American Revolution – 1775

 

                                              

 

 

The term - American Revolution refers to the period in which the Thirteen Colonies that became the United States of America gained independence from the British Empire.

In this period, the Colonies rebelled against the British Empire and entered into the American Revolutionary War, also referred to (especially in Britain) as the American War of Independence, between 1775 and 1783.

This culminated in an American Declaration of Independence in 1776, and victory on the battlefield in 1781.

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Robert Morris was born on January 31, 1734 in Dale Street, Liverpool, the son of a nail maker who emigrated to Oxford, Maryland which was a busy port on Chesapeake Bay and served as an agent for a Liverpool tobacco merchant.  Young Robert displayed an aptitude for business and was apprenticed with merchant Charles Willing.  By 1754, he was a partner.  The firm grew to be one of the largest merchant firms in Philadelphia, with its own fleet of ships which sailed to Europe and the West Indies.

Morris's portrait appeared on US $1000 notes from 1862 to 1863 and on the $10 silver certificates from 1878 to 1880. Along with Alexander Hamilton and Albert Gallatin,Morris is considered one of the key founders of the financial system in the United States. Morris and Roger Sherman were the only two people to sign the three significant founding documents of the United States, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the U.S. Constitution.

As well as singing the Declaration of Independence, he also became the United States Superintendent of Finance, 1781-84; established Bank of North America; an a Deputy to the Constitutional Convention; and a United States Senator, 1789-95.

Robert Morris became one of the most powerful and influential men in America of his time, but lost a fortune in land and shires speculation and died alone and in poverty in May 1806.

Further information link - http://bioguide.congress.gov

 

           ‘ Mad Annie ‘

Anne Bailey, "the White Squaw of the Kanawha", is the heroine of border warfare days in the Kanawha Valley. She was born Anne Hennis in 1742 in Liverpool, England. She came to America about 1761 and settled near Staunton, Va. Here she married Richard Trotter, who was killed in the Battle of Point Pleasant. Immediately upon learning of her husband's death, Anne became "Mad Anne" and, clothing herself in the garb of a frontiersman, set out to avenge her loss.  She became a scout and as such did her bit in the region of present Charleston during the American Revolution and the Indian wars that followed

Anne had four nicknames. They were: "A Daughter of the Revolution", "The Pioneer Heroine of the Great Kanawah shore", "Mad Anne" and "The White Squaw of Kanawah". The most fascinating nickname she had, I think, was "Mad Anne". The Indians named her that because they thought she was possessed by an evil spirit and that she was insane. They thought that because she could ride through Indian territory without harm. One time the Indians were chasing Anne on her black horse which was named ‘Liverpool’. She knew she couldn't out run them so, she jumped off her horse and hid in a hollow log. Although the Indians looked everywhere, they couldn't find her so they took her horse. Later that night, Anne snuck into their camp and stole her horse back. She rode away and at a safe distance, and then she screamed and yelled like a wild woman.

The ride in 1791 was what Anne is most famous for. A runner was sent from Point Pleasant to Ft. Lee to say Indians were going to attack with a large army force within a few days. The ammunition was low in Ft. Lee at the time. They needed ammunition so they could fight off the Indians. Anne rode a very dangerous trail alone. She rode 100 miles to Lewisburg across wilderness without roads to get the gun powder. She returned with the much needed supply of ammunition. Anne died in November 1825 in her bed, of old age. A poem was written in 1861 by American poet Charles Robb about this ride. It was called " Anne Bailey's Ride".

We are familiar with other real life women of the Wild West like Annie Oakley through the films ‘Annie get your Gun’, and ‘Calamity Jane’ they were both born nearly a hundred years after the death of Mad Annie Bailey, in 1860 and 1848  respectively, and later became well known as show business performers

Annie Bailey would probably have had both of them for breakfast.

Liverpool Ceramic Ware.

It was common for American merchant seamen to order commemorative objects to be sent directly home or to be collected on their return voyage. During the early nineteenth century the Herculaneum Pottery in Liverpool dominated the American export trade.

During and after the Revolution, a wide range of commemorative wares were produced for consumers in Britain and America, including Liverpool jugs, printed handkerchiefs, and China services.

People in Portsmouth - New Hampshire, paid tribute to the founding of the Republic by saving the artefacts commemorating the events and heroes of the Revolution.

Present day visitors to the town will see a wide variety of objects related to the American Revolution, including an extensive collection of Liverpool ceramics with patriotic motifs. These ceramics were made in England for the American market shortly after the Revolution.

 

Banastre Tarleton

A regiment was raised at the expense of the Port of Liverpool January 1778, becoming one of many volunteer regiments formed during the American Revolutionary War.

 

In 1781, the son of a prominent English slave owning family, the Tarletons, ( and also the son of a former Lord Mayor of Liverpool)  Banestre Tarleton, became the lieutant-colonel of the Liverpool Volunteers, though he remained in command of the 5^th American Regiment (British Legion).

He became an infamous cavalry officer during the Revolutionary War.

The Regiment returned to Liverpool in early 1784, where it was disbanded following Britain’s defeat in the American Revolution.

Despite being married to an illegitimate daughter of the 4th Duke of Ancaster since 1798,he lived with the actress Mary Robinson (Perdita), whom he seduced to win a bet.

 

Banastre Tarleton died childless at Leintwardine, Shropshire, England.

The Hollywood movie The Patriot (2000) controversially portrayed a character (Colonel William Tavington played by Jason Isaacs) based on Tarleton as a cruel, sadistic commander who massacred prisoners of war and innocent civilians.

Banastre Tarleton is also portrayed in the 2006 film Amazing Grace (played by Ciarán Hinds) as the main opponent in the British Parliament to the slave trade abolitionists, led by William Wilberforce.

Tarleton Street in Liverpool was named after the family.

Further information link - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banastre_Tarleton