Tag: american-history

On this day 250 years ago in the Revolution — July 9, 1775

July 9th, 2025

On this day 250 years ago two barges with South Carolina militia commanded by Captain John Barnwell and Captain John Joyner, an immigrant from England) and the Georgia ship Liberty commanded by Captain Oliver Bowen captured the HMS Phillippa and the supply ship it was escorting near Bloody Point on Tybee Island, Georgia. The Liberty “hoisted at the masthead a white flag with a red border, on the field of which flag was stamped or imprinted in large red letters the words ‘American Liberty,’” before firing on the Phillippa. The Americans capture16,000 pounds of gunpowder and later ship 4,000 pounds of the captured gunpowder to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Bowen and Joyner would go on to command additional ships, and Barnwell would command troops in the Continental Army during the Revolution.

Sources: https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=20314; https://www.myrevolutionarywar.com/battles/1775-skirmish/; https://www.carolana.com/SC/Revolution/revolution_bloody_point.html;https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1020&context=sav-bios-lane; https://thefrigatesouthcarolina.weebly.com/blog/john-joyner-gillons-second-in-command; https://www.carolana.com/SC/Revolution/patriot_leaders_sc_john_barnwell.html

1775 Arms & Gunpowder Raids

On this day 250 years ago Cambridge, Massachusetts, General Washington held his first Council of War with his generals and staff at his headquarters in the Wadsworth House.

Sources: https://www.nps.gov/places/wadsworth-house.htm; “Council of War, 9 July 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-01-02-0045. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 1, 16 June 1775 – 15 September 1775, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1985, pp. 79–82.]

On this day 250 years ago in Watertown, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress voted

to supply the Indians of the Penobscot tribe, with any quantity of goods, not exceeding the value of three hundred pounds, and to draw on the receiver general for the same, who is hereby directed to pay such drafts, in three months after the date of this resolve, and to take furs and skins of the said Indians, in exchange, on the account of this colony, they to be accountable for their proceedings.

Source: https://archive.org/details/journalsofeachprma00mass/page/476/mode/2up
On this day 250 years ago in the Revolution — May 26, 1775

May 26th, 2025

On this day in New York City, the New York Provincial Congress adopted the General Association that declared

Persuaded that the salvation of the Rights and Liberties of America, depends under God, on the firm union of its inhabitants, in a vigorous prosecution of the measures necessary for its safety, and convinced of the necessity of preventing the anarchy and confusion which attend a dissolution of the powers of Government, We the Deputies of the different Counties of the Colony of New-York in Provincial Congress convened, being greatly alarmed at the avowed design of the Ministry, to raise a revenue in America, and shocked by the bloody scene now acting in the Massachusetts – Bay, DO in the most solemn manner resolve never to become Slaves, and do associate under all the ties of Religion, Honour and Love to our Country, to adopt and endeavour to carry into execution whatever measures may be recommended by the Continental-Congress or resolved upon by this Provincial Congress for the purpose of preserving our Constitution, and opposing the execution of the several arbitrary and oppressive acts of the British Parliament, until a reconciliation between Great Britain and America, on constitutional principles, (which we most ardently desire), can be obtained; and that will in all things, follow the advice of our respective County Committees, respecting the purposes aforesaid, the preservation of Peace and good order, and the safety of individuals and private Property.

Source: https://www.cnyhistory.org/2015/05/general-association/

On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress adopted four resolutions:

The Congress adopted four resolutions introduced by Samuel Ward of Rhode Island:

1. That his Majesty’s most faithful subjects, in these colonies, are reduced to a dangerous and critical situation, by the attempts of the British Ministry to carry into execution, by force of arms, several unconstitutional and oppressive acts of the British parliament for laying taxes in America; to enforce the collection of those taxes, and for altering and changing the constitution and internal police of some of these colonies, in violation of the natural and civil rights of the colonists.

