Cynthia Hatch
They Tore Down the King’s Colours: The Seizure of Fort William and Mary 250 Years Later
In December 2024, Fort William and Mary marked its 250th anniversary. The events culminating in the takeover of Fort William and Mary in New Hampshire included the Pine Tree Riot in 1772, the Gaspee Affair in 1772, the Tea Act of 1773, and the Coercive Acts of 1774. An exploration of the complexity of the colonial legal system will illuminate its inadvertent facilitation of Colonial resistance in the years leading up to the “Shot Heard Round the World” in 1775. In addition to the changing political landscape, a few of the Patriot participants included in this story are John Langdon, who later commanded a regiment at the Battle of Saratoga; John Sullivan, subsequently appointed as Major General by General Washington and participant in the Battle of Trenton; and Paul Revere, who notably made his Midnight Ride before the Battle of Lexington and Concord in 1775.
Cynthia Hatch, PhD,is a historian and educator specializing in Revolutionary War-era America, with a focus on the political, social, and cultural forces that shaped the nation’s founding. She holds a Ph.D. in History and teaches American History and U.S. Government at Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology. Her forthcoming book, Enablers of Rebellion: The Colonial Court System and the Road to the American Revolution (Savas Beatie, Spring 2026), explores how the surprising leniency of colonial courts helped ignite resistance to British rule, shedding light on a crucial but often overlooked catalyst for American independence.
