So there seems to be only one in depth look at the life of Allicocke, an article written by Donald A. Grinde, Jr. Several other sources make brief mention of him, which I've also tracked down for corroboration, but they are mostly little more than a paragraph of little detail. Grinde put in the real leg work, and is the main source I'm relying on, although I'll mention a few others.

Allicocke first seems to have gained notice in the early 1760s, while working as a clerk in New York City, and there are records of him working as a supplier for the British military in that period - the French and Indian Wars - and specifically of wine shipments. His politicization seems to have come in the wake of the Stamp Act of 1765, and he quickly rose to be one of the leaders of the "New York Liberty Boys", aka "Sons of Liberty". With the repeal of the Stamp Act a year later, his role was honored with a 21 Gun Salute, and the honorific of "General".

I would make an aside here, and shoutout to /u/sunagainstgold as we were looking into this in tandem. Based on poor number of sources, there was question as to whether Allicocke was even black. SAG was able to track down Grinde's footnote, to John Montresor's journals which is perhaps the most solid primary source on the matter, clearly establishing Allicocke was of African ancestry, while further digging I found reference to his presence in New York and commercial activities in "Hugh Hughes, A Study in Revolutionary Idealism" by Bernard Friedman, noting his status as a merchant and Bergher of the city.

I digress though. Over the next decade he returned to business, and in 1774 as tensions were again on the rise, he seemed to be a logical choice for New York's Committee of Correspondence, of which he was appointed secretary. This was a brief position however, and he resigned very soon after. There seem to be no writings of his to survive, and only a few records, but the inference of what info we do have indicates that he simply didn't support Revolution. He remained in New York even following British occupation and continued to conduct business in the city. An 1780 notice in the Royal Gazette implies commerce with Britain, and in 1781 his daughter married "Capt. James Bonchier of the Raynham Hall, Indiaman." By 1783 though, it seems he left had New York, as "James Griffith" moved into his "former residence".

This all fits the model of a Loyalist. Grinde suggests that it "may have reflected the fact that the British Empire had made steps in the late 18th Century to eliminate slavery while the American Revolutionaries, in order to forge an alliance with the Southern colonies, turned their back on the issue of slavery in spite of all the rhetoric of "liberty."" However, Friedman also notes that at that in 1765 Allicocke's business was doing poorly, and while he considered himself a "Gentleman" he was "desperately clinging to illusions of gentility". When involved with the Liberty Boys, Allicocke was doing poorly in business, and likely blamed this on the Stamp Act. Business seems to have been better for him by the 1770s, and it may have been business interests which at least played a part in his choice of loyalty, although in the end, there really isn't much to go on evidence wise, nor are those mutually exclusive interests anyways. As already stated, we don't have his writings, just small snapshots of an imperfect picture.

Whatever his reasoning though, the simple answer is that he isn't remembered commemorated for the same reason Benedict Arnold isn't... we don't celebrate people who were Loyalists, even if they might have been on the "American" side originally. His decision to not join the Revolution is what consigned him to the footnotes of history, not his race (although as Grinde notes, the decision might have been about race itself).

Grinde, Donald A.,Jr. 1990. Joseph Allicocke: African-American Leader of the Sons of Liberty. Afro - Americans in New York Life and History 14, (2) (Jul 31): 61

Egerton, Douglas R.. Death or Liberty. Cary, GB: Oxford University Press, USA, 2009.

FRIEDMAN, BERNARD. "Hugh Hughes, A Study in Revolutionary Idealism." New York History 64, no. 3 (1983): 229-59.

McAnear, Beverly. "THE PLACE OF THE FREEMAN IN OLD NEW YORK." New York History 21, no. 4 (1940): 418-30.

Gold, SunAgainst. "Answer on /r/Askhistorians", July 7/20/2016

Edit: No, I didn't plagiarize this from Wikipedia. Inspired by OP's premise, I went and created the page for him.

Follow-up question: I did a little research, and while I can find several sources quoting each other, nowhere can I find a single mention of Allicock being black other than Donald Grinde Jr's book, which is not available anywhere online. There also seems to be some confusion of documents naming one Joseph Allicocke of New York, an Irish wine merchant who apparently declared for the Loyalists, and Joseph Allicock of the New York Liberty Boys- who may or may not be the same gentleman we are attempting to research. However, judging by his associations, I take leave to doubt whether Allicock of New York is African.

Does anyone have access to the Grinde book, or contemporary documentation that Allicock was actually black?

Random Background Info:

• Joseph Allicocke was of mixed race and worked as an office Clerk. ^[1]
• His involvement in the Stamp Act riots resulted in him given the nickname "general of the Sons of Liberty." ^[1]
• Allicocke would plot with his allies at the Queen's Head Tavern which was owned by a Jamaican freeman of mixed ancestry.^[1]
• He was married to Martha Jandance.
• Fellow Son's of Liberty Leader John Lamb married Mary Jandance on July 22, 1766. She was Martha's Sister.^[28]

Timeline:

• Approximately 1735 +- 10 years. Joseph Allicocke is born.
• Jul 8, 1754. Provided witness for the Will of Judith Benezet. He is listed as a member of her household.^[2]
• Dec 1755. Joined the Freemason's Lodge Philadelphia No.2^[3]

(WARNING: Information from Philadelphia could pertain to a different Joseph Allicocke.)

