Location: 3rd Street and Chestnut, Wilmington
County: New Hanover
Original Date Cast: 2025
The American Revolution was a defining moment in the history of the United States, yet the contributions of free people of color often remain overlooked. Among these individuals was Zachariah Jacobs, also known as Holmes, whose military service illustrates both the complexity and diversity of the Revolutionary struggle.
Jacobs was born on October 4, 1753, in New Hanover County, North Carolina, to Esther Jacobs. By the late 1770s, as the war for independence intensified, Jacobs became directly involved in the conflict. At the end of 1778, he was drafted into the Bladen County Regiment of the North Carolina Militia as a private under Colonel John Alexander Lillington and Captain Joseph Wood. His regiment marched through South Carolina into Georgia, where Jacobs participated in the Battle of Briar Creek in March 1779. The engagement ended in defeat for the American forces, and amid the confusion of retreat, Jacobs returned to his home in Brunswick County.
Jacobs’ commitment to the cause did not end there. In early 1781, he rejoined the North Carolina Militia for a nine-month term. During this enlistment, he fought in the Battle of Guilford Court House in March 1781, one of the most significant engagements in the Southern campaign. Jacobs sustained a leg wound during the battle and spent time recovering in a hospital. On his journey home, he was captured by Loyalist soldiers and held for approximately ten to twelve days before being brought to British Major James Henry Craig in Bladen County. Craig eventually paroled Jacobs, releasing him back to civilian life.
Despite these setbacks, Jacobs continued his military service. In October 1781, he enlisted in a North Carolina Regiment of the Continental Line for another nine-month term. By March 1782, Jacobs was serving under Major Michael Rudolph of Virginia in operations near Charleston, South Carolina. During this period, his unit captured the British galley Alligator on the Ashley River, a notable achievement in disrupting British supply lines. Jacobs spent most of this tour stationed at Ashley Hill before marching to Wilmington, North Carolina, where he was discharged in December 1782.
Following the war, Jacobs resided in Brunswick and New Hanover Counties for the remainder of his life. In April 1835, he successfully applied for a federal pension, receiving $28.33 semi-annually for seventeen months of service as a private. Jacobs died on April 10, 1847, in New Hanover County. His widow, Sally Jacobs, later secured a pension in recognition of her husband’s contributions.
The story of Zachariah Jacobs underscores the vital role played by free people of color in the Revolutionary War. His perseverance through multiple enlistments, wounds, captivity, and eventual recognition reflects the broader struggle for liberty that defined the era. Jacobs’ life serves as a testament to the diverse individuals who fought for independence and whose sacrifices helped shape the foundation of the United States.
References
United States Federal Census. 1790. New Hanover County, North Carolina, p. 6.
United States Federal Census. 1800. New Hanover County, North Carolina, p. 6.
United States Federal Census. 1820. New Hanover County, North Carolina, p. 10.
United States Federal Census. 1830. Brunswick County, North Carolina, p. 11.
United States Federal Census. 1830. New Hanover County, North Carolina, p. 25.
United States Federal Census. 1840. New Hanover County, North Carolina, pp. 5–6.
Revolutionary War Pension Application for Zachariah Jacobs. 1832. File W5304.
“The American Revolution in South Carolina.” Accessed February 6, 2026. http://www.carolana.com/SC/Revolution/revolution_galley_captured.html.
Freeman, W. Trevor. Thesis. East Carolina University. Accessed February 6, 2026. https://thescholarship.ecu.edu/bitstream/handle/10342/8572/W.-Trevor-Fr….
Revolutionary War Pension Application for Josiah Sykes. 1833. File S7673. http://revwarapps.org/w5304.pdf.