Born into slavery in Framingham, he was freed by a later master, Major Lawson Buckminster, to serve in the local militia.
According to Samuel Swett, who chronicled the battle, Salem had mortally wounded Royal Marines officer John Pitcairn who died from a musket shot.
[5][11] About a dozen other free African Americans took part in the battle, including Phillip Abbot of Andover Mass †,[12] Barzillai Lew, Salem Poor, Titus Coburn,[13] Alexander Ames, Cato Howe, and Seymour Burr.
[14] Salem apparently extended his enlistment for two months and served with Captain Claye's Company of Colonel Nixon's Regiment from January 1 to March 1, 1780.
He married Katy Benson in Salem, Massachusetts in September 1783,[9] and he later built a cabin near Leicester, where he worked as a cane weaver.
[16] At one time Salem was thought to have been depicted in John Trumbull's painting The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker's Hill, June 17, 1775.