Jonathan Occum

• Colony: Connecticut *Age: 50
• Race: Native American *Rank: Private
• Status: free *Position: rail fence
• Unit: Putnam/Durkee

Fifty year old Native American Jonathan Occum joined Colonel Israel Putnam’s regiment on May 10, 1775. Like Barzillai Lew, Occum was a veteran of the French and Indian War. He was identified in the military records as a Mohegan from New London, Connecticut.

Occum fought with the other Connecticut regiments defending the rail fence during the battle. His company marched to Cambridge and probably arrived several days after joining. He fought throughout the war, but there was not much information about his service after December, 1775.

After the war, he returned to New London and received 20 acres of land given to veterans in 1790. He never married. His brother Sampson Occum became famous as a Christian missionary of all the tribes of southern New England.

The last time there was any record about Occum was in 1804 and he was described as a single man whose brother was Sampson Occum. There are no death records; therefore, where he is buried is a mystery.

Source: Biographies of Patriots of Color at The Battle of Bunker Hill