2. Hostilities being actually commenced in the Massachusetts bay, by the British troops, under the command of General Gage, and the lives of a number of the inhabitants of that colony destroyed, the town of Boston having not only been long occupied as a garrisoned town in an enemy’s country, but the inhabitants thereof treated with a severity and cruelty not to be justified even towards declared enemies; large re-inforcements too being ordered and soon expected, for the declared purpose of compelling these colonies to submit to the operation of the said acts; Resolved, therefore, that for the express purpose of securing and defending these colonies, and preserving them in safety against all attempts to carry the said acts into execution by force of arms, these colonies be immediately put into a state of defense.

3. But, as we most ardently wish for a restoration of the harmony formerly subsisting between our Mother country and these colonies, the interruption of which must, at all events, be exceedingly injurious to both countries, Resolved, that with a sincere design of contributing by all the means in our power, not incompatible with a just regard for the undoubted rights and true interests of these colonies, to the promotion of this most desirable reconciliation, an humble and dutiful petition be presented to his Majesty.

4. Resolved, That measures be entered into for opening a Negotiation, in order to accommodate the unhappy disputes subsisting between Great Britain and these colonies, and that this be made a part of the petition to the King.

As a result of the third resolution a committee of Congress began drafting the “Olive Branch Petition” — the last attempt by Congress to reconcile with Britain short of war and independence.

Sources: https://americanfounding.org/entries/second-continental-congress-may-26-1775/; https://250andcounting.com/2025/05/26/may-26-1775-one-more-attempt-at-peace/

Although this day would be celebrated as Memorial Day only by future generations, 250 years ago, Congress’s second resolution shows that Americans were memorializing “the lives of a number of the inhabitants of” Massachusetts lost at Lexington and Concord in the fight to secure American liberty.
On this day 250 years ago in the Revolution — May 21, 1775

May 21st, 2025

On this day 250 years ago, two British sloops and an armed schooner with about 100 soldiers sailed out of Boston to Grape Island on the southern end of Boston Bay to gather hay from the farm of the Loyalist who owned the island. Nearly 2000 militia from Hingham and surrounding towns, including John Adams’ brothers from Braintree, gathered on the mainland shore across from the island. Although they were at the edge of the range of muskets, they began firing at the British. When the tide came in the Americans crossed to the island on small boats and British boarded their ships to depart with the hay they had gathered. While sailing away the British ships exchanged fire with the militia. Despite a lot of gunfire over several hours the British reportedly had only three men wounded and the Americans none. The Americans did, however, burn about eighty tons of hay that the British had not been able to remove, as well as the Loyalist’s barn, and removed his livestock from the island.

Following this skirmish, the Patriots began raiding the islands in Boston Harbor in the “Provision War” to remove livestock and hay needed by the British Army in Boston.

Sources: https://www.patriotledger.com/story/opinion/columns/2008/05/17/a-forgotten-battle/40205911007/; https://www.nps.gov/places/grape-island.htm; https://www.bpl.org/blogs/post/before-bunker-hill/; https://guides.bpl.org/c.php?g=800717&p=10418669; https://revolutionarywar.us/year-1775/

Last weekend the Town of Hingham commemorated the 250th anniversary of “Battle of Grape Island” https://hinghamhistorical.org/battle-of-grape-island/. But next weekend in Boston there will be commemorations of the next, and much more significant, engagements in the Provision War. https://www.revolution250.org/; https://www.revolution250.org/; https://www.revolution250.org/; https://www.revolution250.org/
On this day 250 years ago in the Revolution — May 10, 1775

May 10th, 2025

On this day 250 years ago in New York City, a mob storms the home of the outspoken Loyalist Myles Cooper, President of King’s College (now Columbia University). Two students of King’s College, Alexander Hamilton and Robert Troup, stall the mob to allow Cooper to flee to a British ship that would carry him to England, never to return to America. Hamilton and Troup were not Loyalists but were ardent Patriots who would both serve heroically in the Continental Army. Troup would become a Lt. Colonel and Hamilton a Colonel, with Hamilton going on to even more fame as one of the architects of United States Constitution.

