Chapter 7 The War of The Revolution | Camden County, NJGenWeb

IN the War of the Revolution New Jersey bore a conspicuous and honorable part, and the county of Gloucester, of which Camden County then formed a part, is fertile in historical associations of that eventful period. A faithful effort has been made to portray them in the succeeding pages of this chapter and weave around them every interest which their importance demands, as well as to show the relation of the State and county to that ever memorable war. Gloucester County furnished a large number of soldiers who joined the patriot army, participated in numerous battles and won many brilliant achievements.

CAUSES OF THE WAR. - The colony of New Jersey shared with her sister colonies that devotion to the crown at the termination of the French and Indian War which William Griffith has so lucidly described in his "Historical Notes of the American Colonies and Revolution."*
     "At the close of the war (of 1756) between Great Britain and France, terminated by the Treaty of Paris, in 1768, the British Colonies of North America were attached to the mother-country by every tie which could add strength to the connection; by the sympathies of a common extraction and history and the more endearing affections and solicitudes which flowed from domestic affinities and private interests, encircling and blessing all. . . . The recent war, so glorious to both in its prosecution and results, so peculiarly American in its origin and objects, and in which they co-operated in so many arduous military enterprises, had inspired mutual respect and a warmth of attachment unfelt before; there was a confidence also reposed by the colonies in the affectionate disposition and mighty power of the mother-country, unrestrained by any fear or jealousy: - George III., then in the third year of his reign, by the splendor of the British arms in all quarters, the extension and security which war had given to his realms and by his vast military and naval superiority, with an extent of manufactures and commerce unequaled, was universally deemed the most powerful monarch at that time in Europe, and highly popular in all his dominions.
     "This flattering scene, however, was soon to be changed; those sentiment and interests which, if cultivated, might have long (though not always) retained the colonies a part of the British empire, were suddenly extinguished by the folly and arrogance of British ministers: men ignorant of human nature, and in government, and deaf to admonition and experience - fortunate indeed for America and mankind! - but affording a solemn lesson to every people who repose a blind confidence in the talents or virtues of particular men, however popular or whatever be their pretensions.
     "The triumphs of the war and the promised blessings of peace and concord were at once forgotten and lost in sordid views to revenue - views equally hostile to justice and to policy. Not satisfied with the monopoly of the whole product of American industry and trade, expended for her manufactures and articles of consumption, increasing beyond calculation, silently pouring millions into the lap of England, her infatuated ministers resolved to force upon the colonies a system of internal taxation, limited only by the will of a British Parliament, prescribing its objects, its extent, continuance and means of collection, without the consent or participation of millions of British subjects doomed to bear the burden and the disgrace. No choice was proffered but submission or resistance, and the colonies did not hesitate; they resolved that no power on earth should wrest from them property and the fruits of their toil and industry without their consent. This was the origin of the most extraordinary revolution on record, and upon this issue did the contest turn."

The colonists claimed that to them, as well as to any other subjects of the crown, belonged immunity from all taxation, except such as they might assent to, either directly or by the representatives they had chosen, and the people of West Jersey had stood upon this ground in resisting the attempt of Governor Andros to impose custom duties upon the commerce of the Delaware as early as 1680. But first the crown and then Parliament insisted upon the power to tax the colonies as they pleased, and they made the cost of the war with France a special pretext for enforcing this claim, because, as the ministry argued, the war had been of American origin, and in its prosecution the mother-country had accumulated an enormous debt for the protection of her domains on this side of the Atlantic. The enactment of a duty on stamps was carried in Parliament March 22, 1765, and William Coxe was appointed the collector of New Jersey. Massachusetts proposed a Congress of Commissioners from all the colonies, to meet for consultation in New York on the first Tuesday of October. The New Jersey Assembly received the Massachusetts circular June 20, 1765. William Franklin, the Governor, was in so much the opposite of his patriotic father as to be a firm ally of the crown, and he influenced the house, which was on the eve of adjournment, to return a hasty and ambiguous answer, which gave rise to a sharp correspondence between the Governor and House. He contended that the House had taken the Massachusetts proposal into "deliberate consideration," and had "unanimously resolved against connecting on that occasion."** The House declared (July 27, 1776) that the Speaker agreed to send members to the intended Congress, but that he changed his mind upon some advice that was given to him, and that this sudden change of opinion displeased many of the House, who, seeing the matter dropped, were indifferent to it. But they said that the letter of the House was not such as the Governor represented it, and that if the strong expressions mentioned were used, an alteration must have been made, and they intimated that Governor Franklin had been instrumental in making it.

The Legislative Assembly considered their action, and at a convention called at Amboy by the Speaker they chose Joseph Ogden, Hendrick Fisher and Joseph Borden delegates to the Congress, which met in New York at the appointed time and formulated the memorable petitions to the King and Parliament that were a warning of the coming uprising. When the Assembly reconvened in November, it approved the action of the Congress, and the House declared that as the Stamp Act was utterly subversive of privileges inherent in and originally secured by grants and concessions from the crown of Great Britain to the people of the colony, they considered it a duty to themselves, their constituents and posterity to leave a record of their resolves upon the journal.

Stamp Officer Coxe resigned, declaring that he would never act under the law, and organizations of the "Sons of Liberty" were formed, who bound themselves to march to any part of the continent at their own expense to support the British Constitution in America, by which opposition to the stamp tax was meant. As the use of all but stamp paper was forbidden in legal transactions, a period of much confusion ensued, during which the courts were closed and business almost suspended; but in February, 1706, a meeting of the members of the Jersey bar at New Brunswick resolved to continue their practice regardless of the statute; the public offices and the courts were reopened and the people resumed the transaction of affairs. When the General Assembly met in June, the members were officially informed by the Governor of the repeal of the obnoxious act, and they joined in an address to the King and Parliament expressing gratitude for the abrogation of an "impolitic law."

Whatever hopes might have been entertained that this concession meant future just dealing with the colonies were doomed to disappointment. The repeal of the Stamp Act had been accomplished by an affirmation of the right of Great Britain to bind the colonies in all cases whatever, and the government soon proceeded to act on that assumption. Increased numbers of British soldiers were quartered upon the people, who were required to furnish them with fuel, bedding, candles, small beer, rum, etc. When the requisition was laid before the New Jersey Assembly, in June, 1766, the House directed that provision be made according to the former laws of the colony, and then informed the Governor that they looked upon the act for quartering soldiers in America to be virtually as much an act for laying taxes as the Stamp Act. It was followed in 1767 by the enactments levying duties on imports of glass, paper, paste-board, white and red lead, painters’ colors and tea into the colonial ports, and authorizing the King to appoint in America commissioners who should have entire charge of the customs and the laws relating to trade.

Massachusetts again led the column of resistance, and her circular letter was presented to the New Jersey House April 15, 1768. The House made a suitable reply and also adopted a respectful address against taxation without representation. On December 6, 1769, it passed resolutions condemning the threat of the royal authorities to transport to England for trial persons accused of crimes in the colonies, and also approved the resolution of the merchants to cease to import British merchandise until the offensive duties were repealed. The duties, except that on tea, were repealed in 1770, but this by no means satisfied the Americans.

On February 8, 1774, the Assembly of New Jersey resolved "that a Committee of Correspondence and Inquiry be appointed to obtain the most early and authentic intelligence of all acts and resolutions of the British Parliament, or the proceedings of administration, that may have any relation to, or may affect the liberties and privileges of His Majesty’s subjects in the British colonies in America, and to keep up and maintain a correspondence with our sister colonies, respecting these important considerations; and that they occasionally lay their proceedings before the House." The committee named in the resolution were James Kinsey, Stephen Crane, Hendrick Fisher, Samuel Tucker, John Wetherill, Robert Friend Price, John Hinchman, John Mehelm and Edward Taylor. The Gloucester County members were Messrs. Price and Hinchman. Governor Franklin strove to minimize the significance of this action. "I was in hopes," he wrote to Lord Dartmouth on May 31st, "that the Assembly of this Province would not have gone into the measure; for though they met on the 10th of November, yet they avoided taking the matter into consideration, though frequently urged by some of the members, until the 8th of February, and then I believe they would not have gone into it but that the Assembly of New York had just before resolved to appoint such a committee, and they did not choose to appear singular."

ACTION OF NEW JERSEY. - The Governor misrepresented the temper of the people of New Jersey. (In the reception of the news that the British Parliament had closed the port of Boston to all commerce, because of the throwing into the harbor of one of the cargoes of tea, which the government was endeavoring to induce the people to accept by rescinding the export duty of 12d. per pound, while retaining the import duty of 3d. per pound, "the Colony of New Jersey broke out in a simultaneous blaze of indignation from Sussex to Cape May, and immediate measures were taken to organize the various counties into a combination of the friends of liberty which should secure promptitude and unity of action throughout the province."***

The Boston Port Bill was appointed to go into operation June 1, 1774, and, in accordance with the recommendation of Virginia, the patriots observed it as a day of mourning. On that day the Committee of Correspondence and Inquiry held at New Brunswick what was probably their first meeting, and, according to the authority of Dr. Mulford, in his "History of New Jersey," they replied to the communication that had been received from Massachusetts, expressed their sympathy with the people of Boston and condemned in strong terms the course of the ministry. A letter written by one of the members, under date of the 2d, says, -
"I returned yesterday from New Brunswick, where six of our committee met. We answered the Boston letters, informing them that we look on New Jersey as eventually in the same predicament with Boston, and that we will do everything which may be generally agreed on. We have signed a request to the Governor to call the General Assembly to meet at such time as his Excellency may think proper before the 1st day of August next. Our committee is well disposed in the cause of American freedom."

Governor Franklin wrote to Lord Dartmouth from Burlington June 18th, -
"I have likewise had an application made to me by some of the members of the House of Representatives to call a meeting of the General Assembly in August next, with which I have not and shall not comply, as there is no publick business of the province which can make such a meeting necessary."

The disaffection of the Governor and his refusal to assemble the Legislature made it necessary for the people to speak out through the medium of their town-meetings. These were held in nearly all the counties at the call of leaders of the culminating revolutionary movement. The purpose was to organize and direct the impulse of resistance to British encroachments, to acquaint the people with the total imperilment of their liberties and particularly to select delegates to a general congress of deputies from the several colonies, which the Virginia House of Burgesses had proposed should be held to form a plan of union and devise measures for the public welfare.

In June, 1774, William Peartree Smith, chairman of the New Jersey Committee of Correspondence and Inquiry, conducted a correspondence with the Massachusetts committee, in which he tendered material aid for the people impoverished by the closing of Boston to commerce, and inquired whether it had better take the shape of clothing, provisions or cash. The Massachusetts men replied that cash would be most acceptable.

Dr. Fithian, in a communication in the Woodbury Constitution, says,-
"In the County of Gloucester committees were appointed in each of the townships to receive donations ‘for the relief of our suffering brethren of Boston,’ and a general treasurer (Joseph Ellis) was appointed, who was authorized to procure a place to store the provisions that should be furnished, and the sum of L534 in money was at one time ordered to be paid on account of subscriptions."

The first of these meetings for the purpose of electing delegates to meet in a General Congress was held on June 6, 1774, at Lower Freehold, Monmouth County, and the next at Newark, on the 11th. The latter meeting issued a circular calling attention to the oppressive measures of Parliament, and set forth that as the neighboring colonies were prepared for a Congress, and as the New Jersey Assembly was mot likely to be in session in time to answer the end proposed, it was proper and important that meetings should be held in the counties to appoint committees that would, in conjunction, act in unison with the sister colonies.

The County Committees thus chosen met at New Brunswick on the twenty-first of July, with seventy-two delegates in attendance, and organized by on the election of Stephen Crane as chairman and P. Sargent as clerk.(4*) Resolutions were passed declaring that the proceedings of Parliament with respect to Massachusetts, "so violent in themselves and so truly alarming to the other colonies (many of which are equally exposed to ministerial vengeance), render it the indispensable duty of all heartily to unite in the most proper measures to procure redress for their oppressed countrymen, now suffering in the common cause; and for the re-establishment of the constitutional rights of America upon a solid foundation." James Kinsey, William Livingston, John De Hart, Stephen Crane and Richard Smith were chosen to represent New Jersey in the Congress which met at Carpenters’ Hall on Sept. 5, 1774. They joined heartily in its general declaration of rights and its recommendations for aid to the distressed people of Boston. Their doings were approved by the General Assembly of the colony in January, 1775,(5*) in the face of the condemnatory message of Governor Franklin, who insidiously strove to provoke the jealousy of the Assembly by the argument that the New Brunswick convention had, by appointing the delegates to the Colonial Congress, usurped the powers which belonged to the Assembly alone. The Assembly answered by re-appointing these very delegates, but they followed the recommendations of the Governor to present the crown with still another remonstrance against its impositions upon the colonists. Franklin saw that the day of reconciliation was past. He said in a supplementary message, -
"It Is now in vain to argue, as you have, with the most uncommon and unnecessary precipitation, give in your entire assent to that destructive mode of proceeding I so earnestly warned you against. Whether after such a resolution the petition you mention can be expected to produce any good effect, or whether you have consulted the true interests of the people, I leave others to determine."

During the winter of 1774 -75 Parliament, in obedience to the crown and the administration of Lord North, and despite the warnings of Chatham and Burke, went on with a stubborn resolution to crush the colonies. Boston was the objective-point of their repressive programme, and the battle of Lexington occurred on April 19, 1775.

On May 2d the New Jersey Committee of Correspondence met at New Brunswick, having been informed that "the embattled farmers" had fired the shot that was heard around the world. There were present Hendrick Fisher, Samuel Tucker, Joseph Borden, Joseph Riggs, Isaac Pearson, John Chetwood, Lewis Ogden, Isaac Ogden, Abraham Hunt and Elias Boudinot. They instructed the chairman
"To immediately call a Provincial Congress to meet at Trenton the 23d day of this instant, to consider and determine such matters as may then and there come before them; and the several counties are hereby desired to nominate and appoint their respective deputies for the same as speedily as may be, with full and ample powers for such purposes as may be thought necessary for the peculiar exigencies of this province."

Gloucester County was prompt in its response to this notice. The proceedings were as subjoined in Dr. Fithian’s notes, -
     "At a meeting of a majority of the Committee of Correspondence for the County of Gloucester, on the 5th day of May, 1777, - present, Samuel Harrison, chairman; John Hinchman, John Cooper, John Sparks, Joseph Ellis, Joseph Low, Isaac Mickle, Joseph Hugg.
     "In consequence of intelligence received from the Committee of Correspondence from New Brunswick, and at their request, the committee above named have taken the same into consideration, and do unanimously agree and think it our indispensable duty in this alarming crisis forthwith to request a meeting of the inhabitants of the county for the purpose of choosing members to meet at the Provincial Congress at Trenton on the 28d day of this Instant, May.
     "Ordered that the clerk get a number of notices immediately printed and disperse them throughout the country - that a person be sent express to Egg Harbour with part thereof and alarm the inhabitants of the consequence thereof and the necessity of a meeting.
     "By order of Committee.

"Committee met pursuant to adjournment, on the 10th Inst., at the house of William Hugg - present, Samuel Harrison, John Cooper, Joseph Ellis, John Sparks, Isaac Mickle, Doc. Vanleer, Joseph Cooper, Peter Cheeseman, Joseph Hugg.
"In Committee, ordered that every member of this Committee meet at the house of William Hugg, on the 18th inst., by 10 o’clock, A.M., and that notice issue for this purpose, to which time this Committee is adjourned.
"By order of Committee,

"At a meeting of a very respectable number of the inhabitants of this county, on the 18th day of May, 1775, pursnant to a notice from the Committee of Correspondence for that purpose.
     "At said meeting the inhabitants taking into consideration the intelligence communicated from the Committee of Correspondence of New Brunswick, do unanimously
     "Resolve, That it is highly necessary that there should be a Provincial Congress held at the time and place appointed by the said Committee, and do unanimously
     "Resolve and agree that seven persons be chosen for said service to represent this county.
     "And accordingly Robert Friend Price, John Hinchman, Elijah Clark, Esqs., and Messrs. John Cooper, Joseph Ellis, John Sparks and Joseph Hugg were unanimously chosen to continue for twelve months, and any three or more attending said meeting to be a sufficient representation.
     "Ordered, That the members attending from this county do use their endeavors, when met in Congress, to confirm and reappoint the delegates appointed by the General Assembly of this Province.
     "Ordered, That the instructions drawn by Mr. Cooper for said Provincial Congress be taken by the members of this county to said Congress for their own guide - but not to be published.
     "On the question being put, whether the Committee of Observation be authorized to carry into execution the resolves of the Provincial Congress, and to perform such services as the emergency of the case may require, it was resolved nem con.
     "By order of the county,

These Committees of Observation and Inspection were formed in each county of the colony. Their title specifies the duties with which they were charged.

