The History of New York State, Book XI, Chapter II, Part XIII

1775
January 20	Lord Chatham proposed to recall British troops from Boston.
January 26	By a vote of 11 to 10 the Assembly refused to consider the proceedings of the Continental Congress
January 30	Committee of Sixty named a sub-committee to examine all vessels.
February 9	A Tory defined as "a thing whose head is in England, and its body is in America, and its neck ought to be stretched."
February 17	By a vote of 15 to 9 Assembly refused to thank the eighty New York delegates to Continental Congress
February 21	By vote of 15 to 10 Assembly refused to thanks merchants and people of New York City for their non-importation activities.
February 23	Motion in Assembly to appoint delegates to a new General Congress lost by 17 to 9.
February 27	Committee of Sixty suggested the election of deputies to the Second Continental Congress
February 27	People urged neither to purchase not to use tea or other goods from England.
March 6	A public meeting at the Liberty Pole asked the Committee of Sixty to nominate eleven deputies to meet others from the counties to choose delegates to the next Continental Congress, Two Tories wee harshly treated.
March 15	Delegates elected to provincial Congress from New York City.
March 22	Burke declared that the Americans though their heredity, education, manners, and religious principles, forms of government and distance from Great Britain had been so imbued with liberty that they would under no circumstances yield to force.
March 25	The Assembly in an address to the King said that Americans were matured and felt entitled to their rights; that no taxes should be imposed on them without their consent; that the acts of Parliament were destructive of their rights; that duties on British imports were oppressive; that the prohibition of paper money injured commerce; and that the Boston Port Bill was "a dangerous precedent."
April 1	Last Militia Act passed by Assembly
April 3	Colonial Assembly held its last session.
April 13	Rivington hung in effigy as a Tory.
April 19	Lexington skirmish
April 20	Provincial Convention chose twelve delegates to the Continental Congress--Duane, Alsop, Jay, Simon Boerum, Philip Livingston, Floyd, Wisner, Schuyler, George Clinton, Lewis Morris, Francis Lewis and Robert R. Livingston.
April 23	news of Lexington reached New York and led people to break open the arsenal and seize 600 muskets and to organize a volunteer corps to rule the city. The customs house and all public stores were taken over. The whole city was :one continued scene of riot, tumult and confusion."
April 26	Committee of Sixty asked that the people choose a new Committee of 100, and that a Provincial congress be summoned at once to meet May 22.
April 29	A general association written and signed
May 1	A "military association" of 100 persons offered services to preserve "American Liberty." Committee of 100 recommended every man to perfect himself in military discipline and to procure weapons.
May 5	Committee of 100 wrote London about "American wrongs."
May 6	John Hancock in New York
May 8	Seven New York delegates left for Philadelphia
May 9	All persons ordered to report arms to Committee of 100.
May 10	Fort Ticonderoga surprised and fortress with thirty-eight prisoners and 120 cannon taken by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold.
May 10	Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia. In New York City Dr., Myles Cooper fled from a mob, which then attacked Rvinginton.
May 12	Crown Point and military stores captured by Seth Warner.
May 15	Burke brought case of New York before Commons
May 16	War companies of militia took over night watch of metropolis
May 16	Benedict Arnold seized St. Johns
May 22	First Provincial Congress met in New York City
May 25	Continental Congress ordered province of New York fortified and that militia be trained.
May 29	Committee of 100 asked people to save tent cloth for public service. Provincial Congress reported lack of powder and arms.
May 31	Provincial Congress called on colonists to arm.
June 3	Provincial Congress asked that British troops be permitted to embark unmolested.
June 4	Only one house in New York City illuminated on King's birthday.
June 6	Colonel Marinus Willett defeated plan to take arms from New York City.
June 7	Provincial Congress denounced illegal riots
June 9	Provincial Congress offered bounty on home-made powder
June 13	Importation of powder permitted
June 14	Tory arrested for recruiting for King's army
June 15	Washington chosen head of American forces
June 15	Inoculation for smallpox forbidden
June 19	Philip Schuyler elected major-general by Continental Congress
June 20	news of Bunker Hill reached New York
June 22	Richard Montgomery made brigadier-general by Congress
June 25	Washington and Governor Tryon given separate official receptions in New York City
June 25	General Schuyler placed in command of "New York Department.'
