Author: VTSSAR
Jeffrey was born on or about 1742 in West Africa as Boyrereau Brinch. He was captured by slave traders at the age of 16 years and shipped to Barbados, where he was sold to a New England ship captain. After fighting as an enslaved sailor in the French and Indian War (1754-1763), Jeffrey, in late 1763, was taken to New Haven, Colony of Connecticut and sold. Sixteen years later he (a.k.a. Jeff Stiles (Sill) enlisted in the Continental Army in hopes of winning his manumission.

On May 26, 1777, Jeffrey, enlisted at Woodbury, Litchfield County, Connecticut, as a Private, for a term of the Duration of the War (even though he thought it was only for 3 years), in a Company commanded by Second Lieutenant John Trowbridge, Colonel Return Jonathan Meigs 6th Regiment of the "Connecticut Line". Colonel Meigs' Regiment was mainly recruited in New Haven County and rendezvoused at New Haven. In the summer of 1777, it went into camp at Peekskill, New York, where it was frequently detached on expeditions or outpost duty on the lines above Kings Bridge. In August thru October 1777, the Regiment served on the Hudson and engaged in all movements made in consequence of the British move against Fort Montgomery, etc. It wintered in 1777-1778 at West Point and assisted in constructing permanent fortifications and redoubts on the east side of the river. In the summer 1778, the Regiment encamped with the main Army under General George Washington at White Plains. In the winter 1778-1779, it wintered at Redding, Fairfield County, Connecticut. In the operations of 1779, it served on the east side of the Hudson and was engaged at the storming of Stony Point, July 15, 1779. In the winter 1779-1780, it wintered at Morristown Huts, New Jersey. In 1780, it served in the movements on both sides of the Hudson River. On the discovery of General Benedict Arnold's treason, the Regiment, was ordered, with other troops, to repair forthwith to West Point, in anticipation of an advance of the enemy. In the winter 1780-1781, it was at camp "Connecticut Village, " near the Robinson House, opposite West Point and their consolidated as the 4th Regiment of the "Connecticut Line" in the formation for 1781-1783.

In the 1781-1783 formation, Jeffrey served in Captain Samuel August Baker's Company, Colonel Zebulon Butler's 4th Regiment of the "Connecticut Line."

In the summer of 1783, after serving 5 years and 9 months, Jeffrey was released from said service at West Point, New York by receiving an Honorable Discharge with a Badge of Merit. Jeffrey was in the battles of White Plains at Stamford, West-chester at Mud-Fort in New Jersey. He was wounded in a leg at the capture of Mud-fort and retreated with the Army to Red Bank, New Jersey. Jeffrey also had a part of one finger chopped off by a British Soldier whom he afterwards killed.

After the War, Jeffrey returned to Woodbury for a year and then headed for Vermont via Lenox, Berkshire County, Massachusetts. In his early forties, while working at a tavern in Dorset, Bennington County, Vermont, Jeffrey met and married Widow Susannah (Susan) Dublin by whom he had at least 3 children (2 sons and 1 daughter): Jeffrey Jr., Ishmael, and daughter name unknown. Jeffrey and family settled for a while in Poultney, Rutland County, Vermont. In 1802, they moved to Sheldon, Franklin County, Vermont. About 5 years later, they moved to Georgia in the same county.

References:

(1) "The Blind African Slave Or Memoirs of Boyrereau Brinch Nicknamed Jeffrey Brace" edited by Kari J. Winter, 2004.

(2) US Federal Military Pension File No. S.41,461

(3) "The Record of Connecticut Men in the Military and Naval Service during the War of the Revolution 1775-1783" by Henry P. Johnston, 1889, pages 205, 206, 215, 337, 338 and 339