Semiquincentennial of the American Revolution

[Tidewater]

A British officer, a prisoner in Americans hands, writes to Washington to complain about his treatment. Apparently he is not allowed to carry his sword and this treatment is unacceptable.

250 years ago today, Washington responds: "When I compare the Treatment you have received with that which has been Shewn to those brave American Officers... I cannot help expressing Some Surprize that you Should thus earnestly contest Points of mere Punctilio.”

 

[Tidewater]

On 29 September 1775, Congress decided to send a delegation to travel to see Geo. Washington's the Governor of Connecticut, Massachusetts, the Lt. Gov of Rhode Island, and the council of Massachusetts, and the President of the convention of New Hampshire. The topics are discussion were to be: "the most effectual method of continuing, supporting, and regulating a continental army."
250 years ago today, Congress select Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Harrison, and Thomas Lynch to be that committee.

 

[Tidewater]

250 years ago today, the "provincial" government of Pennsylvania sent a complaint to Congress of "the intrusion of a number of people into this province, under a pretended claim of the colony of Connecticut, to the great annoyance of the good people of this province" and asking Congress to get the people of Connecticut to knock it off until the King could resolve any disputes between Connecticut and Pennstylvania.
Connecticut claimed land to the west by extending a latitude line of the northernmost point and the southernmost point in Connecticut (but not including New York or New Jersey) all the way to the Mississippi River, saying Connecticut "owned" all this land.

Because Connecticut never did anything to "own" that land, in 1786, Connecticut "ceded" all this land except the portion which is now in Ohio (the so-called "Western Reserve) to the United States. Then ceded the Western Reserve as well in 1800.
In a related note, I "own" the moon. I have never been there, but I claim it, therefore it is mine. Anybody landing there has to talk to me about landing rights.