THE FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS OF NEW JERSEY. - The Provincial Congress assembled at Trenton on May 23d, 1775, the delegates in attendance from Gloucester County being John Cooper, Elijah Clark and John Sparks. Resolutions were passed that one or more companies of militia be raised in each township or corporation, that all men between the ages of sixteen and fifty be enrolled by the committee, and that the officers of the requisite number of companies combine them into regiments. To meet the expense, ten thousand pounds of paper or "Proclamation" money was ordered to be raised, of which the proportion of Gloucester County was £763 8s. 2d. This Congress sat eleven days, and was reconvened at Trenton on August 5th, in consequence of the battle of Bunker Hill and Washington’s siege of the British forces in Boston. To this meeting there came, as the representatives of Gloucester, John Sparks, Joseph Hugg, Joseph Ellis and Elijah Clark. It was resolved to raise and organize a number of troops equal to about twenty-six regiments and to enforce the collection of ten thousand pounds tax ordered at the May session, it appearing that many obstacles had been encountered in the collection, and that in a great number of instances payment had been avoided or refused.

For this military levy Gloucester County was required to furnish three battalions, and she was placed third among the counties in precedency of rank, in which Essex was first and Salem second. Besides providing for this organization an armament, this Congress resolved to enroll four thousand minute-men, "who shall hold themselves in constant readiness, on the shortest notice, to march to any place where their assistance may be required for the defence of this or any neighboring colony." Gloucester’s proportion of this force was four companies of sixty-four men each. The August session lasted until the 17th, and before adjourning the Congress appointed as a Committee of Safety, - Hendrick Fisher, Samuel Tucker, Isaac Pearson, John De Hart, Jonathan D. Sergeant, Azariah Dunham, Peter Schenck, Enos Kelsey, Joseph Borden, Frederick Frelinghuysen and John Schueman. When this Congress was not in session this committee wielded extraordinary and almost unlimited power as the executive branch of the government.

THE SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS OF NEW JERSEY. - At its August session the Provincial Congress had provided for a new election of deputies from the counties, and under this provision Gloucester County chose John Cooper, Joseph Ellis, Thomas Clark, Elijah Clark and Richard Somers, who, with forty-five other delegates, formed the Second Provincial Congress, which convened in its first session, at Trenton, October 3, 1775. Further legislation was enacted for the collection of the ten thousand pounds tax by distraint and sale of the property of delinquents, and for the enrollment in the militia of all able-bodied male inhabitants of the province, between the ages of sixteen and fifty years (except those whose religions principles forbade them to bear arms), their muster, equipment and instruction in military tactics under the command of proper officers. This law was singular in requiring that each enrolled man should provide himself with a musket, a sword, a tomahawk, a cartridge-box and knapsack. The raising of troops and the finding of funds wherewith to fit them out taxed the ingenuity of the Congress during this and the succeeding session of February, 1776, and on the 20th of that month a bill was passed for printing £50,000 5s. of fiat money, which it was ordered should pass current until December 21, 1791.(6*) For redemption of this issue, a sinking fund of £10,000 1s. annually from 1787 to 1791 was provided, and an allotment of payments was made among the counties. Gloucester was assessed for £768 2s. 8d. each year for the five years.

The fifty thousand pounds was divided into equal parts to be expended by commissioners for the Eastern Division and the Western Division "for the use of the colony." William Tucker, Abraham Hunt, Joseph Ellis and Alexander Chambers were made commissioners for the Western Division. The commissioners were directed to purchase three thousand stand of arms, ten tons of gunpowder, twenty tons of lead, one thousand cartouch-boxes, medicine-chests and chirurgical instruments, four thousand tents, two thousand blankets, a train of artillery to consist of twelve pieces, and axes, spades and other entrenching tools. They were also instructed to furnish the troops with one month’s subsistence, at one shilling per day per man, or provisions to that amount if necessary, provided that the expense did not exceed one thousand four hundred pounds in value; and one month’s pay for the troops when called into actual service, provided that the Continental Congress did not make provision for the same, and provided that the pay of such troops did not exceed four thousand pounds in value. The recruitment of the two battalions which Congress at its previous session had ordered to be raised had proceeded successfully and with rapidity. Lord Stirling had been commissioned colonel of the command raised in East Jersey, and William Maxwell colonel of the West Jersey battalion, which was ordered to the vicinity & the Hudson River and mustered into the Continental service in December, 1775.

THE THIRD CONGRESS OF DELEGATION. - In the meantime the old Colonial Legislature of New Jersey had been holding intermittent sessions and receiving protests from Governor Franklin against the doings of the Provincial Congress, which had, in fact, superseded it. He had prorogued it from December 6, 1775, to June 3, 1776, but the December meeting was its last. When the new or Third Provincial Congress met, in June, 1776, it declared that Franklin had "discovered himself to be an enemy to the liberties of this country, and that measures ought to be immediately taken for securing his person, and that from henceforth all payments of money to him, on account of salary or otherwise, should cease." Pursuant to these resolutions, and in compliance with the directions of the Continental Congress, Franklin was arrested and sent to Connecticut, where he remained a prisoner until the end of the war, when he sailed for England. He resided in that country until his death, enjoying a pension from the English government.

The Congress which met in June had been elected in pursuance of the resolution adopted by its predecessor on March 2, 1776, "that there be a new choice of deputies to serve in Provincial Congress for every county of this colony on the fourth Monday in May, yearly and every year." Thus was established regular annual elections of deputies instead & the special elections called, as they had previously been, at the pleasure of Congress. Gloucester County elected as delegates John Sparks, John Cooper, Elijah Clark, Joseph Hugg and Joseph Ellis. The Congress convened on June 11, 1776, at Burlington, with sixty-five members, five from each of the thirteen counties. On June 28th there was submitted "a petition from the officers of the militia of Gloucester, appointed to raise men for the Continental service to reinforce the troops now in New York, setting forth that fifteen shillings a week is not sufficient to defray their expenses in enlisting said men, and requesting that this Congress would make such further allowance as may be reasonable and necessary."

ADOPTION OF THE FIRST STATE CONSTITUTION. - The Continental Congress, on May 10th, recommended to the Assemblies and conventions of the colonies to adopt such governments as should, in the opinion of the representatives of the people, best conduce to the happiness and safety of their constituents in particular and America in general. The preamble declared that every kind of government under the crown should be suppressed. On the 24th the New Jersey Congress appointed Messrs. Green, Cooper, Sergeant, Elmer, Ogden, Hughes, Covenhoven, Symmes, Condict and Dick to prepare a draught of a Constitution, which was reported on the 26th and adopted on July 2d, two days before the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress. In the preamble to that document it was declared
     "That all authority claimed by the King of Great Britain over the colonies was by compact derived from the people and held of them for the common interests of the whole society;
     "That allegiance and protection are in the nature of things reciprocal ties, each equally depending on the other and liable to be dissolved by the other being refused or withdrawn;
     "That the King of Great Britain has refused protection to the good people of these colonies by assenting to sundry acts of Parliament, has made war upon them for no other cause than asserting their just rights; hence all civil authority under him is necessarily at an end, and a dissolution of government has taken place. And also the more effectually to unite the people and to enable them to exert their whole force in their own necessary defense; and as the honorable, the Continental Congress, the supreme council of the American Colonies, has advised us to adopt such government as will best conduce to our happiness and safety, and the well-being of America generally;
     "We, the representatives of the colony of New Jersey, having been elected by all the counties in the freest manner, and in Congress assembled, have, after mature deliberation, agreed upon a set of charter rights and the form of a Constitution."
     This Constitution fell somewhat short of a full assertion of independence, and contained a clause providing that if a reconciliation should take place between Great Britain and her colonies, the instrument should become null and void. Gordon, in his "History of New Jersey," attributes the introduction of this clause to the influence of Samuel Tucker, president of the Congress. He says, "The doors of retreat were kept open by the fears of the President, who, a few months after, claimed the clemency of the enemy, with whom this clause gave him an interest."

By this instrument the government was vested in a Governor, Legislative Council and General Assembly. The Council and Assembly were to be chosen yearly by the people, and they were in joint convention to annually elect the Governor. On July 17th the New Jersey Congress ratified the Declaration of Independence promulgated at Philadelphia, and on the next day it changed its own name to that of "The Convention of the State of New Jersey." An election for a Legislative Council and an Assembly was held on the second Tuesday of August, 1776, and the members convened at Princeton on August 27th. In the Council, Gloucester was represented by John Cooper, and in the House by Richard Somers and Robert F. Price. William Livingston was elected the first Governor under the new Constitution. The Legislature succeeded to the powers and functions of the Provincial Congress and the Convention of the State of New Jersey, and continued to exercise these powers and functions as a permanent body.

NEW JERSEY AS THE SEAT OF WAR.- The movement of the British army, under command of General Howe, from Boston, by way of Halifax, to the vicinity of New York, the route of Washington’s forces at the battle of Long Island, August 27, 1776, the evacuation of New York by the Americans and the capture of Fort Washington, on the Hudson, by the British on November 15th - these were the events which led to Washington’s retreat into New Jersey. With his diminished columns he fell back to New Brunswick, where he hoped to make a stand; but the terms of the New Jersey and Maryland Brigades and the Pennsylvania Flying Camp were about expiring, and neither arguments nor threats could prevent the men from disbanding and returning to their homes. The remnant of the army, with Lord Cornwallis harassing its rear, arrived at Princeton on December 1st, and thence passed on to Trenton, where it crossed the Delaware into Pennsylvania on the 8th. Reinforced by Sullivan and Gates, Washington recrossed the Delaware on Christmas night and effected the surprise and defeat of Colonel Rahl’s Hessian contingent of the British forces.

Although after the Trenton victory the American commander retired to his strong position on the Delaware shore, he had by no means relinquished his ambition to repossess Western New Jersey, and at once began preparations for a second expedition. He again marched to Trenton on December 30th. General Maxwell, who on the retreat through the State had been left at Morristown with his brigade, including the Gloucester troops, was ordered to advance through New Brunswick, as if threatening an attack, and harass all the contiguous posts of the enemy as much as possible. On the night of January 2, 1777, Washington, after the skirmish on Assanpink Creek, swung round the British flank to the rear, reached Princeton at early dawn of the 3rd, defeated and dispersed Colonel Mawhood’s force of three regiments, and was safe among the hills of the Upper Raritan while Cornwallis was lumbering along in an ineffectual pursuit. He had to mourn the loss of the gallant General Mercer, who fell in the first assault at Princeton, and whose body bore the marks of sixteen British bayonet wounds.

Washington’s brilliant achievements were needed to revive the patriotic spirit of New Jersey, which previously had been fast succumbing to the advance of the foe. Howe had offered pardon and protection to all who would abandon the national cause and renew their allegiance to the King. Until Washington rolled back the tide of disaster, more than two hundred people within the State were daily abjuring their loyalty to the American government. "The two Jersey regiments," writes Gordon, "which had been forwarded by General Gates under General St. Clair, went off to a man the moment they entered their own State." The Legislature had moved from Princeton to Burlington, and thence to Pittstown and Haddonfield, where it dissolved on December 2, 1776. Samuel Tucker, chairman of the Committee of Safety, treasurer and judge of the Supreme Court, vacated his offices and swore fealty to the crown. The whole number of the people of New Jersey who took advantage of Howe’s proclamation is stated at two thousand seven hundred and three.

But the victories of Trenton and Princeton lightened up the gloomy horizon; citizens found that Howe’s protections did not save them from the depredations of the Hessian soldiery, who overran the State and spared neither age nor sex from outrage and plunder; what the earnest recommendations of Congress, the zealous exertions of Governor Livingston and the ardent supplications of Washington could not effect, was produced by the rapine and devastations of the Royal forces. The whole country became instantly hostile to the invaders, and sufferers of all parties rose as one man to avenge their personal injuries. With his quick insight, Washington perceived that this was the moment for the recovery of New Jersey. From his headquarters at Morristown he issued, on January 25, 1777, a proclamation giving all persons who had accepted British protection thirty days in which to repair to the nearest headquarters of the Continental service, and then to surrender their papers and receive full pardon for their past offenses. The alternative offered them was to retire with their families within the British lines or be regarded as adherents of the King of Great Britain and enemies of their country. The result was most satisfactory. Hundreds of timid inhabitants renewed their allegiance to America, the most dangerous Tories were driven out and the army was largely increased by volunteers and by the return of many of its veterans who had deserted during the dark days of the previous November and December.

The American army moved to the neighborhood of Bound Brook on May 28, 1777, and on June 14th the British retreated towards Amboy, but hurried back from thence with the expectation of attacking Washington at Quibble-town (Newmarket), where he had taken up his position. At Woodbridge, on June 20th, Lord Cornwallis drove back Morgan’s Rangers and Stirling’s troops, but they held them in cheek long enough to permit Washington to retire to his stronghold near Bound Brook, he being too weak to undertake battle in the open field. The British returned to Amboy, where they crossed to Staten Island; and during the remainder of the war New Jersey was not again so completely overrun with marauders and British troops, although many parties entered it for pillage from hostile camps, in adjoining States. Washington crossed the Delaware to Philadelphia; Howe took his army around by water from New York to Philadelphia by way of the Chesapeake and the Elk River; and by defeating Washington at the Brandywine, on September 11th, and at Germantown, on October 24th, he secured possession of Philadelphia for the winter that the patriots spent at Valley Forge.

In September, 1777, Continental Congress moved from Philadelphia to the town of York, Pa., where for the nine succeeding months, until June of 1778, that historic band of patriots held their deliberations, when, upon the retreat of the British across New Jersey, they returned to Philadelphia.

THE BATTLE OF RED BANK. - The first engagements of the Revolution fought upon the soil of Gloucester County were the battle of Red Bank, October 22, 1777, and the skirmish at Billingsport, which preceded it by a few days. For the protection of the Delaware, the Americans had built Fort Mifflin, a strong redoubt, with quite extensive outworks, on the marshy island on the Pennsylvania side, just below the mouth of the Schuylkill. Fort Mercer, an equally good work, was placed on high ground at Red Bank, on the New Jersey shore, and in the river channels, under cover of the fire of the batteries, were sunk ranges of strong frames with iron -pointed wooden spikes, which were calculated to be impassable to vessels. At Billingsport, three miles below, on the New Jersey side, a third fort was erected, and the channel between it and Billings’ Island was again closed by chevaux -de -frise. To clear the way for his fleet and for the entrance of supplies into Philadelphia, it was necessary for Howe to open the river, and he accordingly ordered Captain Hammond, with the frigate "Roebuck" and several other vessels, around from the Chesapeake. Arriving in the stream below Billingsport, Hammond reconnoitered and came to the conclusion that he might force a passage through the obstructions if a land force would engage the fort. The scheme seemed feasible to Howe, and he detailed to execute it, two regiments of infantry, under Colonel Stirling. Crossing the river from Chester, Stirling fell furiously upon the inferior garrison of the fort, which was not finished, who spiked their cannon, set fire to their barracks and fled in dismay. The English completed the demolition of the works, while Captain Hammond made a passage through the obstructions wide enough to permit the squadron of six men-of-war to sail through and up to Hog Island, where they anchored.

Lossing’s "Field-Book of the Revolution," says, -
"Howe now determined to make a general sweep of all the American works on the Delaware, and preparatory thereto he called in his outposts, and concentrated his whole army near to and within Philadelphia. Two Rhode Island regiments, belonging to General Varnum’s brigade, under Colonel Christopher Greene, garrisoned the fort at Red Bank, and about the same number of the Maryland Line, under Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Smith, occupied Fort Muffin. The American fleet, consisting chiefly of galleys and floating batteries, was commanded by Commodore Hazelwood. It was quite as important to the Americans to maintain these forts and defend the river obstructions as it was to the British to destroy them. It was, therefore, determined to hold them to the last extremity, for it was evident that such continued possession would force Howe to evacuate Philadelphia."

EXPLANATION.- 1 the inner redoubt; b b b a high stone wall, built by Montressor, with the indentations where the soldiers boiled their kettles (this wall was pierced with loop-holes for musketry); c c c c block-house, built of wood, with loop-holes and mounting four pieces of cannon each, two on the lower platform; d d d barracks; e e e stockades; f f f trosa de Loup; g g ravines. On the south side were two-story pieces of battery, mounting three cannon.

