Gravesite Commemoration for Jacob Francis 1754-1836

Jacob Francis was a free Black man born in Amwell Township and died in Flemington, New Jersey. During his long life, he was involved in both the American Revolution and the struggle for equal rights. Bound out as an indentured servant from childhood until age 21, he lived in New Jersey, New York, St. John in the West Indies, and Salem, Massachusetts. After completing his indenture time, he enlisted in the Continental army in October 1775 at a time when General Washington was trying to prevent Black men from enlisting. He served through the siege of Boston, the New York Campaign, and the Battle of Trenton before his enlistment expired on January 1, 1777. After his Continental service, he served in the Third Hunterdon County Regiment of the New Jersey militia for the remainder of the war. He had survived great hardships and dangers while performing in a complimentary fashion.

 He fulfilled his vision of becoming a successful farmer and raising a family. In 1789 he married an enslaved woman named Mary, purchased her, and set her free. Together they raised nine children. Jacob and Mary became well-respected members of the Flemington Baptist Church and resided for several decades in Flemington. Their youngest son, Abner Hunt Francis, became very well educated and spent his adult life working for the cause of abolition and equal rights for all people. He had been inspired by his father, whom he always said, the “principles of ’76, which led … his country to throw off the British yoke, actuated my father to shoulder his musket and serve through a bloody contest. And not only my father’s but the blood of colored men were freely shed in that struggle for national independence.” The fight for independence during the American Revolution was successful during his lifetime, but the revolution to guarantee equal rights for all people still went on. On June, 26, 2023 the New Jersey Society of the Daughters of the American, the Sons of the Revolution in the State of New Jersey, and the New Jersey Society of the Sons of the American Revolution dedicated a historical interpretive marker near the gravesite of Mary and Jacob Francis at the Flemington New Jersey Baptist Church in front of a crowd of almost ninety guests and dignitaries. The Combined Color Guards of the SR-NJ and the SAR were joined by the Irvington New Jersey High School “Crusaders” Junior ROTC Color Guard.

The list of speakers and presenters were:

1. Congressman Tom Kean

2. Rev. LaThelma Yenn-Batah, Flemington Baptist Church

3. Flemington Mayor Marcia Karrow

4. Hunterdon County Commissioner Shaun Van Doren

5. President, Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum, Catherine Fulmer-Hogan

6. Sara Cureton, New Jersey Historical Commission

7. Sally Lane, Chair, Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area

8. Patricia Saftner, State Historian, New Jersey Society, Daughters of the American Revolution

9. Charles Scammell, VP Middle States Region, General Society of the Sons of the Revolution

10. Jay Hershey, Color Guard Commander, New Jersey Society, Sons of the American Revolution

11. Keynote Speaker, Historian Larry Kidder, Author of The Revolutionary World of a Free Black Man: Jacob Francis 1754 to 1836

12. Featured Speaker Historian, Noah Lewis

13. Master of Ceremonies: Roger S. Williams, State Historian for the New Jersey Society, Sons of the American Revolution, and member of the Daniel Morgan Chapter of the Sons of the Revolution in the State of New Jersey

Photo Credit: @DRNorton