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On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia introduced a resolution in the Continental Congress for Independence from Great Britain: Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all…
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On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress named the first thirteen ships of the Continental Navy as the Congress, Randolph, Hancock, Washington, Trumbull, Raleigh, Hifingham, Montgomery, Warren, Boston, Virginia, Providence, and Delaware. The Congress also named “sundry gentlemen for captains and subaltern officers for the ships building or built for the…
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On this day 250 years in the Town of Wrentham in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, the “general Town-Meeting of the Freeholders, and other inhabitants of this Town” instructed its delegates to the Massachusetts Assembly: Letters by divers ill-minded persons have been written against the Government, in consequence of which divers acts of the British Parliament have been made, mutilating…
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On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, John Adams wrote to Col. Hugh Hughes of New York regarding a proposed constitution for New York that would create a Governor and Councillors for Life or during good Behaviour[.] I should dread Such a Constitution, in these perilous Times, because however wise and brave, and virtuous…
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On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress resolved to recruit: “a number of Indians, not exceeding two thousand” to serve in Canada; 13,800 militia from Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey and New York to reinforce the defense of New York City from an anticipated British invasion; and “a flying camp” of 10,000…
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On this day 250 years ago Major General John Thomas died of smallpox and was buried in an unmarked grave at Fort Chambly, Canada. Gen. Thomas was not the only member of the Continental Army in Canada who died of smallpox that day, and he was not the only Continental buried in an an unmarked…
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On this day 250 years ago onboard the Dunmore anchored off Gwynn’s Island, Virginia, Captain Gomalez of the Spanish packet boat Santa Barbara and Miguel Antonio Eduardo met with Lord Dunmore to try and persuade the British to release the Santa Barbara. The HMS Liverpool had captured the Santa Barbara off Delaware Bay as it…
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On this day 250 years ago in Canada, Samuel Chase wrote to Maj. Gen. Philip Schuyler: Our affairs here grow every Hour more gloomy. On yesterday there was a Meeting of our Generals & greater part of our field officers. They resolved to make a Stand as long as possible…. At 12 o’Clock, Genl. Thompson,…
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On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, Caesar Rodney (delegate from Delaware in the Continental Congress) wrote to his brother Thomas Rodney (a member of the Delaware Committe of Safety) about a parade of the Associators (volunteer militia) in Philadelphia: Reviewed the day before Yesterday, on the Common, by the Congress, Generals Washington, Gates…
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On this day 250 years ago, “the General Committee of Mechanicks in union, of the City and County of New-York” adopted this resolution: When we cast a glance upon our beloved continent, where fair freedom, civil and religious, we have long enjoyed, whose fruitful field have made the world glad, and whose trade has filled…
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