John Laurens

John Laurens (1754 – 1782), was a colonel in the Continental Army, and officer on Washington's staff, who believed that the colonist could not fight for their own freedom while holding slaves. In 1779, he persuaded the Continental Congress to authorize the recruitment of a brigade (3000 men) of slaves, who would be given their freedom after the war. However, when he presented it to them, the South Carolina Provincial Congress overwhelmingly rejected the proposal, and instead voted to use confiscated slaves as payment to recruit addition freemen (the British where already offering slaves their freedom in exchange for military service,  putting the British at odds with colonial planters). John Laurens was killed in a skirmish that took place in South Carolina in 1782.

Family
Henry Laurens, father

Eleanor Ball, mother

Henry Laurens, Jr., brother

Mary Laurens, sister