Washington’s letter of instructions to Colonel Greene, dated October 7, 1777, displays his solicitude that Fort Mercer should be held. He wrote, -
"I have directed General Varnum to send your regiment and that of Colonel Angell to Red Bank by a route which has been marked out to him. The command of that detachment will, of course, devolve upon you, with which you will proceed with all expedition and throw yourself into that place. When you arrive there you will immediately communicate to Colonel Smith, commander of the garrison at Fort Mifflin, and Commodore Hazelwood, commander of the fleet in the river. You are to co-operate with them in every measure necessary for the defense of the obstructions in the river, and to counteract every attempt the enemy may make for their removal. You will find a very good fortification at Red Bank; but if anything should be requisite to render it stronger, or proportion it to the size of your garrison, you will have it done. The cannon you will stand in need of; as much as can be spared, will be furnished from the galleys at Fort Mifflin, from whence you will also derive supplies of military stores. I have seat Captain Duplessis, with some officers and men, to take the immediate direction of the artillery for your garrison. He is also to superintend any works that may be necessary. If there be any deficiency of the men for the artillery, the security of the garrison will require you to assist them in the few additional ones from your detachment. You should not lose a moment’s time in getting to the place of your destination and making every preparation for its defense. Any delay might give the enemy an opportunity of getting there before you, which could not fail of being most fatal in its consequences. If in the progress of your march you should fall in with any detachment of the enemy, bending towards the same object and likely to gain it before you, and from intelligence should have reason to think yourself equal to the task, you will by all means attack them and endeavor by that means to disappoint their design.
"I have written to General Newcomb, of the Jersey militia, to give you all the aid in his power, for which you will accordingly apply, when necessary. Upon the whole, sir, you will be pleased to remember that the post with which you are now intrusted is of the utmost importance to America and demands every exertion of which you are capable for its security and defense. The whole defense of the Delaware absolutely depends upon it; consequently all the enemy’s hope of keeping Philadelphia and finally succeeding in the object of the present campaign."

Howe entrusted the capture of Fort Mercer to Count Donop, a Hessian officer in the British service, and gave him four battalions, comprising twenty-five hundred Hessian veterans. They crossed the Delaware at Coopers Ferry on October 21st, and marched that evening to Haddonfield.

Judge Clement says, in his "Revolutionary Reminiscences of Camden County," -
"The last encampment of the Hessian troops under Count Donop, before the battle of Red Bank, was in Haddonfield. It was across the street, near the residence of John Gill (where now stands the residence of the late John Gill, Esq.), extending some distance into the fields. In this house Donop had his headquarters, and although the owner was an elder among Friends, yet the urbanity and politeness of the German soldier so won upon him that he was kindly remembered ever after. The inhabitants, however, suffered much from the depredations of the common soldiers, who wantonly destroyed their property and endangered their lives. The presence of an officer in a house was a protection against them, and every family sought out one, with the promise of good entertainment without cost, that it might be saved from destruction. These troops regarded the American people as semi-barbarous, and that to destroy their property was nothing more than they deserved. . . . The sad defeat that attended them, and the death of their commanding officer, completely demoralized them and they returned in detached bodies, begging shelter and food of those they had so illy treated. The transportation of the wounded caused much trouble, and as a detachment approached Haddonfield a farmer living near the road was, with his hone and cart, pressed into the service to carry some that were unable to walk farther. The appearance of armed men so terrified the farmer that he neglected to fasten down the front part of his vehicle, and when rising a hill near the village, the weight of the men was thrown on the back of the cart, and all were pitched headlong into the road. The swearing of the soldiers in German, and the protestations of the farmer in English, made things no better; but after many threats the vehicle was properly secured and the journey completed, much, no doubt, to the comfort of all concerned. Becoming better acquainted with the people, and finding the country much in need of settlers, many (Hessians) deserted and remained, afterwards becoming thrifty people and citizens."

Before daylight oh the morning of the 22d the Hessians left Haddonfield, but as the American pickets had destroyed the lower bridge over Timber Creek, they were obliged to cross four miles above, at the present Clement’s bridge, and, because of this delay, were not in front of Fort Mercer until near noon.(7*) Donop halted his command on the edge of the woods to the north of the fort and sent forward an officer with a flag and a drummer, who summoned the garrison to surrender. "The King of England," he proclaimed, "orders his rebellious subjects to lay down their arms, and they are warned, that if they stand the battle, no quarters whatever will be given." This threat of the massacre of wounded and prisoners did not daunt the Americans, Colonel Greene replying: "We ask no quarters, nor will we give any." On the receipt of this defiant answer, they hastily threw up an earthwork within half cannon-shot of Fort Mercer, and at a quarter before five o’clock advanced a battalion on the north front under cover of a brisk artillery fire. Reaching the first entrenchment, which they found abandoned, but not destroyed, they imagined that they had driven the Americans away, and, waving their hats and with shouts of victory, rushed toward the redoubt, led by the officer and drummer who had previously communicated with Greene under the flag of truce. According to the account given by the Marquis de Chastellux, who received it from M. du Plesis Mauduit, "they had already reached the abatis and were endeavoring to tear up or cut away the branches when they were overwhelmed with a shower of musket-shot, which took them in front and flank; for, as chance would have it, a part of the courtine of the old entrenchment, which had not been destroyed, formed a projection at this very part of the intersection." M. du Mauduit had contrived to form it into a sort of caponiere (or trench with loop-holes), into which he threw some men, who flanked the enemy’s left and fired on them at close shot. Officers were seen every moment rallying their men, marching back to the abatis and falling amidst the branches they were endeavoring to cut. Colonel Donop was particularly distinguished by the marks of the order he wore, by his handsome figure and by his courage. He was also seen to fall like the rest. The Hessians, repulsed by the fire of the redoubt, attempted to secure themselves by attacking on the side of the escarpment, but the fire from the galleys sent them back with a great loss of men. At length they relinquished the attack and regained the woods in disorder.

"While this was passing on the north side, another column made an attack on the south, and more fortunate than the other, passed the abattis, traversed the fosse and mounted the berm, but they were stopped by the fraises, and M. du Mauduit running to this post as soon as he saw the first assailants give way, the others were obliged to follow their example. They still did not dare, however, to stir out of the fort, fearing a surprise, but M. du Mauduit, wishing to replace some palisades that had been torn up, he sallied out with a few men and was surprised to find about twenty Hessians standing on the berm and stuck up against the shelf of the parapet. These soldiers, who had been bold enough to advance thus far - sensible that there was more risk in returning and not thinking proper to expose themselves - were taken and brought into the fort. M. du Mauduit. . . again sallied out with a detachment, and it was then that he beheld the deplorable spectacle of the dead and dying heaped one upon another. A voice arose from these caresses and said in English: ‘Whoever you are, draw me hence.’ It was the voice of Colonel Donop. M. du Mauduit made the soldiers lift him up and carry him into the fort, where he was soon known. He had his hip broken, but whether they did not consider his wound as mortal, or that they were heated by the battle and still irritated at the menaces thrown out against them a few hours before, the Americans could not help saying aloud, ‘Well, is it determined to give no quarter?’ ‘I am in your hands,’ replied the colonel. ‘You may revenge yourselves.’ M. du Mauduit had no difficulty in imposing silence and employed himself only in taking care of the wounded officer. The latter, perceiving he spoke bad English, said to him: ‘You appear to me a foreigner, sir; who are you?’ ‘A French officer,’ replied the other. ‘Je suis content,’ said Donop, making use of our language, ‘Je meurs entre lee mains de l’honneur meme’ (I am content; I die in the hands of honor itself.)"

Donop was first taken to the Whitall residence(8*)just below the fort, and afterwards to the home of the Lowes, south of Woodbury Creek, where he died three days after the battle, saying to M. du Mauduit in his last moments: "It is finishing a noble career early; but I die the victim of my ambition and the avarice of my sovereign." To Colonel Clymer he said: "See in me the vanity of all human pride! I have shone in all the courts of Europe, and now I am dying here on the banks of the Delaware in the house of an obscure Quaker."

The loss of the Americans was fourteen killed, twenty-seven wounded and a captain taken prisoner while reconnoitering. Some of those casualties were due to the bursting of a cannon in the fort. The Hessians lost Lieutenant-Colonel Mingrode, three captains, four lieutenants and near seventy privates killed, and Count Donop, his brigade-major, a captain, lieutenant and upwards of seventy non-commissioned officers and privates wounded and made prisoners. The Hessians’ slain were buried in the fosse south of the fort. Count Donop was interred near the spot where he fell and a stone placed over him with the inscription, "Here lies buried Count Donop."

Greene’s defense of the fort was highly applauded and Congress ordered the Board of War to present him with a handsome sword, which was sent to his family after the War, he having been murdered by Tory dragoons under Colonel Delaney at his quarters near Croton River, Westchester County, N.Y. On the anniversary of the battle of Red Bank in 1829 a marble monument, which had been erected by the contributions of New Jersey and Pennsylvania Volunteers, was unveiled within the northern line of the out-works of the fort and within a few feet of the margin of the Delaware. On its south side was inscribed, -
"This monument was erected on the 22d Octo., 1829, to transmit to Posterity a grateful remembrance of the Patriotism and gallantry of Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher Greene, who, with 400 men, conquered the Hessian army of 2000 troops (then In the British service), at Red Bank, on the 22d Octo., 1777. Among the wounded was found their commander, Count Donop, who died of his wounds and whose body lies interred near the spot where he fell."

This is the inscription on the west side, -
"A number of the New Jersey and Pennsylvania Volunteers, being desirous to perpetuate the memory of the distinguished officers and soldiers who fought and bled In the glorious struggle for American Independence, have erected this monument on the 224 day of Octo., A.D. 1829."

After their overwhelming repulse the Hessians retreated hastily towards Coopers Ferry. The main body went by way of Clement’s Bridge, some by way of Blackwoodtown, and some by Chews landing, near where, it is stated on the authority of Mickle, they were met by a company of farmers’ boys and held at bay for some time. This detachment had with them a brass cannon, which they are supposed to have thrown into Timber Creek at Clement’s Bridge.

Judge Clement has recently made the following addition to his reminiscences:
"Martin Cox, a blacksmith, who plied his calling at Chews Lauding, was an enthusiastic Whig, and repaired the various arms used by the soldiers.

The day of the battle of Red Bank he started for the fort to return a number of muskets to the troops of that place, but finding that he could not reach there by reason of the advance guard of the Hessians, he buried them near by. He did not return after the battle, and they were left in the ground where he had placed them for many years, and a tradition in his family explains the cause of their being there when found."

From a brief mention made by Mickle, it appears that in their march on Fort Mercer the Hessians were guided by some country-men, who were afterwards fearfully punished for their treachery to America. He writes, -
"Donop pressed several persons whom he found along the route into his service as pilots, among whom was a negro belonging to the Cooper family, called Old Mitch, who was at work by the Cooper’s Creek bridge. A negro named Dick, belonging to the gallant Colonel Ellis, and an infamous white scoundrel named McIlvaine, volunteered their services as guides. At the bar of the Haddonfield tavern these loyal fellows were very loud in their abuse of the American cause; but their insolence, as we shall see, was soon repaid. . . . Dick and McIlvaine, the guides, having been taken prisoners by the Americans, were immediately hung within the fort for divers outrages which they had committed. Old Mitch, the other pilot, lived until recently (1816) to tell to groups of admiring Camden boys how terribly he was scared in this memorable fight. Resolved not to bear arms against his country, and being afraid to run away, he got behind a hay-rick when the battle began, and lay there flat on the ground until it was over."

Mickie is a usually reliable chronicler, but there is no record to substantiate his statement as to the execution of Dick and McIlvaine.

FORT’S MERCER AND MIFFLIN ABANDONED. - Waiting near Hog Island for the signal-gun of Donop’s attack were the British sixty -four-gun ship, the "Augusta," the "Roebuck" and two other frigates, the sloop "Merlin" and a galley. When that gun was fired they stood up the river with the intention of cannonading the American positions, but were held back by the stubborn fire of Hazlewood’s little squadron. The next morning the battle was renewed, the British and American fleets and Forts Mifflin and Mercer all taking part. The British commander aimed to work his floating batteries into the channel between Mud (Fort) island and the Pennsylvania shore, in order to shell Mifflin from its rear, but each effort was thwarted by the vigilance and the effective great gun service of the patriots. By noon the enemy found that it was impossible to force the passage of the river by direct assault, and made preparations to retire. A hot shut had pierced the "Augusta" and set her on fire. Becoming unmanageable, she drifted towards the New Jersey shore and went hard and fast aground, her ship’s company escaping to the other vessels. When the flames reached her magazine she blew up. The "Merlin" met with precisely the same fate, and at three o’clock blew up near the mouth of Mud Creek. The "Roebuck" and her remaining consorts then gave up the fight and left the Americans the present masters of the Delaware.

But because the river was the only avenue through which Howe could be certain of receiving supplies in Philadelphia, he again set to work to open it for his ships. By November 1st he had erected on Province Island, a low mud bank between Fort Mifflin and the Pennsylvania shore, five batteries of heavy guns. On this side Fort Mifflin had only a wet ditch without ravelin or abatis, and a weak block-house at each of the angles. The British also, brought to bear upon the fort four sixty-four-gun ships and two forty-gun ships, besides a floating battery of twenty-two twenty-four pounders, which was moved within forty yards of an angle of the fort. Lossiug gives the following narrative of the bombardment that followed:
"On the 10th of November the enemy opened their batteries on land and water, and for six consecutive days poured a storm of bombs and round shot upon the devoted fortification. With consummate skill and courage, Lieutenant-Colonel Smith directed the responses from the ordnance of the fort. The artillery, drawn chiefly from Colonel Lamb’s regiment, were commanded by Lieutenant Treat, who was killed on the first day of the siege by the bursting of a bomb. On that day the barracks alone suffered, but on the morning of the 11th the direction of the enemy’s fire was changed; a dozen of the strong palisades were demolished and a cannon un an embrasure was disabled. The firing did not cease until midnight and many of the garrison were killed or wounded. Colonel Smith, the commander, had a narrow escape. He had just gone into the barracks to write a letter to General Varnum when a ball passed through the chimney. He was struck by the scattered bricks and for a time lay senseless. He was taken across to Red Bank, and the command devolved upon Lieutenant-Colonel Russell, of the Connecticut Line. That officer was disabled by fatigue and ill health, and Major Thayer, of the Rhode Island Line, volunteered to take his place. Major Henry, who sent daily reports to Washington of the progress of the siege, was also wounded on the 11th, but he continued with the garrison. On the 12th a two-gun battery of the Americans was destroyed, the northwest block-house and laboratory were blown up, and the garrison were obliged to seek shelter within the fort. At sunrise on the 18th thirty armed boats made their appearance, and during that night the heavy floating battery was brought to bear on the fort. It opened with terrible effect on the morning of the 14th, yet that little garrison of 800 men managed to silence it before noon.
"Hitherto the enemy did not know the real weakness of the garrison; on that day a deserter in a boat carried information of that fact to the British, who were seriously thinking of abandoning the siege, for they had suffered much. Hope was revived and preparations were made for a general and more vigorous assault. At daylight on the 15th the ‘Iris’ and ‘Somerset,’ men-of-war, passed up the east channel to attack the fort in front. Several frigates were brought to bear on Fort Mercer, and the ‘Vigilant,’ an East Indiaman of twenty twenty-four pounders, and a hulk with three twenty-four pounders made their way through a narrow channel on the western side and gained a position to act in concert with the batteries on Province Island in enfilading the American works. At ten o’clock, while all was silent, a signal bugle sent forth its summons to action, and instantly the land batteries and the shipping poured forth a terrible storm of missiles upon Fort Mifflin. The little garrison sustained the shock with astonishing intrepidity, and far into the gloom of the evening an incessant cannonade was kept up. Within an hour the only two cannons in the fort that had not been dismounted shared the fate of the others. Every man who appeared on the platform was killed by the musketeers in the tops of the ships, whose yards almost hung over the American battery. Long before night not a palisade was left; the embrasures were ruined; the whole parapet leveled; the block-houses were already destroyed. Early in the evening Major Thayer sent all the remnant of the garrison to Red Bank, excepting forty men, with whom he remained. Among these was the brave Captain (afterwards Commodore) Talbot, of the Rhode Island Line, who was wounded in the hip, having fought for hours with his wrist shattered by a musket-ball. At midnight, every defence and every shelter being swept away, Thayer and his men set fire to the remains of the barracks, evacuated the fort and escaped in safety to Red Bank. Altogether, it was one of the most gallant and obstinate defences made during the war. In the course of the last day more than a thousand discharges of cannon, from twelve to thirty-two pounders, were made against the works on Mud Island. Nearly 250 men of the garrison were killed and wounded. The loss of the British was great; the number was not certainly known."

