This week in Revolutionary War history, let’s check up on what was going on 250 years ago in the Thirteen Colonies. Last week, the Continental Congress was forced into formal discussions around independence. From that, they established the Committee of Five to begin drafting a declaration of independence.
On June 14, 1776, there is an important meeting in the New Castle Courthouse outside Wilmington, Delaware. As talks of independence permeated the halls of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, other colonies took notice and took action, benefiting congress’ own push for colonial governments to do so. Representatives of the provincial government of the Lower Counties on the Delaware, or Delaware Colony, met in the courthouse and passed the Act of Separation, which severed ties with the Crown and established the State of Delaware.
In modern times, there are various celebrations throughout Delaware in early June for Separation Day.
On June 16, John Adams writes to his wife Abigal Adams. The future president is working hard as a member of the Committee of Five in Philadelphia. Adams is to edit what Jefferson writes for a declaration that will ultimately be seen by Parliament and King George III. In his letter, Adams writes, “Don’t be concerned, about me, if it happens now and then that you don’t hear from me, for some weeks together. If any thing should injure my health materially, you will soon hear of it. But I thank God I am in much better health than I expected to be. But this cannot last long, under the load that I carry.”
On June 17, it is the one-year anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill. The past year has proved to be a flurry of events as the balance of power rocks back and forth across the continent. By this point, the British had evacuated Boston around three months ago.
The next day, the first meeting of the Pennsylvania Provincial Conference is held in Carpenters’ Hall in Philadelphia. At the meeting, 97 out of 103 delegates meet and discuss the colony’s independence. Over the next few days, the delegates declared the colonial government to be void and thus established the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. With that, they began preparations for elections to a constitutional convention to draft a governing document for the commonwealth, as well as formally mobilizing the Pennsylvania Militia for the war.
Also on June 18, Congress passed the Tory Resolution, which ensured “That no man in these colonies, charged with being a tory, or unfriendly to the cause of American liberty, be injured in his person or property, or in any manner whatever disturbed.” So long as the Tory in question did not aid the enemy, they were to be guarded against persecution. In a way, this act could be seen as a way to placate the local Tories, as New York was seen as a sanctuary of British support.
Speaking of Tories, on June 19, William Franklin, Colonial Governor of New Jersey and son of Benjamin Franklin, was allowed to see his wife Elizabeth one last time before being placed on house arrest for treason for his loyalty to the Crown. Elizabeth would die a year later, with William not having seen her again, nor being allowed to attend her funeral. William would remain in prison until 1778, never accepting independence, nor reconciling with his father. The two would only meet once after the arrest, many years later and after the war.
On June 21, Benjamin Franklin writes to Washington. He, also a member of the Committee of Five and having just recently turned 70, writes, “I see in it a detail of the mighty force we are threatened with; which however I think it is not certain will ever arrive; & I see more certainly the ruin of Britain if she persists in such expensive distant expeditions, which will probably prove more disastrous to her than anciently her wars in the Holy Land.” He makes no mention of his son, possibly not yet knowing his fate.
The British under General William Howe were at this point mere weeks away from reaching New York Harbor and landing troops on Staten Island.
This Week in Revolutionary War History
By Sam Bishop