Joseph Allicocke facts for kids

Joseph Allicocke was an important person in American history. He lived during the time when the American colonies were fighting for independence from Britain. He might have had both African and European family roots. Joseph was an early leader of a group called the Sons of Liberty. They protested against a British tax law called the Stamp Act in 1765.

Joseph Allicocke's Life

We don't know everything about where Joseph Allicocke came from. Some records say his father was from Antigua, an island in the Caribbean. But later in his life, Joseph himself said he was from Ireland. One interesting note comes from a journal written by Captain John Montresor in the 1760s. He wrote that Allicocke was the "son of a mulatto woman," meaning someone of mixed African and European heritage. It's not clear if this was a rumor or true.

Joseph was likely born in Antigua. He was sent to Philadelphia for school. By the early 1760s, he was living and working in New York City. He was a clerk and a merchant. In 1765, he joined a group called the New York Liberty Boys. This group was part of the Sons of Liberty. Joseph quickly became a leader alongside John Lamb and Isaac Sears. He even helped talk with the Sons of Liberty from New Haven.

The protests against the Stamp Act were successful. The British government removed the tax in 1766. To celebrate, Allicocke was honored with a 21-gun salute. He was even called "general of the Sons of Liberty."

In 1774, Joseph became the Secretary for the New York Committee of Correspondence. This committee helped different colonies communicate. But he soon left this job. He continued to do business with British military agents in 1775. This led to accusations against him. He was found innocent because Congress believed he had supplied goods "without any design to injure the Country." Still, he had to leave New York City for a short time in early 1776. He went to Antigua.

About a year later, Joseph returned to New York City. By then, the British had taken control of the city. He worked with the Chamber of Commerce. He also became Secretary of the United Whaling Co. At this time, he identified as a Loyalist. Loyalists were people who supported the British during the American Revolution.

Why Joseph Allicocke Became a Loyalist

It's not fully clear why Joseph Allicocke became a Loyalist. One idea is linked to the belief that he had mixed African and European heritage. Some historians think he might have believed the British offered a better future for him as a Black man. Another idea points to his growing social status in the 1760s. He also had connections with the powerful De Lancey family. These connections might have made him move away from his earlier support for the Liberty Boys.

Whatever the reason, Joseph Allicocke left New York City before the British left on November 25, 1783. This day is known as Evacuation Day.

Later Years

After leaving the newly formed United States, Joseph Allicocke went to England. By 1785, he was a wine merchant in London.

His wife, Martha, died on July 8, 1811. She was buried in Southampton, England. Joseph Allicocke died on March 7, 1815. He was buried next to her.

Joseph Allicocke's Family

Joseph Allicocke married Martha Jardine on January 31, 1760. Martha's father, Charles Jardine, was from New York and had French Huguenot ancestors. Martha's sister, Catherine, had married John Lamb in 1755. John Lamb later became one of Joseph's co-leaders in the Sons of Liberty. Joseph and Martha had ten children. Joseph once said his family was "expensive." His son, Charles John, served as a cavalry lieutenant with the South Carolina Royalists during the war.