This question has been bugging me for months, and I have tried looking and cant really get an exact answer. It is part of a more broad answer about how news travelled pre-telegraph.
Basically, if this is true, and it took about 7 weeks for a ship to cross the Atlantic, then Britain must have not found out about the Colonies revolting for nearly 2 months right?
Does this seem right?
On a side question, im guessing it was extremely possible for entire battles and wars to break out in medieval times, and some people would not know for months or years? Such as some kingdom falling, but someone hundreds of miles away being none the wiser of this?
Sorry if this is a bit of a ramble.
The Second Continental Congress agreed to a motion for Independence on July 1, 1776. On July 4 Congress officially adopted the Declaration of Independence. The document wasn't actually signed, though, until August 2 (by most delegates, some signed later, and two delegates, Dickinson and Livingston did not sign at all).
The first news of the Decalration reached London in the second week of August and was delivered by the Mercury packet ship, which was carrying correspondence from General William Howe to Lord Germain, and was dated July 7. It was published by the London Gazette on Saturday August 10. Howe's letter was partially published and the central text was "I am informed that the Continental Congress have declared the United Colonies free and independent States". The London Evening Post broke the news the same day: "Advice is received that the Congress resolved upon independence the 4th of July; and have declared war against Great Britain in form".
King George did not publicly respond or speak until October 31, 1776.