(Editor’s Note: The Recorder is featuring a weekly series every Saturday over the next year on the founding of this nation leading up to the 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026 of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The series is being provided by the Alta Mira Chapter of the Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution).

While General Washington and the bulk of his remaining Continental Army had retreated to Harlem Heights after fighting off the British the British had already claimed Manhattan. Both armies had suffered many losses due to death, injuries, captivity, and disease.

As the British began to occupy Manhattan, a vicious fire erupted on September 20, 1776, burning through the night and the next day. It happened on the West side of New York City at the southern end of Manhattan. The structures were primarily wood and spread quickly north and west with the help of strong winds, dry weather, density of homes, and narrow roads. Residents poured out of their homes with the possessions they could carry. Most stopped on the grassy town commons which is today the home of City Hall. The fire crossed Broadway near Beaver Street and burned most of the city between Broadway and the Hudson River.

Changes in the wind and actions of citizens eventually tamed the fire. Estimates range from 400-1,000 buildings destroyed, including Trinity Church. St. Paul’s Chapel survived. That represented between 10-25 percent of the 4,000 city buildings existent in that time.

The British reported the Patriots started the fire. There was no definitive proof; although, and Washington wrote to John Hancock on September 22, denying any knowledge of the fire’s cause. He also wrote to his cousin Providence had done more than they could have done themselves. Of course, some Americans accused the British for setting the fire in order to “plunder” the city. Indeed, plundering houses that survived the fire is noted in eye witness accounts. However, just like, there’s no proof of Americans setting the fire, there’s no proof of the British setting it either.

The British confiscated uninhabited homes of the Patriots who had fled and assigned them to officers. Churches (except the Church of England) were converted to prisons, infirmaries, or barracks. Some soldiers were “guests” of civilian families. Worse, already overcrowded with homeless families and armed troops, more Loyalists fled into New York to seek refuge from the Patriots.

The British established martial law in the city. Crime and poor sanitation were persistent during their occupation which ended on November 25, 1783.

Sources: wikipedia.org

The American Revolution by Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns