812 U. S. frigate Constitution, Com. Bainbridge, captured the Java, U. S. sloop of war Hornet, Captain Lawrence, captured the U. S. frigate Chesapeake, Capt. Lawrence, captured by the Bri- Gallant defence of fort Stephenson, by Major Croghan, August 1. The American fleet on Lake Erie, under Com. Perry, capture the British fleet under Com. Barclay, Sept. 10. Gen. Harrison defeats the British and Indians under Gen. Proctor; Tecumseh killed, Oct. 5. Detroit fell into the hands of the Americans. 1813-14 War with the Creek Indians: March, 26, 1814, Gen. Jackson obtains a decisive victory over the Creeks; upwards of 500 warriors slain at the Great Bend of the Tallapoosa. 1814 U. S. frigate Essex, Capt. Porter, captured by a superior force, March 28. Fort Erie taken by the Americans, July. Battle of Chippewa, July 6. Battle of Niagara, July 25. Washington captured and burnt by the British under Gen. Ross, Attack on Baltimore; Gen. Ross killed, Sept. 12. Unsuccessful attack by the British, under Gen. Drummond, on fort Erie, Aug. 14. Castine taken by the British, Sept. 1. Com. Macdonough captures the British fleet on Lake Cham plain; retreat of Gen. Provost from Plattsburgh, Sept. 11. 1815 Memorable victory of General Jackson over the British before New Orleans, Jan. 8. Treaty of Peace between the United States and Great Britain, Massacre of American prisoners at Dartmoor, Eng. April 6. 1818 War with the Seminole Indians. 1823 Commodore Porter sent against the pirates in the West Indies. "Black Hawk," 1832 War with the Winnebagoes and other tribes. a famous Indian chief, captured, Aug. 27. REMARKABLE EVENTS. 1587 Virginia Dare born-the first child of Christian parents born in the United States. 1608 John Laydon married to Ann Burras,-the first Christian mar riage in Virginia, and in the United States. 1610 Starving time in Virginia; of nearly 500 colonists, all perished but 60, in the course of six months. 1613 Rolfe, an Englishman, married Pocahontas, daughter of Pow- 1616 Tobacco first cultivated by the English settlers in Virginia. 1618 A great pestilence destroyed most of the Indians from Narra- 1619 20,000 pounds of tobacco exported from Virginia to England. 1629 African slaves first brought into Virginia by a Dutch ship and sold to the colonists. Peregrine White, the first English child born in New England. 1621 Edward Winslow and Susannah White, married,—the first Christian marriage in New England. 1623 George Sandys, of Virginia, translated Ovid's Metamorphosis, -the first literary production of the English colonists in America. 1624 The first cattle brought into New England by Edward Winslow, agent for the Plymouth Colony. 1630 Gov. Winthrop first abolished the custom of drinking healths. John Billington executed for murder, the first execution in Plymouth colony. 1631 First vessel built in Massachusetts, called the Blessing of Bay, launched July 4. 1632 Magistrates of the colony of Massachusetts, first chosen by the freemen in the colony. The magistrates of Massachusetts ordered that no tobacco should be used publicly. The general court of Plymouth passed an act, that whoever should refuse the office of governor should pay a fine of 201, unless he was chosen two years successively. 1633 Virginia enacted laws for the suppression of religious sectaries. Messrs. Cotton, Hooker, and Stone, three eminent ministers, arrived at Boston, from England. A specimen of rye first brought into the court of Massachusetts, as the first-fruits of English grains. 1634 Roger Williams, minister of Salem, banished on account of his religious tenets. First merchant's shop in Boston opened. 1635 Great storm of wind and rain in New England; the tide rose twenty feet perpendicularly, August 15. 1636 The Desire, a ship of 120 tons, built at Marblehead, the first American ship that made a voyage to England. The first court in Connecticut, held April 26. 1537 Ann Hutchinson holds lectures in Massachusetts for the propagation of her peculiar religious sentiments,-she gains many adherents. A synod convened at Newtown, Mass., the first synod holden in America; they condemn 82 erroneous opinions which had been propagated in New England. 1638 Great earthquake in New England, June 1. Two tremendous storms in August and December; the tide Harvard College, Mass., founded; it was named after the Rev. The ancient and honourable artillery company, formed at P 1638 Three Englishmen executed by the government of Plymouth colony, for the murder of an Indian. 1639 First general election in Hartford, Conn.-John Haynes first Governor. First Baptist church in America formed at Providence, R. I. Severe tempest and rain, Connecticut river rose 20 feet above the meadows, March. First Printing in North America at Cambridge, Mass., by Samuel Green; the first thing printed was the Freemen's oath. House of Assembly established in Maryland. 1640 The general court of Massachusetts prohibited the use of tobacco. 1641 Severe winter; Boston and Chesapeake bays frozen; Boston bay passable for carts, horses, &c. for five weeks. 1642 The New England ministers invited to attend the Assembly of divines, at Westminster, England-but they declined. First commencement at Harvard College; 9 candidates took the degree of A. B. 1643 Union of the colonies of Plymouth, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Haven, for mutual defence. 1646 Mr. Elliott commenced his labours among the Indians. The Friends or Quakers first came to Massachusetts; laws passed against them; four executed in 1659. 1647 First influenza mentioned in the annals of America. Legislature of Massachusetts passed an act against the Jesuits. Rev. Thomas Hooker, the first minister in Connecticut, died, 1648 Laws of Massachusetts first printed. Margaret Jones of Charlestown, Mass., executed for witch craft. The "Cambridge Platform" and the "Westminster Confession of Faith" received by most of the New England churches. The Congregational church and its pastor ordered to depart from Virginia by the governor of that colony. 1649 John Winthrop, governor of Massachusetts, and the Rev. Thomas Shepard died. The government of Massachusetts, with the assistants, signed a declaration against men's wearing long hair, as unscriptural. 