March 23 » American Revolutionary War: Patrick Henry delivers his speech – "Give me liberty, or give me death!" – at St. John's Episcopal Church, Richmond, Virginia.
May 10 » American Revolutionary War: A small Colonial militia led by Ethan Allen and Colonel Benedict Arnold captures Fort Ticonderoga.
May 20 » The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence is allegedly signed in Charlotte, North Carolina.
June 14 » American Revolutionary War: the Continental Army is established by the Continental Congress, marking the birth of the United States Army.
November 13 » American Revolutionary War: Patriot revolutionary forces under Gen. Richard Montgomery occupy Montreal.
December 9 » American Revolutionary War: British troops lose the Battle of Great Bridge, and leave Virginia soon afterward.
Christening day July 5, 1776
The temperature on July 5, 1776 was about 22.0 °C. Wind direction mainly south east. Weather type: zeer betrokken weerlicht. Source: KNMI
January 10 » American Revolution: Thomas Paine publishes his pamphlet Common Sense.
March 4 » American Revolutionary War: The Continental Army fortifies Dorchester Heights with cannon, leading the British troops to abandon the Siege of Boston.
August 31 » William Livingston, the first Governor of New Jersey, begins serving his first term.
September 21 » Part of New York City is burned shortly after being occupied by British forces.
November 20 » American Revolutionary War: British forces land at the Palisades and then attack Fort Lee. The Continental Army starts to retreat across New Jersey.
December 19 » Thomas Paine publishes one of a series of pamphlets in The Pennsylvania Journal entitled "The American Crisis".
When copying data from this family tree, please include a reference to the origin: Hendrik Dreyer, "Dreyer Tree", database, Genealogy Online (https://www.genealogieonline.nl/dreyer-tree/I530522.php : accessed February 3, 2026), "Jacobus van Zijl (1775-????)".
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