November 26th in American History: A 250th Anniversary Edition
November 26th in American History: A 250th Anniversary Edition
Nov 26, 2025
There are lots of 250ths of American History being talked about nowadays.
The truth is- every day commemorates the anniversary of an event. Be it personal to one of us, or a moment in time that had an impact regarding the formation of our United States of America.
As America 250 and states, cities, and families celebrate the upcoming anniversary of American Independence, I thought I'd drop a 250th of today. No particular reason I've chosen this date- other than my own curiosity about what happened on November 26, 1775.
RELATED: My recent post about getting a daily dose of "250" and the idea of continuously celebrating it.
Necessary disclaimer: As a blogger, I use affiliate links sometimes! I may receive commission from purchases I share; it does not change your price but sometimes you might get a discount.
Cannons in front of Magazine, CW
Three events that took place on November 26, 1775.
1) Six enslaved men took Lord Dunmore up on his offer.
In November of 1775, the Royal Governor Lord Dunmore, who had fled Williamsburg, issued a now-famous proclamation.
The Dunmore Proclamation has been discussed extensively here in Colonial Williamsburg (CW) and has been referenced in Ken Burns' new documentary on PBS, The American Revolution.
In summary, he offers freedom to any enslaved of a "rebel" (those supporting the American cause), who crosses to British lines to raise arms in support of the King.
On November 26, 1775, six enslaved men left the plantation of a Mr. Edmund Ruffin of Norfolk, Virginia, in hopes of securing the promised freedom by Lord Dunmore. They secured a vessel and headed for the British fleet. At least that's what Ruffin believed.
As was common during the period, Ruffin placed an ad in the Virginia Gazette. He named four of his enslaved men, describing them both by their looks and their skills. Thank goodness for primary sources like newspapers. It's not only how we get a handle on major events, but also of daily life.
And, importantly, details about people whose stories we may not learn about without them. While there are about 50,000 letters to, from, and about Thomas Jefferson (and I LOVE that), there aren't many letters or diary entries specific to those enslaved in the 18th century.
This one newspaper ad gives us a peek into a world we may not know without it.
Read more here on the National Park Service's website and click here to read Dunmore's Proclamation, transcribed.
CW actors performing Promise of Freedom
2) General Washington issued orders about recruits.
The history nerd in me has been loving CW's 4pm program this fall: Beat the Retreat. Each day, the members of the Military Encampment read the daily orders for the 2nd Virginia Regiment who were on that spot 250 years ago... that day.
I wanted to see what General Washington issued as orders for the whole army on November 26, 1775. And I found these on Founders' Archives: orders about approving and paying recruits!
Imagine the idea of refusing those that were "unfit" - while pulling together soldiers to fight against the one of the largest and strongest militaries in the world.
Head Quarters, Cambridge, General Orders, 26 November 1775.
Parole Wilks.
Countersign Liberty The Colonels and commanding Officers of regiments upon the New Establishment, to order the Men to be recruited to be paraded every Monday, at Ten in the forenoon, before the Brigadier General of their respective Brigades, who will reject such as are unfit for service, or do not come within the discription, of the recruiting Orders: The Brigadier will sign a Certificate of the recruits, he approves of, and deliver it to each of the Colonels, that the Blanket Money due, may be paid, and no more.
Military encampment, American Revolution Museum at Yorktown
3) George Washington gets his business in order by writing to Lund Washington.
At heart, Washington truly was a farmer. That's one thing I've come to know and love about him. On the same day he issues orders to further a military that can successfully fight for the rights of British subjects in America, he wrote many more words to his relative Lund.
This bit outlines his request for Lund to handle his farming business for him at Mt. Vernon and his goal of paying him for as long as his "absence continues" during "these troubles" - wow.
An excerpt below, full letter here.
To Lund Washington
[Cambridge] Novr 26th 1775.
I well know where the difficulty of accomplishing these things will lie. Overseers are already engaged (upon shares) to look after my business. Remote advantages to me, however manifest and beneficial, are nothing to them; and to engage standing Wages, when I do not know that any thing I have, or can raise, will command Cash, is attended with hazard; for which reason I hardly know what more to say than to discover my wishes. The same reason, although it may in appearance have the same tendency in respect to you, shall not be the same in its operation: For I will engage for the Year coming, and the Year following, if these troubles, and my absence continues, that your Wages shall be standing and1 certain, at the highest amount that any one years Crop has produced to you yet.
What a reminder, right? That life happened daily. Whether you were a merchant, a child, an enslaved man, or even General Washington.
End-of-season cornstalk, Ewing Field in CW
Closing it out.
Without a doubt, the American Revolutionary period was more than the July 2nd, 1776 vote for independence and the July 4th adoption of our Declaration. It's my hope this blog can bring some of the many moments relevant to our shared American history to light.
To inspire you to dig deeper.
To meet the people who lived there.
I hope you get a chance to visit us here in Virginia, where the first vote for independence authorizing our delegates in Philadelphia to introduce a resolution for it, happened on May 15, 1776.
And if you do, let me know! Set up a call and let's make your trip to Virginia THE BEST trip ever.
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There is a huge practical disclaimer to the content on this blog, which is my way of sharing my excitement and basically journaling online.
1) I am not a historian nor an expert. I will let you know I’m relaying the information as I understand and interpret it. The employees of Colonial Williamsburg base their presentations, work, and responses on historical documents and mainly primary sources.
2) I will update for accuracy as history is constant learning. If you have a question about accuracy, please ask me! I will get the answer from the best source I can find.
3) Photo credit to me, Daphne Reznik, for all photos in this post, unless otherwise credited! All photos are personal photos taken in public access locations or with specific permission.