Source: https://archives.upenn.edu/exhibits/penn-history/common-nonsense/kings-college/; https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/alexander-hamilton-and-the-life-of-a-loyalist-academic.html

On this day 250 years ago in Lexington, Massachusetts, Col. Jeremiah Lee died from illness he contracted during the British raid on Lexington. Lee was one of the wealthiest men in Massachusetts. As a Member of the Committee of Safety and with his own wealth organized the smuggling of arms and ammunition for the New England Army in the weeks before Lexington and Concord. On the day before the battle, Lee had met with Samuel Adams and John Hancock and with other Members of the Committee of Safety. He and two other Members of the Committee of Safety were rousted from sleep with the approach of the British Army in the early morning of April 19 and spent the night hiding in a cornfield to avoid capture by the British. Although he was not wounded in combat, Lee supposedly caught pneumonia and was weakened by exposure from lying in the field all night and never recovered enough to return to his home. You can visit the home in Marblehead, Massachusetts of this little remembered Patriot who should be counted as one of the Founding Fathers and as another American casualty of the Battle of Lexington.

https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/2017/03/jeremiah-lee-mansion

Click to access coloneljeremiahl00leet.pdf

The Jeremiah Lee Mansion, Marblehead’s Crown Jewel

https://www.marbleheadchamber.org/events/details/marblehead-s-mysterious-revolutionary-2946

On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Second Continental Congress convened at the Philadelphia State House (today’s Independence Hall National Historic Site) and unanimously elected Peyton Randolph as its President and Charles Thomson as Secretary.

Source: https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2025/05/08/the-second-continental-congress-convenes/; https://www.americanrevolution.org/second-continental-congress/; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Continental_Congress

And in the early morning hours of this day 250 years ago, Fort Ticonderoga, New York is captured in a surprise attack by Green Mountain Boys and Massachusetts and Connecticut Militia led by Colonels Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold. Allen reportedly proclaimed that he was taking the fort under the authority of the Continental Congress, which would be news to the Congress as it had not yet convened, but the assault had been authorized by the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts and the Connecticut Committee of Safety. Only one British soldier fired his musket but it misfired and the only injury was a slight gash that another British soldier received from Allen’s sword. The Patriots captured the garrison of 44 men that included 38 British soldiers, two officers and four civilians, plus 24 women and children, more than a hundred cannon plus mortars, howitzers, ordnance, and other arms and ammunition — and 24 kegs of rum.

Sources: https://revolutionarywar.us/year-1775/battle-fort-ticonderoga/; Tonsetic at pp. 35-39.

Today, May 10, 2025, Fort Ticonderoga is reenacting and commemorating the 250th anniversary of the capture of Fort Ticonderoga. https://fortticonderoga.org/ft_events/real-time-revolution-3-day-battle-reenactment-no-quarter/
On this day 250 years ago in the Revolution — May 6, 1775

May 6th, 2025

On this day 250 years ago in Williamsburg, Virginia, Royal Governor Lord Dunmore issued a proclamation against “a certain Patrick Henry, of the County of Hanover, and a Number of his deluded Followers.”

Sources: https://www.varsitytutors.com/earlyamerica/early-america-review/volume-8/the-proclamation-against-patrick-henry; https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/dbva/items/show/314

On this day 250 years ago in Baltimore, Maryland, Col. George Washington and the other delegates reviewed four companies of the Town’s militia including the Baltimore Independent Cadets commanded by Capt. Mordecai Gist. Gist would go on to serve heroically in the Continental Army under Washington rising to the rank of Brigadier General in command of the Maryland Line.

Source: “[Diary entry: 6 May 1775],” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/01-03-02-0005-0010-0006. [Original source: The Diaries of George Washington, vol. 3, 1 January 1771–5 November 1781, ed. Donald Jackson. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1978, pp. 327–328.]

On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Assembly voted to add Benjamin Franklin, Scottish immigrant James Wilson and Thomas Willing to the Pennsylvania Delegation to the Continental Congress. Franklin and Wilson would end up signing the Declaration but Willing would refuse to sign. Willing was one of the richest men in America but lost public office because he opposed Independence. Nevertheless, he did not join the Loyalists and contributed 5000 pounds (which would be more than $1 million today) to the Patriot cause during the War, and after the War was appointed as the first President of the Bank of North America, the first bank chartered by Congress.

Source: “John Adams to Abigail Adams, 23 July 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/04-01-02-0164. [Original source: The Adams Papers, Adams Family Correspondence, vol. 1, December 1761 – May 1776, ed. Lyman H. Butterfield. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1963, pp. 252–254.]

