Jeffrey Brace facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jeffrey Brace
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|---|---|
| Born |
Boyrereau Brinch
c. 1742 Middle Niger, West Africa
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| Died | April 20, 1827 (aged 84–85) Georgia, Vermont, US
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| Occupation | Enslaved sailor, soldier, farmer, author |
| Spouse(s) | Susannah Dublin (Susanna) |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  Great Britain United States |
| Service/ |
Royal Navy (1756-1763) Continental Army (1775–1781) |
| Commands held | Connecticut Line |
| Battles/wars | |
Jeffrey Brace (born Boyrereau Brinch; c. 1742 – April 20, 1827) was a person who was taken from West Africa and forced into slavery around 1750. He later became a soldier in the American Revolutionary War. Jeffrey Brace was also the first African-American citizen of Poultney, Vermont. He became blind when he was older. His life story was later published in a book called The Blind African Slave.
Contents
The Life of Jeffrey Brace
Jeffrey Brace was born in West Africa around 1742. His birth name was Boyrereau Brinch. In his own story, Brace wrote about growing up in a Christian kingdom called "Bow-Woo." When he was young, he was kidnapped by slave traders and taken far away to the Caribbean islands. Experts think this area might be where the country of Mali is today.
Brace said he was the "third son and seventh child of an old and respected family." His father, Whryn Brinch, and mother, Whryn Douden, came from important families. His grandfather, Yarram Brinch, was a leader and governor in "Bow-Woo." His other grandfather, Crassee Youghgon, was a judge.
Early Life and Slavery
As a young man, Brace was forced to work as a sailor on a privateer ship. This ship belonged to Captain Isaac Mills, who enslaved him. Brace served during the French and Indian War. After the war, he was brought to New England. There, the Stiles family of Woodbury, Connecticut, bought him.
Unlike his previous enslavers, Mary Stiles taught Brace how to read. This was a very important part of his early life in America. When Mary Stiles died around 1773, her oldest son, Benjamin Stiles, became his enslaver.
Fighting for Freedom
Jeffrey Brace served as a soldier under Return Meigs during the American Revolutionary War. He fought in important battles like White Plains and Fort Mifflin. He was honorably discharged from the army in 1783 at West Point Military Academy.
Some stories say that Benjamin Stiles freed him. However, there is no clear proof of this. It is more likely that his service in the war helped him gain his freedom.
Life After the War
After the war, Jeffrey Brace became a free man. He moved to Poultney, Vermont. In Vermont, he met and married Susannah Dublin, who was also a free woman born in Africa. They had children together. Jeffrey Brace died on April 20, 1827, in Georgia, Vermont. His family members still live in St. Albans, Vermont today.
Jeffrey Brace's Legacy
Jeffrey Brace shared his life story with an abolitionist publisher named Benjamin Prentiss. An abolitionist is someone who works to end slavery. Prentiss wrote down Brace's story and published it as The Blind African Slave or the Memoirs of Boyrereau Brinch Nicknamed Jeffrey Brace. This book is an important part of the slave narrative genre, which includes stories written by people who were enslaved.
Today, the teachers' union at the University of Vermont gives a $500 book award in his name. This award goes to students who do well in school and work to make society more fair for everyone.
In 2008, a special sign called a historical marker was put up in Poultney to honor Jeffrey Brace.
