap Regiment.

David Humphreys, an aide-de-camp for General George Washington, was also captain in the 4th regiment “Connecticut Line” commanded by Col. Zebulon Butler. An article from The Bridgeport Post Jan 4 1976[1], pA14 wrote that there was a corps of black soldiers under the command of General David Humphreys, then a captain. Humphreys was attached to the family of General George Washington and volunteered his services. Further research of Compiled Revolutionary War Military Service Records, 1775-1783 on Ancestry.com includes the names of those who served in Captain David Humphreys’ Company. These men include: Ned Freedom and Dick Freedom, plus the following men with the last name of Freeman: Cuff, Jube, Peter, Philemon, Primus, Thomas. Looking at the muster rolls and the pay rolls, the only distinction made is based on rank.

The Bridgeport Post article also noted that CT considered recruiting black men in May 1777 when the legislature passed two acts to spur recruitments. The first allowed any two men to be exempt from the draft if they could find an able-bodied man to enlist for 3 years as their substitute. The second law released a master from support of a formerly enslaved person. The article notes that by the summer of 1778 there were 775 black soldiers in the Continental Army scattered over 14 brigades with Gen. Samuel Parson’s Brigade having the greatest number of black men listed, mostly from CT.

For decades, the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution has worked to identify African Americans, Native Americans and individuals of mixed heritage who supported the struggle for independence during the American Revolution. We welcome the descendants of these men and women into our membership within our National Society. https://www.dar.org/library/research-guides/forgotten-patriots "Forgotten Patriots: African American and American Indian Service in the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783," was opened to the public and a seminar was held featuring noted historians from around the country.

The DAR is a non-profit women’s service organization dedicated to historic preservation, education and patriotism. Any woman over 18 who can prove lineal descent to an ancestor who served in the American Revolution is a prospective member. For more information on the DAR visit http://www.sarahriggshumphreysDAR.org The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution asks everyone to celebrate the 250th Birthday of the United States of America and the Patriots that achieved American Independence. For more information visit https://honoringourpatriots.dar.org/

[1] Ancestry.com Bridgeport Post, Jan 4, 1976