1791 - 1792 - 1794 - 1795 - 1796 - 1798 - 1799

1790

Fort Wayne in 1790Hay, Henry, reprinted by special permission from the Indiana Historical Society Publications, vol. 7, no. 7 on Archive.org

200@200: 1790 musket posted Februry 6, 2016 by WANE 15 News on YouTube.
The History Center's Todd Pelfrey joins First News to talk about this amazing piece of Fort Wayne history.

1790, January 8 - On this day in Indiana history, 1790, General Arthur St. Clair and party reach the Falls of the Ohio on their tour of the western country. Posted January 8, 2013 by Indiana Historical Bureau on Facebook.

1790, March 1 - the President signed the Enumeration Act into law from Congress authorizing the first U.S. Census and every ten years. Congress Counts: History of the US Census on The National Archives Prologue: Pieces of History blog. See our Census page.

March 1, 2023 post by U.S. Census Bureau on Facebook:

#OnThisDayInHistory the 1790 Census Act was signed into law. ✒️

The nation’s first census was taken later that year in August. Upon completing the count, U.S. Marshals forwarded the data for 3,929,214 people to the Secretary of State.

Check out more 1790 Census data and other historical facts: Census 1790 Fast Facts

#CensusHistory #OnThisDay #OTD 

 

See our Census page.

 

 

1790, 17 April - Benjamin Franklin died.  He bequeaths his walking stick to George Washington in his will.

1790, May 17 - Congress passed HR 43, the Copyright Act.

1790, May 29 - Rhode Island became the last of the “13 Original Colonies” admitted to the U.S.

1790, June 20 - Winthrop Sargent, Secretary of Northwest Territory, organized the first Indiana county, Knox County. It covered a huge area, embracing parts of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. The county was named after Major General Henry Knox, U.S. Secretary of War. Many of the county's original records, some dating from the 1790's, can be found at the McGrady-Brockman House in Knox County. Copied from the June 20, 2016 Facebook post by Indiana Bicentennial Commission on Facebook. June 20, 2017 a map was posted by Indiana Historical Bureau on Facebook.

1790, July 16 - George Washington selects a diamond-shaped parcel of land along the Potomac River carved from parts of Maryland‬ and Virginia as the site for the nation’s capital, known today as Washington, D.C. Act of July 16, 1790 (D.C. Residency Act), 1 STAT 130, which established the District of Columbia as the seat of government on Today's Document.

1790, August 2 - U.S. Marshals began conducting the United States’ first census. See our Census pages. As directed by the census act signed by President George Washington on March 1, 1790, the census collected the name of the head of each family and the number and age of White males and number of White females, all other free persons, and slaves. At the conclusion of the enumeration, the U.S. Marshals reported to the Secretary of State and President that the population of the nation (which at that time consisted of the 13 original states, the Southwest Territory (Tennessee) and the districts of Kentucky, Maine, and Vermont) was 3,929,214. Learn more about the 1790 Census at http://www.census.gov/ history Copied from a August 2, 2018 post by United States Census Bureau on Facebook.

1790, October 19 - northwest of Fort Wayne - Chief Little Turtle thoroughly destroys a US detachment under John Hardin. This defeat is a prelude to Harmar’s Defeat at the ruins of Kekionga in present-day downtown Fort Wayne. Copied from an October 19, 2022 post by Military History of Fort Wayne on Facebook.

1790, October 21 - the day after Hardin's Defeat is discussed October 21, 2022by Military History of Fort Wayne on Facebook showing 1790 map also shown on our Indian - Native American page.

