by promising them freedom
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No. Actually, Ellsworth was against owning and mistreating slaves.
I say Freedom :)
The British offered freedom and independence. The 13 colonies offered more rights. The slaves went for British because they wanted freedom, not rights.
The Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms
The African Americans wanted to join the colonial leaders to go against the British army. The colonists were afraid to let the slaves run around armed (and might even be dangerous.) The colonial leaders realized that they really had no choice but to let the slaves join and fight in the continental army. The reason being is the colonist did not have enough soldiers to fight against the well trained British army. In January, 1776, a law was passed that the blacks could join the army.