June 11 » The American Revolutionary War's first naval engagement, the Battle of Machias, results in the capture of a small British naval vessel.
June 14 » American Revolutionary War: the Continental Army is established by the Continental Congress, marking the birth of the United States Army.
July 3 » American Revolutionary War: George Washington takes command of the Continental Army at Cambridge, Massachusetts.
July 26 » The office that would later become the United States Post Office Department is established by the Second Continental Congress. Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania takes office as Postmaster General.
July 27 » Founding of the U.S. Army Medical Department: The Second Continental Congress passes legislation establishing "an hospital for an army consisting of 20,000 men."
October 18 » African-American poet Phillis Wheatley is freed from slavery.
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
March 4 » American Revolutionary War: The Continental Army fortifies Dorchester Heights with cannon, leading the British troops to abandon the Siege of Boston.
April 12 » American Revolution: With the Halifax Resolves, the North Carolina Provincial Congress authorizes its Congressional delegation to vote for independence from Britain.
June 12 » The Virginia Declaration of Rights is adopted.
August 10 » American Revolutionary War: Word of the United States Declaration of Independence reaches London.
September 21 » Part of New York City is burned shortly after being occupied by British forces.
November 16 » American Revolutionary War: British and Hessian units capture Fort Washington from the Patriots.
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 5, 2026), "Jacobus van Zijl (1775-????)".
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