• Nov 5, 1759. Earliest Record known of Joseph Allicocke being a clerk in New York. He sent a receipt addressed to Israel Pemberton in Philadelphia. ^[23]
• Dec 6, 1762 His employment as a clerk of the British Crown in the Contractors and Provisions office is mentioned in a letter from John Watts to John Erving.^[4]
• Before Sept 11, 1764. When Allicocke's contract with the British Crown expired he was given a present of 200 pounds Sterling due to New York being the reservoir of all Streams of Business.^[5]
• By Oct 24, 1764. Allicocke was positioned as the Clark(clerk) of the Victualling Office. ^[6]
• 1764 Letters to and from John Watts show that Allicocke was handing the authorization and payment of bills for supplying the British Army. He seemed to be respected by the merchants of New York.^[4]
• Aug 11, 1765. After a fellow clerk, Gamble, is found to have been wasting money, John Watts mentions that Allicocke similarly looked poorly on by his fellow merchants now. John Watts called Allicocke and excellent clerk but needs someone to instruct him saying that Allicocke has too much indolence and lowness of spirit to act as master. ^[7]
• By Nov 21, 1765, Allicocke has become politically involved in the protests over the stamp act. He wrote letters to John Lamb about how his fellow New Yorkers would march to Philadelphia if they accepted the Stamp Act.^[4]
• Nov-Dec 1765. The Sons of Liberty in New York played an important part in organizing the colonies against the Stamp Act.^[4]
• 1766. A member of the Sons of Liberty's cheif Committee. ^[25]
• Jan 9. 1766 Joseph Allicocke's name is listed along with other leaders of the New York Son's Of Liberty in a letter by them in the New York Gazette rejecting the Stamp Act.^[4]
• Feb 14, 1766. Joseph Allicocke, John Lamb, and Isaac Sears lead a protest against two British Officials that were enforcing the stamp act. This was the first protest head during open daylight. They returned and protested again that evening.^[8]
• Mar 19, 1766. "This night the Sons of Liberty assembled and insolently sent Mr. Allecocke and sears, two of their representatives on board the Garland Ship of War to demand the Lieu of his Majesty's Ship, for having hid that the Printer of the Thursday Gazette, one Holt, was he in England would be hanged for the scantinousness of his Paper. The Lieu, one Mr Halem refused any intercourse with them and offered them ashore, the vessel laying close to the Warft. The rabble cry’d out "bring the Lieu! ashore with a Halter about his neck." The Representatives insisting upon an Instrument in writing for him to deny the allegation."^[9]
• Mar 25, 1766 Stamp Act Repealed, Sons of Liberty continued to oppose the British.
• May 19, 1766 Allicocke is honored by the New York Sons of Liberty. "All the Bells set a ringing again soon as daylight appeared. One o'clock - 21 guns were fired off of Skids in the Fields to Salute General Allicocke, being enclosed with a cord and picketing, A Flag - like an Artillery Park - two large Bonfires were constructed one for the sons of Liberty and one for the Corporation but supposed to be out of the same fund." Later in Capt. Joh Montresor's journal entry for the same day it mentioned both Allicocke’s skin color and him being a current contract employee to the Crown. "Allicock the Head of the Sons of Liberty, is the son of a mullato woman and receives daily Five shilling a day from the Crown being employed by Contractors of Provisions here, two of his Majesty's Council here and is continued."^[10]
• Dec 11, 1766. With the Stamp Act finished, Allicocke when back to living a normal life. Here he petitioned government along with 4 others for land. "Petition of John Taylor, Judah Harlow, George Stewart, Joseph Allicocke and Robert Harding, fore three tracts of land in the county of Ulster, two of which lye between Wall kill and Shawangunk Kill, and the third on the west side of said Shawangunk Kill,.......... 104"^[11]
• 1768. Listed as a member of the New York Chamber of Commerece. Trades Wines, Spirits, and Groceries. ^[26]
• Oct 17, 1771. Another record of him petitioning for land pops up. "Petition of John Taylor, Judah Harlow, George Stewart, Joseph Allicocke and Robert Hardinge, for letters patent, in the name of the said Robert Hardinge, for 925 acres of land, in the county of Ulster, to the north of the old northwest lone,........................ 23" ^[12]
• Dec 3, 1773 - Boston Tea Party
• Spring 1774 - Intolerable Acts Passed
• Around 1774 - Allicocke was the Inspector of Pots and Pearl Ashes for the New York Port. ^[26]
• Around Jun 2, 1774 - Secretary for the United Whaling Company. ^[27]
• May 30, 1774. Once again, Joseph Allicocke got involved politically and was appointed secretary of the Committee of Correspondence, in Philadelphia. "Ordered, That Joseph Allicocke be appointed Secretary, and Thomas Pettit Messenger of the Board."^[13]
• Jun 20, 1774. But it lasted less then a month before Mr. Allicocke resigned from his position as the secretary of the Committee of Correspondence. "Mr. Allicocke requested for particular reasons to resign as Secretary to this Committee. John Blagge was unanimously appointed in his stead."^[14]
• After Jun 1775. Allicocke continued to supply the British army's ships even though the President of the Congress of New York had outlaw it. He was caught while supplying an Armed government vessel from Boston and Captain Vandeput's ship Asia.^[15]
