The Revolutionary War finally concluded on November 25, 1783. &nbsp;There was a party at Fraunces Tavern hosted by Governor George Clinton. &nbsp;Then the British flag was taken down at Bowling Green and a large flotilla of ships carrying British troops and sympathizers departed New York Harbor. &nbsp;Nine days George Washington held an elaborate 'turtle feast' for his officers&nbsp;in the Long Room. &nbsp;At the time it was considered de rigeuer for sea captains who voyaged to&nbsp;the West Indies to capture one of the 300 pound (or more) sea turtles and return&nbsp;home with this souvenir. &nbsp;Considered the epitome of haute cuisine in Colonial America (and England), grand banquets were created&nbsp;around these humble animals transforming the turtle feast into a symbol of refined taste, indulgence and high status,&nbsp;an appropriate victory meal for a successful revolution. &nbsp;Washintgon's farewell speech was said to be very emotional and involved a lot of hugging.&nbsp;&nbsp;

On December 4, 1783, nine days after the last British soldiers left American soil, George Washington invited the officers of the Continental Army to join him in the Long Room of Fraunces Tavern to bid them farewell. The best-known account of this emotional parting comes from the Memoirs of Colonel Benjamin Tallmadge, written in 1830 and now in the collection of Fraunces Tavern Museum.George Washington shaking hands with an officer, among other officers of the Continental Army, as he bids them farewell in 1783, at the end of the American Revolution.

Fraunces Tavern

Washington's farewell dinner at Fraunces Tavern

As the Revolutionary War drew to a close, a joint British and American commission–formed as part of the process to implement the peace–met at Fraunces Tavern to review and deliberate upon the eligibility of some Black Loyalists to evacuate with the British Army.&nbsp; Testimonies were provided by interested persons alongside documentary evidence for the commission to render a decision. These proceedings are now referred to as the “Birch Trials,” named after British Brigadier General Samuel Birch, Commander of the 17th Regiment of Light Dragoons and Commandant of New York, appointed to oversee them.

The Birch Trials

 Sons of the Revolution was founded in New York City, primarily by leading members of The Society of the Cincinnati and the businessman John Austin Stevens. He disagreed with the Society of the Cincinnati requirements limiting membership to the eldest male descendants based on the rules of primogeniture. Stevens held a preliminary meeting on December 18, 1875, at the New-York Historical Society in New York. At a second meeting held in January 1876, the first constitution was adopted and a flier that invited members was published. 

 After a few years of little activity, an elaborate "turtle feast" was held on December 4, 1883, in the Long Room of historic Fraunces Tavern. The banquet was to commemorate the centennial of General George Washington's farewell there to his officers. The 1883 dinner helped recruit 40 new members, and the group was reorganized as the Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York Inc. 

 Sons of the Revolution was founded in the Long Room on the 100th anniversary of Washington&amp;rsquo;s Farewell to his officers. Sons of the Revolution is a genealogical society that traces their ancestors back to men who participated in the Revolutionary War. In 1904, the organization purchased 54 Pearl Street and, to restore the building, undertook one of the largest preservation projects in the early 20th century.  

 Fraunces Tavern Opens to the Public - When restoration was completed in 1907, the building was dedicated and opened as a Museum and Restaurant on December 4, the anniversary of Washington&amp;rsquo;s Farewell to his officers.  

Sons of the Revolution Founded 

The Committee of Fifty-one was a committee of correspondence in the City and County of New York that first met on May 16, 1774. On May 30, the Committee formed a subcommittee to write a letter to the supervisors of the counties of New York to extort them to also form similar committees of correspondence, which letter was adopted on a meeting of the Committee on May 31.

The New York Sons of Liberty used 54 Pearl Street as one of their secret headquarters in the 1770s, likely meeting in the Long Room. In the mid-1770s, taverns were important public spaces for colonists to gather and discuss, deliberate, and debate their grievances against Parliament. Samuel Fraunces was a well-known patriot, opening his tavern to those sympathetic to the revolutionary cause. The first floor of the tavern was open to the public and the second floor was made up of smaller rooms, like the Long Room, which were reserved for private events. In May 1775, Fraunces opened his doors to the New York Provincial Congress, which was then founded in the Long Room

A Revolutionary Headquarters 1770's

In Provincial congress. New York, June 7, 1775. Resolved, that whensoever doubts shall arise, which respect to the recommendations, or resolutions of the Continental Congress or of this Board, in the minds of private persons, it is the duty of such persons, to apply to this Board for an explanation thereof. And that any attempts to raise tumults, riots, or mobs, either under colour of a dubious interpretation of such recommendations, or resolutions, or for any other reasons or purposes, is a high infraction of the general association; and tends directly to the dissolution of this Confress.A true copy form the minutes.John McKesson, Secretary.Printed by John Holt, is Water-Street, near Coffee House.

New York Provincial Congress is founded

At the final stop on the tour, Kaplan discusses the historic Fraunces Tavern/Museum, the location of Washington's farewell address to his troops. The tavern remains today, owned by the Sons of the Revolution.

Scott Dwyer, Executive Director, Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York and Fraunces Tavern Museum, &nbsp;speaking at ‘It Happened Here - 1700’s Symposium: The Path to Liberty’ on July 4, 2025

Scott Dwyer speaking at It Happened Here on July 4th, 2023 at Fraunces Tavern

Peter C. Hein speaking at It Happened Here on July 4th, 2023 at Fraunces Tavern

Dwight Jon Zimmerman speaking at It Happened Here on July 4th, 2023 at Fraunces Tavern

Claire Bellerjeau, President and Founder, Remember Liss, speaking at ‘It Happened Here - 1700’s Symposium: The Path to Liberty’ on July 4, 2025

Peter C. Hein, &nbsp;Past President, Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York, speaking at ‘It Happened Here - 1700’s Symposium: The Path to Liberty’ on July 4, 2025

Ted Knudsen speaking at It Happened Here on July 4th, 2023 at Fraunces Tavern

Melinda H. Allison speaking at It Happened Here on July 4th, 2023 at Fraunces Tavern

Nicole Scholet speaking at It Happened Here on July 4th, 2023 at Fraunces Tavern

New York Provincial Congress is founded

Images

Images

Drawings and documents

ASSOCIATED SITES

Events and Stories