June 26	Provincial Congress presented address to Washington
June 27	Provincial Congress issued orders for raising troops.
July 4	Provincial Congress authorized Ethan Allen and Seth Warner to recruit 500 "Green Mountain Boys."
July 5	Provincial Congress forbade Common Council of New York City to send address to Governor Tryon
July 6	Broadside setting forth "that causes and necessity for taking up arms" printed in New York
July 12	New York reported that 3,000 Continent troops had been raised, but that there was no powder for them.
July 20	Ethan Allen promised to do his best to reconcile differences between the new Hampshire Grants and New York.
July 21	Franklin proposed an American confederation.
July 26	Ebenezer Hazard chosen postmaster of New York City
July 27	Provincial Congress appointed a military committee of five
August 4	Alexander McDougall approved of as colonel of first regiment; Myndert Roseboom of second; James Clinton of third; and James Holmes of fourth. Three surgeons also named.
August 5	Pay of New York soldiers fixed
August 8	Provincial Congress ordered local committees to buy all arms available.
August 9	Provincial Congress order all political subdivisions to be divided into "beats" of one militia company each
August 14	Provisions made for recruiting minutemen.
August 19	Export of all livestock and poultry forbidden
August 21	Continental army under General Montgomery arrived at Fort Ticonderoga
August 22	Militia bill passed.
August 23	Skirmish between British warship and militia removing ordinance from Battery. People left the city.
August 29	Attack on New York City by British man-of-war.
September 2	Augustus Van Cortlandt asked to protect records
September 2	General Schuyler from Ticonderoga moved toward Canada, but, owing to illness, yielded command to General Montgomery
September 7	Quakers required to give list of males between sixteen and sixty.
October 3	A naval committee appointed
October 6	Continental Congress ordered all dangerous loyalists arrested
October 10	Since for the "Sake of Liberty" officers should be elected for short terms, the Provincial Congress voted to dissolve November 14
October 17	Plans formulated to preserve sulfur and to encourage linen making.
October 25	Committee named to protect women and children in New York City
October 31	Committee appointed to employ the poor
November 10	New York Society for employing the industrious poor organized.
November 13	Montreal captured by Montgomery
November 15	New York City reported stagnated and half deserted for hear of bombardment
November 23	Band of seventy-five "Banditti" from Connecticut destroyed Rivington's printing press
December 6	Governor Tryon put public records on warship
December 15	Committee of 100 adopted rules for the night watch
December 31	General Montgomery killed before Quebec

1776
January 1	Governor Tryon retired to a warship in New York harbor
January 9	Thomas Paine published "Common Sense."
January 9	Continental Congress asked New York to defend entrances to harbor
January 17	Essays on manufacture of saltpeter and powder distributed
January 20	General Schuyler forced Sir John Johnson to disarm and five his parole
February 1	Philip Livingston, John Alsop, John jay and Alexander McDougall elected to represent New York City in "the next general Assembly."
February 1	Factory established to employ poor in spinning flax and weaving linen.
February 2	Committee of 100 asked that Committee of Fifty be chosen.
February 4	General Lee with 300 men and Sir Henry Clinton reached New York City and caused :greatest Confusion."
February 7	Lord Stirling arrived with 1,000 men from the Jerseys
February 8	Neighboring counties asked to care for the refugees from the metropolis
February 11	Royal military stores taken from Fort George without opposition
March 14	Continental Congress ordered 8,000 men to defend New York City
March 21	Washington send six regiments from Boston to New York City.
March 24	Lead from windows used for bullets
March 30	Call for markers of muskets issued
April 1	Reported that 8,000 men were under arms in New York
April 4	Committee of Fifty asked to prepare barracks for 12,000 men.
April 12	New York reported "deserted by its old inhabitants, and filled with soldiers."
April 13	Washington arrived from Boston with main part of his army.
April 16	A "poll" opened in New York City to elect twenty-one members to Provincial Congress.
April 17	Mrs. Washington arrived in New York City from Boston
April 17	Communication with British warships cut off.
