TIP #498 - DID YOUR FAMILY KNOW? - HISTORICAL EVENTS FROM 1725-1770 One of the things I enjoy doing while working on the family tree is to add in little notes about what was going on in the world during their lifetime. News took longer to reach the people in older days and it might be months before families knew what was going on in the world while they were working on their farms, running the shops and raising the family. When I put a family chronicle together, I add notes here and there of things that were happening beyond the boundary of their own little world. Listed below are some ideas for your family history. There are hundreds more I could chose from, these are just the ones I picked. If there is enough interest, I may also got back further in time to the discovery of America up to 1725. 1725: Peter I "the Great" died 1727: Sir Isaac Newton died. King George II crowned in England 1729: North Carolina became a royal colony 1731: George Washington and Martha Dandridge married. Benjamin Franklin opened the first US Library 1732: George Washington born. Poor Richard's Almanac published by Benjamin Franklin. Royal Charter issued for Georgia 1733: First Society of Freemasons opened in Boston 1734: Daniel Boone born 1735: Paul Revere born 1738: Bottle opener created. Methodist Church established 1742: Bridge became a popular card game. First indoor swimming pool opened in London. Benjamin Franklin invented the Franklin stove 1743: The first elevator was installed. Thomas Jefferson born. Ketchup - spelled kitchup - used in English recipe's for the first time 1748: The ruins of Pompeii were found. The United Lutheran Church established in America 1749: King George II granted charter to the Ohio Company to settle the Ohio Valley 1750: Benjamin Franklin flies his kite. The US population shown as 18 million 1751: The first performing monkey seen in NYC. First American hospital opened in PA 1752: Betsy Ross, first flag designer, born. The Liberty Bell arrived in Philadelphia. George Rogers Clark born 1753: Smallpox hits America and kills many; over 38% of people in Boston infected. Governor George Washington leads expedition to the Ohio Valley to warn French against expansion. 1754: The first cartoon in American papers published in Benjamin Franklin's paper. Mollie Pitcher, heroine of the Revolutionary War born 1755: General Edward Braddock arrives from England to command British forces and to lead the Virginia troops against the French in the Ohio Valley. Britain breaks off diplomatic relations with the French over troubles in the New World. Earthquake in Lisbon Spain kills 50,000. The French and Indian Wars begin in America 1756: First St Patrick's Day Celebration held in NYC 1758: The first mustard made in America sold in Philadelphia. The New Jersey legislature formed the first Indian reservation. British captured Fort Duquesne (later known as Pittsburgh) 1759: Pope Clement XIII allowed the Bible to be translated into various languages 1760: The great fire of Boston destroyed 349 buildings. Fort Loudon TN surrendered to the Cherokee Indians. First Jewish prayer books printed in America. The book called "The Life and Adventures of a Cat" about a cat named Tom published, from this time on male cats called Toms - had previously been known as rams. English began settling in Maine. A Belgium man invented roller skates by replacing the blades of ice skates with wheels. 1761: First life insurance policy issued in Philadelphia. King George III crowned in England 1762: Peter III of Russia murdered; his wife Catherine II grabbed the throne. Britain captures Cuba. Spain acquired Louisiana 1763: The Treaty of Paris ended the French and Indian Wars; France gave up its territories in the US except New Orleans and a few islands. Indian Chief Pontiac began battle at what would become Detroit. George III of Great Britain signed proclamation closing lands west and north of the Alleghenies for white settlement. Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon began surveying the Mason Dixon line between PA and MD. British proclaimed a law forbidding Americans from moving farther west to avoid difficulties with the Indians 1764: St Louis MO founded as a French trading post. James Otis in Boston protested "taxation without representation" and urged colonies to unite in opposing England in taxation. John Adams and Abigail Smith married 1765: England began the Stamp Act tax to raise more money from the colonies. Delegates from the colonies meet in NY to determine what to do. The Daughters of Liberty formed as the first society for working women in America to boycott British goods. Eberhard, the inventor of pencils, started putting erasers on them 1766: The Stamp Act ruled unconstitutional in Virginia - Britain repealed the act this year. The first fire escape produced - a wicker basket on a pulley and chain. Woffendale, a dentist from England came to America as its first dentist. 