From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Salem

"Born (1750–1816), African American, served as a soldier in the American Revolutionary War; born in Framingham, Massachusetts, a slave of Jeremiah Belknap. Salem was later sold to Lawson Buckminster, who gave him his freedom. At least one record calls him "Salem Middlesex

Peter Salem took part in the battle of Concord on April 19, 1775. One week later, he enlisted in Captain Drury's company of Colonel John Nixon's regiment (6th Massachusetts Regiment). He served with his regiment in the Battle of Bunker Hill, where he may have fired the shot that killed British Marine Major John Pitcairn. (The shot was attributed to "a black soldier named Salem", who local historians identified as Peter Salem. Salem reenlisted in 1776, and fought again at the battles of Saratoga and Stony Point.

After the war, he lived near Leicester, Massachusetts and married Katy Benson in September 1783. He died in the poor house at Framingham in 1816 at the age of 66. A gravestone monument was erected in 1882 in Framingham in his memory.

Salem became well-known in American history because he is the black soldier shown in John Trumbull's famous painting of the Battle of Bunker Hill."

According to another source, http://esperstamps.org/aa6.htm

"Lawson Buckminister allowed Salem to enlist in the Massachusetts Minutemen (militia). In exchange for enlisting in the army, Peter received his freedom. Peter served in the Colonial Army until the end of the war. He also fought at Concord and  at Saratoga."

Still, another source tells us this:

http://www.celebrateboston.com/biography/patriot/peter-salem.htm

"John Trumbull was in the provincial army, and was at Roxbury during the battle of Bunker Hill at Charlestown. He had interviewed many of the participants from this important battle. Peter Salem is believed to be in Trumbull's painting also. Salem is at the far right, observing the carnage and death of General Warren. The image below shows Salem behind an American officer.

It is important to note that many African Americans participated in the war on the American side. There was little indication slavery would be abolished in the new republic, and in Virginia the British had even recruited slaves promising eventual freedom (Britain completely abolished slavery in 1833). Salem Poor was another African American that fought at Bunker Hill."

"Prince Esterbrook stood with the militia on Lexington Green on the morning of April 19. He was wounded on that day, and is remembered along with the other Lexington militia who stood on the Green against the Regulars in a beautiful diorama located nearby in the Chamber of Commerce Building." Howard B. Winkler, President Arlington Historical Society, http://www.arlingtonhistorical.org/princehall/address2004.php

Still another person: Prince Whipple

"Prince Whipple was born in Ambou, (now Central African Republic) Africa, of comparatively wealthy parents. When about ten years of age, he was sent by them, in company with a cousin, to America to be educated. An elder brother had returned four years before, and his parents were anxious that their child should receive the same benefits. The captain who brought the two boys over proved to be a treacherous villain, and carried them to Baltimore, where he exposed them for sale, they were both purchased by Portsmouth, New Hampshire men, Prince falling to General William Whipple. He was emancipated during the (Revolutionary) War, was much esteemed, and was once entrusted by the General with a large sum of money to carry from Salem to Portsmouth. He was attacked on the road, near Newburyport, by two ruffians; one was struck with a loaded whip, the other one he shot...Prince was beloved by all who knew him. He was also known as "Caleb Quotom" of Portsmouth, where he died leaving a widow, Dinah a freeperson and two children." from Wikipedia, the Free encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Whipple

Clark’s wife was cousin to John Hancock and on the evening of 18 April 1775, Mr. Hancock and Sam Adams were visiting the Clarks. Hancock and Adams were criminals in the eyes of the Crown and the British army was looking for them. In the wee hours of 19 April the cry went out and was heard the countryside over, “The British are coming! The British are coming!” The British governor sent soldiers to Lexington and Concord to confiscate the local armory and look for the two outlaws Hancock and Adams. The two fugitives were warned in time and escaped, but the congregation of Reverend Clark was ready.

On the morning of 19 April 1775, a mist lay over the Green. The British regulars marched on Lexington. The Minutemen of Clark’s church musters on the Green and the Red Coats lined up ready for battle. Eight men died that day, all from the congregation of Jonas Clark. Reverend Clark was chosen as a delegate to the Massachusetts State Constitutional convention where he played a most influential role in the drafting of that document. A few years after the War, he was elected a delegate to the 1788 ratification convention for the purposed new federal Constitution1drafted the year before in Philadelphia. While in convention he said, “I will support the ratification if it contained a Bill of Rights.”

Source: Publisher’s Corner; The Influence of the Colonial Clergy on Culture and Civil Government , Part One: Laying the American Cultural Foundation