This Month in
1776
This month in 1776 marked the movement of the Continental Army from a liberated Boston to the New York City area. By the end of the month, the entire army had been moved into defensive positions within the City, Long Island and Flatbush on the orders of General George Washington. Beginning with North Carolina this month, each colonial province would pass formal resolutions towards independence from Britain, George Washington prepared to defend New York City, and the Haudenosaunee was the British ally.
The USS Lexington
Captain John Barry
Graff House (Declaration House) - Then
Graff House (Declaration House) - Now
General Nathanael Greene
April 3: Harvard College, founded in 1636, awarded George Washington an honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D) degree, the first of its kind to be awarded to a non-graduate.
April 6: The Second Continental Congress began opening colonial ports to trade with nations other than Britain, taking major steps toward colonial independence.
April 7: Captain John Barry and the USS Lexington captured the Edward, the first American Naval capture of a British warship. Barry was the first Captain to be commissioned by Congress. Reporting to his superiors, he stated,
“Gentlemen I have the pleasure to acquaint you that at one PM this day I fell in with the sloop Edward belonging to the Liverpool frigate. She engaged us over two glasses. They killed two of our men and wounded two others. We shattered her in a terrible manner as you shall see. We killed and wounded several of her crew. I shall give a particular account of the powder and arms taken out of her as well as my proceedings in general. I have the pleasure to acquaint you that all our people behaved with much courage.”
April 12: The Halifax Resolves were unanimously adopted by North Carolina's Fourth Provincial Congress, officially authorizing a vote for independence. The last paragraph of this document read in part:
“Resolved, that the delegates for this colony in the Continental Congress be empowered to concur with the delegates of the other Colonies in declaring independency, and forming foreign alliances, reserving to this Colony the sole and exclusive rights of forming a Constitution and laws for this Colony, and of appointing delegates from time to time (under the direction of the general representation thereof), to meet the delegates of the other Colonies for such purposes as shall be hereafter pointed out.”
April 13: Thomas Jefferson celebrated his 33rd birthday. Having been appointed in March to the Second Continental Congress to represent Virginia, he was one of the youngest delegates to convene in the colonial capital of Philadelphia. Jefferson moved there into a second-floor rental at the Graff House (now known as the Declaration House) where he would eventually draft the Declaration of Independence.
April 13: George Washington entered New York City after having liberated Boston and took command of defenses. He arrived with a number of men, followed by the last of his troops on April 24. At that time, his force in New York consisted of roughly 10,000 men divided into five brigades. Several high-ranking officers were involved in the New York campaign during this period, including General Charles Lee, General William Stirling, and General Nathanael Greene.
April 18: Having received "recommendations" from General Washington, the Provincial New York Committee of Safety responded with a resolution to forbid the inhabitants of the colony to communicate with any of the king’s ships, “either in Person or in writing.” Members of this executive board were: Nathaniel Woodhull, Abraham Yates, Peter van Brugh Livingston, John Jay, Robert R. Livingston, William Duerr, and William Paulding.
"Your recommendation of Yesterday we took into consideration immediately on receipt of it. And thereupon framed the enclosed Resolves and Orders. We cannot sufficiently thank Your Excellency for Your most delicate Attention to the civil Government of this Colony; and beg leave to give You the strongest Assurances that we most eagerly embrace this as we shall every other oppertunity of cooperating with You in every Measure which shall come recommended to us with the Argument of public Utility. We are Sir with the greatest respect Your most obedient humble Servants
By Order of the Committee William Paulding Chairman"
April 26: Joseph Brant (Thayendanege) having been elected Chief of the Six Nations, went to England to secure an alliance with the British Empire. There he was initiated into Free Masonry by King George III who presented him with his Masonic apron. Thus, Brant was not only Chief of the Mohawk Tribe and the Six Nations Confederation, but also a Free Mason and devout member of the Church of England.
Author’s Note: Colonel William Henshaw, my Revolutionary War ancestor from Leicester Massachusetts, served as Adjutant-General to General Washington in 1776 and was present for many key events. As AG, he kept a daily record of the actions and movements of the Continental Army. In April 1776, Henshaw was assigned to General Greene as they left Boston and marched to New York City, keeping daily contact with Washington and his orders. His daily observations are reflected in The Orderly Books of Colonel William Henshaw, October 1, 1775 Through October 3, 1776.
Author’s Note: Colonel William Henshaw, my Revolutionary War ancestor from Leicester Massachusetts, served as Adjutant-General to General Washington in 1776 and was present for many key events. As AG, he kept a daily record of the actions and movements of the Continental Army. In April 1776, Henshaw was assigned to General Greene as they left Boston and marched to New York City, keeping daily contact with Washington and his orders. His daily observations are reflected in The Orderly Books of Colonel William Henshaw, October 1, 1775 Through October 3, 1776.