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York’s contribution to the Corps of Discovery just now is coming to light as academics delve more deeply into Lewis and Clark's journals, trying to understand and uncover his part in the Corps. Little about York is known, including his first name, which some believe was “Ben.”
By all accounts, York quickly shed his role as Clark’s slave and became a member of the team. He hunted, worked alongside the men and helped open doors with Native Americans who were amazed at the ebony color of his skin. One Hidatsa chief — in disbelief — tried to remove the color from York's skin. York even risked his life to search for Clark and others who were missing during a flash flood along the Missouri River.
There are many things about York’s life along the trail that is unusual for its time in American history. It was unheard of, for example, for a black man to carry a firearm, let alone being given a vote in where the Corps camped for the winter. That moment, when he chose to camp on the Columbia’s south bank, is credited as the first time a black man in America was given the right to vote. York also became the first black man to cross the continental United States.
A lifelong companion to Clark, York was shattered when, at journey’s end, he was forced to resume his previous role as slave. He had tasted freedom. Unlike other members of the expedition, York didn’t receive money or land for his bravery. Forced to live in St. Louis with Clark, he now was separated from his wife, and possibly family, that lived near Louisville, Ky. York increasingly pleaded for his freedom, which was denied. Clark had him beaten and jailed. Eventually, sometime after 1811, possibly 1815, Clark gave in, freeing York.
York left St. Louis and ran a delivery business that shuttled between Nashville, Tenn. and Richmond, Ky. Common history says York died of cholera in 1832. There are legends, however, that say York traveled back west and lived among Native Americans, specifically the Crow, where he became a chief. | 
