February 9 » American Revolutionary War: The British Parliament declares Massachusetts in rebellion.
March 8 » An anonymous writer, thought by some to be Thomas Paine, publishes "African Slavery in America", the first article in the American colonies calling for the emancipation of slaves and the abolition of slavery.
May 10 » American Revolutionary War: The Second Continental Congress takes place in Philadelphia.
June 12 » American Revolution: British general Thomas Gage declares martial law in Massachusetts. The British offer a pardon to all colonists who lay down their arms. There would be only two exceptions to the amnesty: Samuel Adams and John Hancock, if captured, were to be hanged.
July 5 » The Second Continental Congress adopts the Olive Branch Petition.
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.
When copying data from this family tree, please include a reference to the origin: Jeroen Bussmann, "Family tree Bussmann", database, Genealogy Online (https://www.genealogieonline.nl/stamboom-bussmann/I501487.php : accessed February 4, 2026), "Gerardus van den Bosch (????-1775)".
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