On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress agreed to erect a monument to honor General Richard Montgomery, who was killed in the unsuccessful assault on Quebec. This was the first public monument authorized by the United States. In 1818, the State of New York would reinter Montgomery’s remains to St. Paul’s Chapel in Manhattan beside the monument authorized by the Continental Congress.

Sources: https://emergingrevolutionarywar.org/2026/01/04/richard-montgomery-the-american-martyr-mourned-on-both-sides-of-the-atlantic-ocean/; https://www.americanhistorycentral.com/entries/january-1776/

On this day 250 years ago in Bristol, Rhode Island, Capt. Billings Throope died of wounds he had received in the Battle on Prudence Island on January 13.

Sources: https://revwarbristol.net/billings-throope/;

From Fence to Fence: The Battles of Prudence Island

And on this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Evening Post published a report from an officer on an expedition ordered by the Continental Congress and of 900 soldiers from New Jersey to Long Island to suppress a threatened Loyalist uprising:

On Friday morning we crossed, with all our troops, at Horn’s Hook, near Hell Gate, and met with no opposition; we then proceeded on our way towards Jamaica, took in custody some of the principal persons proscribed; sent out parties, and brought in many of those who voted against sending delegates; disarmed them and required them to sign an obligation we had drawn up, in which we enjoin them not to oppose either tlie Continental or Provincial Congresses, but to be subject to them, and not to aid or assist the ministerial troops in the present contest. 

From Jamaica, we went to Hampstead town, where we expected the warmest opposition, but were disappointed, as the inhabitants came in and brought their arms voluntarily, for two days, as fast as we could receive them. We have about three hundred stand of arms and a considerable quantity of powder and lead. We are now on our way to Oyster Bay, and shall scour the country as we go, and exert ourselves to discharge the trust enjoined on us. 

. . .

Those that have come in and surrendered their arms, are much irritated with those who have led them to make opposition, and have deserted them in the day of difficulty. I conceive they will be as safe if not safer in our custody, than at present among their neighbors, of whom some of them seem very apprehensive, and complain that they have met with insults already.

The Patriots and Continental Army certainly did not believe in 1776 that people had a right to bear arms except as part of the official militia.

Source: https://www.americanhistorycentral.com/entries/january-1776/