And on this day 250 years ago in Watertown, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress voted

That Gen. John Whitcomb and Col. Benjamin Lincoln be, and hereby are appointed muster masters in the Massachusetts army, whose business it shall be to pass muster on every soldier that be enlisted into said army, and by no means to accept of any but such as are able bodied, effective men ; and also to examine if their arms and accoutrements are in proper order : and said muster masters are hereby directed and empowered to receive . . . twenty shillings, lawful money, for each and every non commissioned officer and private soldier thus mustered and sworn, who shall appear with their arms and accoutrements

Source: Journals of each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts at 199

General Whitcomb would serve as a General in the Massachusetts Militia for the rest of the year but was then forced to retire from service the next year due to old age (63 years old, which troubles me at age 62!). Col. Lincoln would go into Continental Service and advance to the rank of Major General as Washington’s second-in-command at Yorktown.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Whitcomb_(general)
On this day 250 years ago in the Revolution — May 3, 1775

May 3rd, 2025

On this day 250 years ago at Belgrade Farm in Perquimans County, North Carolina, John Harvey died from illness after earlier falling from his horse. Although not remembered by many today, Harvey was the leader of the North Carolina Provincial Congress and has been called the “Father of the American Revolution in North Carolina” by historians.

https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/harvey-john-0; https://www.dncr.nc.gov/blog/2023/12/01/john-harvey-28; https://www.carolana.com/NC/Revolution/nc_revolution_government_1775.html

On this day 250 years ago in Watertown, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress issued an address

To the Honourable AMERICAN Continental Congress, to be convened at PHILADELPHIA on the 10 th of MAY instant.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOURS: The Congress of this Colony, impressed with the deepest concern for their Country, under the present critical and alarming state of its publick affairs, beg leave, with the utmost submission, whilst acting in support of the cause of America, to request the direction and assistance of your respectable Assembly.

. . .

The sanguinary zeal of the Ministerial Army to ruin and destroy the inhabitants of this Colony, in the opinion of this Congress hath rendered the establishment of an Army indispensably necessary; we have accordingly passed an unanimous resolve for thirteen thousand six hundred men to be forthwith raised by this Colony; and proposals are made by us to the Congress of New-Hampshire, and Governments of Rhode-Island and Connecticut Colonies, for furnishing men in the same proportion.

The sudden exigency of our publick affairs precluded the possibility of waiting for your direction in these important measures; more especially as a considerable re-enforcement from Great Britain is daily expected in this Colony, and we are now reduced to the sad alternative of defending ourselves by arms, or submitting to be slaughtered.

With the greatest deference, we beg leave to suggest, that a powerful Army, on the side of America, hath been considered by this Congress as the only means left to stem the rapid progress of a tyrannical Ministry. Without a force superiour to our enemies, we must reasonably expect to become the victims of their relentless fury. With such a force, we may still have hopes of seeing an immediate end put to the inhuman ravages of mercenary troops in America, and the wicked authors of our miseries brought to condign punishment, by the just indignation of our brethren in Great Britain.

Source: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220288425; https://digital.lib.niu.edu/islandora/object/niu-amarch%3A104922

On this day 250 years ago in Cambridge, the Massachusetts Committee of Safety recommended that Captain Benedict Arnold of Connecticut be appointed

Colonel and Commander-in-Chief over a body of men, not exceeding four hundred, to proceed with all expedition to the Western part of this and the neighbouring Colonies, where you are directed to enlist those men, and with them forthwith to march to the Fort at Ticonderoga, and use your best endeavours to reduce the same, taking possession of the cannon, mortars, stores, &c.

That same day in Watertown the Massachusetts Provincial Congress received the Committee of Safety’s recommendation and

Resolved, That the within request of the committee of safety be granted, and that the committee of supplies be, and they hereby are directed, to furnish Col. Benedict Arnold with ten horses, two hundred pounds of gunpowder, two hundred pounds of lead balls, and one thousand flints, at the expense of the colony, and that said committee draw upon Henry Gardner, Esq., receiver general, for one hundred pounds, [lawful money,] in favor of said Arnold, and take his receipt for the whole — said Arnold to be accountable therefor to this or some other congress, or future house of representatives.