Washington, shut up in his camp at Whitemarsh, could not send a man to the defense of Fort Mifflin, but he was now able to detach Huntington’s brigade to join that of Varnum in New Jersey, and ordered General Greene with his division to oppose Cornwallis, who had crossed the Delaware from Chester to Billingsport, on November 15th, to attack Fort Mercer. Greene crossed at Burlington and marched toward Red Bank, but as he was disappointed in his expectation of being joined by Clover’s brigade, and believing Cornwallis to he much superior to himself in numbers, he gave up the notion of a battle and marched off toward Haddonfield. Colonel Greene, thus abandoned to his fate, evacuated Fort Mercer on November 20th, leaving his artillery, ammunition and some stores for Cornwallis, who dismantled the fort and demolished the works. The latter received reinforcements until he had fully five thousand men, with whom he took position at Gloucester Point. Morgan’s rifle corps joined General Greene, but the Americans were not strong enough to venture a regular attack on the enemy. The American fleet, no longer supported by the forts, sought other places of safety. On the night of November 21st the galleys, one brig and two sloops in the darkness stole cautiously along the Jersey shore past the British guns and arrived at Burlington in safety. Seventeen other craft were abandoned by their crews and burned to the water’s edge at Gloucester. The enemy were in unvexed possession of the Delaware from Philadelphia to the ocean. In 1872 the United States government purchased a hundred acres of the river front at Red Bank, and since then the vestiges of the embankments and trenches of Fort Mercer have been preserved.

SKIRMISHES AROUND GLOUCESTER. - Both General Greene and Lord Cornwallis retired from the Gloucester vicinage early in the winter, but before they did so some very interesting incidents occurred there and about Haddonfield, which are graphically described by Isaac Mickle and Judge Clement.

On the evening of November 25, 1777, General Lafayette, notwithstanding that he was suffering from an unclosed wound, came out from Greene’s camp at Haddonfield with the intention of reconnoitering Cornwallis.

His zeal carried him close up to the British lines, upon the sandy peninsula south of the outlet of Timber Creek, and he was pursued by a squad of dragoons. He reported the encounter to Washington in the subjoined language:
"After having spent the most part of the day in making myself well acquainted with the certainty of the enemy’s motions, I came pretty late into the Gloucester road between the two creeks, I had ten light horse, almost one hundred and fifty riflemen and two pickets of militia. Colonel Armand, Colonel Laumoy and Chevaliers Duplessis and Gimat were the Frenchmen with me. A scout of men under Duplessis went to ascertain how near to Gloucester were the enemy’s first picket, and they found at the distance of two and a half miles from that place a strong post of three hundred and fifty Hessians with field-pieces, and they engaged immediately. As my little reconnoitering party were all in fine spirits, I supported them. We pushed the Hessians more than half a mile from the place where their main body had been, and we made them run very fast. British reinforcements came twice to them, but very far from recovering their ground, they always retreated. The darkness of the night prevented us from pursuing our advantage. After standing on the ground we had gained I ordered them to return very slowly to Haddonfield. I take great pleasure in letting you know that the conduct of our soldiers was above all praise. I never saw men so merry, so spirited and so desirous to go on to the enemy, whatever force they might have, as that small party in this little fight."

It was on this occasion that Morgan’s Rangers drew from Lafayette the notable compliment: "I found them even above their reputation." They were commanded by lieutenant-Colonel Butler. The Americans had only one man killed and six wounded, while the British lost about sixty in killed, wounded and prisoners.

In the latter part of February, 1778, General Anthony Wayne came into Lower Jersey to gather cattle and horses for the American army, and Howe dispatched Colonel Stirling with two battalions to impede him.

Major Simcoe, with the Queen’s Rangers, a very efficient corps of Tories recruited in New York and Connecticut, occupied Haddonfield, while Stirling remained near Coopers Ferry with a reserve. Simcoe occupied the main street with his troops, and sent detachments to destroy some barrels of tar near Timber Creek and seize a lot of rum on the Egg Harbor road east of the village. "Mad Anthony" quickly whirled his little command down toward the river from Mount Holly, and, in obedience to Stirling’s orders, Simcoe quitted Haddonfield by night in a storm of sleet and rain, and rejoined the reserve at Coopers Ferry, with Wayne only a few miles distant. Mickle says, -
"The next day (March 1st) a sharp skirmish ensued between the Spicer’a Ferry Bridge over Coopers Creek and the place where the Camden Academy now stands. Fifty British, picked out from the Forty-second and the Rangers, having been sent three or four miles up the direct road to Haddonfield, for some remaining forage, were met by Wayne’s cavalry and forced to retreat to the ferry. The Americans followed up to the very cordon of the enemy. The British were drawn up in the following order: the Forty-second upon the right, Colonel Markham in the centre and the Queen’s Rangers upon the left, with their left flank resting upon Coopers Creek. Captain Kerr and Lieutenant Wickham were in the meanwhile embarking with their men to Philadelphia, and as the Americans seemed disposed only to reconnoitre, Colonel Markham’s detachment and the horses also started across the river. Just then a barn within the cordon was fired, and the Americans, taking this as evidence that only a few stragglers were left upon the eastern shore, advanced and drove in the pickets. The Forty-second moved forward in line and the Rangers in column by companies, the sailors drawing some three-pound cannon. A few Americans appearing upon the Waterford side of Coopers Creek, Captain Armstrong, with a company of Grenadiers, was ordered to line a dyke on this side to watch them.
"Upon the right, in the neighborhood of the Academy and the Hicksite Meeting-house, a heavy fire was kept up by the Forty-second upon the main body of the Americans, who were in the woods along the Haddonfield road. The Rangers on the left, toward the creek, only had to oppose a few scattered cavalry, who were reconnoitering. As Simcoe advanced rapidly to gain an eminence in front, which he conceived to be a strong and advantageous position,(9*) the cavalry retired to the woods, except on officer, who reined back his horse and facing the Rangers as they dashed on, slowly waved his sword for his attendant to retreat. The English Light Infantry came within fifty yards of him, when one of them called out ‘you are a brave follow, but you must go away?’ The undaunted officer paying no attention to the warning, one McGill, afterwards a quartermaster, was ordered to fire at him. He did so and wounded the horse, but the rider was unscathed and soon joined his comrades in the woods a little way off."

This brave officer was Count Pulaski, who had command of the cavalry. In this skirmish several of Simcoe’s Rangers were wounded and Sergeant McPherson, of the Grenadiers, was killed. A cannonading was kept up from the eminence which Simcoe had occupied upon some of the Americans, who were removing the plank from Cooper’s Bridge, but it proved harmless. So persistent were the efforts of the Americans to drive their enemies away from about Coopers Ferry, that a series of entrenchments was thrown up, extending from the creek westerly toward the river, and the timber thereabouts was so cut as to obstruct the movements of troops coming from the interior. The position was also protected by the cannon of vessels lying in the river, and thus the British were saved from the abandonment of the place.

While Wayne was posted in Haddonfield some of his men made a reconnoissance of the British at Gloucester, and were discovered and pursued by a superior force. A running fight ensued, which lasted nearly from Gloucester Point to the American lines, but the British suffered much the greater loss. The most prominent man in this action on the American side was Colonel Ellis, of the Gloucester militia. Soon afterward the whole British force at Gloucester moved on Wayne at Haddonfield by night, but found only his empty quarters.

On this occasion occurred the daring exploit of Miles Sage, a vidette in Ellis’ regiment, who, with a comrade named Chew, as stated by Judge Clement:
     "Detected the enemy’s movements and rode in great haste to inform Colonel Ellis. Chew taking a shorter route and swimming his horse across Newton Creek, was the first to reach Haddonfield, and Ellis’ regiment marched out just as the British marched in. The colonel was so corpulent that he fell behind his men, and but for the darkness of the night would have been taken prisoner.
     "The intelligence brought by Chew created great consternation in the town, and every precaution was taken to mislead the enemy by putting out the lights in the dwellings and the families retiring to bed. A colored servant in the family of Mrs. Abigail Blackwood, widow of Samuel Blackwood, then living in Tanner Street, was sent with the children to their room and strictly enjoined to extinguish the candle. To gratify her curiosity, however, she placed it on the window ledge, which attracted the attention of the soldiers, who at once surrounded the house. John Blackwood, a son of the widow, then a lad, was captured, taken into the street and made to tell what he knew of Colonel Ellis and his regiment. While attempting, by the light of a few torches and surrounded by the excited soldiers, to show the direction of the retreating troops, Miles Sage rode up and asked the boy very much the same question he was endeavoring to answer the others. His reply was that they had gone, ‘some one way and some another.’ At this moment Sage discovered that he was in the midst of British soldiers, who at the same time noticed that he was an American.
     "Sage at once put spurs to his horse, rode hastily into the main street and towards the northerly part of the village. He was fired upon as he vanished in the darkness, but escaped until he reached the upper hotel, where his horse was wounded and he fell to the ground. Before Sage could disengage himself from the saddle he was attacked by the guard, stabbed in various places about his body, and left for dead in the street. By order of a Scotch officer he was carried into a small building on the north aide of the street near the present Temperance House, where he was attended by a surgeon of the army."

On examination it was found that he had thirteen bayonet wounds, and he was put in the care of some women, one of whom became the mother of Governor Stratton. Being besought to prepare for death, he exclaimed: "Why, Martha, I meant to give the enemy thirteen rounds yet." He lived to tell his grandchildren of his perilous adventure.

Simcoe had a narrow escape while halted at Haddonfield with his battalion. Says the same authority above given, -
"On one occasion, while resting his horse near the brow of the hill, opposite the present residence of William Mann, Major Simcoe heard the whistling of a rifle ball near him sad saw two persons on the opposite hill. He ordered Lieutenant Whitlock to take a few dragoons and capture them. These persons proved to be John Kain (brother of Joseph Hinchman’s wife) and Benjamin Butler, two young men who secured the loan of a rifle of Joseph Collins (then living on the farm now owned by Logan Paul) for the purpose of hunting. They had proceeded along the road as far as where Jacob Dodd now lives, from which point Simcoe was plainly in view, and could not resist the temptation of shooting at a British officer. After this exploit they thought best to return to the house, when Diana Collins, a daughter of Joseph, discovered the dragoons in pursuit and shouted to the young men to escape. Kain turned down the creek into the swamp and evaded the soldiers, while Butler ran up the hill and secreted himself in the bushes, and but for his curiosity in watching the men and horses as they passed would also have escaped. He, however, left his hiding-place, went back into the road, was discovered, and after a hot chase captured. He was taken to Philadelphia, thence to the prison-ships at New York, and kept for a long time. Although not the guilty one, as Kain handled the gun, he suffered a terrible punishment, from the effects of which his health was never fully restored. He did not return for about three years, and when he visited the spot where he had secreted himself; found his hat that had been lost in the scuffle at the time."

The first British encampment at Coopers Point was made by General Abercrombie, who had his headquarters in the house that was afterwards bought by Joseph W. Cooper. The quarters of the Forty-third Regiment, Colonel Shaw, and several Highland and Hessian regiments were at the old Middle Ferry House, sometimes called English’s. Mickle says, -
"The British lines reached from the Point down the Delaware nearly to Market Street, Camden, thence up to the site of the present academy at the corner of Sixth and Market Streets, and thence about northeast across to Coopers Creek. The remains of their redoubt were visible until a few years ago."

The same authority says, -
"In March, 1778, soon after the retreat of Simcoe from Haddonfield, Pulaski, with a considerable body of Continental troopers, came close under the British lines to reconnoitre. The enemy, anticipating his approach, placed an ambush upon both sides of the road leading from the bridge to the Middle Ferry, in the neighborhood of the present Friends’ meeting-house, under the command of Colonel Shaw. As Pulaski approached, a good way in advance of his men, a stanch Whig, William West, mounted a log and waved his hat as a signal of retreat. Pulaski took the hint, hastily wheeled his men and saved them from slaughter. About the same time a hot fight took place at Coopers Creek Bridge, where the Englishmen surprised a party of militia. Several of the latter were killed and the rest captured. Most of the Gloucester fighting men enlisted early in the war and were marched to Fort Washington, where they were taken and confined on board of the British prison-ship ‘Jersey,’ through the horrors of which but few ever lived to return home. Most of the minute-men, therefore, who annoyed the British in the neighborhood of Philadelphia were very young. They fought bravely and sold their lives whenever they were overpowered as dearly as possible.
"Among the American Rangers who distinguished themselves in forays in the west end of Newton, none were more eminent than John Stokes and Kinsey, or, as he was generally called, Taph Bennett. Stokes was a man of unconquerable energy, and some of his feats equal anything ever told of Jasper or MacDonald. He was continually hanging upon the lines of the enemy, and was in hourly danger of his life. His courage and activity, however, could relieve him from any dilemma. He lived through the war to tell of his hairbreadth escapes at many a social party. Taph was a kindred spirit. Like Stokes, he had pricked many an Englishman who dreamed not of a rebel being within ten leagues; and it is said he generally cut off his foeman’s thumb to prove his prowess to his comrades."

LOCAL INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. - The Tories and Hessians burned the houses of many staunch patriots in old Gloucester, among them the mansion of the Huggs, near Timber Creek bridge, and that of the Harrisons, close to the Point. The Hugg family were punished in this fashion for having given two officers and several privates to the patriot armies. The women were as courageous as the men. Mrs. Hugg, the mother of Colonel Joseph Hugg, met the intruders who were foraging in her poultry-yard. "Do you," she stormed at them, "call yourselves soldiers and come thus to rob undefended premises? I have sons who are in Washington’s army. They are gentlemen and not such puppies as you." Within a few days her house and out-buildings were burned to the ground.

Most of the houses along Coopers Creek were sacked by the enemy, unless their occupants were Tories. A young British officer made a requisition at the dwelling of the Champions for their best horse. He got an unbroken colt, which threw him into a pond, and in revenge he had his men plunder the house. An old gentleman named Ellis buried his specie near his house at night by the light of a lantern to save it from the marauders. The light betrayed him to the spies lurking about, and when he next visited the spot his treasure was gone.

In the Haddonfield budget of legend and history are many narratives that serve to illustrate the Revolutionary epoch. A Scotch regiment which was encamped about the centre of the town in the winter of 1777-78 made many friends by soldierly conduct. The boys of the village soon ingratiated themselves into the good graces of the men and exchanged some game for powder. They were subjects of much curiosity because of wearing the full Highland uniform.

Robert Blackwell, D.D., an Episcopal clergyman, who became a chaplain in the American army at the opening of the struggle and remained until the end, was a resident of Haddonfield; his house stood on the east side of Main Street and opposite Tanner Street.

Mrs. Annie Howell, the daughter of Mrs. Abigail Blackwood and widow of Colonel Joshua L. Howell, of Fancy Hill, Gloucester County, was a in Haddonfield during the war and retained vivid recollections of Lafayette and Pulaski. The former took frequent notice of her, and she never forgot him as an affable, courtly French gentleman. The jewelry he wore was her special admiration, and when in her old age she spoke of him she never omitted to mention this feature of his dress. She would describe Pulaski in his dragoon uniform, wearing a tightly-fitting green jacket and buckskin breeches, mounted on a superb charger and displaying his wonderful horsemanship to the admiring soldiers.

EVACUATION OF PHILADELPHIA AND RETREAT OF THE BRITISH.- All the surrounding country was overrun in June, 1778, when the British evacuated Philadelphia, crossed the Delaware at Gloucester and marched to New York. They were four days and nights passing through Haddonfield, by reason of the munitions of war and plunder with which they were loaded down. Their wagon-trains seemed to stretch out interminably. Bakeries, laundries, hospitals and smith-shops were on wheels, as well as boats, bridges, magazines and medicine-chests. With occasional field work, the troops had lounged the winter through in Philadelphia; they had stolen everything they could carry on leaving there and along the line of march, and were consequently weighted with luggage. Judge Clement has preserved the memories of the sufferings of the New Jersey people caused by them. They brought with them a host of camp followers, debased women, who would enter private houses, carry off such things as they might select, and if interfered with, would insult the owners by wicked conduct and obscene language. They were outside of military control, and the officers would not interfere with them. To save what they might, the residents drove their cattle to secret places, buried valuables and household adornments in the ground and hid their provisions. The lax discipline of the British, however, was an eventual advantage to the Americans, for it contributed to the victory which Washington gained over them at Monmouth on June 28th.

The Haddonfield farmers formed a league for the protection of their horses and cattle. In a low, swampy piece of timber land, about two miles east of the village, and familiarly known as "Charleston," now part of the farm of George C. Kay, Esq., several acres were surrounded with a strong, high fence, and there the stock was secluded whenever in danger. Once the league’s secret was betrayed by Jacob Wine, a man in their employ, and the British seized every animal within the stockade, but in being removed the horses were stampeded and fled into the forests near Ellisburg, whence the owners subsequently rescued them.

SOME OF OLD GLOUCESTER COUNTY’S HEROES. - The most prominent military characters of the county of Gloucester at the commencement of the War of the Revolution, were Colonels Joseph Ellis, Josiah Hillman, Joseph Hugg and Robert Brown, Major William Ellis, Captains Samuel Hugg, John Stokes and John Davis.

