Black Rock Community Council History Program

In mid-May 1776, Boston Harbor was the site of two notable skirmishes between colonial privateers and the departing British fleet. These actions occurred two months after the British evacuation of Boston but while the Royal Navy still maintained a presence in the harbor's outer waters. The Capture of the Hope (May 17, 1776)On May 17,…

On this date, the Fifth Virginia Revolutionary Convention met at the Capitol in Williamsburg and began debate on independence from the Crown. Although some delegates questioned whether the colonies should first secure foreign alliances before declaring independence, the growing demand for liberty and self-government will ultimately prevail. By formally directing its delegates to advocate for…

The American invasion of Quebec from August 1775 to July 1776 was driven by colonial fears of the province as a cultural and military threat and a simultaneous belief that it should join a unified American nation. General Richard Montgomery advanced from Fort Ticonderoga, capturing key positions including Fort St. John’s and Montreal; meanwhile, The…

Connecticut - The “Provisions State” With the exception of the raids along the coast and some British incursions into the interior, Connecticut remained free of major battles and was never occupied by the British. That, along with its rich farmland, meant the colony became a major supplier of food for Washington’s army. In 1775, Joseph…

Between the growing rebellion in the American colonies and in his holdings in the Caribbean and elsewhere, King George grows worried that his army will be stretched too thin. He initially asks Catherine the Great of Russia to lend him a few thousand fighting men, but she turned him down with the excuse that she…

General George Washington issues a series of General Orders, one warning that British troops who had recently evacuated Boston could arrive in New York at any moment. Washington urged engineers to speed up fortifications, with additional soldiers assigned to help complete defensive works as quickly as possible. Also on this day, John Adams noted in…

In May 1776, the American Congress bid each colony to form new governments, since British rule had basically collapsed. Sitting in Philadelphia with the American Congress, John Adams received the letter written the previous month from his wife, Abigail, which would go on to be often-quoted over the years: “I long to hear that you…

The Continental Congress opened its session in Philaselphia for the day and spent most of the morning attending to “war business”- referring a letter from General Washington to committee, payment for supplies, military matters, etc. They then spent the remainder of this session establishing the rules of engagement for privateering and providing authority to the…