A Great Jubilee Day
Encyclopedia
A Great Jubilee Day, first held on Monday May 26, 1783 in North Stratford, now Trumbull
, commemorated the end of fighting in the Revolutionary War . This celebration included feasting, prayer, speeches, toasts, and two companies of the North Stratford militia
performing maneuvers with cannon
discharges and was one of the first documented celebrations following the War for Independence and continued as Decoration Day and today as Memorial Day
with prayer services and a parade.
the Ensign of the North Stratford Train Band or Company of the 4th regiment of the Connecticut Colony
militia in October 1765 . He was promoted to Lieutenant in October 1769 and ultimately to Captain in May 1773 . At a special meeting assembled in North Stratford on November 10, 1777 he was appointed to a committee to provide immediately all those necessaries for the Continental soldiers . On March 12, 1778, the parish of North Stratford made donations of provisions for those residents serving in the southern army stationed at Valley Forge
, Pennsylvania under the command of General George Washington
. Mr. Stephen Middlebrook donated the sum of seven pounds (money), three shillings and ten pence to transport the almost two hundred pounds of provisions . George Washington called Connecticut the Provision State because of supplies contributed to his army by Governor Jonathan Trumbull
the only Colonial Governor to support the cause of America's Independence from Great Britain
.
Trumbull, Connecticut
Trumbull, a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut in the New England region of the United States, is bordered by the towns of Monroe, Shelton, Stratford, Bridgeport, Fairfield and Easton along Connecticut's Gold Coast. The population was 36,018 according to the 2010 census.Family Circle magazine...
, commemorated the end of fighting in the Revolutionary War . This celebration included feasting, prayer, speeches, toasts, and two companies of the North Stratford militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
performing maneuvers with cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
discharges and was one of the first documented celebrations following the War for Independence and continued as Decoration Day and today as Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
with prayer services and a parade.
Personal reflections
North Stratford Militia
The Connecticut general assembly named Robert HawleyRobert Hawley
Robert Hawley , Captain, raised provisions for the Continental soldiers and fought in the American Revolutionary War.BiographyCaptain Robert Hawley was born June 5, 1726, in North Stratford, now Trumbull, Connecticut, in New England...
the Ensign of the North Stratford Train Band or Company of the 4th regiment of the Connecticut Colony
Connecticut Colony
The Connecticut Colony or Colony of Connecticut was an English colony located in British America that became the U.S. state of Connecticut. Originally known as the River Colony, it was organized on March 3, 1636 as a haven for Puritan noblemen. After early struggles with the Dutch, the English...
militia in October 1765 . He was promoted to Lieutenant in October 1769 and ultimately to Captain in May 1773 . At a special meeting assembled in North Stratford on November 10, 1777 he was appointed to a committee to provide immediately all those necessaries for the Continental soldiers . On March 12, 1778, the parish of North Stratford made donations of provisions for those residents serving in the southern army stationed at Valley Forge
Valley Forge
Valley Forge in Pennsylvania was the site of the military camp of the American Continental Army over the winter of 1777–1778 in the American Revolutionary War.-History:...
, Pennsylvania under the command of General George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
. Mr. Stephen Middlebrook donated the sum of seven pounds (money), three shillings and ten pence to transport the almost two hundred pounds of provisions . George Washington called Connecticut the Provision State because of supplies contributed to his army by Governor Jonathan Trumbull
Jonathan Trumbull
Jonathan Trumbull, Sr. was one of the few Americans who served as governor in both a pre-Revolutionary colony and a post-Revolutionary state...
the only Colonial Governor to support the cause of America's Independence from Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
.