Sources: https://ndar-history.org/q-node/577/; Journals of each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts at 185 accessed at https://archive.org/details/journalsofeachprma00mass/page/184/mode/2up?view=theater

And on this day 250 years ago at the Green Mountain Boys headquarters in Fay’s House (later known as Catamount Tavern) in Bennington, Vermont, Col. Ethan Allen was organizing an attack to capture Fort Ticonderoga in New York. His brother Heman Allen had arrived the day before with word that the Connecticut Committee of Correspondence had requested that the Green Mountain Boys capture Fort Ticonderoga. Ethan Allen was meeting with local committees of safety and assembling members of his Green Mountain Boys militia including his brother Levi Allen. On that day, 14 Connecticut Militia led by Captains Edward Mott, Noah Phelps and Bernard Romans arrived with 300 Pounds that Connecticut authorities had provided to fund the attack.

Sources: Tonsetic, Robert L., Special Operations during the American Revolution, Philadelphia, Casemate, 2013 at 23-27; https://www.americanheritage.com/name-great-jehovah-and-continental-congress; https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=77053

On this day 250 years ago, Patrick Henry’s Hanover County militia company encamped at Doncastle’s Ordinary in James City County, Virginia. They were on their way to Williamsburg to demand that Lord Dunmore return the gunpowder seized from the Powder Magazine. There they met Carter Braxton, who convinced Henry to halt the march to Williamsburg while Braxton returned to Williamsburg to negotiate with Dunmore.

https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/events/virginias-response-to-the-powder-incident/; https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=184136

Today and tomorrow, May 3-4, 2025, Patrick Henry Encampment will be reenacted at the nearby New Kent Ordinary to commemorate the 250th anniversary of this event — https://www.newkent-va.us/DocumentCenter/View/8663/250th-anniversary-celebration?bidId=

And on this day 250 years ago at Mount Vernon, Virginia, George Washington visits with Horatio Gates and Richard Henry Lee, his brother Thomas Ludwell Lee, and Charles Carter arrive in the afternoon to spend the night. They are all committed Patriots and undoubtedly discussed the news of Lexington and Concord and Governor Dunmore’s raid on the Powder Magazine. Richard Henry Lee and George Washington would depart together the next day to join the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Thomas Ludwell Lee and Charles Carter would remain in Virginia but would serve in the Virginia Assembly during the War. Gates would later head north to join the Continental Army rising to the rank of Major General and fame at Saratoga and ignominy at Camden.

Sources: https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/revolutionary-war/250-years-ago-day; “[Diary entry: 3 May 1775],” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/01-03-02-0005-0010-0003. [Original source: The Diaries of George Washington, vol. 3, 1 January 1771–5 November 1781, ed. Donald Jackson. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1978, pp. 325–327.]

Tomorrow, May 4, 2025, Mount Vernon will commemorate the 250th anniversary of George Washington’s departure from Mount Vernon to join the Continental Congress and take command of the Continental Army.

Source: https://www.mountvernon.org/plan-your-visit/calendar/events/revolutionary-war-weekend
On this day 250 years ago in the Revolution — April 28, 1775

April 28th, 2025

On this day 250 years ago, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Christian Febiger, an immigrant from Denmark, enlists as a private in the Massachusetts militia. Febiger serves heroically throughout the Revolution including at Bunker Hill, Quebec (where he was captured and imprisoned for eight months), Brandywine, Stony Point and in Virginia ending his service as a Brevet Brigadier General in the Continental Army. “Old Denmark” Febiger is one of the heroes of the Revolution who deserves better recognition for his contributions to American liberty.

Sources: https://allthingsliberty.com/2017/01/hans-christian-febiger-old-denmark/; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Febiger

On this day 250 years ago, news of Lexington and Concord reaches Hanover Court House, Virginia, where Patrick Henry is ready to ride north to attend the Continental Congress. On that same day, a report of the battles reaches Williamsburg, Virginia, and is published in William Pinkney’s Virginia Gazette.

