Overview

James Armistead was enslaved in Virginia and volunteered for intelligence work during the Revolutionary War. He operated as a double agent, entering British lines under the guise of a runaway and relaying critical information to American forces connected to the Marquis de Lafayette during the Yorktown campaign.

Quick Facts

• Birth: c. 1748 (often cited; exact date/place uncertain), Virginia
• Death: 1830s (often cited 1830; documentation varies), Virginia
• Identity (Race): Black man
• Enslavement Status: Enslaved; later petitioned for and obtained freedom after the war
• Occupation / Primary Role: Spy / intelligence agent
• Allegiance / Affiliation: Patriot
• Military Role / Rank: Intelligence service (often described as a spy; not a regular commissioned officer)
• Education: Unknown
• Religion: Unknown
• Spouse / Children: Not reliably documented in widely accessible summaries
• Enslaver: William Armistead (Virginia)
• Did He Enslave Anyone?: No evidence
• Language: English

Poster Bullets

• Posed as a runaway to gain British trust, then provided intelligence to Patriots.
• Connected to Lafayette’s network during the Yorktown campaign.
• Successfully petitioned for freedom after the war.

Poster Summary

Armistead Lafayette’s intelligence work shows how the war depended on information as much as muskets, and how enslaved people could leverage wartime chaos toward freedom.

Why He Matters

He demonstrates Black strategic agency during the Revolution and highlights the role of espionage in securing victory.

What Happened After the War

He petitioned for emancipation and adopted “Lafayette” as a surname in honor of the Marquis. He lived as a free man in Virginia.

QR – Adult Read More

Intelligence work depended on people who could move between lines and gain trust. Armistead’s role as an enslaved man helped him pose convincingly as a runaway seeking British protection.

He provided information to Lafayette’s side while also feeding misinformation back to the British. That combination of accurate reporting and controlled deception mattered as Cornwallis’s options narrowed.

His post-war freedom was not automatic. He had to petition to secure legal emancipation, underscoring that service did not guarantee liberty for Black participants.

For a Franklin 250 audience, his story complements NJ’s “civilian war zone” narrative: the Revolution was fought in secrecy and contested spaces between armies too.

QR – Kids

James Armistead helped the Patriots by spying on the British. After the war, he worked to gain his freedom.

Something You May Not Know

• Many Revolutionary “spies” were not formal officers but worked through personal networks.
• He later used the name “Lafayette” to honor the officer who supported his freedom petition.
• Records about enslaved people can be incomplete, which makes some details hard to prove.

Common Misconceptions

Misconception: Spy stories are mostly legend. Reality: Reputable histories document Armistead’s intelligence role, though some anecdotes vary by retelling.

Connection to Franklin / Somerset / NJ

His story helps interpret the wider Revolutionary landscape that connected NJ’s contested interior to larger campaigns across the colonies.

Primary Artifacts & Proof

Mount Vernon – James Armistead Lafayette: https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/james-armistead-lafayette/

National Park Service – James Armistead Lafayette: https://www.nps.gov/people/james-armistead-lafayette.htm

Virginia Museum of History & Culture – James Armistead Lafayette: https://virginiahistory.org/learn/james-armistead-lafayette