Seymour Burr

Seymour Burr (1754/1762–1837) was an enslaved African-American in the Connecticut Colony. Captured as a child from Guinea, he was later owned by Seymour Burr, brother of Colonel Aaron Burr. During the American Revolution, he escaped and joined the British Army, seeking freedom, but was recaptured. His owner offered him freedom post-war if he enlisted in the American Army; Burr accepted, enlisting in 1781 and serving until 1782.

After gaining freedom, Burr married Mary Wilbore, a widow, inheriting her land and receiving a military pension. They had two daughters, Polly and Sally, who died in Cambridge. His descendants included Lemuel Burr, noted as a Boston barber in historical records. Seymour Burr died on February 17, 1837, at age 98, buried in Canton, Mass. His widow passed away in 1852. Publications such as "History of the Town of Canton" and "The Colored Patriots of the American Revolution" document his life, highlighting his role as a Revolutionary War soldier and his legacy through his family.