Colonel Ellis had commanded a company in Canada in the French and Indian War, but on the opening of the issue between the mother-country and the colonies he resigned the commission he held of the King and was made a colonel in the Gloucester militia. He was in the battle of Monmouth and several other engagements, in all of which he fought bravely.

Colonel Hugg was appointed commissary of purchase for West Jersey at an early stage of the war, and in that capacity did much for the cause. He was in the battles of Germantown, Shorthills and Monmouth; and when the British crossed from Philadelphia to New York he was detailed to drive away the stock along their line of march, in performing which duty he had many narrow escapes from the enemy’s light horse.

Colonel Brown lived at Swedesboro’, and his regiment was chiefly employed in preventing the enemy from landing from their ships and restraining the excursions of the refugees from Billingsport.

Major Ellis was taken prisoner early in the war, and kept for a long time upon Long Island.

Captain Samuel Hugg and Frederick Frelinghuysen were appointed by an act of the Legislature to command the first two companies of artillery raised in New Jersey - Captain Hugg in the Western and Captain Frelinghuysen in the Eastern Division. The former soon raised his company, and in it were a number of young men of fortune and the first families in the State, the Westcoats, Elmers, Seeleys and others, men who afterwards occupied distinguished posts in the local and national governments. This company was at the battles of Trenton and Princeton. When the "Roebuck," (44) was engaged in protecting the operations against the chevaux-de-frise at Billingsport~, Captain Hugg’s artillerists threw up a small breast work on the Jersey shore and fought here during a whole day; but unfortunately their first sergeant, William Ellis, was killed by a cannon-ball, which took off both his legs above the knees. This Ellis was an Englishman and had been for several years a recruiting officer for the British service in Philadelphia. He joined the American cause early - like his namesake, was a very brave man - and died much regretted by his companions-in-arms.

Captain Stokes commanded a company of mere boys, made up from some of the best families in Gloucester County. These fellows were at the battle of Monmouth, but Colonel Hillman sent them to the rear to guard the baggage. Stokes was often heard to say afterward that he "never saw so mad a set of youngsters" as these were on being assigned to so safe a post. They cried with rage at being stationed there after having marched so far to see what fighting was.

Among those who enlisted in the service from the Haddonfield region were John Stafford, James B. Cooper and John Mapes. Because of Stafford’s stalwart figure and erect military bearing, he was selected as one of Washington’s body-guard, but at the battle of Germantown was so badly wounded by a shot in the thigh that he was retired from active service. Cooper and Mapes fought in Harry Lee’s Light Dragoons, and, after the war, the former commanded several merchant -ships sailing out of Philadelphia. When hostilities with Great Britain began, in 1812, he accepted a commission in the United States navy, and rose to the rank of post-captain. "Mapes," we are told by Judge Clement, "settled a few miles from the place and took much pleasure in conversing about the ‘Old War,’ as he called it. He was a genial, pleasant man; wore a broad-brimmed hat, with his long clay pipe twisted in the band, never passing an opportunity for using it. His familiar salutation of ‘My darling fellow;’ whenever he met a friend, is still remembered by the people, whether it was at a public gathering or by his own fireside. Not having much of this world’s goods, and living to a ripe old age, the pension allotted him by Congress was the means of making him comfortable in his latter days."

CAPTAIN JAMES B. COOPER was the only child of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Hopwell) Cooper, and was born at Coopers Point, Camden. Although of Quaker ancestors and educated in the faith and belief of that Society, yet in his youth being frequently the observant of military excitement, he early in life coveted the desire to become a soldier. The home of his parents was for a time the rendezvous of either American or British troops, and as a boy he became familiar with many stirring events of that period. His father’s commands nor his mother’s persuasions and tender solicitude, would not deter him from joining the partisan corps of Colonel Henry Lee, of the American Army and although under age, he managed to get the consent of the commander to follow his fortunes during the stormy times of that eventful war. With others of the neighborhood about, he was mounted and soon became expert in the difficult drill of a cavalryman and a favorite with his companions. He saw much active service, was at the capture of Stony Point and Paulus Hook, in New York, was at the battle of Guilford Court-House and Eutaw Springs; in South Carolina, assisted in the storming of Forts Watson, Mott and Granby, in the last-named State, and was present at the engagements before Galpin and Augusta, in Georgia. He was selected by Colonel Lee as the bearer of dispatches to the commander-in-chief; and was entrusted with a flag of truce to the British military authorities, which, under the circumstances, was a delicate and important duty. Many incidents of that event, as related by himself, and to which he was an eye-witness, are now forgotten. He lived long enough, however, after the war to see his country prosperous and her institutions command the respect of the nations of the world.

After the close of the war he adopted a sea-faring life, and soon rose to the command of some of the best ships that sailed out of Philadelphia. Upon the opening of the War of 1812, he accepted the position of sailing-master in the navy, but was promoted to the rank of lieutenant for valuable services. At one time he had charge of the gun-boats on the New Jersey coast, placed there to prevent the depredations of the English cruisers. This was a dangerous position, for his vessels, although good sailors, were deficient in the weight of their guns. He had a wary and bold enemy to contend with, which required all his ingenuity to avoid, yet keep watch of their movements so as to inform his superiors in command of a larger craft.

He saw some service after this war, and in 1834 took charge of the Naval Asylum at Philadelphia, where he remained several years. After that duty he returned to Haddonfield, and there lived in the enjoyment of a ripe old age, surrounded by his family and many friends. During this time he was advanced to the rank of post-captain as a compliment for his service through two wars of the nation. He died February 5, 1854, in the ninety-third year of his age, and his remains his in the Friends’ grave-yard at Haddonfield, without any monument to show his last resting-place.

Chews Landing, at the head of navigation on Timber Creek, got its name from the family of a steadfast patriot, Aaron Chew, who, while enjoying a furlough from the army, was chased into the old tavern on the hill by British cavalry. They fired several volleys into the building, where the bullet-holes may yet be seen, and Chew was made prisoner as he fled. Confined in a prison-ship in New York, he was one of the many Gloucester men who endured extreme torture in those filthy, dark and crowded hulks.

ATTEMPT TO STEAL THE RECORDS OF CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. - James Moody’s attempt to steal the records of the Continental Congress is an episode of the war which culminated at Camden. He was a Tory and a lieutenant in Skinner’s brigade of the British army, and had made himself famous for his daring and his intense hatred of the patriots long before he undertook the adventure which proved so signal a failure. One Addison, an Englishman by birth, but who had become a thorough American in feeling, was employed, in a clerical capacity, by Charles Thomson, secretary of the Continental Congress. Having been captured by the British and imprisoned in New York, he proposed to Major Beckwith, aide-de-camp to the Hessian general Knyphausen, that if he was released or exchanged, he would steal the secret documents of Congress and place them in the custody of the agent whom Knyphausen might designate. Beckwith fell into the trap set by the cunning Englishman, and enlisted Moody, who had on seventh occasions captured the dispatches of Washington and other American commanders, and was entirely familiar with the country. Moody was equally hoodwinked, and leagued with himself his brother and another Tory named Marr. Addison was set free and left New York for Philadelphia. Moody and his aids followed him, and, on November 7, 1781, they met Moody on the Camden side of the Delaware. What followed is told by the Tory himself in a little pamphlet which he wrote. When old and poor he sought refuge in England and besought the British government for assistance:
     "Lieutenant Moody kept a little back, at such a distance as not to have his person distinguished, yet so as to be within hearing of the conversation that passed. His brother and Marr, on going up to Addison, found him apparently full of confidence and in high spirit, and everything seemed to promise success. He told them that their plot was perfectly ripe for execution, that he had secured the means of admission into the most private recesses of the State-House, so that he should be able the next evening to deliver to them the papers they were in quest of. . . Soon after they crossed the river to Philadelphia, and it is probable that on the passage Addison was for the first time informed that their friend was Lieutenant Moody. Whether it was this discovery that put it first into his head, or whether he had all along intended it and had already taken the necessary previous steps, the lieutenant cannot certainly say, but he assures himself that every generous-minded man will be shocked when he reads that this perfidious wretch had either sold or was about to sell them to the Congress.
     "As the precise time in which they should be able to execute their plan could not be ascertained, it was agreed that Lieutenant Moody should remain at the ferry-house opposite to Philadelphia till they returned. On going into the house, he told the mistress of it by a convenient equivocation that he was an officer of the Jersey brigade, as he really was, though of that Jersey brigade which was in the King’s service. The woman understood him as speaking of a rebel corps, which was also called the Jersey brigade. To avoid notice, he pretended to be indisposed, and going up-stairs, he threw himself upon a bed and here continued to keep his room, but always awake and always on the watch. Next morning about eleven o’clock he saw a man walk hastily up to the house and overheard him telling some person at the door that there was the devil to pay in Philadelphia, that there had been a plot to break into the State-House, but that one of the party had betrayed the others, that two were already taken, and that a party of soldiers had just crossed the river with aim to seize their leader, who was said to be hereabouts.’ The lieutenant felt himself to be too nearly interested in this intelligence any longer to keep up the appearance of a sick man, and seizing his pistols, he instantly ran down-stairs and made his escape.
     "He had not got a hundred yards from the house when he saw the soldiers enter it. A small piece of woods lay before him, in which he hoped, at least, to be out of sight, and he had sprung the fence in order to enter it. But it was already lined by a party of horse with a view of cutting off his retreat. Thus surrounded, all hopes of flight were in vain, and to seek for a hiding-place in a clear, open field seemed equally useless. With hardly a hope of escaping so much as a moment longer undiscovered, he threw himself flat on his face in a ditch, which yet seemed of all places the least calculated for concealment, for it was without weeds or shrubs and so shallow that a quail might be seen in it; . . . . yet, as Providence ordered it, the improbability of the place proved the means of his security. He had lain there but a few minutes, when six of his pursuers passed within ten feet of him and very diligently examined a thickety part of the ditch that was but a few paces from him. With his pistols cocked, he kept his eye constantly upon them, determining that as soon as he saw himself to be discovered by any of them, he would instantly spring up and sell his life as dearly as might be, and, refusing to be taken alive, provoke, and if possible, force them to kill him. Once or twice he thought he saw one of the soldiers look at him, and he was on the point of shooting the man. . . From the ditch they went all around the adjacent field, and, as Lieutenant Moody sometimes a little raised up his head, he saw them frequently running their bayonet into some tall stacks of Indian corn fodder. This suggested to him an idea that if he could escape till night, a place they had already explored would be the securest place for him. When night came he got into one of those stacks. The wind was high, which prevented the rustling of the leaves of the fodder as he entered from being heard by the people who were passing close by him into the country in quest of him. His position in this retreat was very uncomfortable, for he could neither sit nor lie down. In this erect posture, however, he remained two nights, and two days without a morsel of food, for there was no corn on the stalks, and, which was infinitely more intolerable, without drink. We must not relate, for reasons which may be easily imagined, what became of him immediately after his coming out of this uneasy prison, but we will venture to inform the readers that on the fifth night after his elopement from the ferry-house he searched the banks of the Delaware until he had the good fortune to meet with a small boat. Into this he jumped and rowed a considerable way up the river. In due time he left his boat, and, relying on the aid of Loyalist, after many circuitous marches, all in the night, and through pathless courses, in about five days he once more arrived at New York."

LOCAL PATRIOTISM. - The leading families in the Gloucester neighborhood are described by Judge Clement as being strongly imbued with the spirit of liberty, and no opportunity was passed for giving information that would assist the Continental valise.
"To insure protection the enemy’s pickets were kept on and along the King’s road, which crossed Little Timber Creek at the Two Tuns tavern, kept by an old lady known as Aunty High Cap. The road extending southerly, passed close in front of the Browning homestead and over Big Timber Creek, where the old bridge formerly stood. Going southerly from the old tavern, it went near the former residence of Jonathan Atkinson and through Mount Ephraim toward Haddonfield. The section of country lying between this old road and the river was the scene of many encounters, numberless reconnoissances and much strategy, and traditions are still remembered touching their purpose and success, while others are lost sight of and forgotten. All these grew out of the increasing vigilance of the people toward their common enemy. Aunty High Cap’s was the hostelry where the British officers most did congregate, where military rank and discipline were laid aside, and where the feast of reason and flow of soul was most enjoyed."

At one of these revels an officer was killed by a rifle-shot fired by a man standing on the porch of the Atkinson residence, at least a mile distant, and many of the English believed that it was not accidental, but rather an unwelcome evidence of the expertness of New Jersey marksmen.

The ocean side of Old Gloucester, that which is now comprised in Atlantic County, was the locality of some memorable Revolutionary incidents. Smugglers, whose object it was to run goods, especially groceries and liquors, through the British lines and into Philadelphia, abounded along the coast, and undertook many intrepid operations. In light-draft vessels they stole up Mullica River to the forks of Egg Harbor, where the contraband stuff was placed upon wagons and hauled across the country, passing through Haddonfield on the way to a profitable market in the city. Almost every swamp along the route had its secret places of deposit, and the loyalty of the people to the American cause had much to do with making this kind of trade successful.

Egg Harbor was a station on the route of the refugees who were passing north and south during the war or following the movements of the British forces, with whom alone they were safe from their indignant countrymen. They had innumerable encounters with the hardy sailors and fishermen along the shore, who were zealous Americans and ever ready to display their abomination of the adherents of royalty. The New Jersey State Gazette, which was published at Trenton, contains in its files the following record of events of that period on the Gloucester sea-front:
     "March 31, 1779. - In the late snow-storm the transport ship ‘Mermaid,’ of Whitehaven, England, with troops from Halifax bound to New York, was driven on shore and bilged at Egg Harbor. After being in this miserable situation from five o’clock on Monday morning until noon on Tuesday, a boat came off to their relief and saved only forty-two souls out of one hundred and eighty-seven."
     "August 25, 1779. - By a sailor from Egg Harbor we are informed that on Wednesday last the schooner ‘Mars,’ Captain Taylor, fell in with a vessel mounting fourteen guns, which he boarded and took. She proved to be a British packet from Falmouth, England, to New York. Captain Taylor took the mail and prisoners, forty-five in number; but on Saturday last fell in with a fleet of twenty-three sail, under convoy of a large ship and frigate, when the latter gave chase to the frigate and retook her. Captain Taylor got safe into Egg Harbor."
     "September 11, 1782. - Last week Captain Douglass, with some of the militia of Gloucester County, attacked a refugee boat at Egg Harbor, with eighteen refugees on board, of whom fourteen were shot or drowned; the rest made their escape."
     "December 18, 1782. - Captain Jackson, of the ‘Greyhound,’ on the evening of Sunday, last week, with much address within the Hook the schooner ‘Dolphin’ and sloop ‘Diamond,’ bound from New York to Halifax, and brought them both into Egg Harbor. These vessels were both condemned to the claimants, and the amount of sales amounted to £10,500."

Thus privateering, fighting, smuggling and saving the lives of the shipwrecked enemy combined to furnish exciting employment and perilous adventure to the dwellers by the seaboard. In 1781 -82 they were pestered with parties of Cornwallis’ troops, who had escaped from the Virginia cantonment in which they were confined after his surrender at Yorktown, and were making their way to New York. Captain John Davis was posted with a company at Egg Harbor to look out for the fugitives, and got wind of a party of twenty-one, who were concealed in the woods and waiting for a vessel to take them off. He ambushed nineteen men near where they were to embark, and when they appeared on the shore, he killed or recaptured every one of them after a hand-to-hand fight.

Mickle obtained from some of the survivors of the war another incident of Davis’ expedition, which he thus relates, -
"On one occasion his (Davis’) lieutenant, Benjamin Bates, with Richard Powell, a private, called at a house where Davis had been informed that two refugee officers were lodging. Bates got to the house before any of the family had risen, except two girls, who were making a fire in the kitchen. He inquired if then were any persons in the house beside the family, and was answered, ‘None except two men from up in the country.’

He bade the girls show him where they were, which they did. In passing through a room separating the kitchen from the bed-room, he saw two pistols lying on a table. Knocking at the door, he was refused admittance, but finding him determined to enter, the two refugees finally let him in. They refused to tell their names, but were afterwards found to be William Giberson and Henry lane, refugee lieutenants, the former a notorious rascal who had committed many outrages and killed one or two Americans in cold blood. On their way to the quarters of Davis’ company, Giberson called Bates’ attention to something he pretended to see at a distance, and while Bates was looking in that direction Giberson started in another, and, being a very fast runner, although Bates fired his musket at him, he managed to escape.
"Davis, on being informed of what had happened, told Bates to try again the next night. Accordingly the next night he went to the same house. While in the act of opening the door he heard the click of a musket-cock behind a large tree within a few feet of him. He dropped on his knees, and the ball cut the rim of his hat. Giberson started to run, but before he had got many rods Bates gave him a load of buck-shot, which broke his leg. He was well guarded until he could be removed, with Lane, to Burlington gaol, from which, however, he soon made his escape and went to New York."