Sources: https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/events/virginias-response-to-the-powder-incident/; https://research.colonialwilliamsburg.org/pf/declaring/lexVsConBattles.cfm

On this day 250 years ago in Montreal, Canada, four men write a response on behalf of the British “Inhabitants of Montreal” to the Massachusetts Committee of Safety’s invitation to send representatives to the Continental Congress:

We have received your letter of the 21st of February, by Mr Brown, and see clearly the great injustice that has been done you. We deeply feel the sorrows and afflictions of our suffering brethren ; and sincerely wish it was in our power to afford you effectual relief; but alas! we are more the objects of pity and compassion than yourselves, who are now suffering under the heavy hand of power; deprived, as we are, of the common right of the miserable, to complain. You have numbers, strength, and a common cause to support you in your opposition : we are still more divided here, by our interests, than by our religion, language, and manners. The apprehension of evils to come upon us, in a short time, from the unlimited power of the governor, strikes all opposition dead : indeed, few in this colony dare vent their griefs ; but groan in silence, and dream of lettres de cachet, confiscations, and imprisonments; offering up their fervent prayers to the throne of grace, to prosper your righteous cause, which alone will free us from those jealous fears and apprehensions tliat rob us of our peace.

In a word, were the British inhabitants of this widely extended province, united in their sentiments, we have neither numbers nor wealth sufficient to do you any essential service. We must, therefore, cast ourselves into the arms of our sister colonies, relying upon the wisdom, vigor, and firnmess of the general Continental Congress for our protection, hoping they will entertain no animosity or resentment against us because we cannot join them in the ensuing general Congress, which, were we to attempt, the Canadians would join with the government to frustrate.

Source: Journals of each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts at 751 accessed at https://archive.org/details/journalsofeachprma00mass/page/750/mode/2up?view=theater
On this day 250 years ago in the Revolution — April 25, 1775

April 25th, 2025

On this day 250 years ago, in Providence, Rhode Island, the General Assembly wrote to the Massachusetts Provincial Congress that it was meeting “to consult and act upon the present distresses into which your Colony and all of New-England are involved” and that Rhode Island was

firm and determined. . . . A greater unanimity scarce ever prevailed in the Lower House than was found in the great questions before them . . . . We pray God that he would be graciously pleased to bring to nothing the counsels and designs of wicked men against our lives and liberties, and grant his blessing upon our righteous contest.

The Rhode Island General Assembly further pledged to raise 1,500 men to

continue in this Colony, as an Army of Observation; to repel any insults or violence that may be offered to the inhabitants; and also, if it be necessary for the safety and preservation of any of the Colonies, that they be ordered to march out of this Colony, and join and cooperate with the Forces of our neighbouring Colonies.

Sources: https://newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/april-25-1775-rhode-island-firm-determined-writes-metcalf-bowler/; https://www.americanhistorycentral.com/entries/siege-of-boston/

Also on that day in New York City, Scottish immigrant Alexander McDougall mustered hundreds of New Yorkers into service and gave each “a Good firelock, Bayonet, Cartouch Box, and Belt.”

The Importance of Partisanship in New York City, ca. 1769–1775

And on that day in Mount Vernon, Virginia, William Johnson, the Muster Master of the Fairfax Independent Company, dined with George Washington and presented him a letter signed by Captain James Hendricks, George Gilpin, and Robert H. Harrison requesting Washington’s direction on whether the Company should “take the Fashion of the Hunting Shirt Cap & Gaiters” as its uniform. Thomas Davis from Fredericksburg also met with Washington at Mount Vernon to pay him £4 16s. to buy gunpowder for the Spotsylvania Independent Company.

Sources: “To George Washington from Fairfax Independent Company, 25 April 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-10-02-0268. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Colonial Series, vol. 10, 21 March 1774 – 15 June 1775, ed. W. W. Abbot and Dorothy Twohig. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1995, pp. 344–345.]; “[Diary entry: 25 April 1775],” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/01-03-02-0005-0008-0025. [Original source: The Diaries of George Washington, vol. 3, 1 January 1771–5 November 1781, ed. Donald Jackson. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1978, p. 323.]
On this day 250 years ago in the Revolution — April 22, 1775

April 22nd, 2025

On this day 250 years ago, thousands of militia under the nominal command of General Artemas Ward, but in practice acting as independent companies, surrounded Boston. More militiamen were on the march to join them. Most of the men were Massachusetts Militia, but militia from New Hampshire commanded by Col. John Stark had also joined the Siege of Boston.

