Talk:Salem Poor

Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment

This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 27 August 2020 and 9 December 2020. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Fc6034.

Above undated message substituted from Template:Dashboard.wikiedu.org assignment by PrimeBOT (talk) 08:34, 17 January 2022 (UTC)

Contradiction

Battle of Bunker Hill states that Poor died in the battle (in 1775), while this article implies that his life extended to 1776 and beyond. What is correct? Ground 15:02, 24 Dec 2004 (UTC)

Sorry it took me so long to get an answer. Poor's career is very vague, and written to be inspiring. This account is better. I've fixed the Bunker Hill article. Thanks...Lou I 23:13, 1 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Searching through several old documents I found some addtional info that I added. He was born in the late 40's bought his freedom and then got married. Since he reenlisted and later fought at Valley Forge and in the White Plains campaign it is unlikely that the died at Bunker Hill. Scholty — Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.242.193.90 (talk) 04:43, 1 March 2006 (UTC)

Contradiction II

The first sentence says Poor was born a free black, yet goes on to say he purchased his freedom. Which is correct please? Cthompson —Preceding undated comment added 22:50, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

Poor was born enslaved, then later bought his freedom in 1769. 173.47.219.43 (talk) 23:01, 20 October 2025 (UTC)

Contradiction III

The article states that he bought his freedom "for £27, a year's salary for an average working man at the time. This would be equivalent to about $5,600 in 2019 dollars." $5,600 is not a year's salary for an average working man today. I suggest cutting the second sentence, which confuses more than it clarifies. CoinCritters (talk) 17:08, 9 February 2026 (UTC)

I've compacted the two sentences. I'd format the more contemporary value with {{inflation}}, but I can't figure out how to get that template to line up with the value given in the text and this calculator. Graham87 (talk) 00:10, 10 February 2026 (UTC)