People of African descent who sided with the British during the American Revolution were called Black Loyalists. As the war ended, Black Loyalists were doubly motivated to leave the colonies due to their status as supporters of Britain and their status as fugitives from slavery. Even if their status as Loyalists might be absolved if they agreed to sign an oath of allegiance, their re-enslavement and restoration to their former enslavers was all but guaranteed. Black Loyalists who served in the British army faced possible punishment at the hands of vengeful Patriots, something that British officials grasped early in the conflict when in 1776, just prior to their retreat from Boston for New York City, the British identified “loyal Blacks” as a group to be included in the evacuation.