Fraunces Tavern Museum

In our final post of the social media takeover of the Fraunces Tavern Museum, we at the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute share the story of the Spanish and Latin American Prison Ship Martyrs. In Brooklyn, New York on August 27, 1776, less than two months after the signing of the declaration of Independence, George Washington and 9,000 continental soldiers faced a force of 20,000 British Redcoats and their supporters. Even though Washington’s army were supplied with muskets and c...annons by the French and Spanish, still the Americans were badly beat. During the battle of Brooklyn, the British captured over 2,000 American soldiers. The British now had a problem, what to do with the prisoners? The solution the British had was creative. They took old ships, dismasted them, and left them in the shallows of Wallabout Bay. One officer kept logs of (often misspelled) names of the prisoners on the HMS Jersey where about 200 names out of 8,000 appear to be of Spanish origin such as Don Pedro Azoala, Diego Romeria, and Francisco St. Domingo. Most were probably merchant sailors captured at sea by the Royal Navy. The Prison Ship Martyrs Monument at Fort Greene Park remembers these unsung heroes. Learn more about the Prison Ship Martyrs here: https://youtu.be/Ehiupl_iF7k Thank you, Fraunces Tavern Museum for letting us take over your account today. Continue this historical journey and join the museum for the lecture Spain and American Independence tomorrow, December 10th at 6:30 pm.

The Queen Sofia Spanish Institute is back to share more about the Lost Legacy of the Spanish and Latin American contribution to American independence. Most people don’t know about the role that Spain and Latin America played in America’s war for Independence, but at the time it was known. George Washington himself recognized that Spain and Latin America played a part in America’s victory. In 1783, the head of the continental congress in a letter promised that he would hang a ...portrait of the Spanish military leader Bernardo de Gálvez in the capitol. Bernardo de Gálvez was the Governor of what was then Spanish Louisiana, and he led a diverse military force of Latin Americans, Spanish, Native Americans and free African-Americans against the British. Gálvez and his sailors and soldiers won critical battles against the British at Mobile, Alabama; Natchez, Mississippi; and Pensacola, Florida. It was Gálvez’s defeat of the British in Pensacola that paved the way for the American and French victory over the British at Yorktown in 1781. That victory ensured that the Americans would win the war. Gálvez was awarded honorary citizenship by President Obama in 2014 for his military efforts during the Revolution, one of eight people ever to receive this honor, and finally, after 231 years, Gálvez’s portrait was hung in the US Capitol. Learn more about the activist who made sure congress kept its promise: https://youtu.be/LPUFZC6tSng

It’s a takeover! Today the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute @qssi_ny takes over the Fraunces Tavern Museum’s social media. Founded in New York City in 1954, the QSSI serves as a cultural bridge between the United States, Spain, and the Spanish-speaking world, dedicated to improving knowledge and wisdom about the Hispanic legacy, both past and present. With over 50 million Spanish-speakers across the United States, the importance of this legacy cannot be understated. Spanish-spea...kers are leaders in every field and their contributions to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States are innumerable. When you think of the heroes of the American Revolution, you probably think of Washington, Jefferson, and Hamilton. You probably don’t think of names like Gálvez, Lopez, and Alvarez. But alongside Americans, soldiers and sailors from Spain, Mexico, Venezuela, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic fought for the independence of the thirteen colonies. In our video series The Lost Legacy: Hispanic Heritage and the American Revolution, NYC-based tour guide Andrew Silverstein leads us back in time. We will learn about the role Spain played in winning the war, visit important Spanish sites around our city, and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Stay tuned for more stories from the Lost Legacy! Watch the series here: https://queensofiaspanishinstitute.org/the-lost-legacy/

Get ready for our evening lecture, Spain and the Independence of the United States, this Thursday, December 10 at 6:30pm, by reading Cuba: An Unlikely Ally on the Museum blog. In this blog, Education & Public Programs Manager Sarah Kneeshaw delves into the often-overlooked, yet incredibly important, relationship between Spain, Cuba, and the Continental Army. Read the full story: https://qoo.ly/39k9iq Tickets to Spain and the Independence of the United States: https://bit.ly/37MwUgm

