#guy carleton

Sir Henry Clinton vs. Guy Carleton

Again, a reminder that these blurbs are mostly from memory or my ass. Do your own research because knowledge is even better than General Howe’s juicy ass.

I don't know why I did this, but here it finally is:

Finally. It is done! The entirety of We Didn't Start the Fire, but with people and places relevant within the context of the American Revolutionary War shoehorned into Billy Joel's catchy melody.

Some words need to be stressed in a particular way to make sense melodically and I'm not quite pleased with it, but hey, it's finished and it's here. And to be honest with you, writing it was immensely fun.

Two of my main historical gripes are that France never "sent a ginger teen"- La Fayette made that decision all by himself, the latter just suited the melody better. And of course, there were far more indigenous peoples than the Mohawk, Shawnee and Seneca involved in and above all, affected by the war. The three mentioned simply fit the rhythm best and although this is, while not entirely a parody, a somewhat fun, playful take on the original lyrics, I wanted to at least mention the fact that Native Americans were involved in and affected by the conflict.

Feel free to propose alternative verses, improve on what's there and, if it helps, I guess go off and sing it in the shower before a history exam.

I pretty much love everything about this catalog cover.

Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester was a British politician and colonial administrator who served as Governor-General of Canada from 1767 to 1778 and President of the Board of Trade from 1765 to 1766.

How is Hugh Grant, (b.1960), actor, related to -~-~ Maria Howard, (1753-x), wife of Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester (1724-1808), Governor General of British North America, 1778-1786?

                                 Thomas Howard + Agnes Tilney

                                     1443-1524            x-x

                                                             |                                              

Dorothy Howard                                                     William Howard

  1500-1554                                                                1510-1573      

         +                                                                                +

Edward Stanley                                                     Margaret Gamage

  1509-1572                                                                      x-1581

           |                                                                                |

(continues to … )                                                    (continues to … )

           |                                                                                |

Hugh Grant                                                             Maria Howard

On May 6-7, in 1783 the first recognition by the British of the United States as a new nation took place in the Hudson River off what is now Piermont.

Images:  General Carlton and General Washington. Images appeared in South of the Mountains, 1983, Vol. 27, No. 2

On May 6, 1783, General George Washington and Governor George Clinton of New York greeted Sir Guy Carleton, commander of the British Army in America, at the Onderdonk House (Piermont Avenue, Piermont).  Carleton’s H.M.S. Perseverance was anchored in the Hudson, and he was in what would become Rockland 15 years later (it was then Orange County) to make arrangements for the final evacuation of British troops from New York City, Long Island and Westchester following the Revolutionary War.

This was a key meeting since the British were still in control of New York even though General Cornwallis had surrendered at Yorktown a year and half earlier, effectively ending the war.  The British troops still in place had to be dislodged before peace could be assured.

Washington asked Carleton to meet with him following news that the preliminary articles of peace had been signed in Paris.  They got together at the DeWint House in Tappan to map out the details and then the American party was entertained aboard the Perseverance.  Upon boarding and leaving the vessel on May 7, the British honored Washington and the new nation with a 17 gun naval salute thereby first acknowledging the United Sates in the traditional manner.

Interestingly, this meeting had been erroneously recorded as occurring in Dobbs Ferry (Westchester).  This information has been corrected, but many people are unaware of this important piece of Rockland County History.

To read how the event was commemorated on the 200th Anniversary (1983), and about the historical error, read our recently digitized issue of South of the Mountains (1983; Vol. 27, No. 2).  Desktop viewing recommended:   

HMS Perseverance 1781. Plate II from Fragments on Electricity &c. by William Pringle-Green, 1833

_________________________________________

The Onderdonk House in Piermont still exists however, it has been significantly altered.  It is a private residence.  

The DeWint House in Tappan is an historic site and can be visited.  http://dewinthouse.com/

The Abduction Club: A group of Irish noblemen kidnap girls in order to marry into their fortune and avoid becoming priests or soldiers.