Indiana Historical Bureau photo

1790, October 22 - map is from a June 4, 2019 discussion about the June 4, 1791 declaration by General Charles Scott issued to the Native People living on the banks of the Wabash River posted by Indiana Historical Bureau on Facebook. A similar modern map posted October 24, 2021 by Military History of Fort Wayne on Facebook has a lenghty discussion of the days events. The Apple tree is mentioned in older history books. In what is now the Lakeside area, the American Federal Army in combination with the militia regiments from both Pennsylvania and Kentucky were deep in Indian territory for their first battle since the American Revolutionary War. Little Turtle and Miami warriors of other Native American bands in Allen County turn back the American army led by General Josiah Harmar, ambushing one unit led by Colonel John Hardin and then fighting off the main force at Kekionga, also an early name for Fort Wayne. Copied from Millennium milestones in Fort Wayne in the archives of The News-Sentinel newspaper. The Battle of Kekionga in October 1790 was the first battle fought by the United States Army after the War for Independence. The campaign had been ordered by President Washington against the Miami settlement of Kekionga, the center of Indian resistance to U.S. migration across the Ohio River. Read more about The Battle of Kekionga by Tom Castaldi published April 25, 2013 on the History Center Notes & Queries blog or The Battle of Kekionga at ARCH ( Architecture and Community Heritage). See a map of Kekionga (now Fort Wayne) drawn by an officer in General Harmar’s Army on Indiana, Land of the Indians by Ruth Thunderhorse, August 1999 on The Algonquian Confederacy of the Quinnipiac Tribal Council web site.1790 battle reverberates today with new information from old maps, military reports and diaries stored in archives in Washington D.C. and Ottawa, Canada by Mark Helmke published October 22, 2001 in The Journal Gazette newspaper. A historical fiction novella book The Bones of Kekionga released in August 2017 was written by Jim Pickett a retired school teacher who grew up in New Haven, Indiana. August 30, 2018 he posted images of newspaper articles descibing his book on his Facebook page The Bones of Kekionga. Book brings local history to life by Bridgett Hernandez - August 31, 2018 in INFortWayne.com.

1791

1791, March 3 - Congressional Resolution to Establish a United States Mint. See a printed copy of a Congressional resolution bearing the signature of Secretary of state Thomas Jefferson, and indicating President Washington’s approval, copied from March 3, 2016 post by Today's Document on Facebook.

1791, March 4 - Vermont became the 14th state and the first admitted to the United States after the original 13 Colonies.

1791, April 27 - Samuel Morse was born, he created the Morse Code.

1791, June 4 - General Charles Scott issued a declaration to the indigenous tribes living on the banks of the Wabash River following his troops’ attacks on mostly non-combatants, which resulted in the destruction of crops and three Wea and Kickapoo villages near Fort Ouiatenon. After Scott’s attack, he stated, “The United States have no desire to destroy the red people, although they have the power.” Scott then requested peace from the tribes. Copied from June 4, 2022 post by Indiana Historical Bureau on Facebook.

November 4, 1791: Little Turtle leads Miamis, Potawatomis, Chippewas, Shawnees and others in the most decisive defeat of American forces to this day. They organize at Kekionga and meet Major General Arthur St. Clair's forces near what is now Fort Recovery, Ohio. The dawn attack completely surprises St. Clair's poorly equipped army, which retreats after three hours. From Millennium milestones in Fort Wayne in the 1000 to 1900 in Fort Wayne History Stories About Time Periods in I Remember History online tour of Summit City history from the archives of The News-Sentinel newspaper. On this day in 1791, a Native American force of about 1000 consisting of Miami, Shawnee, Delaware (Lenape),and Potowatomis handed the United State's military its worst defeat by a Native American force. The battle was started by the Native American force at dawn on the banks of the Wabash River in present day Fort Recovery, Ohio. The Native American Force lead by Chief Little Turtle of the Miami, Blue Jacket of the Shawnee, and Buckongahelas of the Delaware killed about 976 of the US Army force of about 1000 under the Command of General Arthur St. Clair. This successful defense of Miami home lands would be the end of St. Clair's military career, a black eye for and would lead to an investigation of President Washington's administration and the handling of the battle, and help prove the strategic prowess, military might, and measure of the resolve of the Native Americans' that lived in the Old Northwest Territory. Copied from a November 4, 2022 post by Miami Nation of Indians of Indiana on Facebook.

1791, December 15 - the first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution known as the Bill of Rights was ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures on this date. The original Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the Constitution, is on permanent display in the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, alongside our nation’s other founding documents, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Copied from a December 15, 2022 post by US National Archiveson Facebook. Articles 3 through 12 were ratified on 12/15/1791, and became the first ten amendments to the Constitution. Article 2 became the 27th Amendment in 1992! Copied from a December 15, 2022 post by Today's Documenton Facebook. See Bill of Rights one of the three America's Founding Documents at The National Archives and The Bill of Rights on Today in History - December 15 by The Library of Congress. The Bill of Rights Other titles:1 Stat. 97 First Ten Amendments to U.S. Constitution is a similar but different display of actual documents at The National Archives. The Bill of Rights did not apply to all Americans—and it wouldn’t for more than 130 years. At the time of its ratification, the “people” referenced in the amendments were understood to be land-owning white men only. Blacks only received equal protection under the law in 1868, and even then it was purely on paper. Women couldn’t vote in all states before 1920, and Native Americans did not achieve full citizenship until 1924. From 8 Things You Should Know About the Bill of Rights by History.com staff published December 10, 2015. Bill of Rights Day, December 15 with several videos at National Archives News at The National Archives.

