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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 · 2d

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 · 14h

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 · 14h

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 · 14h

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 · 17h

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 · 17h

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 · 19h

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 · 19h

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 · 19h

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 · 1d

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 · 1d

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 · 1d

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 · 2d

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

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

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 · 2d

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 · 2d

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

“Would not Spain reason in the same manner, and say further our Dominions in South America will be soon a Prey to these Enterprizing and warlike Americans, the Moment they are an independent State. Would not our proposals and Agents be treated with Contempt!”

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

“Britain will make Peace with them, and leave Us in the Lurch And We have more to dread from an Alliance between Britain and the United Colonies as an independent state, than We have now they are under one corrupted Administration.

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

“What Security could they have that We should keep it. Would they not reason thus, these People intend to make Use of Us to establish an Independency but the Moment they have done it:

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

“An offer of the Sovereignty of this Country to France or Spain would be listened to no doubt by Either of those Courts, but We should suffer any Thing before We should offer this. What then can We offer? An Alliance, a Treaty of Commerce?

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

“He might possibly, if well skilled in intrigue, his Pocketts well filled with Money and his Person Robust and elegant enough, get introduced to some of the Misses, and Courtezans in Keeping of the statesmen in France, but would not that be all.

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

“To the Court of Lisbon, to the Court of Prussia, or Russia, or Turkey or Denmark, or Where, to any, one, more, or all of these? If We should is there a Probability Our Ambassadors would be received, or so much as heard or seen by any Man or Woman in Power at any of those Courts.

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

“Suppose then We assume an intrepid Countenance, and send Ambassadors at once to foreign Courts. What Nation shall We court? Shall We go to the Court of France, or the Court of Spain, to the States General of the United Provinces?

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

“How would it affect the Brazills and the Portuguese Settlements in America? If it is certain that it would distress Multitudes in these Countries, does it therefore follow that it would induce any foreign Court to offer Us Assistance, and to ask us for our Trade or any Part of it? …

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

“In what manner, and to what degree, and how soon, would it affect, the other Parts of the World? How would it affect G. B. Ireland, the English West India Islands, the French, the Dutch the Danish, the Spanish West India Islands? How would it affect the Spanish Empire on the Continent?

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

7 OCTOBER 1775, PHILADELPHIA: “If The Thirteen united Colonies, Should immediately Surcease all Trade with every Part of the World, what would be the Consequence?” John Adams asks in a letter to James Warren. founders.archives.gov/documents/Ad...

Founders Online: John Adams to James Warren, 7 October 1775

John Adams to James Warren, 7 October 1775

founders.archives.gov

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