1775
The conflict was escalating. On this day in London, King George III issued a proclamation formally declaring that the province of Massachusetts Bay was in a state of “open rebellion,” setting the stage for the outbreak of armed conflict at Lexington and Concord two months later.
On the same day the King issued his proclamation, John Adams published an influential essay titled “The Rule of Law and the Rule of Men” in the Massachusetts Gazette. In it, he argued that colonial legislatures held ultimate authority over Parliament, further fueling the intellectual fire of the revolution.
In preparation for the 1776 campaign season, Lord Stirling was actively organizing the First New Jersey Regiment in the Elizabethtown area. By early February, he was pressuring the Continental Congress for more arms and equipment to defend the NJ coast against expected British naval raids.
1777
With the regular government in disarray due to British occupation, the New Jersey Legislature met at the Indian King Tavern in Haddonfield. On this day, they were deep in deliberations to create a “Council of Safety,” which was given extraordinary powers to arrest Loyalists and manage the state’s defense during the crisis.
1778
In Paris, American commissioners—including Benjamin Franklin, Silas Deane, and Arthur Lee—signed two historic agreements with France. The Treaty of Alliance created a military pact against Great Britain, stipulating that neither nation would seek a separate peace and that American independence must be a condition of any final settlement. The Treaty of Amity and Commerce officially recognized the United States as an independent nation and established vital trade ties.
1781
During the later stages of the war, the New Jersey Brigade was stationed in the mountains near Pompton and Ringwood. Following the recent mutinies in January, officers on February 6 were focused on restoring discipline and ensuring the defense of the vital Hudson Highlands ironworks.