Military service & courage
Salem Poor
1747–1802
Massachusetts connection
Andover and the Battle of Bunker Hill
Poor was born enslaved in Andover and purchased his freedom. He then served in the Revolutionary War. Officers praised his actions at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Their written petition is evidence of his service and of the role Black soldiers played in the Revolution.
You can use your device’s reading tools or read with a partner.
Your turn, historian
Find a detail. Build an idea.
- What did this person or group do? Point to a detail in the reading.
- What challenge did this person or group face? What does the evidence show?
- What would you like to find out next? Which kind of source could help?
“Salem Poor mattered because ___. A detail that supports my idea is ___.”
Follow the evidence.
This short reading is an original classroom summary. Open the source with your teacher to check details and learn more.
Read the source: National Park Service ↗Ask: Who made this source? What can it tell us? What might it leave out?