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On this day 250 years ago in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, six men including John Allan (who probably wrote it) signed a petition to General Washington: The Inhabitants of Nova scotia & in perticular those of the County of Cumberland have been under the Greatest A[n]xiety and Apprehension ever since the Great Contest subsisting between…
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On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, “A petition of Pierre Le Fargue was referred to the Secret Committee” of the Continental Congress. Delegate Richard Smith of New Jersey recorded in his diary a few more details about the cryptic petition: A Frenchman who had brought into this Port Ammunition now requested Leave to…
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On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, Continental Congress Delegate William Hooper wrote Samuel Johnston, President of the Third Provincial Congress and head of the North Carolina Provincial Council (in effect the Governor of North Carolina in everything but name) that British General Clinton is at New York in the Mercury of 26 Guns…
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On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, Dunlap’s Pennsylvania Packet or, the General Advetiser published an Extract of a letter from a gentleman in the West-Indies to his friend in Falmouth, Casco-Bay. We are anxious—very anxious, to hear from you.—Don’t think because we know little, we care little about you; for though you have…
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On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, Virginia Delegate Thomas Nelson, Jr. wrote to his fellow Delegate Thomas Jefferson with news about the war. Jefferson had returned to Virginia from Congress to care for his ailing wife: A Vessel arriv’d two nights ago with 60 Tons of Salt Petre, 13 Tons of Gunpowder and…
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On this day 250 years ago in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Lieutenant Moody Dustin was acquitted in a court martial. The orders of the day read: Lieut. Dustin of Capt. Farringtons Company, in the 16th Regiment of Foot, tried at a General Court Martial whereof Col. Patterson was President for “Cowardice on the 7th of Jany last,…
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On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress a “memorial from Samson Occum was read, and referred to the committee on Indian affairs.” I have searched for a copy of this “memorial” written by Rev. Samson Occom (as he usually spelled his name) of East Hampton, Long Island and have not found…
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On this day 250 years ago at his headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, General George Washington wrote to Col. Timothy Bedel of New Hampshire: The Continental Congress, haveing Calld upon the Government of New Hampshire to raise a Regiment for the Service of the United Colonies—which they have accordingly Complied with—and appointed you to the Command—I…
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On this day 250 years ago in Cambridge, Massachusetts, General George Washington met with Chief “Jean Baptist or Ogaghsagighte”” and “Sundry Sachems & Warriors” of the Caughnawaga Nation. Washington’s aide Lt. Col. Robert Hanson Harrison recorded these words of Chief Ogaghsagighte: We were sent by the Five tribes of Canada Indians, consisting of the Coghnawaga…
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On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, Congressman Thomas McKean wrote to Major General Philip Schuyler at his home and headquarters in Saratoga, New York about a force Scottish Highland soldierssss organized by Sir John Johnson in New York: A certain Duncan Campbell, Captain in the Royal Scotch Emigrants and now a Prisoner here,…