1767: Andrew Jackson born in SC. Daniel Boone comes to present day KY for the first time 1768: First US Chamber of Commerce founded in NYC. Russian-Ottoman War begins 1769: Watt developed the first steam engine. Ottawa Chief Pontiac murdered by an Indian in Cahokia IL. Napoleon Bonaparte born in Corsica. John Harris built the first spinet piano in America. Dartmouth College founded in NH 1770: Captain James Cook continues his explorations - sails to Australia and New South Wales. Marie Antoinette marries the future King of France - King Louie XVI. William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition born. The Shaker movement originates in London. William Addis invents the toothbrush 1771: E I Dupont, chemist, born. Father Junipero Serra founded the Mission San Antonio de Padura in CA. By this time England had dumped over 50,000 of their convicts on American Shores. Father Toribio Basterrechea of Mexico sent before the Inquisition and sentenced to 4 month's fasting and penance for performing a wedding ceremony between 2 dogs. 1772: The Tea Act passed in London, taxing all tea in the colonies. First naval attack of the Revolutionary War in Providence RI when the HMS Gaspe was burned and the Captain Murdered. A medical license required for all physicians in NJ. First school house west of the Alleghenies started by a Moravian couple. Shoelaces created in England 1773: First public museum opened in Charleston SC. Another tea act passed in England. Boston Tea party 1774: Andrew Becker demonstrated the first diving suit. Second Boston Tea Party. The Shakers arrive in New York, forced to leave under persecution from London. The Coercive Acts law passed in England to punish Americans for their anti-British sentiment. First Continental Congress met in Virginia. The conjunction of the moon, Mercury, Venus and Jupiter in the same constellation caused panic in Europe. The Quartering Act passed forcing American colonists to allow British soldiers in their home re-enacted. Rhode Island forbids importation of slaves. Joseph Priestly discovers oxygen which he calls "dephlogisticated air". Meriwether Lewis born. The first Continental Congress of Philadelphia met in secret. About 400 colonists attack Ft William & Mary in NH. John Chapman, known as Johnny Appleseed, born. 1775: Though unknown by many, the flush toilet was invented. Massachusetts colonists vote to buy military equipment for 15,000 men. Patrick Henry gives his "Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death Speech". The first American society for the abolition of slavery formed by Benjamin Franklin and Benjamin Rush in Philadelphia. Paul Revere made his famous ride. British troops besiege Boston. Second Continental Congress named George Washington as supreme commander. North Carolina declares its independence. The United Colonies changed its name to the United States. U S ship Unity captures the British ship Margaretta in the first naval battle. U S Army founded. George Washington named as the head of the Continental Army. Battle of Bunker Hill near Boston - 1,000 casualities for the British, 400-600 for the Americans. Continental Congress established a postal system with Benjamin Franklin as the first postmaster. King George III refused an offer of peace with the colonies. Slaves and free blacks barred from fighting. Continental Army authorized a U S Navy - first ship, a schooner, named Hannah. Lord Dunmore agreed to free all the Slaves in England who fought against the Americans. Sir James Jay invented invisible Ink. George Washington in December authorized free Blacks to fight. 400,000 Presbyterians in America, the third largest; Congregationalists the 2nd largest and Anglicans the largest. Tucson AZ founded as a Spanish presidio. The 7th Virginia Volunteers the first to fight in the War of Independence. Daniel Boone heads through the Cumberland Pass in KY. Over 5,000 blacks are fighting between now and 1781. To be continued next week. (c) 8 July 2004, Sandra K. Gorin, All rights reserved. Colonel Sandi Gorin SCKY Links: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/Gorin.html Sandi's Puzzlers: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gensoup/gorin/puz.html Gorin Publishing: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/