1650 Indians of Martha's Vineyard christianized. Constitution of Maryland established. 1651 The legislature of Massachusetts passed laws against extravagance in dress. 1652 The province of Maine taken under the protection of Massa- The first mint for coining money in New England erected 654 College at New Haven projected by Mr. Davenport. Gov. Haynes of Connecticut died. 1656 Miles Standish, the hero of New England, died. 1658 Earthquake in New England. 1660 At this time the colonies of Virginia, New Englana, and Maryland, were supposed to contain no more than 80,000 inhabit ants. Goffe and Whalley, the regicides, arrived in Boston. 1661 Society for propagating the gospel among the Indians of New England, incorporated by Charles II. 1662 Charter of Connecticut granted by King Charles II. The legislature of Massachusetts appointed two licensers of the press. The assembly of Maryland established a mint in that colony. 1663 Great earthquake in Canada and New England. 1664 Elliott's Indian Bible printed at Cambridge, Mass., the first Bible printed in America. A large comet seen in New England. 1665 New Haven and Connecticut united into one colony. At this time, the Militia of Massachusetts consisted of 4,400 men. The government of Rhode Island passed an order to outlaw 1666 The buccaniers of America began their depredations in the West Indies. 1672 Laws of Connecticut printed; every family ordered to have a law book. 1673 New England contained at this time about 120,000 inhabitants. 1675 Virginia contained at this time about 50,000 inhabitants. 1680 New Hampshire separated from Massachusetts. The first assembly met at Portsmouth. Great comet seen in New England; it occasioned much alarm. 1681 Thomas Mayhew died at Martha's Vineyard, aged 93. 1682 William Penn held a treaty with the Indians. -1683 The governor of Virginia ordered that no printing press should be used in that colony "on any occasion whatever." 1686 First Episcopal society formed in Boston. 1687 Charter of Connecticut hid from Andros, in a hollow oak, and saved. M. de Salle, the discoverer of Louisiana, killed by his own men in a mutiny. 1688 New York and the Jersies added to the jurisdiction of New England. Andros appointed captain-general and vice-admiral over the whole. Opposition to Andros' administration in Massachusetts. 1689 William and Mary proclaimed in the colonies. Andros is seized and sent a prisoner to England. Rev. J. Elliot, "apostle of the Indians," died. 1690 Bills of credit issued by the government of Massachusetts; the first ever issued in the American colonies. The whale fishery, at Nantucket, commenced. 1691 The assembly of Virginia obtain of the crown the charter of William and Mary College, so named from the English sovereigns. 1692 Nineteen persons executed for witchcraft, in Massachusetts. Edmund Andros, the tyrant of New England, made governor of Virginia. Massachusetts and Plymouth colonies united. Sir William Phipps arrived, as governor of Massachusetts, under the new charter. 1693 Episcopacy introduced into New York. 1694 Legislature of Massachusetts caused the names of drunkards, in the several towns, to be posted up in the public houses, and imposed a fine for giving them entertainment. 1695 Rice introduced into Carolina. 696 Thirty Indian churches in New England at this time. 697 Severe winter; the Delaware frozen. 1698 Seat of government in Virginia removed to Williamsburgh, the streets of which were laid out in the form of a W, in honour of the reigning King of England, William. 1699 Assembly of Maryland removed to Annapolis. Yellow fever in Philadelphia. 1700 Legislature of New York made a law to hang every Popish priest who should come into the province. 262,000 inhabitants in the American colonies, at the beginning of this century. 1701 Yale College received its charter. 1702 First emission of paper currency in Carolina. First Episcopal churches in New Jersey and Rhode Island. 1703 The church of England established by law in Carolina. 1704 First newspaper in America published in Boston, called the Boston News Letter. 1706 The legislature of Connecticut exempted the ministers of the gospel from taxation in that colony. 1707 Episcopal church formed at Stratford; the first formed in Con necticut. 1708 Saybrook Platform formed by a synod of ministers, under the authority of the state of Connecticut. 1709 First issuing of paper currency in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. 1717 Greatest snow storm ever known, February. Yale College removed from Saybrook to New Haven. 1718 Piracy suppressed in the West Indies. William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, died in England, aged 74. 1719 Carolina throws off the proprietary government. First Presbyterian church in New York founded. Northern lights appeared in New England, Dec. 11th. Lotteries suppressed by the legislature of Massachusetts. 1721 First inoculation for the small pox in America, at Boston. Elihu Yale, the benefactor of Yale College, died in England. 1923 Twenty-six pirates executed at Newport, R. I. Paper currency in Pennsylvania first issued. 1724 The sect of Dunkers took its rise in Pennsylvania. 1725 Synods abolished in New England. First newspaper printed at New York, by William Bradford. 1727 Great earthquake in New England, Oct. 29. 1728 Drought and hurricane in Carolina; yellow fever in Charleston. Rev. Cotton Mather, a distinguished writer, died, aged 65. 1731 Rev. Solomon Stoddard, a theological writer, died. 732 Corn and tobacco, made a legal tender in Maryland. Corn at 20 pence per bushel, and tobacco at 1 penny per pound. George Washington born in Westmoreland county, Va., Feb. 22. 1733 First masonic lodge held in Boston. 737 Earthquake in New Jersey. 738 College at Princeton, N. J., founded. 740 George Whitefield, a celebrated preacher, first arrives in America. He died in Newburyport, Mass., Sept. 1770. Hard winter; severe cold. 741 Four white persons executed, 13 negroes burnt, 18 hanged, and great numbers transported, for a conspiracy to burn the city of New York. |