#OnThisDay, October 26, 1775, Phillis Wheatley sends her poem His Excellency George Washington to General Washington. Wheatley was born in Senegal in 1753, enslaved, and shipped to Boston in 1761. She was purchased by the Wheatley family, who provided her with a classical education. In 1773, at the age of twenty, Wheatley became the first African American woman to publish a book of poetry, titled Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, in the colonies. As one of th...e foremost poets of her time, Wheatley either met or corresponded with many of our founding fathers. In her poem, His Excellency George Washington, Wheatley praises the Revolutionary War and Washington’s inspiring and patriotic efforts to lead the country to independence. The poem, composed in a neoclassical form, incorporates ancient Greek and Roman mythology into the modern world. Wheatley refers to the American Revolution as Columbia, a composite of Phoebus Apollo, representing Liberty, and Pallas Athene, the goddess of war, representing Washington. Under the divine right, she urges Washington to continue fighting for victory and independence from the British Empire. Washington responds to Wheatley in February 1776, apologizing for his delay and thanking her. He writes, I thank you most sincerely for your polite notice of me, in the elegant Lines you enclosed; and however undeserving I may be of such encomium and panegyrick, the style and manner exhibit a striking proof of your great poetical Talents. He also invites Wheatley to his headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and signs the letter, I am, with great respect, your obedient humble servant. The poem was published first in the Virginia Gazette in March 1776, and then by Thomas Paine in the Pennsylvania Gazette. Image: George Washington to Phillis Wheatley, February 28, 1776. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.

On December 4, 1783, nine days after the last British soldiers left American soil, General George Washington visited Fraunces Tavern. He invited his officers from the Continental Army to thank them for their service, and to bid them farewell. After embracing each officer and wishing them well, Washington left for Annapolis, where he would resign his military commission before traveling on to Mount Vernon. The only first-hand account of this emotional goodbye comes from The Memoirs of Colonel Benjamin Tallmadge, which Fraunces Tavern Museum has on display.

Happy Birthday to Etienne Delancey, who was born #OnThisDay, October 24, 1663! Born into French nobility in Caen, France, his family served the French Crown as administrators and bureaucrats. In 1686, thousands of Huguenots, including the Delanceys, fled France from the persecution by French Catholics under the Edict of Nantes. Etienne arrived in New York City on June 6, signed an Oath of Allegiance to the British Crown, and anglicized his name to Stephen. Delancey married A...nne Van Cortlandt on January 23, 1700, and in 1719 the couple broke ground on their home at 54 Pearl Street, which today is home to Fraunces Tavern Museum and Restaurant. Stephan and Anne had ten children, with only five surviving past infancy. All of their children married into other prominent families in the city. James Delancey became a Supreme Court Justice in New York, and Oliver Delancey became a Brigadier General in the British Army during the Revolutionary War. By the 1730s, Stephen Delancey became one of the most successful merchants in New York City. The Delancey, Robinson & Company operated a retail store and granary that operated out of 54 Pearl Street because it was conveniently located next to the Great Dock. Delancey was also a prominent member of the New York Provincial Assembly and served as an Alderman and the State Senate. Image: Portrait of Etienne de Lancy, known as Stephen Delancey

#OnThisDay in 1783, General Washington bid an emotional farewell to his officers at Fraunces Tavern in Lower Manhattan. Eugene L. Armbruster, Fraunce’s Tavern, 54 Pearl Street, SE on Front Street, 1923.

Join us on Thursday, November 19 at 6:30pm for Hamilton: Man, Myth, Musical...Mensch. By now, most everyone has heard the hit Broadway musical Hamilton: An American Story and has become a Hamilton buff. In this talk, Robert Watson will examine some of the little known, intriguing aspects of the Founder's remarkable life, including his Jewish roots and hard scrabble upbringing. This talk will also feature a fun fact-checking of the musical and look at the backstory for some of the show's main scenes. Register: https://qoo.ly/38ty5p

#ICYMI - On Friday, October 2, Fraunces Tavern Museum teamed up with Archtober to present Preserving the Past: The Restoration of Fraunces Tavern. Preserving the Past is a digital lecture that takes a comprehensive look at the architecture, design, and history of 54 Pearl Street, one of the oldest buildings in New York City. Led by historian Mary Tsaltas-Ottomanelli, the lecture explores three hundred years of the building’s history from its early construction on some of the city’s oldest landfill, to the extensive restoration in the 20th century, to how the building continues to survive surrounded by skyscrapers. Missed the presentation? Watch the recording here: https://qoo.ly/38ssu3

