George Roberts (1766 - 1861), a distinguished veteran of the War of 1812, is one of those people I admire.
Little is known about his early life except that he was born a slave. What we do know is that in July of 1812 George was a free man who volunteered to serve on the privateer ship the âSarah Annâ during the War. The ship made many successful raids against the British, but in September of 1812, the ship was captured off the Bahamas. Although the captain vouched that George and five others were born citizens of the United States, they were all taken captive and were under the threat of death for being treasonous British deserters who were fighting for the U.S.
After a prisoner swap was arranged, George was released and he immediately returned to privateering for the rest of the War. He joined as a gunner under Captain Thomas Boyle and was involved in the sinking of seventeen ships. When the ship returned to Baltimore he and the crew were welcomed home as war heroes.
After the War, George lived a long life in Baltimore Maryland. He married and became a laborer, and always proudly marched in parades as one of the Old Defenders of Baltimore until he died at age 95. This remarkable man will always be remembered on AncientFaces.
