On this day 250 years ago in Boston John Trumbull wrote John Adams about a humorous story told about town of one of the [British Army] deserters, though I cannot say it is absolutely to be depended upon as a fact: a soldier, whose name is Patrick, deserted sometime ago and settled in a country town at some distance, and there undertook to instruct a company of about fifty men in military exercises. A sergeant and eight men were sent to apprehend deserters, got intelligence of him, and agreed with a countryman, for a couple of guineas, to conduct them to him. Patrick, it seems, was at that time exercising his company; however, being called by the sergeant and his men, he immediately came up to them. The sergeant demanded what he did there, told him he was his prisoner, and ordered him to return and join his regiment. Sir, said Patrick, I beg your pardon, but I don’t think it possible for me to obey you at present. The sergeant repeated his orders in a very peremptory style. Patrick still assured him of the great improbability of his being able to comply with the command; but told him, as it was not absolutely certain, he would see what could be done about it. You must know, said he, that we determine every thing here by a vote—and turning to his company, which had by this time come up,—gentlemen, says he, if it be your mind that I should leave the town and return to my regiment, please to manifest it. Not a single hand appeared in favor of the motion. He then desired that those who were contrary-minded should manifest it, which passed nem. con. The sergeant and his men, finding themselves in so small a minority, and seeing it in vain to oppose the general voice of the meeting, were about to return again in peace, when one or two of his men were desirous to have it put to vote whether they should not stay also. Patrick, as moderator, immediately put the question, which it was not difficult to carry in such an assembly, and the sergeant, knowing it vain to resist, returned with six men to his regiment.

Source: https://founders.archives.gov/?q=%2220%20August%201774%22&s=1111311111&sa=&r=2&sr=

Also on this day 250 years ago, John Adams and the rest of the Massachusetts delegation (Sam Adams, Thomas Cushing and Robert Treat Paine) to the Continental Congress arrived in New York City. John Adams recorded in his diary that they met with two leaders of the New York Sons of Liberty Alexander McDougall and John Morin Scott on this day. Both McDougall and Scott would go on to become generals in the Continental Army and Members of the Continental Congress. McDougall was born in Scotland and emigrated to America with his parents as a child. Scott was born in New York.

Source: https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/01-02-02-0004-0005