An American Revolution Time Line - 1776
Timeline of United States History
June 18, 1776 - William Franklin Arrested
The New Jersey Provincial Congress declares Benjamin Franklin's Son, William "an enemy to the liberties of this country..." and had him arrested.William Franklin (c.1730 – November 1813)
Benjamin Franklin never divulged the identity of William's mother. When Benjamin and Deborah Reed entered into their common law marriage on September 1, 1730, she accepted William as her son. Father and son participated in many projects together, included the famed kite experiment in 1752. William enlisted in the militia to fight in King George's War (1744–1748), rising to the rank of captain. He and Benjamin went on some of Ben's journeys together. William traveled to England in 1759 to study law. After gaining admission to the bar in England, Benjamin managed to procure an appointment for his son as governor of New Jersey.
September 09, 1763 - William Franklin Appointed as New Jersey Governor
William Franklin received appointment at New Jersey's last colonial governor while living in England.
Appointment as Governor
He and Elizabeth Downes married that same year and in September William recieved appointment as the Royal Governor of New Jersey. Historians speculate on whether Benjamin helped him get the appointment, or he gained it on his own. At any rate, he and Elizabeth moved to New Jersey, where he would live until the early stages of the American revolution.
November 10, 1766 - Charter for Queen's College Signed
The eighth of nine Colonial Colleges sprang to life when New Jersey Governor William Franklin signed the charter on November 10, 1766. The efforts by Reverands Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen and Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh had paid off with the establishment of the college. The men created to all male college to train ministers for the Dutch Reformed Church. The college would later change its name to Rutgers University.
The last Colonial governor of New Jersey, William Franklin, signs the charter of Queen's College (later renamed Rutgers University).
May 6, 1775 - New Jersey Royal Governor William Franklin Reports to Earl of Dartmouth - Little Chance of Reconciliation
Benjamin Franklin and his son William chose different courses during the early stages of the American Revolution. The father chose to course of independence, William the course of reconciliation. The different choices led to a permanent rending of their once close relationship. On May 6, 1776 William wrote the British Secretary of State for the colonies, William Legge, the Earl of Dartmouth, that after the battles of Lexington and Concord, that there was little chance of reconciliation between the colonies and Britain.
September 09, 1763 - William Franklin Appointed as New Jersey Governor
William Franklin received appointment at New Jersey's last colonial governor while living in England.
Appointment as Governor
He and Elizabeth Downes married that same year and in September William received appointment as the Royal Governor of New Jersey. Historians speculate on whether Benjamin helped him get the appointment, or he gained it on his own. At any rate, he and Elizabeth moved to New Jersey, where he would live until the early stages of the American revolution.
November 10, 1766 - Charter for Queen's College Signed
The eighth of nine Colonial Colleges sprang to life when New Jersey Governor William Franklin signed the charter on November 10, 1766. The efforts by Reverends Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen and Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh had paid off with the establishment of the college. The men created to all male college to train ministers for the Dutch Reformed Church. The college would later change its name to Rutgers University.
The last Colonial governor of New Jersey, William Franklin, signs the charter of Queen's College (later renamed Rutgers University).
May 6, 1775 - New Jersey Royal Governor William Franklin Reports to Earl of Dartmouth - Little Chance of Reconciliation
Benjamin Franklin and his son William chose different courses during the early stages of the American Revolution. The father chose to course of independence, William the course of reconciliation. The different choices led to a permanent rending of their once close relationship. On May 6, 1776 William wrote the British Secretary of State for the colonies, William Legge, the Earl of Dartmouth, that after the battles of Lexington and Concord, that there was little chance of reconciliation between the colonies and Britain.
