Scipio was enslaved by Dr. Joseph Sayer (Sawyer), and served, at least briefly, in the Continental Army.

"Dr. Sawyer who died in 1774, says in his will, 'I give to my daughter Eunice, one-third part of the schooner Prosperous, also my negro girl Phillis.' Previously he owned two others, Scipio and Sharper." - Bourne, p. 408

Scipio "Black" enlisted on July 5, 1775 in Samuel Sayer's Company of James Scammons 30th Regiment. Scipio served for 25 days per his Muster Roll card. It is not known if he served additional periods of time.

On his Company Return and Muster Roll cards, he is identified as Scipio Black. However, in an address and paper presented to the Maine Historical Society in 1899, the last entry in the list of the members of Capt. Sawyer's company is "Sippo, Black." This suggests that "Black" was a statement of his race rather than his last name. It may have been thereafter utilized as his last name.

The presumption here is that the Scipio who enlisted in Samuel Sayer's Company in 1775 was the same Scipio who was enslaved by Dr. Joseph Sayer who died in 1774. It is also unknown here whether Samuel Sayer was related to Dr. Joseph Sayer. Note that the names Sayer and Sawyer were often used interchangeably in this period.

Bibliography:

The History of Wells and Kennebunk from the Earliest Settlement to the Year 1820 - by Edward Bourne (1875)

United States Rosters of Revolutionary War Soldiers and Sailors, 1775-1783

Massachusetts, Revolutionary War, Index Cards to Muster Rolls, 1775-1783 - FamilySearch.org