Source: https://www.americanhistorycentral.com/entries/american-revolutionary-war-timeline-1775-january-june/

In New Haven, Connecticut, Benedict Arnold, commander of the Second Company, Governor’s Foot Guard, had assembled his 60 men to go to Boston but needed gunpowder. General David Wooster of the Connecticut Militia initially refused Arnold’s demand for the keys to the Powder House because the Connecticut Governor and Legislature had not given their authorization. After Arnold threatened to break in, Wooster relented, and Arnold took the powder he needed and he and his men began their three-day march to Boston. Wooster was more cautious than Arnold but he was not a Loyalist; two years later Wooster and Arnold would fight together to defend against a British raid into Connecticut, and Wooster would be mortally wounded fighting for American Independence.

Every year the State of Connecticut celebrates Arnold’s seizure of the gunpowder as Powder House Day. This year the 250th commemoration of Powder House Day will be held on May 10.

Sources:

Benedict Arnold Demands the Key – Today in History: April 22

http://www.footguard.org/sched.html

And on this day 250 years ago in western Massachusetts, the Stockbridge Militia Company under the command of Captain William Goodrich with David Pixley as first lieutenant and Jehoiakim Mtohksin as second lieutenant, began their march to Boston. In addition to Jehoiakim Mtohksin, at least fifteen other members of the Stockbridge Mohicans would participate in the Siege of Boston including Abraham Naunauphtaunk, William Notonksion, Sr., Solomon Uhhaunauwaunmut, Jacob Naunauphtaunk with his sons Abraham and Jehoiakim, Daniel Nimham, and both William Ntonksion, Sr., and Jr.

http://www.bidwellhousemuseum.org; https://www.americanhistorycentral.com/entries/american-revolutionary-war-timeline-1775-january-june/
On this day 250 years ago in the Revolution — April 16, 1775

April 16th, 2025

On this day 250 years ago Isaiah Thomas, publisher of the Massachusetts Spy, smuggled his printing press out of Boston with the assistance of Timothy Bigelow and Joseph Warren. Thomas removed his press and paper to Bigelow’s home in the Patriot stronghold of Worcester were it would be safe from seizure by the British Army. The Massachusetts Spy resumed publishing in Worcester in early May, and from there it would remain a leading Patriot newspaper throughout the Revolutionary War.

Sources: https://www.discovercentralma.org/articles/post/patriots-day-worcesters-role-in-the-american-revolution/; https://collections.americanantiquarian.org/earlyamericannewsmedia/items/show/19

Also on this day 250 years ago in Boston, Joseph Warren dispatched Paul Revere to ride to Lexington to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams that the British were planning to send troops to raid Concord. Revere then rode to Cambridge and Charlestown to meet with the committees in those towns to work out a plan to provide warnings when the British began their raid. They agreed that Revere and other express riders would leave Boston through Boston Neck and by rowing across Back Bay to carry the warnings to Lexington and Concord, but in case they were unable to get through, Revere would hang lanterns in the steeple of the North Church to signal whether the British were moving by land (one lantern) or by sea (two lanterns).

After learning of Revere’s warnings of the planned raid by the British Army, the Patriots in Worcester that night moved the military supplies stored in their town to hidden locations.

Sources: https://www.americanhistorycentral.com/entries/american-revolutionary-war-timeline-1775-january-june/; Fischer, Paul Revere’s Ride at 88.

And this week in 2025, the National Park Service, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the towns of Lexington and Concord and many Revolutionary heritage organizations have events planned to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The events will be ongoing for several days and you can find links to some of the events here:

https://www.nps.gov/mima/planyourvisit/patriots-day.htm

https://www.nps.gov/mima/planyourvisit/250-battle-road-demo.htm

https://concordma.gov/3813/Patriots-Day-Weekend-2025

Reenactment of the Battle of Lexington

Lex250

250th Celebration