#OnthisDay, October 19, 1781, the British garrison at Yorktown led by Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis entered the Field of Surrender to lay down their weapons after nearly two weeks of siege. This surrender marked the end of the last major battle of the American Revolution with a decisive victory for the Americans and their French Allies. Although fighting continued for at least another year, and peace was not officially achieved until 1783, this victory at Yorktown was... the moment the world turned upside down. What many people don’t know is that an hour later and a mile away, the British soldiers at Gloucester Point surrendered to the combined forces of French Generals Weedon, Lauzun, and Choisy. Gloucester Point is the small strip of land that juts out into the York River, making the river less than a half a mile wide where it passes Yorktown. This second surrender came after a single confrontation between British and Allied soldiers before the Siege of Yorktown even began. However, it was integral to the success of the Siege of Yorktown because, in order to successfully hold Yorktown, the Continental Army also needed hold Gloucester Point. On the blog, Museum Services & Events Associate Jessica Bryant explores the lesser-known second surrender at the Battle of Yorktown, and the rowdy legion of foreign volunteers who made both surrenders possible. Read the full story: https://bit.ly/3kd2JE4 Image: Sebastian Bauman and Robert Scot, To His Excellency Genl. Washington, Commander in Chief of the armies of the United States of America, this plan of the investment of York and Gloucester has been surveyed and laid down, 1782. Courtesy of Library of Congress Geography and Map Division Washington, D.C.

#OnThisDay, October 17, 1777, British General John Burgoyne surrendered to General Horatio Gates after the Battle of Saratoga after a week-long negotiation. This battle was a turning point for the American forces during the Revolutionary War, which convinced the French to enter the war as one of the Continental Army’s allies. During negotiations, Gates refused nothing less than an unconditional surrender. The terms agreed upon were that British and German forces were to surre...nder their weapons, march to Boston, and immediately return to England, never to fight in this war again. As they marched into the American encampment under full honors of war, the British flag flew, and the drums played the British Grenadiers as officers surrendered their arms to the victor. John Trumbull painted the Surrender of General Burgoyne in 1821, which now hangs in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C. The painting depicts Burgoyne’s surrender of his sword to Gates, surrounded by American and British forces. Out of respect, Gates declines the sword and offers Burgoyne refreshments in the tent with the American flag flying overhead. Trumbull’s interpretation sets a peaceful tone with officers in their dress uniforms, their weapons sheathed, and the skies clear.

#OnThisDay, October 15, 1817 Brigadier General Andrzej Tadeusz Bonawentura Kociuszko, a Polish Patriot of the American Revolution, died. Born into Polish nobility in what is now Belarus, Kociuszko graduated from the Royal Military School in Warsaw and received a captain’s commission. A few years later, Kosciuszko received a scholarship to study military and civil architecture. Kosciuszko arrived in Philadelphia in August 1776, and on August 30, with a recommendation from Be...njamin Franklin, he enlisted in the Continental Army. In October, Kosciuszko was appointed Colonel of Engineers by Continental Congress President John Hancock, and quickly began designing fortifications along the Delaware River to protect Philadelphia from British invasion. Kosciuszko’s most significant accomplishment came during the Battle of Saratoga, when strategic engineering designsincluding defensive barriers, parapets, and trenchessuccessfully protected the Americans from British attacks on Bemis Heights. In 1778, Kosciuszko was commissioned by General Washington to strengthen fortifications at West Point, which Washington considered the most important Post in America, as West Point’s location was along the Hudson River. One of Kosciuszko’s designs included The Great Chain, two sets of chain links weighing 65 tons which spanned the 600 yards along the river. These chains, along with the narrow S shape of the river, blocked ships from passing through the fort. Kosciuszko’s design made West Point impenetrable, something that Benedict Arnold knew when he attempted to surrender the fort to the British during his defection a year later. Kosciuszko was present at Washington’s Farewell at Fraunces Tavern on December 4, 1783, where he toasted to the General and the Army. He returned to Poland in 1784, and spent the next decade fighting for Poland’s independence in two unsuccessful uprisings. In his will, he left Thomas Jefferson his backpay of nearly $18,000 from the United States to purchase enslaved Africans and provide them education and land. Kosciuszko lived in exile in Switzerland until his death in 1817.

At Fraunces Tavern Museum, we always strive to bring you the very best in programming, tours, special events, exhibitions, membership, and social media. Your feedback is the most important catalyst for the new and creative changes taking place at the Museum every day. So we want to hear from you! Now through November 15, take our Fall Survey and you’ll be entered for a chance to win one of three Fraunces Tavern Museum t-shirts. https://qoo.ly/38nxf5

As Postmaster General for both the Crown and the United States, Franklin would often sign his letters as B. Free Franklin, seen here at the end of one of his letters. In honor of World Post Day, Museum Services & Events Associate Theresa DeCicco delves into the origins of what Alexis de Toqueville described as the great link between minds: the United States Postal Service. Read the full story: https://qoo.ly/38k93c

