Quaco

Quaco is credited to be the first Black spy of the American Revolution. He was an enslaved man in Newport, Rhode Island who was enslaved by a white loyalist named James Honeyman. That is why he is sometimes referred to as Quaco Honeyman.

The British controlled Newport at various points during the war, and the enslaved African Americans who lived there were frequent and astute observers of both the British and American officers, frequently overhearing critical and top-secret operations. In the case of Quaco, historians speculate that his loyalist owner may have hired him out to British and loyalist officials and soldiers. One early history of the war in New England written in 1839 includes an account of what may describe Quaco’s activities in giving intelligence regarding General Richard Prescott: “Quam [sic], the negro who had been employed in the kitchen of Mr. Overing, had carried a very perfect account of the situation of the General in the house.” Soon after in 1777, the general was captured by patriot forces.

The intelligence given by Quaco enabled the raid to be successful. The Rhode Island General Assembly acknowledged as much in 1782, stating “the information he (then) gave rendered great and essential service to this state and the public in general.” Quaco’s situation is an interesting one, wherein during the course of the war he petitioned the Rhode Island General Assembly to change his legal status from that of enslaved to free. Owing to the intelligence he provided on behalf of the patriot cause—especially in the face of his owner’s loyalist ideology - Quaco was granted his freedom.

Name: Quaco, Quaco Honeyman

Born: 1781

Died: 1815

Contributions: Gave intelligence to British and loyalist officials and soldiers in Newport, Rhode Island