1792

1792, February 20 - George Washington establishes the U.S. Postal Service

1792, April 2 - Congress passes Coinage Act, authorizing establishment of the U.S. Mint.

1792, June 1 - Kentucky becomes the 15th state. See Kentucky Resources on Ancestry.com,Family Search Wiki and Facts and symbols at Awesomeamerica.com.

1792, October 13 - the cornerstone of the President’s House, now known as the White House, was laid in the nation’s new capital. George Washington never lived there. From October 13, 2015 post on George Washington's Mount Vernon on Facebook. Cornerstone of the White House Laid on Today In History - October 13 at The Library of Congress.

1794

1794 - Little Turtle advises his allies to seek peace with General Anthony Wayne, whose well-trained army is on its way. He is replaced as war chief. The Native Americans are defeated at Fallen Timbers, near Toledo, Ohio. To consolidate his victory, Wayne marches his army to Kekionga and builds Fort Wayne, dedicated October 22, 1794. Copied from Millennium milestones in Fort Wayne in the archives of The News-Sentinel newspaper.

1794, January 13 - George Washington approves a measure adding two stars and stripes to the American flag, for Vermont and Kentucky. Posted January 13, 2016 by Mount Vernon on Twitter.

1794, March 14 -  Eli Whitney patents his cotton gin. Previously regarded huge numbers of slaves to pick cotton, changed clothing industry. Eli Whitney's Cotton Gin Model at Smithsonian National Museum of American History blog

1794, March 27 - President George Washington and Congress approve the Naval Act, authorizing the establishment of the U.S. Navy, which replaced the Continental Navy that had been disbanded in 1790.

1794, August 20 - Battle of Fallen Timbers. It was a rainy morning on August 20, 1794 at the Battle of Fallen Timbers near Toledo, Ohio. The battle lasted less than one hour. The Native American Indian Alliance banded together to fight against settlers in the Ohio Country, necessitating the intervention of the first U.S. professional military force. The Native Americans were led by Little Turtle (Michikinikwa), Chief of the Myaamia (Miami) Nation, with assistance from Tecumseh; and, Blue Jacket (Weyapiersenwah) of the Shawnee, and warriors of the Myaamia, Shwanee, Lenape (Delaware), Wyandotte, Ottawa, and Ojibwa tribes. The Legion of the United States was led by General "Mad" Anthony Wayne. By the time the battle ended, the Native confederacy had lost around 200 warriors, and General Wayne had lost 33 men. This proved to be a decisive victory for General Wayne and his men, and it led to a signing of the Treaty of Greenville in 1795, which established the Northwest Territory as exclusively U.S. soil. Contrary to assertions that this was "the first victory for the U.S. Army", the force was still known as the Legion of the United States at the time of this battle. The Legion was reduced in size and rechristened the "U.S. Army" in 1796. General Wayne died on December 15 of that year. Copied from an August 20, 2022 post by the General "Mad" Anthony Wayne Organization, Inc on Facebook. This allowed Americans to settle peacefully into Ohio and Indiana from Indiana at 200 (11): ‘Little Turtle’ Led in War and Peace published November 4, 2013 by Andrea Neal on Indiana Policy.org.

1794, October 15 - the first silver dollars and silver half dollars were delivered. From 1.00 Dollar, Flowing Hair Dollar, 1794 at The National Museum of American History.

Indiana Historical Bureau Facebook photo

1794, October 22 - Fort Wayne was dedicated. Following General Anthony Wayne's victory at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, the Legion of the United States under Wayne's command moved into present-day Indiana. Wayne selected a site for a fort at the Miami town of Kekionga. The site was strategically and militarily located at the confluence of the St. Joseph, St. Marys, and Maumee rivers. Wayne sought to exert American influence and control in the region over the claims of indigenous peoples and the British. Major John F. Hamtramck was placed in command of 100 soldiers stationed at the fort. Learn more about Fort Wayne here: Anthony Wayne’s fort by ARCH ( Architecture and Community Heritage) which includes a location map from page 138 of Griswold's Pictorial History of Fort Wayne, Indiana. An October 22, 2018 post by Indiana Historical Bureau on Facebook included the image above that shows "A Reproduction of the Only Existing Original Drawing of Old Fort Wayne Made by Major Whistler in 1816" on page 156 in Griswold's book. See our Forts of Fort Wayne page for more information.