The same writer, who is borne out by the Historical Collections in this matter, states that Elijah Clark and Richard Westcott built, at their own expense, a small fort at the Fox Burrows, on Chestnut Neck, "near the port of Little Egg Harbor," and bought for it a number of cannon for the defense of the port. While the Revolutionary Legislature was in session at Haddonfield, in September, 1777, the two branches passed a resolution for paying Clark and Westcott four hundred and thirty pounds for this fort, which at one time was defended by fifteen hundred of the shore men, who evacuated it upon the enemy ascending the river in great force in barges.

After the retreat of the British to New York, as a result of the battle of Monmouth, Gloucester County was free from the presence of the enemy during the remainder of the war, except as it was traversed by the refugees and escaping prisoners first spoken of. Her ardent patriots welcomed with extreme joy the alliance concluded with France on February 6, 1778, which stimulated recruiting for the depleted ranks of the regiments of the Line. They maintained unbroken their good reputation except when, in the middle of January, 1781, a portion of the brigade, then stationed at Pompton, revolted and marched to Chatham, in Middlesex County. They were suffering from the extremity of want. They had enlisted for the term of three years or during the war. The officers contended that the meaning of the argument was that they should serve until the war closed; the men claimed that they could not be held after the three years had elapsed. Washington immediately dispatched General Robert Howe with five hundred regulars to march against the mutineers and subdue them by force. They were taken by surprise and yielded at once. Twelve of the principal offenders were compelled to select two or the ringleaders, who were promptly executed and order was completely restored.

THE COUNCIL OF SAFETY AT HADDONFIELD. - Messrs. Barber and Howe, in preparing the New Jersey "Historical Collections" in 1843, vouched for the truth of the allegation that the Continental Congress "sat for several weeks in Haddonfield during the war, in the house built by Matthias Aspden, and boarded about among the inhabitants." This is one of the legends or the town, and these authors seem to have accepted it without seeking for verification. Mickle, two years later, was more careful, and, as a result of his inquiry, intimates that Barber and Howe confounded the Provincial Congress of New Jersey with the Continental Congress. The minutes of the latter do not show any session at Haddonfield, although some State papers of 1778 are dated at the town. Captain James B. Cooper, a contemporary witness, who was not likely to be ignorant of any incident of the Revolution occurring in that neighborhood, was exceedingly skeptical regarding the assertion so confidently made by the writers of the "Collections," but had a perfect recollection of the brief session of the Provincial Congress at Haddonfield.

A body, however, which did sit at Haddonfield, and there performed some of its functions of the first importance in strengthening the hands of the patriot government in New Jersey, was the Council of Safety of 1777. It met in the old tavern-house now occupied by George W. Stillwell, as a temperance hotel, convening for its first session on March 15th. The members, who were appointed by the Legislature, were John Cleves Symmes, William Patterson, Nathaniel Scudder, Theophilus Elmer, Silas Condict, John Hart, John Mehelm, Samuel Dick, John Combe, Caleb Camp, Edmund Wetherby and John Manning. These men were selected carefully for the discharge of the arduous and delicate duties imposed upon them. Entrusted specially with power to arrest, try and punish persons suspected of Toryism, their authority was almost without limit. The Council was the representative of the Legislature during the recesses of the latter, and it was clothed also with judicial, executive and quasi-military functions. Moreover, it could appropriate such sums of money from the State treasury as were needed to carry on its operations, and could also make appointments of officers in the military contingent of the State and issue commissions to its appointees. A strong detail of Arnold’s men attended all its movements, and it was entitled to call out the militia to enforce its decrees. While it sat at Haddonfield it kept two guard-houses(10*) well filled with, its prisoners, and every patriot was in some manner an amateur detective, who reported to the Council his neighbors supposed to entertain hostility to the cause of independence.

Wielding such formidable weapons, the Council was the terror of the American friends of England. Governor Livingston sat at its deliberations and usually presided. There was the single appeal from the decisions of a majority of the Councillors that an accused person could enter bail and carry his case to court; but if he refused to give security or take the oath of loyalty, he was peremptorily imprisoned and held at their pleasure. At their first meeting they disposed of the cases of fourteen alleged Tories; and it was not uncommon for them to try from twenty to thirty in a day. They sat at Haddonfield on March 18th and 19th, then adjourning to Bordentown, and the subjoined extracts from the minutes of the 19th are a fair sample of their work and also their manner of executing it:
     "The Board entered upon the examination of the prisoners sent to Haddonfield some time since by General Putnam. Abraham Briton, Jonathan Forman and Robert Barns, having been examined, took and subscribed the oaths of abjuration and allegiance,as by law appointed, and were discharged.
     "Anthony Woodward, son of William, having been examined, being one of the people called Quakers, took affirmations to the effect of the oaths above mentioned, and entered into recognizance with David Burley, his surety, in £300 each, before Mr. Justice Symmes, fee his appearance at the next Court of Oyer and Terminer, to be held in the County of Monmouth, and in the meantime to be of good behavior, and was thereupon dismissed. Moses Ivins, being examined, acknowledged that he had given bond to the late convention in £500 conditional for his good behavior towards the State, and having entered into recognizance with Abraham Briton, his surety, in £300 each to appear, etc., as in the case of Anthony Woodward, was dismissed.
     "Ordered, That the prisoners lately ordered to be brought from Frederick Town in Maryland and lodged in the gaol of the County of Salem, be condusted under guard to Bordentown, so as to be there by Wednesday next, or as soon thereafter as may be convenient; and that Col. Dick be desired to detach so many of the militia of his battalion as may he necessary to carry this order into execution.
     "An account of Capt. Elisha Walton for subsisting a guard and six prisoners belonging to Pennsylvania at and from Haddonfield to Philadelphia on the 18th and 19th instants, amounting to £4 7s. 6d., was laid before the Board. Ordered that the same be paid."

The Council opened its second session at Haddonfield on May 10, 1777, and from thence until June 9th met there nearly every day, and such was the press of labor upon it that it frequently held two and sometimes three meetings daily. Its time was largely taken up with the proceedings against John Henchman, the owner of a very large and valuable estate in the township, and the descendant of the settler of the same name a century previous. Henchman came under suspicion as a Loyalist, and among the witnesses against him in the preliminary proceedings were Capt. Samuel Hugg, Joseph Hugg, Samuel Harrison, Capt. William Harrison, William Norton and John Estaugh Hopkins. The grounds of the charges appear in the record of Capt Hugg’s testimony, in which it is stated that he "can give some account of the said Henchman’s producing his former commission under the crown to some British officers at the Black Horse as a pass and of his inviting some British officers to his sister’s house at Mount Holly."

The minutes of June 5th continue the case thus:
     "John Henchman, Esq., appears before the Board pursuant to citation, and the charges against him being read, he was permitted to offer anything in his power by way of palliation, and after being heard was ordered to withdraw.
     "The Council taking Mr. Henchman’s case into their consideration, and being of the opinion that the charges against him did not fully indicate a malicious intention, but that the said charges did fix him under a strong suspicion of disaffection to the United States.
     "Agreed, therefore, that Mr. Henchman be again called into Council, and that the oaths of abjuration and allegiance be tendered to him according to law.
     "Mr. Henchman appeared accordingly, and the said oaths were tendered him in Council, which he refused to take and subscribe,but was willing to be bound with surety for his appearance at the next Court of General Quarter Sessions; and the said John Henchman did accordingly enter into recognizance with Jacob Clement in the sum of L300 each, before the Governor and Council of Safety for his appearance at the next Court of General Quarter Sessions of the peace of the County of Gloucester, there to answer to such charges as shall be exhibited against him on behalf of the State; and, in the meantime, be of the peace and of the good behavior, and was thereupon dismissed."

Several other citizens of Gloucester were under examination by the Council at this time. George Rapalje was committed on May 21st, to jail, -
"For advisedly and willingly by speech, writing, open deed and act, maintaining and defending the authority, jurisdiction and power of the King of Great Britain as heretofore claimed within this State."

On May 31st, Richard Snowdon refused to take the oath of allegiance or to give bail for court and was placed in the sheriff’s custody. How numerous were the offences of which men might he accused was instanced in the case of Thomas Woodward, a Friend, son of Anthony, for whom a warrant of arrest was issued, charging him "with maliciously and advisedly saying and doing things encouraging disaffection, and with maliciously and advisedly spreading such false rumors concerning the American forces and the forces of the enemy as tend to alienate the affections of the people from the government and to terrify and discourage the good subjects of this State, and to dispose them to favour the pretensions of the enemies of this State."

After a short sitting at Morristown the Council returned to Haddonfield on September 12th. Changes had been made in the personnel, the members then being Silas Condict, Wm. Patterson, Nathaniel Scudder, Thomas Elmer, John Hart, Benjamin Manning, Peter Tallmann, Johu Mehelm, Caleb Camp, Jacob Drake, Jonathan Bowen, John Combs, John Buck, Wm. Peartree Smith, Fred’k Frelinghuysen and Edward Fleming. Little of importance was accomplished at this session, Gloucester County having been restored to comparative quiet, and the most of the guard was sent to Burlington, where the jail was overcrowded with Tory suspects. Thomas Hooton, of Gloucester, was arrested, but released upon swearing to his loyalty, and John Carty was sent into the enemy’s lines, this being one of the methods of getting rid of disaffected persons whom it was not deemed politic to imprison. A sample order of the kind was that issued regarding Richard Waln, who was a land-holder in Gloucester County, -
"October 7th - Richard Waln (one of the people called Quakers) being concerned before the Board, and affirmations to the effect of the Oaths of Abjuration and allegiance, being tendered to him pursuant to law, he refused to take them, but being willing to go with his family into the enemy’s lines, and he appearing to the Board too dangerous to remain in the State, the Council agreed that the said Richard Waln have leave to go with his family into the enemy’s lines on Staten Island in five days from the date hereof"

The exchange of prisoners was another matter within the jurisdiction of the Council, and early in its proceedings it made the rule of giving a soldier for a soldier, a civilian for a civilian. Through this system numerous Tories were handed over to the British, while valuable patriots whom the enemy had incarcerated were reclaimed to the national service. A reserve of prisoners was occasionally held with a view to such a transfer, and there are quite a number of cases like that of Joseph King, who, being "too dangerous a person to be sufficed to be at large," was ordered "taken and kept in safe custody in order to be exchanged."

Quitting Haddonfield on September 26th, the Council fled to Princeton and then to Pittstown, to be safely out of the way of British raiders. While at the latter place, on October 18th, it appointed commissioners to raise recruits and apprehend deserters, those for Gloucester County being Joseph Estell, William Price, Colonel Josiah Hilman and James Tallman, who were commanded to rendezvous at Woodbury. The following minute appears of December 12th:
"Application was made to the Board for the payment of money due to the militia in the county of Gloucester, under the command of Colonel Ellis.
"Agreed that Colonel Ellis be informed by letter that the Legislature have directed the delegates to obtain from Congress the sum of £120,000 for discharging the debt due to the militia of this State, and that the proportion of $16,000, when obtained, will be paid into the hands of Thomas Carpenter for the payment of the militia of Gloucester and Salem."

The Hessian marauders were scouring Southern New Jersey for better food than King George’s rations, and Colonel Ellis, commandant of the Gloucester militia, was authorized to remove any cattle, sheep and hogs (excepting milch cows) from any places where he thought them in danger of falling into the enemy’s hands to places of greater security, and upon the owners refusing to do so, after first giving notice to the owners, who may take care of them at their expense. This measure not proving extreme enough, Colonel Ellis was directed to remove all the horned cattle, sheep, hogs and all cows which do not give milk from the vicinity of the Jersey shore, in the counties of Burlington, Gloucester and Salem, that may be within the reach of the enemy’s foraging parties, except such as might be really necessary for the inhabitants (the owners refusing to do it on notice given to them for that purpose), and that the general (Washington) be informed that the powers lodged in the Council of Safety are inadequate to the requisition of having the forage removed, and that it be recommended to him to exercise his own authority in having it effected. This stripping of the country of provender in order that the enemy might not obtain it speaks eloquently of the straits to which this section of the State was reduced.

These stern Councillors were obliged to be no respectors of the sex. The wives and daughters of Tories were as inimical to the republic as their husbands and fathers, and when the men had gone into the British service the women left behind frequently became adroit and successful spies upon the movements of the patriots. Hence the Council applied to them the extreme rigors of the treason law and either sent them after their male protectors into the British lines, locked them up in jail or held them in heavy bonds for their good behavior. Those to be sent into the enemy’s camp were usually assembled at Elizabeth, from whence it was an easy task to transfer them under a flag of truce to the headquarters on Staten Island. While sitting at Trenton, on March 27, 1778, the Council had to deal with a squad of suspects who had been brought in from Gloucester County, and passed the following orders regarding them:
     "That William and Thomas Jones be committed to gaol for trial.
     "That Jacob Shoulder, Jacob Mouse, Isaac Zane and Samuel Hewling have five days to determine whether they will enlist into the Continental service during the war or be committed for their trial for going into the enemy’s lines and returning into this State contrary to law.
      "That Jacob Jones, Gunrod Shoemaker, William Davenport, Thomas Smith and a negro man belonging to John Cox be discharged, the former four on taking the oath to government prescribed by law.
      "And that Daniel Murray and Blakey Hurltey, suspected of being spies from the enemy, and also for endeavoring to pass counterfeit money found upon them, be sent to headquarters."

On June 5th, John Kirby, Benjamin Allen, Urich West and Jesse Sirran, all of Gloucester County, were examined "for joining the enemy," but there were also held in reserve against them accusations of misprision of treason and of counterfeiting the State currency, which later was a very common offence until the bills of credit which did duty as a circulating medium became so depreciated in value that the labors of the counterfeiter were profitless. On August 4th, the Council being then at Morristown, it committed to the Gloucester County jail Isaac Lloyd, Samuel Lippincott, Joseph Myers, Lawrence Cox, David Carter, Jacob Justine, William Kennack and Jesse Sirran, who were believed to have given aid and comfort to the enemy.

The final records of the Council are dated at Princeton, October 8, 1778. Its membership had then been increased to twenty. Mr. Frelinghuysen and Mr. Combe had retired, and Messrs. Cooper, Imlay, Linn, Crane, Fennemore, Cook and Keasby had been brought in. The last proceedings having connection with Gloucester County affairs were the passage of a resolution for the re-payment to Councillor Camp of fourteen pounds, "by him advanced to Isaac Coxe, sergeant of the guard at Haddonfield, in part pay for the said guard."

THE WEST JERSEY COMMANDS. - Mention has already been made of the formation of the battalions commanded by Lord Stirling and Colonel Maxwell. These were the first organizations of the "Jersey Line." The privates were enlisted for one year, at five dollars per month, and were allowed, in place of bounty, "a felt hat, a pair of yarn stockings and a pair of shoes," but were to furnish their own arms. On January 8, 1776, the West Jersey (Maxwell’s) battalion was ordered to report to General Schuyler, at Albany. Authority for the formation of a third battalion, of which Elias Dayton was made colonel, was given by Congress January 10, 1778. All these commands were reorganized under the act of the Continental Congress of September 16, 1776. It provided for the enlistment of eighty-eight battalions to serve during the war, and of these the "New Jersey Line" consisted of four. Twenty dollars was offered as a bounty to each non-commissioned officer and private, and bounty lands at the close of the war to each officer and man, or to his heirs in case of his death, as follows: Five hundred acres to each colonel, four hundred and fifty acres to each lieutenant-colonel, four hundred to each major, three hundred to each captain, two hundred to each lieutenant, one hundred and fifty to each ensign, and to each private and non-commissioned officer one hundred. The men in the ranks were to be furnished with an outfit annually, that for the first year to be two linen hunting-shirts, two pair of overalls, a leathern or woolen waistcoat with sleeves, one pair of breeches, a hat or leathern cap, two shirts, two pair of hose and two pair of shoes. They could commute these things into money at a valuation of twenty dollars, if they chose to quip themselves.

