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So here it is June. It's hard to believe that this time last year I was preparing to go to Williamsburg. Almost a year has passed and I am wishing I were going back. I hope I have been taking you there for the past year. And I hope I will keep taking you there in the future as we keep looking at the past.
Thank you,
Mrs. Hoffman
I have found my information for these pages from the following sites and applications:
- Today in the 1770s
- Today in History
- Today in History - A timeline of events
- This Day in History
- On-This-Day.com
- Library of Congress
- National Park Service
June 2, 1775 - On this day Massachusetts wants the Continental Army to take control of the New England Army in Boston. The Quartering Act is changed to include making the colonists house soldiers in their homes (this is done in hopes of quelling the rebellion by putting soldiers in people's homes).
June 3, 1621 - The Dutch West India Company was formed. What does this have to do with America? If not for the Dutch West India Company, the colony of New Netherland, which later would become New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Connecticut would not have formed. The company was given trading privileges for 24 years and was renewed in 1647 for another 25 years.
June 4, 1776 - John Hancock tells the colonists to fight with every fiber of their being. He states that "you will be able to lead them to Victory, to Liberty, and to Happiness". The Founding Fathers continued to speak to their constituents - those who sent them to Philadelphia, to prepare, be ready, and to fight. Only one month later, the Declaration of Independence would be signed.
June 5, 1776 - Congress asks for monthly status reports from the army stationed in Canada. They want to know the supplies. In order to fight the British, the patriots need to know what they need as soon as possible if they have any intention of winning.
June 6, 1775 - A little known lieutenant colonel named Marinus Willett led a group of patriots - the Sons of Liberty - who confiscated five wagonloads of British weapons. The British were evacuating New York City at the time. He was also known at the Hero of the Mohawk Valley as he defended the area which led from the Mohawk River to the Oneida River.
June 7, 1776 - On this day, the colonies officially changed their name from the United Colonies to the United States. Richard Henry Lee's resolution for independence is passed by the Continental Congress. He states, "That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independence States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved; that measures should be immediately taken for procuring the assistance of foreign powers, and a Confederation be formed to bind the colonies more closely together." Several states would be unwilling to vote on breaking away yet, so they decide to table the issue until July 1. During the interim, they set up a group of men to write up a declaration of independence - John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, Robert R. Livingston, and Thomas Jefferson.
June 8, 1775 - Bartlett Goodrich, formerly a good citizen of Williamsburg, was swayed by Lord Dunsmore to switch allegiances. He began to smuggle goods into the colonies for the British. His ship is captured by the patriots on this day and he is held as prisoner. The patriots secure guns, gunpowder, and other items for the cause.
June 9, 1776 - South Carolina starts to prepare for war. It stops exporting rice and corn and stores the supplies, knowing that once the war begins, they will have need of the food. Most of the provisional governments in each colony (which would soon become states) knew that breaking away from Great Britain would bring war to their doors.
June 10, 1775 - John Adams proposes the establishment of a Continental Army. He also feels a general must be named to lead this army against the British. On June 15th, the Continental Congress nominates George Washington to lead this army.
June 11, 1776 - The Continental Congress appoints Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert R. Livingston, and Benjamin Franklin to write the Declaration of Independence. Because they all knew Thomas Jefferson was the best at writing, he was assigned the auspicious duty of putting the pen to the paper. Jefferson created the first draft that Adams and Franklin revised. A first draft was given to Congress on June 28th.
June 12, 1776 - "The good people of Virginia and their posterity" the equal right to life, liberty, and property. These are the words spoken by George Mason to the men in Virginia as he presented the declaration of rights. This declaration was similar to the English Bill of Rights (1689). The Virginia's Declaration of Rights were the basis for the American Bill of Rights.
June 13, 1777 - The Marquis de Lafayette lands in South Carolina excited to help the colonists with their fight. He was only 19 years old and filled with patriotic vigor.
June 14, 1777 - Today is Flag day because this is the day the Continental Congress chose the official flag of the United States - the thirteen strips of red and white and the thirteen starts on a blue field - this represented a new constellation.
June 15, 1775 - On this day George Washington is appointed commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. A simple planter who preferred to be on his plantation in quiet relaxation, he took on the job knowing the people needed someone with experience to lead their troops against the best trained troops in the world. A daunting task, but George Washington took it on.
