James Armistead Lafayette

James Armistead Lafayette (1748/1760 —1830/1832) was an African American man who worked as a double agent for the Patriots during the American Revolutionary War. During the Yorktown campaign, he reported on the activities of Benedict Arnold after Arnold had defected to the British and Lord Cornwallis' activities during the run-up to the siege of Yorktown. Lafayette fed the British false information while disclosing accurate and detailed information to the Patriots.

Early life

James was born to an enslaved mother either in North Carolina or Virginia. He became the property of Colonel John Armistead of New Kent County, Virginia. Well before the Colonel's death in 1779 he became the first slave owned by and personal manservant of Armistead's son William. Most sources believe that he was born in 1748,

After Arnold departed north in the spring of 1781, James remained in Virginia and continued his work at the camps of Lord Cornwallis. Now employed by the British as a courier, James traveled between their camps and often overheard officers speak openly about their strategies. He prepared written reports, and delivered them to other American spies. In this way, he relayed much information about the British plans for troop deployment and their arms. His espionage was instrumental in helping American and French forces force the surrender of Cornwallis' army during the siege of Yorktown. This was because the next year (1783) another law specifically freed only slaves who had been issued firearms (i.e. whose owners had used them as substitutes for army service). James had served as a spy, not a soldier, and did not carry a gun. Thus his first petition for emancipation was not passed even by a legislative committee before the session ended. On January 9, 1787, Virginia's governor signed James's petition, which both houses of the assembly had passed. Virginia later compensated Armistead for James' manumission. Upon receiving his freedom, James added "Lafayette" (or "Fayette") as his surname to honor the French general.

Later life

James Lafayette acquired two parcels totaling about forty acres in New Kent County in 1816 and became a relatively wealthy farmer in the area with his (second) wife and several children (including a son). He also became a slaveowner. In 1818, Lafayette applied to Virginia's legislature for a pension based on his Revolutionary War service. He eventually received $60 for present relief and a $40 annual pension ($).

Death and legacy Sources differ as to whether James A. Lafayette died in Baltimore or New Kent County in 1830 (the year he picked up his last pension payment), or in Virginia in 1832. In 1997, Virginia erected a highway marker on the grounds of the historic New Kent County courthouse to recognize his service.