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Rhode
Island Slavery Data
HANNIBAL
COLLINS
This hero was born on the Governor Collins farm just outside
the Newport line. He secured his freedom by enlisting in the Continental
Army. He fought and was injured in the Battle of Rhode Island and came
to Newport to recuperate. At the outbreak of the War of 1812 he enlisted
in the Naval forces and accompanied Commodore Perry to Lake Erie and
helped construct the fleet that drove British naval power from the Great
Lakes forever. He was in charge of the Commodore's barge during the
famous engagement fought at Put-in-Bay September 13th, 1810, and
commonly called the Battle of Lake Erie. In this fight a large number of
the American forces were negroes, some writers say more than half.
Several Newport men of color made the Supreme Sacrifice in this
engagement, among them being John Braenmer, Alexander Jones, and Cuffee
Pedro. At the close of the War, Collins re-enlisted and in later years
accompanied Perry on his ill-fated diplomatic voyage to South America,
and when that gallant officer, whe fell a victim of fever, breathed his
last, he was resting in Hannibal Collins' arms. He was an
industrious citizen and accumulated considerable property. His
residence, still standing, was at the southwest corner of William and
Thomas Streets. Like his wife, Mehitable, he was a member of the Colored
Union Church.
Source: Negroes of Rhode Island, by
Charles A. Battle, 1932 - Transcribed by C.
Anthony
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