The reorganization and re-enlistment of the First Battalion, Colonel Silas Newcomb, was completed in December, 1776; the Second, Colonel Israel Shreve (of Gloucester), February, 1777; the Fourth, Colonel Ephraim Martin, during the same month; and the Third, Colonel Elias Dayton, in April of that year. Colonel Maxwell was promoted to brigadier-general in October, 1776, and assigned to the command of these battalions, which, as "Maxwell’s Brigade," won laurels on many a bloody field. In the May following they were placed in General Stephens’ division and encamped at Elizabethtown, Bound Brook and Spanktown (Rahway). Stephens, in the summer of 1777, marched through Pennsylvania and Delaware, and a small portion of the "New Jersey Line" opened the battle of Brandywine on the morning of September 11th. They continued actively engaged through the fight and afterwards skirmished with the enemy before reaching their camp at Germantown, where, in the battle of October 4th, they formed the left wing and reserve of Washington’s army. They were conspicuous for their gallantry in this action, and Newcomb’s battalion was an especially heavy loser of officers and men.

The Jerseymen passed the winter of 1777 -78 with the remainder of the army in gloom and suffering at Valley Forge. When the British evacuated Philadelphia, in June, 1778, Maxwell’s brigade constituted the main portion of the column placed under the command of Lafayette to hang upon General Clinton’s flanks and rear, with the object of striking him a blow whenever the opportunity permitted. They were highly successful in making the enemy suffer severely on the march through Jersey. On June 28th the Line, as well as the militia, which was under the command of Major-General Philemon Dickinson, took part in the battle of Monmouth. Most of the winter of 1778 -79 was spent by the brigade at Elizabethtown, but a detachment of Shreve’s Gloucester troops was encamped at Newark. In May, 1779, the whole brigade took part in General Sullivan’s expedition, which marched up the Susquehanna Valley and inflicted punishment on the Seneca Indians, returning to New Jersey in October.

Another reorganization was carried into effect in compliance with the acts of Congress of May 27, 1778, and March 9, 1779. The battalions of the Line, reduced in numbers by losses in battle and the other calamities of war, were consolidated into three, and a bounty of two hundred dollars each was offered for three hundred and sixty-five volunteers. Sixteen hundred and twenty more were called for on February 9, 1780, the inducement to enlist was increased to one thousand dollars, and recruiting officers, or "Muster Masters," were appointed, Colonel Joseph Ellis filling the office in Gloucester County. In June, 1781, another draft was made, and John Davis undertook to fill Gloucester’s quota of fifty-one men. The bounty paid under this requisition was twelve pounds in gold or silver to each man, and the three colonels -Matthias Ogden, Isaac Shreve and Elias Dayton - succeeded in filling out their regiments to six companies each. Maxwell continued in command of the brigade until his resignation, in July, 1780, when he was succeeded by the senior colonel, Dayton, who served until the close of the war. In September, 1781, the three regiments were ordered to Virginia, where they participated in the Yorktown campaign and were present at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. The news of the cessation of hostilities was announced in the camp of the brigade April 19, 1783, and the Jersey Line was mustered out on the succeeding 3d of November.

STATE TROOPS. - Besides the troops who served continuously in the regular army, New Jersey had occasion at various times during the war to call out volunteers from the militia for protection against the incursions of the British and the raids of Royalists and Indians. These commands were held subject to duty in this and adjoining States, and were known as "New Jersey Levies," "Five Months’ Levies," or more generally as "State Troops." The artillery companies of Frelinghuysen and Hugg, already alluded to, the earliest of these organizations, were created under the act of the Provincial Congress of February 13, 1776. November 27, 1776, the first act was passed for the organization of the infantry branch of the State troops, and four battalions of eight companies each were raised by voluntary enlistment. One battalion was recruited in the counties of Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland, three companies coming from the former county. Of this battalion, David Potter was appointed colonel, Whitton Cripps lieutenant-colonel, and Anthony Sharp major.

Capt. Simon Lucas commanded another Gloucester company, which was formed under the call of December 29, 1781, for four hundred and twenty-two men to serve until December 15, 1782. Calls were also made on June 7 and 14, 1780, for four hundred and twenty men to serve until January 1, 1782.

MILITIA. - The militia were the first troops organized in New Jersey in the Revolution, the Provincial Congress, on June 3, 1775, providing "a plan for regulating the militia of the colony," because of "the cruel and arbitrary measures adopted and pursued by the British Parliament and present ministry for the purpose of subjugating the American colonies to the most abject servitude." By the elaboration of this plan in August, Gloucester was required to raise three battalions. On June 3, 1776, the Continental Congress called for thirteen thousand eight hundred militia to reinforce the army at New York. The quota for New Jersey was three thousand three hundred, of which Gloucester furnished two companies. On July 16th Congress requested the convention of New Jersey to supply with militia the places of two thousand of Washington’s troops that had been ordered into New Jersey to form the Flying Camp. Of the thirty companies of sixty-four men each sent under this call, Gloucester provided three, which, with one from Cumberland and three from Burlington, were combined in a battalion under Colonel Charles Read, Lieutenant-Colonel Josiah Hillman, Major William Ellis and Surgeon Bodo Otto, Jr. August 11, 1776, the militia was divided into brigades, one to be detached for immediate service and relieved by the other at the expiration of thirty days. On this basis of monthly classes, in active service alternate months, these troops were held during the war. On January 8, 1781, the organization was enlarged to three brigades. "The good service performed by the militia of New Jersey is fully recorded in history. At the fights at Quinton’s Bridge, Hancock’s Bridge, Three Rivers, Connecticut Farms and Van Neste’s Mills they bore an active part; while at the battles of Long Island, Trenton, Assanpink, Princeton, Germantown, Springfield and Monmouth they performed efficient services in supporting the Continental Line."(11*)

The subjoined list exhibits the field and staff officers of the militia of Old Gloucester County.

The following is a list of those from Gloucester County who served either in the Continental army, State troops or militia during the Revolutionary War(12*)

Brigadier-General.
Joseph Ellis.
Colonels.
Bodo Otto.	Israel Shreve.
Richard Somers.
Lieutenant-Colonels.
Robert Brown.	Samuel Shreve.
Elijah Clark.	Samuel Tonkin.
Majors.
William Ellis.	George Payne.
Samuel Flannigan.	Jeremiah Smith.
Rich’d Westcott.
Paymasters.
Thomas Carpenter.	John Little.
Surgeon.
Thomas Hendry.
Captains.
John Baker.	James Holmes.
Andrew Barnes.	John Inskip.
Jacob Browning.	Simeon Lucas.
Richard Cheeseman.	Archibald Maffit.
Joseph Covenover.	William Maffit.
John Cozens.	John Patten.
John Davis.	David Paul.
----- Douglas.	George Pierce.
Joseph Elwell.	William Price.
Sawtel Elwell.	George Purvis.
Joseph Estell.	Christopher Rape.
Felix Fisher.	Henry Shute.
John Hampton.	William Smith.
William Harrison.	Robert Snell.
Richard Higbee.	Samuel Snell.
James Somers.	James Tollman.
John Somers.	Joseph Thorne.
Zephania Steelman.	William Watson.
John Stokes.	David Weatherby.
Richard Stonebanks.	John Wood.
Lieutenants.
David Baker.	Joseph McCullough.
John Carter.	John Parsons.
John Chatham.	Ward Pierce.
Enoch Leeds.	Benjamin Weatherly.
First Lieutenants.
Joseph Ingersoll.	Alexander Mitchell.
Edward Ireland.	Nehemiah Morse.
Jeremiah Leeds.	Samuel Springer.
Samuel Matlack.	Arthur Westcott.
Second Lieutenants.
Aaron Chew.	Samuel McFarland.
Peter Covenhoven.	Abraham Parsons.
Jacob Endicott.	Jeremiah Risley.
William Finch.	Henry Rowe.
John Lucas.	John Scull.
Elijah Townsend.
Ensigns.
John Adams.	Daniel Hooper.
Joseph Avis.	Benjamin Inskeep.
Elijah Barret.	Cornelius McCollum.
Japhet Clark.	Joseph Morrell.
John Dilkes.	Nathaniel Sipple.
Ebenezer Extell.	David Stillwell.
Daniel Frazer.	John Tilton.
Sergeants.
Abraham Bennet.	John Reed.
William Campbell.	Richard Sayers.
Patrick McCollum.	Jacob Spencer.
James Tomblin.
Corporal.
Leonard Fisler.
Wagoner.
Philip Dare.
Privates.
Jeptha Abbot.	Uriah Kelly.
John Abel.	William Kelly.
Daniel Ackley.	James Kendle.
Hezekiah Ackley.	John Kerry.
James Ackley.	John Kesler.
John Ackley.	Daniel Kidd.
Silas Ackley.	Peter Kidd.
James Adair.	John Killey.
Andrew Adams.	Joseph Kindle.
David Adams.	Andrew King.
Elijah Adams.	Cornelius Lacy.
Jeremiah Adams.	John Lafferty.
Jesse Adams.	Andrew Lake.
Jonas Adams.	Joseph Lake.
Jonathan Adams.	Nathan Lake.
Richard Adams.	William Lake.
Thomas Adams.	James Land.
William Adams.	Nathan Leah.
Abram Aim.	Nathaniel Leake.
Abraham Albertson.	William Leake.
Albert Albertson	Godfrey Leaman.
Isaac Albertson.	David Lee.
Jacob Albertson, Jr.	Walter Lee.
Jacob Albertson, Sr.	Daniel Leeds.
George Allen.	Felix Leeds.
Joseph Allen.	James Leeds.
William Allen.	William Leeds.
Thomas Alleor.	Azariah Leonard.
Jacob Allset.	Francis Lewis.
Henry Anderson.	Jeremiah Lewis.
Isaac Armstrong.	John Linwood.
Gibson Ashcroft.	Daniel Lippencott.
James Ashcroft.	John Lippencott.
Jacob Assit.	John Little.
Conuter Atherton.	John Little, Sr.
Abijah Ayers.	John Little, Jr.
James Ayers.	Cornelius Locy.
Moses Ayers.	John Lodge.
John Baley.	Ansey Long.
Jonathan Baley.	Moses Long.
Joseph Baley.	Silas Long.
Benjamin Balken.	Asa Lord.
Jonathan Barton.	John Lord.
William Bates.	Jonathan Lord.
Thomas Beavin.	Robert Lown.
Jonathan Beesley.	Israel Luck.
James Belange.	Daniel Lake.
Nicholas Belange.	Mack Lamor.
Samuel Belange.	George Land.
Robert Bell.	Nehemiah Leeds.
William Bell.	Thomas Leeds.
Jonathan Benly.	John Lock.
Alexander Bennet.	Jonathan Lock.
John Bennet.	Abram Loper.
Jonathan Bennet.	Abram Manary.
John Berry.	David Mancy.
Patrick Brady.	Benjamin Manley.
George Bright.	Edmund Mapes.
Asa Brown.	Andrew Mason.
Matthew Brown.	David Mason.
George Browne.	Benjamin Massey.
Thomas Bryant.	Joseph Masters.
Elijah Buck.	David Mattacks.
Josiah Budd.	Jesse Mattacks.
John Budey.	Michael McCleary.
James Bulangey.	John McCollum.
Joshua Bulangey.	Abrahm McCullock.
Robin Bunton.	James McFadden.
Benjamin Bachon.	John McFadden.
Abel Bacon.	Samuel McFarland.
Frederick Baker.	Daniel McGee.
James Baley.	George McGonigal.
Haned Bardin.	Charles McHenry.
Richard Barker.	William McKay.
Benjamin Bispham.	William McKimmy.
Andrew Blackman.	Hector McNeil.
David Blackman.	George Meare.
John Blackman.	Charles Meyers.
Nehemiah Blackman.	Benjamin Miller.
James Bleakman.	Samuel Miller.
James Boggs.	Stephen Miller.
William Boice.	Samuel Mintear.
Jonathan Borton.	George Mires.
Edward Bowen.	John Mitchell.
Josiah Bowen.	Andrew Moore.
David Bowyer.	Daniel Moore.
John Bradford.	Thomas Morris.
David Brower.	Jonas Morse.
John Bryant.	Nicholas Morse.
Joseph Burch.	George Moses.
Elijah Burk.	Sharon Moslander.
Moses Burnet.	Ezekiel Mulford.
Samuel Burton.	Furman Mulford.
William Busbing.	Jonathan Mulford.
Moses Butterworth.	Samuel Mulford.
Aaron F. Cade.	Dave Muney (Murrey).
John Cain.	John Munnion.
Samuel Cain.	William Murphy.
Ezekiel Camp.	John Musbrook.
James Camp.	George Marical.
David Campbell.	Joseph Marshall.
William Campbell.	William Marshall.
William Campen.	Andrew Mart.
John Cann.	John McClaisner.
George Caranna.	Adam McConnell.
Jacob Carpenter	Joshua Morse.
George Carter.	John Mullaky.
James Caruthers.	Thomas Neaves.
John Casey.	Davis Nelson.
Benjamin Casker.	Gabriel Nelson.
Tobias Casperson.	James Nelson.
William Cattell.	Joseph Nelson.
George Cavener.	Nehemiah Nelson.
Thomas Chamberlain.	Richard Newgen.
John Chattan.	John Newman.
Thomas Cheesman.	Reuben Newman.
John Chester.	Silas Newton.
Robert Chew.	Cornelius Nichols.
Adrial Clark.	Thomas Nichols.
David Clark.	Wilson Nickles.
John Clark.	John Nickleson.
Joseph Clark.	David Nielson.
Parker Clark.	Davis Nielson.
Richard Clements.	Gabriel Nielson.
David Clement.	Benjamin Nile.
William Clifton.	Benjamin Norcross.
Jacob Clough.	James Norcross.
John Cobb.	Joseph Norcross.
Thomas Cobb.	Caleb Norton.
William Cobb.	Jonathan Norton.
Joseph Conklin.	Thomas Nukler.
Bryant Conelly.	William Nuckless.
David Conover.	Jacob Nichols.
Jesse Conover.	James Norton.
Patterson Cook.	John Orr (or Ord).
Silas Cook.	Daniel Osborn.
William Cordry.	David Padgett.
Abel Corson.	Thomas Padgett.
Simon Coshier.	Joseph Parker, Sr.
Benjamin Cosier.	Samuel Parker, Sr.
Simon Cosier.	Daniel Parkes.
James Coults.	Joseph Parkes.
Isaac Course.	Noah Parkes.
William Course.	Paul Parkes.
Joseph Covenhoven.	John Patterson (1st).
Andrew Cox.	John Patterson (2d).
Jacob Cox.	Joseph Paul.
John Cozens.	Robert Pawpe.
Samuel Crager.	Samuel Peckin.
Levi Crandell	Stephen Pierson.
William Cranmore.	James Penton.
Cornelius Cullom.	Joseph Penyard.
John Camp.	Samuel Penyard.
Joseph Camp, Sr.	Samuel Perkins.
Joseph Camp, Jr.	Daniel Perry.
Archibald Campbell.	John Perry.
Simeon Casker.	Joseph Perry.
Daniel Champion.	Moses Perry.
John Champion.	Philip Peters.
Thomas Champion.	Abram Peterson.
Benjamin Clark.	David Peterson.
Reuben Clark.	Jacob Peterson.
Thomas Clark.	Samuel Peterson.
George Clifton.	Thomas Peterson.
Micajah Conover.	Joseph Pett.
Peter Conover.	George Pierce.
Peter B. Conover.	Joseph Platt.
John Cook.	Samuel Platt.
John Corson.	Thomas Poarch.
John Coshier.	Lawrence Pouleson.
Isaac Covenhoven.	John Powell.
John Covenhoven.	Richard Powell.
Cain Dair.	Jacob Price.
John Dair.	Levi Price.
Samuel Dallas.	Thompson Price.
John Danielson.	William Pridmore.
Kidd Daniels.	William Prigmore.
Joel Daven.	Joseph Parker, Jr.
Andrew Davis.	Samuel Parker, Jr.
Cain Davis.	John Parry.
Curtis Davis.	Israel Parshall.
Charles Day.	David Pierson.
Samuel Day.	Ward Pierce.
Thomas Day.	Richard Price.
Elias Deal.	Thomas Price.
James Deal.	William Quicksel.
Samuel Deal.	John Rain.
James Deckley.	Jonathan Reed.
Edward Deifel.	William Reed.
John Delfer.	John Reeves.
Samuel Denick	Joshua Reeves.
Samuel Denick, Jr.	Thomas Reeves.
Gideon Denny.	Jonas Denny.
Thomas Denny.	Samuel Reynolds.
Andrew Derrickson.	Michael Rice.
John Dickinson.	Joseph Rich.
Samuel Dilkes.	Richard Richerson.
Frampton Dill.	Richard Richman.
John Dolbier.	Daniel Richmond.
Samuel Dollis.	Jacob Riley.
John Doram.	Patrick Riley.
Silas Dorcar.	Ann Risley.
Abner Doughty.	David Risley.
Absalom Doughty.	Joseph Risley.
Jonathan Doughty.	John Robbins.
Josiah Doughty.	James Roberts.
John Drummond.	Joseph Roberts.
Edward Duffel.	George Robertson.
Samuel Dulaney.	Caleb Robeson.
Thomas Dulaney.	Jeremiah Robeson.
William Daniels.	Joseph Robeson.
Earl Davis.	Thomas Robeson.
Richard Davis.	Jeremiah Robinson.
John Deal.	William Rockhill.
David Dennis.	Andrew Ross.
Matthew Dennis.	Stephen Ross.
William Dickinson.	Enoch Rudnown.
Jesse Dormant.	Enoch Rudrow.
Edward Dougherty.	Obadiah Reed.
Abel Doughty.	Morris Risley.
Abige Doughty.	Samuel Risley.
Thomas Doughty.	Thomas Risley.
Edward Dowan.	Isaac Robertson.
John Dower.	John Russell.
Benjamin Drummond.	John Salmon.
James Dunlap.	John Salsbury.
Joseph Eastall.	Joseph Sawings.
John Edwards.	David Sayers.
Joseph Edwards.	Thomas Scott.
William Elbridge.	Abel Scull.
Jeremiah Elway.	David Scull.
Joseph English.	Joseph Scull.
Joseph Ervin.	Peter Scull.
John Evans.	David Sealey.
Abner Ewing.	Jacob Seddons.
Abraham Ewing.	Banjamin Seeds.
Mis. English.	John Seeley.
Thomas English.	David Seers.
Daniel Falker.	William Seiler.
John Farrell.	John Selvy.
Abraham Farrow.	William Senker.
John Farrow.	John Shane.
Mark Farrow.	Henry Sharp.
George Feathers.	Reuben Shaw.
Peter Fell.	Richard Shaw.
William Fell.	David Sheeff.
Abraham Fenimore.	Lawrence Shepherd.
Daniel Fenimore.	Nathaniel Shepherd.
Nathan Ferlew.	Owen Shepherd.
James Ferril.	Frederick Shinfelt.
Jacob Fetter.	Edward Shroppear.
Thomas Field.	John Shuley.
Jacob Fisher.	Samuel Shute.
Jacob Fisler.	Henry Sight.
George Fithian.	John Sill.
William Fithian.	John Silvey.
William Fletcher.	George Simpkins.
Uriah Forbes.	James Simpkins.
William Ford.	Jesse Siner.
William Fort.	William Sinker.
George Fowler.	David Skeoff.
Isaac Fowler.	John Slawter.
Andrew Frambis	Philip Slide.
John Franklin.	James Smallwood.
Daniel Frazier.	John Smallwood.
Samuel French.	Elias Smith.
William Furman.	Elijah Smith, Jr.
John Fisler.	Felix Smith.
Nicholas Frambis.	Henry Smith.
William Fry.	Isaac Smith.
Ebenezer Grinton.	James Smith.
Calvin Gamble.	Jesse Smith.
Edward Gandy.	John Smith.
Elias Gandy.	Joseph Smith.
John Gandy.	Joshua Smith.
James Gant.	Micha Smith.
Robert Garret.	Nathan Smith.
Cornelius Garrison.	Noah Smith.
Elijah Garrison.	Thomas Smith.
Reuben Garrison.	William Smith (1st).
Samuel Garwood.	William Smith (2d).
Rossel Gee.	Zenos Sith.
William Gentry.	Daniel Snellbaker.
James Gibeson.	Philip Snellbaker.
Job Gibeson.	George Snellbaker.
John Gibeson.	Davis Snell.
Daniel Giffen.	Robert Snelly.
James Gillingham.	Joseph Soey.
Reese Given, Sr.	Nicholas Soey.
Reese Given, Jr.	Samuel Soey.
William Given.	David Sommers.
Richard Graham.	Enoch Sommers.
William Graham.	Isaac Sommers.
Joshua Greaves.	John Somers.
James Gromley.	Richard Sommers.
Benjamin Guild.	Thomas Sommers.
Jacob Garratson.	Joseph Sparks.
Jeremiah Garratson.	Robert Sparks.
Joseph Garratson.	Thomas Springer.
Lemuel Garratson.	Jeremiah Springer.
Benjamin Gifford.	John Sprong.
James Gifford.	John Starkey.
John Gifford.	John Spire.
Timothy Gifford.	Richard Stedman.
John Goff.	Andrew Steelman.
Francis Gonnel.	Daniel Steelman.
James Gormley.	David Steelman.
William Hackett.	Frederick Steelman.
Joseph Haines.	George Steeman.
William Hainey.	James Steelman, Sr.
James Hamilton.	James Steelman.
John Hamilton.	John Steelman.
John Hancock.	Jonas Steelman.
Abram Harcourt.	Jonathan Steelman, Jr.
Abel Harker.	Jonathan Steelman, Sr.
David Harker.	Richard Steelman.
Nathaniel Harker.	David Stephens.
Moses Harris.	Ezekiel Steward.
Reuben Harris.	Joseph Steward.
William Harris.	Alexander Stewart.
George Hawkins.	Joel Stewart.
Davis Hays.	John Stewart, Sr.
Peter Hedd.	John Stewart, Jr.
David Heind.	Stephen Stewart.
Leonard Helel.	Ebenezer Stebbins.
Hance Helmes.	David Stilwell.
John Helmes.	Samuel Stoddard.
Robert Hemphill.	Thomas Stonebank.
Jacob Henns.	Joel Stord.
George Henry.	Thomas Strothem.
Michael Hess.	Samuel Strickland.
John Hessler.	John Strumble.
William Hewes.	Gideon Stull.
Benjamin Hewett.	James Summers.
Caleb Hewett.	John Stutman.
Moses Hewett.	Abraham Swaim.
Samuel Hewett.	Judeth Swain.
Thomas Hewett.	Jesse Swan.
William Hewett.	Isaac Swandler.
Isaac Hickman.	Valentine Sweeney.
James Hickman.	Timothy Swiney.
Edward Higbey.	Valentine Swing.
Isaac Higbey.	Isaac Taylor.
Uriah Hill.	Robert Taylor.
Daniel Hillman.	William Tennent.
Samuel Hillman.	Isaac Terrepin.
Samuel A. Hillman.	Uriah Terrepin.
Michael Hiss.	Jonathan Terry.
John Hitman.	James Thomas.
Benjamin Hoffman.	John Thackry.
Jacob Hoffman.	John Thomas.
Thomas Hollingsworth.	Richard Thomas.
Andrew Homan.	William Thomson.
Daniel Homan.	Oliver Thorp.
John Hukey.	John Tice.
John Hulings.	Daniel Tilton.
Thomas Humphrey.	Peter Till.
David Hund.	Joseph Tilton.
Lewis Hund.	Jacob Timberman.
John Hurley.	Elijah Tomlin.
Abraham Hutchinson.	Jacob Tomlin.
Ezekiel Hutchinson.	Jonathan Tomlin.
Peter Hutsinger.	William Tomlin.
Thomas Hickman.	Lewis Tonson.
Absalom Hugbey.	Redack Tourain.
John Hillman.	John Towne.
Seth Hillman.	James Townsend.
David Homan.	Daniel Townsend.
John Hugg.	John Townsend.
Andrew Hurst.	Reddick Townsend.
Jacob Idle.	Daniel Trumey.
George Ihnetler.	John Vannemon.
Daniel Ingalson.	David Vernon.
Isaac Ingalson.	George Waggoner.
Benjamin Ingersoll.	John Walker.
Ebenezer Ingersoll.	George Wall.
John Ingersoll.	John Wallace.
Joseph Ingersoll, Jr.	John Wallis.
Amos Irelan.	Benjamin Weatherby.
Thomas Irelan.	David Weatherby.
Thomas Ireland.	George Weatherby.
John Ireland.	John Weeks.
Thomas Ireland.	Zephaniah Weeks.
David Irelan.	Seth Weldon.
Edmond Irelan.	Thomas Weldron.
George Irelan.	Jacob Wence.
Japhet Irelan.	Peter Wells.
Jonathan Irelan.	Israel West.
Joseph Irelan.	Uriah West.
Reuben Irelan.	Porter Wheaton.
James Jeffries.	Robert Wheaton.
John Jeffries.	Silas Wheaton.
Jonathan Jerry.	Uriah Wheaton.
Samuel Jess.	Samuel Whitacre.
Isaac Johnson.	Jennings White.
Joseph Johnson.	John White.
Lawrence Johnson.	John Whitlock
Lewis Johnson.	John Wild.
Nathaniel Johnson.	Daniel Wiles.
Richard Johnson.	James Wiley.
Isaac Johnson.	David Williams.
Abraham Jones.	Edward Williams.
Abram Jones.	George Williams.
Daniel Jones.	William Williams.
Hugh Jones.	John Williams.
Jonas Jones.	David Williamson.
Lawrence Jones.	John Wilsey.
Samuel Jones.	Elijah Wilson.
Michael Johnson.	William Wilson.
William Johnson.	Samuel Woodruff.
Isaac Jones.	John Woolson.
John Kaighn.	Samuel Worrick.
Reuben Keen.	John Wright.
Thomas Kahela.	Hance Young.
David Keilson.	Uriah Young.
Patrick Kelly	Jacob Zimmerman.

