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The life of Ned Hector

By Ruth Huggler
Posted 7/12/22

On Sunday, July 10, about 40 people stepped (figuratively) into the shoes of Black people living in the colonies during the Revolutionary War era, as Noah Lewis spoke at the Fort Delaware Museum of …

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The life of Ned Hector

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On Sunday, July 10, about 40 people stepped (figuratively) into the shoes of Black people living in the colonies during the Revolutionary War era, as Noah Lewis spoke at the Fort Delaware Museum of Colonial History. Hailing from Upper Darby, Pa., Lewis depicts the life of a free Black man named Edward “Ned” Hector, who lived from 1743 to 1834, and served as a teamster and bombardier in Col. John Proctor’s 3rd Pennsylvania Artillery, in the battles of Brandywine and Germantown.

Lewis explained that not much is known about the lives of individual Black people during that era. As slaves, they were equated with property, and little has been written about them outside of their treatment as laborers. It is estimated that somewhere between five to eight thousand Blacks served for the patriot cause. More than twice that number served under the British command, which offered freedom to the slaves who enlisted. Lewis explained that slave owners were reluctant to arm slaves, fearing it might lead to a slave rebellion. The Continental Army was suffering more defeats than wins, and often could not afford to pay soldiers or feed them adequately, causing a lag in re-enlistments. Finally a desperate General George Washington agreed to allow the recruiting of Blacks to fill the army’s ranks which had been decimated by combat casualties, disease and desertion.

Records such as war pension files have yielded the most detail about those who served, like Ned Hector. He was considered a hero at Brandywine for braving a British attack on the colonials’ position, saving his horses, wagon and some guns, when ordered to retreat.

It is a challenge to cover the Revolutionary War in the time allotted for studying American history in schools. Lewis provides a glimpse of an era, and through meeting re-enactors such as Lewis, a quest to know more may be explored in greater detail.

The Delaware Company, which manages Fort Delaware, has promised that more novel programs like this will be offered this year, in addition to the stockaded fort setting that is regularly available.

Noah Lewis will present a second program at Fort Delaware on August 6, sponsored by the Bold Gold Media Speaker Series. For more information visit thedelawarecompany.org

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