Oliver Cromwell (May 24, 1752 – January 1853) was an African-American soldier, who served in the American Revolutionary War. He was born a free black man in Black Horse (now the Columbus section of Mansfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey), on the farm of tavernkeeper John Hutchin and was raised as a farmer. War service Private Cromwell served in several companies of the 2nd New Jersey Regiment between 1777 and 1783, seeing action at the battles of Trenton (1776), Princeton (1777), Short Hills (1777), Brandywine (1777), Monmouth (1778), and at the final siege of Yorktown (1781). After Yorktown, Cromwell left the army. Commander-in-Chief George Washington personally signed Cromwell's discharge papers and also awarding him with Badge of Merit not to be confused with the Badge of Military Merit. Some years after retirement, Cromwell applied for a veteran's pension. Although he was unable to read or write, local lawyers, judges, and politicians came to his aid, and he was granted a pension of $96 a year. He purchased a 100-acre farm outside Burlington, fathered 15 children, then spent his later years at his home at 114 East Union Street in Burlington.

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Notable quotes

“If the remonstrance had been rejected I would have sold all I had the next morning and never have seen England more, and I know there are many other modest men of the same resolution.”
— On the passing of the revolutionary Grand Remonstrance of November 1641 listing Parliament's grievances against King Charles I, as quoted in A History of the Rebellion (first published 1702–1704) by Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon (1609–1674)
“Since providence and necessity has cast them upon it, he should pray God to bless their counsels.”
— On the trial of Charles I (December 1648)
“No one rises so high as he who knows not whither he is going.”
— Statement to Pomponne de Bellievre, as told to Cardinal de Retz in 1651; Memoirs of Cardinal de Retz (1717)
“There are some things in this establishment that are fundamental... about which I shall deal plainly with you... the government by a single person and a parliament is a fundamental... and... though I may seem to plead for myself, yet I do not: no, nor can any reasonable man say it... I plead for this nation, and all the honest men therein.”
— To the First Protectorate Parliament (12 September 1654)
“You have accounted yourselves happy on being environed with a great ditch from all the world beside.”
— Speech to Parliament (25 January 1658), quoted in The Diary of Thomas Burton, esq., volume 2: April 1657 - February 1658 (1828), p. 361
“A man never rises so high as when he knows not whither he is going.”
— As quoted by Ralph Waldo Emerson in Essays (1841), Essay X: 'Circles', p. 265

Quotes via Wikiquote (CC BY-SA), each with its original source.

Notable quotes

“If the remonstrance had been rejected I would have sold all I had the next morning and never have seen England more, and I know there are many other modest men of the same resolution.”
— On the passing of the revolutionary Grand Remonstrance of November 1641 listing Parliament's grievances against King Charles I, as quoted in A History of the Rebellion (first published 1702–1704) by Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon (1609–1674)
“Since providence and necessity has cast them upon it, he should pray God to bless their counsels.”
— On the trial of Charles I (December 1648)
“No one rises so high as he who knows not whither he is going.”
— Statement to Pomponne de Bellievre, as told to Cardinal de Retz in 1651; Memoirs of Cardinal de Retz (1717)
“There are some things in this establishment that are fundamental... about which I shall deal plainly with you... the government by a single person and a parliament is a fundamental... and... though I may seem to plead for myself, yet I do not: no, nor can any reasonable man say it... I plead for this nation, and all the honest men therein.”
— To the First Protectorate Parliament (12 September 1654)
“You have accounted yourselves happy on being environed with a great ditch from all the world beside.”
— Speech to Parliament (25 January 1658), quoted in The Diary of Thomas Burton, esq., volume 2: April 1657 - February 1658 (1828), p. 361
“A man never rises so high as when he knows not whither he is going.”
— As quoted by Ralph Waldo Emerson in Essays (1841), Essay X: 'Circles', p. 265

Quotes via Wikiquote (CC BY-SA), each with its original source.

Oliver Cromwell (May 24, 1752 – January 1853) was an African-American soldier, who served in the American Revolutionary War. He was born a free black man in Black Horse (now the Columbus section of Mansfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey), on the farm of tavernkeeper John Hutchin and was raised as a farmer.

Overview

Oliver Cromwell (May 24, 1752 – January 1853) was an African-American soldier, who served in the American Revolutionary War. He was born a free black man in Black Horse (now the Columbus section of Mansfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey), on the farm of tavernkeeper John Hutchin and was raised as a farmer. War service Private Cromwell served in several companies of the 2nd New Jersey Regiment between 1777 and 1783, seeing action at the battles of Trenton (1776), Princeton (1777), Short Hills (1777), Brandywine (1777), Monmouth (1778), and at the final siege of Yorktown (1781). After Yorktown, Cromwell left the army. Commander-in-Chief George Washington personally signed Cromwell's discharge papers and also awarding him with Badge of Merit not to be confused with the Badge of Military Merit. Some years after retirement, Cromwell applied for a veteran's pension. Although he was unable to read or write, local lawyers, judges, and politicians came to his aid, and he was granted a pension of $96 a year. He purchased a 100-acre farm outside Burlington, fathered 15 children, then spent his later years at his home at 114 East Union Street in Burlington.

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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