LIEUTENANT RICHARD SOMERS AT TRIPOLI. - In the war in which the United States engaged next after achieving their independence, that against the Barbary States on the African coast of the Mediterranean Sea, to punish and suppress their piracy, Lieutenant Richard Somers won a fame which will last as long as the memory of gallant deeds endures. He was the son of Colonel Richard Somers, of the army of the Revolution, was born in Egg Harbor, and became an officer in the American army in 1796. In the squadron which Commodore Preble took to fight the Moors in 1803 he commanded the schooner "Nautilus." When the enemy captured the "Philadelphia," in 1804, Somers conceived the project of sending into the inner harbor of Tripoli the little gunboat or ketch "Intrepid" as a fire-ship and infernal machine. She was loaded and her decks covered with powderbombs, grape-shot, rockets and various missiles, the expectation being to so explode her amidst the Moorish fleet and close to the fortifications that she might inflict the greatest damage on both, possibly destroy the "Philadelphia," and cause the release of her crew and other Americans slowly perishing in the prisons of Tripoli. Somers volunteered for the command of this desperate expedition, and had with him four other volunteers from the crew of the "Nautilus."

Fenimore Cooper has tersely told the narrative of that fateful night of September 4, 1804,-
"Once assured of the temper of his companions, Somers took leave of his officers, the boat’s crew doing the same, shaking hands and expressing their feelings as if they felt assured of their fate in advance. Each of the four men made his will verbally, disposing of his effects among his shipmates like those about to die. Several of Somers’ friends visited him on board the Intrepid before she got under way. Somers was grave and entirely without any affectation of levity or indifference, but he maintained his usual quiet and tranquil manner. After some conversation he took a ring from his finger, and breaking it into three pieces, gave each of his companions(13*)one, while he retained the third himself.
"Two boats accompanied the Intrepid to bring off the party just after setting fire to the train. About nine o’clock in the evening Lieutenant Reed was the last to leave the Intrepid for his own vessel. When he went over her side all communication between the gallant spirits she contained and the rest of the world ceased. The ketch was seen to proceed cautiously into the bay, but was soon obscured by the haze on the water. At ten o’clock the enemy’s batteries were slowly firing upon her. At this moment Captain Stewart and Lieutenant Carroll were standing in the gangway of the Siren, one of the American fleet, looking intently toward the place where the ketch was known to be, when the latter exclaimed, ‘Look! see the light!’ At that instant a light was seen passing and waving, as If a lantern were carried by some person along a vessel’s deck. Then it sunk from view. Half a minute may have elapsed, when the whole firmament was lighted by a fiery glow, a burning mast with its sails was seen in the air, the whole harbor was momentarily illuminated, the awful explosion came and a darkness like that of doom succeeded.

The whole was over in less than a minute, the flame, the quaking of towers, the reeling of ships, and even the bursting of shells, of which most fell In the water, though some lodged on the rocks. The firing ceased, and from that instant Tripoli passed the night in a stillness as profound as that in which the victims of this explosion have lain from that fatal hour to this."

Whether Somers purposely blew up the "Intrepid" to prevent capture, whether the explosion was accidental, or whether it was a hot shot from a Moorish gun is a question that will never be answered, for he and his four devoted shipmates perished in the disaster.

* This is a rare and invaluable book. It was designed by the author as an introduction to his "Law Register," but he died before its completion. It was published by his executers in 1836, and after it was printed some controversy arose between the persons concerned, in consequence of which the entire edition, with the exception of six copies, was destroyed. One of those saved is in the possession of Judge John Clement, of Haddonfield, by whose kind permission the use of the work was accorded to the writer.

** William Franklin was a natural son of Dr. Benjamin Franklin, and was born shout the year 1730. His father had but one other son, Francis Folger, who died when a little more than four years old. William was carefuly educated, aided his father in his philosophical experiments, and through his influence was at an early age appointed clerk of the Assembly of Pennsylvania, and postmaster of Philadelphia. In 1756, when he was about twenty years of age, his father was appointed the agent for Pennsylvania (and afterwards of New Jersey) in England, and the son had leave from the Assembly to resign his office of clerk that he might accompany him to London. Upon his arrival there he entered the Middle Temple to prepare himself for practice as a lawyer in Philadelphia, and was in due time called to be a barrister. Afterwards he received from the University of Oxford the honorary degree of Master of Arts.

In 1762, having ingratiated himself with Lord Bute, then the principal favorite of the King, through his influence, without the solicitation of his father, he was appointed Governor of the province of New Jersey, an office then much sought for.

*** Charles D. Deshlers address to the New Brunswick Historical Club, December 10, 1875.

(4*) There appears to be nowhere any record of a meeting held in Gloucester County to appoint delegates to the New Brunswick convention. Yet the country was represented in that body by Robert Friend Price, if by no other delegate or delegates, and the tenable theory is that he at least was elected at some meeting of the citizens of the county, of which no mention is made in contemporary annals. Price’s name occurs on page 103 of Griffith’s "Notes on the American Colonies," as a member of the Committee that signed the credentials of the delegates to the General Congress.

(5*) Such members as were Friends excepting only to such parts as seemed to wear an appearance or might have a tendency to force, as inconsistent with their religious principles." - History of New Jersey."

(7*) The Marquis de Chastellux, the author of "Travels in North America," visited Fort Mercer in company with General Lafayette and M. du Plessis Mauduit, the Duplessis mentioned in Washington’s letter to Colonel Greene, who was a highly capable French engineer and artillerist. Chastellux wrote: "The bank of the Delaware at this place is steep; but even this steepness allowed the enemy to approach the fort under cover and without being exposed to the fire of the batteries. To remedy this inconvenience, several galleys, armed with cannon and destined to defend the chevaux-de-frise, were posted the whole length of the escarpment and took it in reverse. The Americans, little practiced in the art of fortifications, and always disposed to take works beyond their strength, had made those at Red Bank too extensive. When M. du Mauduit obtained permission to be sent thither by Colonel Greene, he immediately set about reducing the fortifications by intersecting them from east to west, which transformed them into a large redoubt nearly of a pentagonal form. A good earthen rampart raised to the height of the cordon, a fosse and an abatis in front of the fosse constituted the whole strength of this post, in which were placed three hundred men and fourteen pieces of cannon." The authors of the "New Jersey Historical Collections" assert that a great portion of the garrison were negroes and mulattoes and all were in a ragged, destitute condition.

(8*) Mickle and Lossing insist on the truth of the anecdote concerning Mrs. Ann Whitall. It runs that when the battle begun she was spinning in an upper room of the house. She had refused to leave it. Presently a shot from one of the British vessels crashed through the wall and lodged in a partition near where she was sitting, whereupon she carefully removed her wheel to the cellar and continued at her work until the wounded were brought to the house and she was called upon to attend them. The Whitalls were Friends and their peace doctrines were incomprehensible to Du Mauduit. He thought Mr. Whitall was a Tory and therefore ordered his barn torn down and his orchard destroyed. The old house stands a short distance south from the fort and close to the river-bank. It is a brick structure, and is now one hundred end thirty-eight years old, as appears from the date of its erection cut in the north end, where the characters "J.A.W." (James and Anna Whitall) may still be seen.

(9*) About the crossing of the Camden and Atlantic and Camden and Amboy Railroads, formerly Dogwoodtown.

(10*) One still stands opposite to the place of their deliberations, now occupied by Zebedee Tompkins, and the other was recently owned and occupied by Dr. I.W. Heulings. - Clement’s Revolutionary Reminiscences.

(11*) Officers and Men of New Jersey in the Revolutionary war," by General W.S. Stryker.

SOURCE: Page(s) 36-77, History of Camden County, New Jersey, by George R. Prowell, L.J. Richards & Co. 1886
Published 2010 by the Camden County Genealogy Project

Chapter VII The War of The Revolution

Chapter VII
The War of The Revolution