1794, October 28 - General Anthony Wayne left the fort following an Indian trail, originally from the Maumee River to Cincinnati, taken by General Josiah Harmar's army four years earlier before and after Harmar's defeat by the Indians. The Dar Markers page states the first historical marker dated 1906 marking Wayne Trace was placed October 22, 1907 in Seiling Park, Wayne Trace and New Haven Avenues by the Mary Penrose Wayne Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. There was a Drive-by History article Monument shows a trace of past with photo of the marker and history by Nancy Vendrely probably published in an October 1994 The Journal Gazette newspaper. Wayne Trace marker on the HMdb.org page shows several photos of the marker and location in the park.

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1795

1795, August 3 - Little Turtle and other chiefs sign the Treaty of Greene Ville, ending their control of the Fort Wayne area. Full-scale settlement begins. Copied fromMillennium milestones in Fort Waynein the archives of The News-Sentinel newspaper. Treaty of Greene Ville at TouringOhio.com. Summer 1795: The Treaty of Greenville creates an uneasy peace by Eric Hemenway, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians at the National Park Service. The Treaty of Greenville 1795 at the Avalon Project Documents in Law, History and Diplomacy at the Yale Law School Lillian Goldman Law Library. Treaty of Greenville: An Uneasy Peace to the Northwest Indian War by Robert Longley Updated on November 14, 2019 on ThoughtCo.com.For more on the area's earliest hunter-gatherer residents a millennium ago - read PATH TO THE PAST Settlement born of simple beginnings by Connie Haas Zuber of The News-Sentinel newspaper. See Treaty of Greeneville on Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. See our Indians - Native Americans of Allen County, Indiana page.

Treaty of Greene Ville (Greenville, Ohio) by Traveling around Ohio published on May 15, 2016

1796

1796, 14 May - the small pox vaccine was discovered by Edward Jenner.

1796, June 1 - Tennessee became the 16th state. Tennessee Gets Its Start With "Least Imperfect" Founding Document published June 1, 2015 on Tennessee State Library & Archives blog.

1798

1798 - Alien and Sedition Actswith lots of links to other pages on Primary Documents in American History on The Library of Congress. Toughening of immigration and naturalization laws pushed through Congress by the Federalists and signed into law by President John Adams. See Learning from the law by Judy G. Russell published January 20, 2017 on her The Legal Genealogist blog blog.

1798, July 11 - the U.S. Marine Corps is re-established by an act of Congress from Reestablishment of the Marine Corps from US Navy.mil.

1799

1799, January 9 - income tax introduced for the first time.

1799, June 6 - American orator Patrick Henry dies. Liberty Ships were named after his most famous quote.

1799, December 13 - the Northwest Territory General Assembly passed the 1799 Road Law, which required signposts at important intersections, outlined road construction specifications, and dictated that all men between the ages of twenty-one and fifty must work two days per year on public roads. Highway supervisors, who were appointed by the courts, notified all qualified men in a township three days before work was to begin. On the specified day, residents were to present themselves or a “substitute to the acceptance of the supervisor” at the given location with all required tools. If a man neglected his duty to appear or provide a substitute, he was fined 75 cents. Read about the law here: Laws of the Territory of the United States, North-west of the River Ohio By Northwest Territory · 1800 on Google books. Copied from a December 13, 2022 post by the Indiana Historical Bureau on Facebook.

1799, December 14 - at 10:00 p.m., George Washington died at his Mount Vernon home after five decades of service to his country. His last words reportedly were: "I feel myself going. I thank you for your attentions; but I pray you to take no more trouble about me. Let me go off quietly. I cannot last long." Washington was sixty-seven years old. From The Death of George Washington on Today in History - December 14 at The Library of Congress and Accessible Archives on Facebook. See December 14, 2015 post on the George Washington Birthplace National Monument on Facebook. A December 14, 2022 post by Newspapers.comon Facebook stated: George Washington passed away in Virginia on December 14, 1799. News traveled more slowly back then, so notice of his death didn't appear in this Pennsylvania newspaper until the 18th. See this clipping in the Gazette of the United States on our site: Death of George Washington 1799). Clipped from The North American in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania18 Dec 1799, Wednesday, page 3 on Newspapers.com.

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