Black Patriots of the Revolution: The Story of Caesar and John Ferrit

As the nation prepares to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the stories of often-overlooked heroes are coming to light. Among these are Caesar Ferrit and his son, John Ferrit, of Natick, Massachusetts, who bravely fought alongside colonial soldiers at the Battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775.

Early Life and Roots in Natick

Caesar Ferrit was born in 1720 on a Caribbean island and claimed descent from Dutch, French, African, and Indigenous Caribbean ancestry [1]. He married Naomi Isaac, a white woman from Boston, in 1751 and settled in Natick, Massachusetts [2]. This union faced opposition from Isaac’s family, who disapproved of her marriage to a Black man [1]. The couple had seven children, including sons Thomas and John [2].

The Battles of Lexington and Concord

On April 19, 1775, Caesar and John Ferrit positioned themselves inside a house in Lexington, awaiting the arrival of retreating British soldiers after the Battles of Lexington and Concord [2]. When the British Red Coats marched past, they fired upon them before hiding under the cellar stairs to avoid capture [1], [2]. According to an 1830 history of the war, they “discharged their muskets upon the regulars from the entry” [3].

Service and Significance

The Ferrits were among the approximately 190 men from Natick who served during the Revolutionary War [1]. While initial resistance existed within the Continental Army regarding the participation of Black and Indigenous soldiers, their crucial contributions as fighters, sailors, and spies ultimately proved indispensable [1]. Caesar and John reenlisted multiple times throughout the war, including in 1775, 1776, and 1781 [1]. John Ferrit also participated in a “secret expedition” in Rhode Island in 1777 [2].

Later Life and Legacy

After the war, both of John Ferrit’s sons married and remained in Natick. Caesar Ferrit died in 1799 at the age of 79 [1]. Their story, along with those of other Black and Indigenous patriots, highlights the cultural diversity that has been integral to the United States since its inception [1], [3].