On this day 250 years in New York, brothers Admiral Richard Howe and General William Howe, the British Naval and Army commanders in America sent a messenger under a flag of truce in a small boat from Staten Island to Manhattan. The message offering a “pardon” to all who would pledge allegiance to Great Britain was addressed to “George Washington, Esq.” The letter was returned unopened to the British messenger by two of Washington’s most trusted officers, Col. Joseph Reed and Col. Henry Knox, who informed the messenger that there was no one with that title in the Continental Army.

Source: https://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/howe-brothers-attempt-negotiate-george-washington.html; Schecter at 107-08

On this day 250 years ago in Albany, New York, Captain Elisha Phelps, the Commissary of Connecticut troops, died from a disease he contracted caring for sick soldiers, most likely smallpox. You can visit Captain Phelps’ home in Connecticut today.

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Phelps-1196; https://lostnewengland.com/2017/04/phelps-tavern-simsbury-connecticut/; https://founders.archives.gov/?q=%228%20September%201775%22&s=1111311111&sa=&r=5&sr=; https://www.simsburyinn.com/attractions/phelps-tavern-museum-and-homestead