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Edward "Ned" Hector (born about 1744) was an African American soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War. Hector was one of three to five thousand people of color that fought for the cause of American independence.〔Grundset, Eric G., ''Forgotten Patriots'', National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, (2008), pages 703 - 707〕〔Lewis, Noah ''Being Edward Hector - The Life and Times of a Black Revolutionary War Hero'' Bulletin of the Historical Society of Montgomery County Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Montgomery County, (1913) Vol.XXXVI, No.4, page 19〕 He served as a teamster (a wagon driver)〔Reist, Arthur ''The Conestoga Wagon-Masterpiece of the Blacksmith'' p.49;〕〔Rees, John U. ''Wagons and Watercraft During the War for Independence''〕 and a bombardier (part of an artillery crew) with the state militia called Proctor's Third Pennsylvania Artillery,〔Pennsylvania Archives - 5th series – vol.#3, page 1054-1057〕 which by the end of 1777 became the Fourth Continental Artillery.〔Trussell, John B. B. ''The Pennsylvania Line: Regimental Organization and Operations, 1775-1783'' page 205〕 The known battles he participated in are the Battle of Brandywine (September 11, 1777) and Germantown (October 4, 1777).〔''The Journal of the (Pennsylvania) House of Representatives, 1826-1827'', p.493-494, Report #218 "Report of the committee on claims, on the claim of Edward Hector, a revolutionary soldier. READ February 16, 1827 ''Mr. McCreery, from the committee on claims, to whom were referred the petition and documents of Edward Hector, made the following report, which was read, viz: That the petitioner states that he was employed in driving; an artillery waggon, attached to the regiment commanded by col. Proctor. That he was present at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown, and that he never received any compensation for his services. He therefore prays the Legislature to take his case into consideration, and grant him such relief as they may think proper. Your committee bed leave to remark, that there is no evidence before them, that anything is due to the petitioner; neither is there any testimony, except his own statement and deposition, how long he did serve, or what kind of service he rendered. There is the deposition of Thomas R. Brooks, stating that he was well acquainted with the petitioner, and knows that he was in the army; but does not say what length of time, nor in what capacity, he served. Your committee would further remark, that if the statements of the petitioner were fully substantiated, they would not consider him entitled to a pension, agreeably to the practice of the Legislature hitherto. They therefore offer the following resolution:'' ''Resolved, That the committee be discharged from any further consideration of the subject." ''〕 In the Battle of Brandywine he disregarded his orders to abandon everything and retreat. He is remembered for replying to the orders, "The enemy shall not have my team; I will save my horses and myself!"〔Sommers, William ''Pennsylvania Magazine – “Obituary Notices of Pennsylvania Soldiers”'' p.443-444〕 == Military - American Revolutionary War == The first time Edward Hector is mentioned is on the muster rolls of February 1–28, 1777 for Colonel Proctor's 3rd Pennsylvania Artillery. Confirmed on March 10, 1777,〔''Pennsylvania Archives - 5th series – vol.3'' page 1054-1057〕 he is listed as a bombardier. A bombardier is one of the three rear positions of the cannon.〔Caruana, Adrian ''The Light 6-Pdr. Battalion Gun of 1776''〕 There exist a belief that African American, like Hector, did not serve as fighting men in the army. This view holds that African American served only as slaves and manual labor. The records tell us differently. Not only did African American fight for America, but also for Britain as well. It is estimated that one hundred thousand people of color decided to served Britain.〔Quarles, Benjamin ''The Negro in the American Revolution'' (1961), page 119, 134-157〕〔Schama, Simon ''Rough Crossings: Britain, the Slaves and the American Revolution'' page 8〕 it was cited his "heroic" action, in a situation where Hector could have honorably obeyed orders to retreat; he demonstrated "bravery" by saving his wagon, horses, supplies, and discarded guns.〔 This is in stark contrast to Hector’s commanding officer, whom was court-martialed for leaving the battle in an “un-officer way”.〔''Valley Forge Orderly Book of General George Weedon of the Continental Army'' The New York Times & Arno Press, page 177〕 Among the military records it was listed that Hector had four horses and a wagon as personal property.〔''Records of the Comptroller General'' Military Accounts Line, 1775 to 1809, Fourth Continental Artillery, David Library of the American Revolution, microfilm record RG4 #386〕〔Lewis, Noah ''Being Edward Hector - The Life and Times of a Black Revolutionary War Hero'' Bulletin of the Historical Society of Montgomery County Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Montgomery County, (1913) Vol.XXXVI, No.4, page 20〕 This indicates that Edward Hector was a free man, since a substitute slave was considered property and what they owned belonged to their master. The records indicates Edward Hector served in the military from February 1777, according to the muster roll, to at least December of 1780. Although The Pennsylvania House of Representative's report 218 mentions that Hector's pension application, "does not say what length of time, nor in what capacity, he served" Hector’s activities as a teamster in the military was documented as the following; On November 30, 1778, “Negro Hector” is expressing or delivering something to “Fredrickbaugh.”〔''Papers of the Continental Congress, compiled 1774-1789'', NARA M247, item number 173, volume 3, page 185〕 There was in addition, a reference to a “Negro Nedd” working with a Matthew Brook on April 20, 1780.〔''Pine Forge Ledger'', Pennsylvania Historical Society, April 20, 1780〕 On May 22, 1780, “Ned Hector” was transporting pig metal for the artillery military stores for Colonel Potts,〔''Records of Military Stores Received and Delivered at Philadelphia, March 1780-July 1783'', microfilm M853, roll #37, volume 133, page 47〕 on December 5, 1780 “Negro Ned” delivered 1 ton of Andover pig metal for George Brook, and again on December 14, 1780 “Negro Ned” was transporting forty-two ten inch shells from Rutters and Potts Furnace for Colonel Potts with M. Brooks.〔''Records of Military Stores Received and Delivered at Philadelphia, March 1780-July 1783'', microfilm M853, roll #37, volume 133, page 186〕 Edward Hector applied for his pension in 1827.〔''Journal of the (Pennsylvania) House of Representatives 1826-27 Session'', Vol.1, page 853〕 When report number 218 is given by the Committee on Claims to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, his application was rejected.〔''Journal of the (Pennsylvania) House of Representatives, 1826-1827'', p.493-494, Report #218〕 He reapplied in 1829,〔''Journal of the (Pennsylvania) House of Representatives 1828-29 Session'', Vol.1, page 833〕 and 1833.〔''Journal of the (Pennsylvania) House of Representatives 1832-33 Session'', Vol.1, page 135〕 Finally, in 1833 the Pennsylvania Congress voted to give Hector the one time “gratuity” of forty dollars.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Edward Hector」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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