Posted on by joelarch

May 22, 1776

The Continental Congress opened in Philadelphia on Wednesday, May 22nd with a review of a privateering issue involving the sale (without Congress’approval) of the sloop Sally. They then proceeded to address a host of other military matters ranging from supplying the army in Canada to fortifying the Hudson River. And, of course, the continuing problem of finding hard currency to fund these military needs was once again discussed.

But by mid-May, the political landscape was shifting in Philadelphia as sides were drawn between the radical factions (those seeking complete independence) and the moderate factions (those still believing that reconciliation with the Mother Country was possible) with both sides jockeying for influence and control of this historic moment. So, while their focus this day was on military matters, this ongoing political debate lurked in the background, always present in the minds of the delegates.

Earlier this month, on May 15th, “Virginia’s Fifth Revolutionary Convention  instructed its delegates in the Continental Congress to propose American independence.” (McMillan, pg. 113)

“Speaking on behalf of all the colonies, Virginia resolved that the delegates appointed to represent this colony in General Congress (Continental) be instructed to propose to that respectable body to declare the United Colonies free and independent states, absolved from all allegiance to, or dependence upon, the Crown or Parliament of Great Britain.” (McMillan, pg. 108)

Although this represented a seismic change, with Virginia being the most powerful colony, Congress still remained focused on matters of war as more reports of British troop movements and intended use of hired foreign troops poured into Philadelphia. Within days, General Washington would arrive in the city to meet with members of the Continental Congress. 

Meanwhile, back in Black Rock on this same day, military matters were being pursued as well. According to Joseph Knapp, of Stratford, “this night the brig Defense sailed from Black Rock Harbor to the eastward”.   Patricia Q Wall writes in her book, “the Defense was sailing under orders from Governor Trumbull…to intercept and arrest Tories escaping to join British forces or seeking to join Long Island cohorts in plotting raids against Connecticut.” (Wall, pp. 50-51). In a very short period of time, the Defense, at this point under the command of Seth Harding, would be commanded by young Samuel Smedley, a Fairfield resident who spent much of his childhood in and around Black Rock Harbor.

So, as the political tide was clearly turning in Philadelphia, the reality of war continued to consume the efforts of leaders from Hartford to Philadelphia. But there can be no doubt that also consuming the minds of these leaders was the looming question of complete separation from the Mother Country as more and more calls for independence were heard and these leaders were quickly reaching the point of no return. 

Colonial WIlliamsburg

Of Life & The American Revolution- The Journals of Joseph Knapp of Stratford, Connecticut 1761-1808  Wall, Patricia Q  , The Stratford Historical Society, Stratford, CT 06615

The Year that Made America  McMillan,Tom Lyons Press, Essex CT. 2025

Posted on by joelarch

May 8, 1776

Momentum toward a complete separation from the British Crown was moving swiftly by the beginning of May quickly leaving behind any thoughts of reconciliation with the Mother Country. A few days before this date, Rhode Island, originally settled by fiercely independent refugees from Massachusetts Bay, boldly declared its own independence from Great Britain.

“The colony’s general assembly passed a resolution charging King George III with forgetting his dignity and entirely departing from the duties and character of a good king…endeavoring to destroy the good people of the colony, and of all the United Colonies, by sending fleets and armies to America”. (McMillan, pg 107)

And on this day in 1776, “Richard Henry Lee, the great statesman from Virginia, received alarming news that thousands of foreign mercenaries were heading to America to reinforce the British army… including Hessians, Hanoverians and Scotch Hollanders” (McMillan, pg 107)

Within days, eight of the thirteen colonies had pledged their support for pursuing independence. Though there were still five colonies that were withholding outright support for this cause, by the middle of May, the tide was clearly moving in the direction of independence.

A local reflection of this shift could be seen in the town of Fairfield where tolerance for loyalists (those who wished to remain loyal to the crown) was clearly waning as the patriot cause was growing (Connecticut was one of those eight colonies pledging support for independence). “In May of 1776, Benjamin Huntington informed his wife that thirty-nine loyalists were currently imprisoned in the Fairfield jail”. (Farnham, pg. 82)

A few years later, in 1779, Fairfield would pay a very high price for their support of independence at the hands of General Tryon and British and Hessian troops.

The Year that Made America McMillan,Tom Lyons Press, Essex CT. 2025

Fairfield- the Biography of a Community 1639 -1989 Farnam, Thomas J, Fairfield Historical Society, 1988

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April 15, 1776

The British evacuation of Boston began on Sunday, March 17th sailing their forces to their naval base on Nova Scotia. General Washington made the decision to move his newly formed army to fortify New York City and, particularly, to establish control of the Hudson River. He correctly predicted that this would also be the goal of the British forces. The colonial exodus from Boston began in April of 1776.

Lacking the ships that the British had (Abigail Adams counted 170), Washington was forced to move his army over one of the branches of what were then known as the Post Roads. According to Patricia Q. Wall, in her book, Of Life & The American Revolution- The Journals of Joseph Knap of Stratford, CT 1761-1808, Governor Trumbull (the only colonial governor loyal to the patriot cause), requested that the troops follow the coastal road so that they may protect the colony should the enemy make any attempt to attack Connecticut.

The march would have been difficult and slow. Quill writes that in perfect weather, they could have expected to cover about twenty miles. But conditions were never this good as rain, and even snow, would have slowed their progress. For Fairfield (and Black Rock), the troops would have marched along what is today King’s Highway past where today we find Stop and Shop and then through the center of Fairfield on their way to Norwalk, and ultimately Brooklyn and Manhattan.

Residents living in this area in April of 1776 would surely have been busy supplying these troops with a host of provisions including food, shelter for some, firewood, hay for their horses, repairs for their wagons and much more. This must have been a very busy and tense time for these residents as the war, which had begun a year earlier, was quickly moving to their doorstep.