What did the American Revolution mean to "Boston King" in Memoirs of the Life of Boston King, A Black Preacher?

The American Revolution meant freedom for

Boston King through his service to the British. The war itself offered him an
alternative to
slavery once he ran away from his abusive master.

Boston King was born in
slavery in South Carolina. He worked as an
apprentice to learn carpentry and eventually ran away
from his cruel master.
When he escaped, he went to the British and pledged to work for them;
this
offered him a safer place to stay than he might have found otherwise. He was captured
by
the American forces, escaped, and eventually given a certificate showing
that he was free due to
his service in the war. He was sent with others to
Nova Scotia.

The American
Revolution offered King the
circumstances the led to his certificate freedom and his move to
Nova Scotia.
It also meant a great deal of anxiety. He writes that after the war ended,
black
people in New York were living in fear. They were supposed to be
returned to their southern
masters even though they'd lived for years with
the British. Slave owners were coming up from
the south and dragging their
former slaves out of bed.

He says that man
slaves were
unable to sleep, eat, or feel happiness during this time because they'd lived
in
such cruel circumstances before. He says that the English had compassion
for them and sent out a
proclamation that said:

That all slaves should be free,
who had taken refuge in the British
lines, and claimed the function and privileges of the
Proclamations
respecting the security and protection of Negroes.

They were sent to Nova Scotia and given land
there. He says they arrived in August and
immediately got to work building
places to live so they could get through the
winter.