• Aug 26, 1775. Allicocke comes before congress to testify for his crime of giving supplies to British War Ships. "Joseph Allicock, according to a direction from this Congress, attending at the door, was called in. He produced three Receipts, of one tenor and date, for Provisions lately delivered to Captain Melancton Lawrence, for the Armed Sloop then under his command, and acknowledged that he had, in the course of the business of the contractors for victualling the Army, supplied all the Armed Vessels except the Men-Of-War. He had supplied such Provisions inadvertently and without any design to injure the Country.”^[16]
• Between Aug 26, 1775-Jan 6, 1776. Allicocke is acquitted of his charges.
• Jan 6, 1776. Allicocke hires a pilot boat to escape from New York after a mob threatens his life. He heads to Antigua. Before he leaves he is given a letter from Captain George Vandeput that states he has be loyal to the Crown.^[15]
• Jan 1777. Allicocke returns to New York after the British retake it. After a lone, he starts up a business again and quickly begin to make money.^[15]
• Dec 5, 1780-Dec 3 1782. Allicocke is actively involved as a member of the New York Chamber of Commerce. ^[24]
• Feb 19 1779 Christopher K. Allicocke, Joseph's Son, petitions the Philadelphia Supreme Executive Council to enter New York at the invitation of his father.^[15]
• After Jun 21, 1781. A letter sent by Joseph Allicocke to his Son Christopher K. Allicocke is intercepted by the Continental Army on its way to Charleston. He asks his son to leave the British Army and return to New York.^[17]
• Dec 1782. New York is Evacuated ^[15]
• Jan, 26 1783. The ship Joseph Allicocke is on bored is captured by Captain Grant. He loses most of his belongings. A different letter from the same collection states that he was captured in sight of Portsmouth by a Privateer from Dunkirk.^[15]
• Feb, 1783. Allicocke finally arrives in England^[15]
• Feb 10, 1783. Allicocke sends a list of is losses to the Lords Commissioner of His Majesty's Treasury for American Loyalists.^[15]
• Apr or May 1783 Allicocke send a formal application by Memorial to the Lords of the Treasury for relief as an American Suffering Loyalists. His case is exampled and he is approved of a £50 per an Annum allowance given in quarterly payments.^[15]
• Oct 12, 1785. Allicocke requests more compensations for his losses stating that his total losses were £1597.19.^[15]
• Oct 12, - Dec 8, 1785. Gives Major Thomas Ward the "necessary" liquors he needs while steadily declining toward death.^[15]
• 1785 - 1791 - Listed as having the profession of Wine Merchant various sources.^[17][18]
• Dec 12, 1785. Allicocke takes up the case of a fellow Loyalist named James Cockburne and send a letter to the Board of Commissioners for the Consideration of Loses of Loyalists with the claim that the two of them were purposely mislead by the Secretary to the Commission that kept them from being fully compensated.^[15]
• Jan 24, 1786 - Sends a letter to the Commissioner's enquiring into the loses and services of the American Loyalist asking for compensation for the money lost on the Liquor he has given to Major Thomas Ward. Includes an itemized list totaling £84.^[15]
• 1805, Listed in the Southampton section of a trade directory "Allicocke Joseph, agent to the Globe Insurance Company, above Bar. 1s"^[20]
• 1811. Listed in the London and Country Directory as Allicocke Joseph, Agent to the Globe.^[21]
• Jul 8, 1811. His wife Martha Allicocke is buried in Southampton England.^[22]
• Mar 7, 1815. Joseph Allicocke dies and is buried in Southampton, England.^[22]

Hello everyone,

In this thread, there have been a large number of rules-breaking disallowed comments, including several asking about the deleted comments, which merely compounds the issue. As such, they were removed by the mod-team. Please, before you attempt answer the question, keep in mind our rules concerning in-depth and comprehensive responses. Answers that do not meet the standards we ask for will be removed.

This thread is trending high in the subreddit, but those upvotes represent interest in the question itself, and it can often take time for a good answer to be written. We know that it can be frustrating to come in here from your front page and see only [removed] and this post, but we ask for your patience and understanding. If you are looking for some interesting content in the mean time, we hope you will check out our Twitter, the Sunday Digest, or the Monthly "Best Of" feature.

Additionally, it is unfair to the OP to further derail this thread with off topic conversation, so if anyone has further questions or concerns, I would ask that they be directed to modmail, or a META thread. Thank you!

I am currently working on scanning a large archive of documents related to the Verplanck family of New York and came across this receipt written by Joseph Allicocke. I was looking for more information about him and Google led me to this discussion. I thought you might find it interesting to see something he actually wrote. It is dated 1769 which corresponds to his time as a wine merchant in New York according to the timeline posted on this thread.

Gregory thanks so much!! So much work I really appreciate that! Intriguing character and it's too bad there isn't more.