June 16, 1775 - The US Army Corps of Engineers is established. The engineer is in charge of building fortifications, clearing the land and roads to help the troops. "the corps of engineers shall take rank and enjoy the same rights, honors, and privileges with the other troops."
June 17, 1775 - Bunker Hill - At this battle, more than 1000 British soldiers were killed or wounded. Only about 400 patriots were killed or wounded. The British manage to take the hill, but lose half of their troops in the battle. This is the first major battle between the British and the patriots.
June 18, 1778 - Finally, the British leave Philadelphia. After 9 months, General Clinton takes his troops and heads towards New York City in fear of the arrival of the French fleet promised by the Marquis de Lafayette. Benedict Arnold helps retake the city and is named military governor. Six days later, the Continental Congress returns to Philadelphia.
June 19, 1778 - George Washington and his troops leave Valley Forge. Since the British have left Philadelphia, Washington takes his troops back there to defend the city. With the help of the Marquis de Lafayette, they wait until the Continental Congress arrives back from York.
June 20, 1782 - The Great Seal of the United States was adopted by the Continental Congress. On the seal you can see the eagle (which means self-reliance) with a shield (of 13 vertical stripes) holding the olive branch in one hand, the 13 arrows in the other hand. Above its head are 13 stars. It is holding the words E Pluribus Unum (one out of many). On the back of the seal looks like the dollar bill because it has the pyramid of 13 stones to show the new country. The Eye of Providence is overhead in a triangle. Two mottos are on it - one above - Annuit coeptis (He has favored our undertakings) and Novus ordo seclorum (new order of the ages). On the base of the pyramid is the year 1776.
June 21, 1776 - This is the day Thomas Jefferson brings his first draft of the Declaration of Independence to John Adams and the rest of the committee for their approval. It will take several more rewrites before it gets approved, but he is heading in the right direction.
June 22, 1776 - the British retain Canada. The Patriots had attempted to seize parts of Canada but were not successful.
June 23, 1683 - William Penn signed a land treaty with the Native Americans who resided in what would be called Pennsylvania. He felt it was important to get this treaty even though the King of England gave him the land. Penn wanted peaceful co-existence on this new land of his. Because his treaty was fair, the Native Americans did not attack the colony.
June 24, 1675 - The start of King Philip's War. King Philip was the name of the Wampanoag leader, Metacom who was the son of Massasoit. Massasoit died in 1660 and was succeeded by his son Wamsutta. He was taken at gunpoint and died not long after. His brother was Metacom - King Philip. The war lasted about a year, beginning in Plymouth Colony and spreading throughout all of New England. Many settlements were burned. The natives began to suffer loses as their supplies dwindled and they lacked food. In August of 1676, King Philip was killed by a Wampanoag soldier fighting with the colonists. After the war, dozens of natives were sold into slavery or forced to become servants.
June 25, 1775 - Our Commander-in-Chief - General George Washington arrives in New York City and one of his generals, General Schuyler is named the head of the New York department by Congress. There were often times when Congress made decisions without asking their commander-in-chief his opinion.
June 26, 1776 - Lord Dunsmore uses Gwynn's Island as his new base of operation. The fever spreads and kills many of the slaves who volunteered to assist him in fighting off the patriots. Because of that, he moved his base from the mainland to the island. He informs the British throne of his position.
June 27, 1775 - General Schuyler is sent to Fort Ticonderoga. Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold were determined to capture the fort. It was in a strategic area that would cut the colonies in half.
June 28, 1778 - The Battle of Monmouth in New Jersey took place. During this battle, the now famous Molly Pitcher carried water to soldiers. The British withdrew.
June 29, 1767 - The British government passes the Townshend Revenue Act and levied taxes on the American colonies. These duties were on glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea. The British even set up a customs agency in Boston to collect the taxes. When the Americans protested, the British removed all the taxes except for the one on tea.
June 30, 1777 - General Burgoyne arrives at Fort Ticonderoga. Howe leaves New Jersey for New York City. He makes plans to attack Philadelphia in hopes of controlling it until the battle is won. Of course, nothing goes as planned.
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