April 29	Washington reported that New York City was well fortified.
May 15	Continental Congress recommended to colonies to adopt such governments as would meet their needs and welfare
May 17	Day of fasting and prayer
May 18	Captain Paul Jones arrived in New York City from his first cruise.
May 21	Washington left New York City for Philadelphia
May 24	Minutes of Common council of New York City ended
May 27	New York virtually declared independence
May 29	General committees of mechanics demanded independence
May 31	Provincial congress called election of a new Congress to consider the necessity of a new government.
June 4	King's College used for a hospital
June 4	Washington returned to New York City from Philadelphia.
June 7	New York City Committee called for election of Harlem, Kingsbridge, While Plains, Peekskill, Highlands, Fort Lee, and Long Island delegates to a Provincial Congress to decide on independence.
June 11	Tories In New York City stripped, ridden on rails and put in jail.
June 11	Provincial congress told delegates in Continental Congress that they ere not authorized to vote on the question of independence
June 14	Mechanics union insisted that the people should be permitted to determine the question of a new government.
June 14	Continental Congress ordered New York to detect and restrain all internal enemies
June 15	Provincial Congress appointed a "committee to detect conspiracies.
June 18	American evacuated Canada to enemy.
June 21	"Hickey Plot" against lives Washington, Putnam and others discovered and crushed. One of Washington's bodyguards hanged
June 22	Arrest of Tory, Major David Mathews
June 25	General Howe arrived at Sandy Hook
June 30	Provincial Congress adjourned to White Plains
July 2	Delegates of all colonies except New York favored independence
July 2	Military headquarters at New York City favored independence
July 2	General Howe landed troops at Staten Island
July 4	Declaration of independence adopted by Continental Congress
July 7	Northern Army fell back from Crown Point to Ticonderoga
July 9	Provincial Congress ratified Declaration of Independence
July 9	Declaration of Independence proclaimed to troops in New York city by order of Washington
July 10	Voted, "that the style or title of his House be changed from that of 'the provincial Congress of the Colony of New York' to that of 'the convention of the Representatives of the State of New York.'"
July 11	Declaration of Independence read in White Plains
July 12	Lord Howe landed 9,000 British soldiers on Staten Island
July 18	Declaration of Independence read in New York City by order of committee
July 19	Declaration of Independence read in Albany by order of committee
August 1	Sir Henry Clinton arrived at New York from Charleston, South Carolina
August 20	General Sullivan succeeded General Greene in command of Americans on Long Island
August 22	General Howe landed 15,000 men and forty guns at Gravesend, Long Island
August 22-23	Flatbush, Long Island skirmish.
August 26	Valley Grove, Long Island skirmish
August 27	Battle of Long Island (Bushwick or Brooklyn). General Sullivan and Stirling taken prisoners and American defeated.
August 28	Jamaica (Brookland), Long Island, skirmish
August 30	Washington withdrew Americans from Long Islands to New York City
August 30	General Nathaniel Woodhull wounded and taken prisoner. He died a few days afterward.
September 11	Peace conference held on Staten island between Lord Howe and committee of Congress
September 15	New York City occupied by British
September 16	Battle of Harlem Heights; British repulsed
September 21	Trinity Church and 492 buildings destroyed by fire
September 22	Nathan hale executed as a spy
September 24	Montressor's island, skirmish
October 11	Naval battle of Valcour island in lake Champlain
October 12	Harlem Heights (Throg's Neck) skirmish
October 13	Naval engagement on Lake Champlain. Arnold defeated with loss of ninety men.
October 14	Crown Point attacked
October 18	British land at Pell's Point
October 21	Mamaroneck skirmish
October 23	Manhattan Island abandoned by Americans
October 28	Battle of White Plains, Americans driven back
November 12	Washington crossed the Hudson to New Jersey
November 16	Fort Washington captured by British; 2,00 prisoners
November 16	Fort Tryon captured by British
November 16	Fort George captured by British
November 16	Harlem Cove (Manhattanville) skirmish
November 16	Cock-Hill Fort captured by British
November 16	Washington left New York for New Jersey
November 30	Howe issued a proclamation of pardon at New York.

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