After the War of American Independence. With the defeat of the Biritsh, many of those who had supported the crown were forced to flee- 29,000 men, women and children alone left New York in a mass exodus. Closing their shutters tight on July 4th (Independence Day) was one way in which the elderly ladies of Portsmouth, New Hampshire were able to show their continuing loyalty to the King of England. Original artwork for pp106-07 of The Look and Learn Book 1977.