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Revolutionary War 250

@revwar250.bsky.social

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Posts from 1775! The American Revolution and War of Independence and the world in which they happened, 250 years ago.

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Revolutionary War 250 @revwar250.bsky.social · 4d

7 OCTOBER 1775, LONDON: “My dear children underwent their operation with all possible and more than expected Heroism,” Queen Charlotte writes to the princes’ and princesses’ governess, Lady Charlotte Finch, about their inoculation against smallpox.

Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, painted in 1779 by Sir Joshua Reynolds

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Revolutionary War 250 @revwar250.bsky.social · 4h

“or, I think he said, the King had wrote with his own hand to the Empress to this purpose; and an answer to this letter was expected about the 20th of this month, which is the present, or was last Sunday, the then state of this Treaty.”

Revolutionary War 250 @revwar250.bsky.social · 4h

“that he was then directed to signify, that it was not the King’s intention to receive them as Auxiliaries, but as intirely in the British service, under the full direction and command of His Majesty’s General:

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Revolutionary War 250 @revwar250.bsky.social · 4h

“And Mr Gibbon says the question was answered in such manner that the Ambassador had no doubt of a compliance:

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Revolutionary War 250 @revwar250.bsky.social · 4h

“This he acquainted his Court with; and he was thereupon ordered to sound and search out whether, if a number of troops, from 10 to 15,000 should be wanted, they might be had?

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Revolutionary War 250 @revwar250.bsky.social · 4h

“The Empress sometime since, expressed to Mr Gunning, the British Ambassador, her concern about the troubles in America, and gave such hints that he made no doubt of her disposition to lend her troops for the English service.

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Revolutionary War 250 @revwar250.bsky.social · 4h

11 OCTOBER 1775, LONDON: The historian Edward Gibbon gives Loyalist Thomas Hutchinson an account of negotiations between the British government & Catherine the Great for Russian troops to serve in the American war, which everyone expects to be announced within weeks:

Thomas Hutchinson, painted by Edward Truman

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Revolutionary War 250 @revwar250.bsky.social · 23h

10 OCTOBER 1775, PHILADELPHIA: The Continental Congress debate whether to continue the policy of having colonial assemblies appoint the officers of newly raised Continental regiments.

Founders Online: [Notes of Debates, Continued] Octr. 10.

[Notes of Debates, Continued] Octr. 10.

founders.archives.gov

Revolutionary War 250 @revwar250.bsky.social · 1d

It’s the last recorded action of the Hannah.

Revolutionary War 250 @revwar250.bsky.social · 1d

10 OCTOBER 1775, BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS: The Royal Navy warship Nautilus and the Hannah, the first Continental ship of war, run aground beneath the guns of a Continental fort. After a four hour engagement with onshore militia, Nautilus limps away when the tide refloats her.

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Revolutionary War 250 @revwar250.bsky.social · 1d

10 OCTOBER 1775, BOSTON: Thomas Gage embarks for England, and Major General William Howe replaces him as commander-in-chief of the British army in America. Canada is divided from North America as a separate command, under Guy Carleton.

Thomas Gage, painted by John Singleton Copley

A 1777 mezzotint purporting to depict Sir William Howe

Revolutionary War 250 @revwar250.bsky.social · 1d

Because of this separation, the relation between William and Temple is distant and awkward; once William is arrested by Patriot authorities, Temple and Benjamin Franklin will proceed more as if they are father and son than separated by an additional generation.

Revolutionary War 250 @revwar250.bsky.social · 1d

Temple has only recently arrived in America; while William has been governor of New Jersey since 1763, Temple has been raised in London by William’s own father, Benjamin. (William, like Temple, is the illegitimate son of an unknown mother.)

William Temple Franklin, painted by Mather Brown in 1782

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Revolutionary War 250 @revwar250.bsky.social · 1d

9 OCTOBER 1775, PERTH AMBOY, NEW JERSEY: Governor William Franklin writes to his illegitimate son, William Temple Franklin, suggesting he attend the German school at night, as a knowledge of German will help him in Pennsylvania.

William Franklin, painting attributed to Mather Brown

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Revolutionary War 250 @revwar250.bsky.social · 2d

Any such black individual is “to be seized and confined until Sun-rise, in the Guard, nearest to the place where such Negroe is taken up.”

Revolutionary War 250 @revwar250.bsky.social · 2d

9 OCTOBER 1775, CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS BAY: The Continental Army’s general orders warn about “any Negroe … found straggling after Taptoo [tattoo, or curfew] beating about the Camp, or about any of the roads or Villages, near the encampments at Roxbury, or Cambridge.”

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Revolutionary War 250 @revwar250.bsky.social · 2d

But when Pepperell died without any sons, he willed his estate to his daughter’s son on condition that the boy change his surname to Pepperell, which he did through act of the Massachusetts legislature. In 1774, he was also made a baronet, in his grandfather’s honor.

Revolutionary War 250 @revwar250.bsky.social · 2d

The original Sir William Pepperell—grandfather of the current—was made a baronet (a hereditary knight) after leading Massachusetts’s capture of the French fortress of Louisbourg in 1745, during the War of the Austrian Succession.

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Revolutionary War 250 @revwar250.bsky.social · 2d

9 OCTOBER 1775, HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA: The Loyalist Elizabeth Royall Pepperell dies, age 26, in the midst of the voyage from Boston to England. She is the wife of Massachusetts merchant Sir William Pepperell, born William Pepperell Sparhawk.

Sir William and Lady Pepperell and their children, painted in 1778 (after Elizabeth Pepperell's death) by John Singleton Copley

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Revolutionary War 250 @revwar250.bsky.social · 3d

Wherever possible, Mowat is ordered to protect Loyalist property, and his men are absolutely forbidden to commit any plunder. Main source: Donald A. Yerxa, “The Burning of Falmouth, 1775,” MAINE HISTORY, volume 14 number 3

Revolutionary War 250 @revwar250.bsky.social · 3d

Mowat is to make “the most vigorous Efforts” to “chastize” the ports supporting the Patriots’ improvised naval forces, which have been capturing British ships. He’s ordered to make quick raids rather than occupy any ports, so Patriot militia do not have time to attack him.

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Revolutionary War 250 @revwar250.bsky.social · 3d

8 OCTOBER 1775, BOSTON: A squadron of two small warships and two troop transports departs Boston Harbor under the command of Lieutenant Henry Mowat with orders to “burn the Towns, and destroy the Shipping in the Harbours” of the Massachusetts and New Hampshire coasts.

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Revolutionary War 250 @revwar250.bsky.social · 3d

Wallace demands two hundred sheep and thirty cattle, but eventually settles for forty sheep.

Revolutionary War 250 @revwar250.bsky.social · 3d

The town responds that it would be more appropriate for Wallace to come ashore himself. At 8 p.m., the Rose opens fire on Bristol, destroying several houses. After an hour and a half, Simeon Potter hails the ships from the end of the wharf, agreeing to send aboard a delegation.

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Revolutionary War 250 @revwar250.bsky.social · 3d

Wallace commands the Rose, at the head of the small squadron that has been patrolling Newport harbor interfering with Patriot traffic. When the squadron appears off Bristol, he instructs the town to send a delegation aboard to hear his requirements.

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Revolutionary War 250 @revwar250.bsky.social · 3d

7 OCTOBER 1775, BRISTOL, RHODE ISLAND: The Royal Navy bombards the town after the townspeople refuse to send a delegation aboard to hear Captain James Wallace’s demands for supply.

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