07/03/2026
The African American Revolutionary Patriot You May Not Have Learned About
Agrippa Hull was born a free Black man on March 7, 1759, in Northampton, Massachusetts. As a child, he was sent to live with a free Black farming family in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, where he grew up before making a decision that would place him in the middle of America’s fight for independence.
On his 18th birthday, Hull enlisted in the Continental Army and went on to serve for more than six years—witnessing and participating in many of the Revolutionary War’s defining moments. He was present at the British surrender at Saratoga and endured the harsh winter at Valley Forge. He fought at Monmouth Courthouse in New Jersey and later served in southern campaigns, including Cowpens, Guilford Courthouse in Greensboro, North Carolina, and the Siege of Charleston.
In 1778, Hull was assigned to assist Polish engineer Tadeusz Kościuszko, who was helping design fortifications at West Point. Hull served alongside him for about 50 months as an attendant and messenger. The two later moved through the southern theater of the war during its most brutal phase.
Kościuszko later formed a close relationship with Thomas Jefferson and reportedly asked that his American assets be used to help enslaved people gain freedom and education—wishes that were ultimately not carried out.
After the war, Hull was invited by Kościuszko to travel to Poland, but he chose instead to return home. He received his discharge in July 1783 at West Point, signed by George Washington, along with a badge recognizing his long service.
By 1785, Hull had returned to Stockbridge and purchased land, eventually becoming one of the largest Black landowners in the area. His portrait is preserved in the Stockbridge Public Library in Massachusetts.
Agrippa Hull died on May 21, 1848—but his story remains a powerful reminder of the often-overlooked contributions of African American patriots in the founding of the United States.