In 1781, thirteen British colonies in North America achieved what was deemed to be impossible: they defeated the greatest military power in the world, establishing themselves as an independent nation, free from Great Britain’s rule. In their struggle for independence, America received help from overseas allies. The most well known of these allies is France, remembered for lending money and troops to the Patriot cause. Less remembered are the contributions of Spain, particular...ly through one of its own colonies: Cuba. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, explore the often-overlooked, yet incredibly important, relationship between Spain, Cuba, and the Continental Army on the FTM blog. Read the full story: https://qoo.ly/38jnjx Image: A map of the West Indies by Herman Moll. This 1736 map shows Spain's holdings in the New World, with Cuba at the center.

#OnThisDay, October 7, 1777, was the Battle of Bemis Heights, the second installment of the Battle of Saratoga. The Battle of Saratoga was a decisive victory and turning point for the Continental forces during the Revolutionary War. Saratoga was composed of two different battles that were fought eighteen days apart, on September 19 and October 7, 1777, in upstate New York about 10 miles from Saratoga. British General John Burgoyne coordinated a three-pronged offensive attack... in attempt to secure British control of New York. If successful, this would ensure that the British had control over the Hudson River and could cut off New England from the other colonies. The Battle of Freeman’s Farm was the first of the two battles, fought on September 19, and was a victory for the British, because they ultimately held the battlefield. However, the Continental Army did not suffer as many casualties, nor did they lose their stronghold. On October 7, Burgoyne ordered a flanking of General Gates’ fortifications on Bemis Heights, initiating the second Battle of Saratoga. The Americans successfully fought against the British assault, regained lost land, and gained even more. General Benedict Arnold led an attack to surround British forces and was severely wounded in the leg, an injury from which he would never recover. Burgoyne was forced to withdraw northward from British fortifications along the Hudson River. By the end of the battle, Americans had captured more than 6,000 of Burgoyne’s troops, and nearly 500 British soldiers were dead. General Burgoyne officially surrendered to General Gates on October 17, 1777. The Battle of Saratoga is one of the most decisive turning points of the American Revolutionary War. After losing Philadelphia to the British, this victory reinvigorated the Continental Army’s spirit and convinced the French to enter the war as American allies. Image: Benedict Arnold wounded at the Battle of Saratoga.

Join us This Thursday, October 8 at 6:30pm for George Washington's Nemesis: The Outrageous Treason and Unfair Court-Martial of Major General Charles Lee during the Revolutionary War presented by Christian McBurney. While historians often treat General Charles Lee as an inveterate enemy of George Washington or a great defender of American liberty, author Christian McBurney argues that neither image is wholly accurate. In this lecture, McBurney will discuss his research into a more nuanced understanding of one of the Revolutionary War's most misunderstood figures. Register: https://qoo.ly/38ih3w

#OnThisDay, October 4, 1777, British forces defeated the Continental Army at the Battle of Germantown. Though it was a loss for General Washington and his army, the battle bolstered the career of one particular soldier, Anna Maria Lane. Anna Maria Lane was only female veteran to receive a pension from Virginia for her services as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Lane followed her husband John into the war in 1776. She started out as a camp follower, the wife of a soldier... who supported the various encampments by cooking, laundering, and nursing injured troops. The British crushed the Continental forces at the Battle of Brandywine and quickly captured Pennsylvania. On October 4, General Washington gave the orders for a surprise attack on the British troops in Germantown in an attempt to regain control of Philadelphia. Unfortunately, a dense fog thwarted their advantage, and the British were able to retreat into the Chew House, an old stone house that withstood artillery fire. After a few hours, General Washington called for a unit of soldiers to attack the Chew House. Historians believe that Lane dressed as a male soldier and participated in this raid, which resulted in a severe injury to her leg. Although there are no other records of Lane fighting, she served in the Continental army alongside her husband until the end of the war in 1781. After the war, the Lanes settled in Virginia. In 1808, Governor William H. Cabell wrote to the Speaker of the House of Delegates, Hugh Nelson, seeking pensions for disabled veterans, including both John and Anna Maria. In the letter Cabell writes, Anna Maria Lane is also very infirm having been disabled by a severe wound which she received while fighting, as a common soldier, in one of our Revolutionary battles, from which she has never recovered The assembly awarded John Lane a $40 a year for life, and Anna Maria $100. Lane received a pension nearly double that of the average soldier, but no written accounts exist of her extraordinary military services. Anna Maria Lane passed away on June 13, 1810. Image: The letter from Cabell requesting a pension for Anna Maria Lane.