USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > A history of Monmouth and Ocean counties : embracing a genealogical record of earliest settlers in Monmouth and Ocean Counties and their descendants, the Indians, their language, manners and customs, important historical events. > Part 18
USA > New Jersey > Ocean County > A history of Monmouth and Ocean counties : embracing a genealogical record of earliest settlers in Monmouth and Ocean Counties and their descendants, the Indians, their language, manners and customs, important historical events. > Part 18
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
completely overwhelmed her with sorrow. The men pro- cured a blanket from the house and went down to their boat, took the body of Captain Studson and put it in the blanket and carried it up to the house.
The crew of the whaleboat, knowing it was not safe for them to remain at home after this affair, fled to the British army and were forced into service, but were of little use as "they were sick with the small pox, and suf- fered everything but death," as one of them (Collins) said, during their stay with the British. Taking ad- vantage of one of General Washington's proclamations, offering protection to deserters from the British army, they were afterwards allowed to return home. James Mills, an aged, respected citizen now living at Barnegat, born 1806, in his young days resided with one of the Woodmansees on the James Jones place, at Forked River, and frequently met one or two of these ill-starred blockade runners. Thomas Collins lived to an advanced age, and was always badly scarred from the small pox, which he caught within the British lines.
Not long after the war, Mrs. Studson married a man named Chamberlain at Toms River.
THE ATTACK ON TOMS RIVER.
BURNING OF THE VILLAGE-CAPTURE OF CAPTAIN JOSHUA HUDDY-A DAY OF HORRORS.
In giving an account of this affair we shall first copy a brief statement from Hace's Collections the editor of which visited the place in 1842 in search of historical information relating to olden times in old Monmouth :
"In the American Revolution, a rude fort or block- house was erected a short distance north of the bridge, at the village of Toms River, on a hill about a hundred yards east of the road to Freehold, on land now belong- ing to the heirs of Elijah Robbins, deceased. In the lat- ter part of the war, this blockhouse was attacked by a superior force of the enemy. Its commander, Captain Joshua Huddy, most gallantly defended it until his am-
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THE ATTACK ON TOMS RIVER.
munition was expended and no alternative but surren- der left. After the brave little garrison was in their power, it is said they deliberately murdered five men ask- ing for quarter. From thence Captain Huddy, Justice Randolph, and the remaining prisoners were taken to New York, where, suffering the various progressions of barbarity inflicted upon those destined to a violent or lingering death, these two gentlemen, with a Mr. Fleming were put into the hold of a vessel. Captain Huddy was ironed hand and foot, and shortly after barbarously hanged on the shore of the Highlands of Navesink."
The tory organ, Rivington's Royal Gazette, of New York, gave the following account of the battle :
" On Wednesday, the 20th inst. (March, 1782,) Lien- tenant Blanchard, of the armed whale boats, and about eighty men belonging to them, with Captain Thomas and Lieutenant Roberts, both of the late Bucks County Vol- unteers, and between thirty and forty other Refugee loyalists, the whole under the command of Lieutenant Blanchard, proceeded to Sandy Hook under the convoy of Captain Stewart Ross, in the armed brig 'Arrogant,' where they were detained by unfavorable winds until the 23d. About 12 o'clock on that night the party landed near the mouth of Toms River and marched to the Block House at the town of Dover (now Toms River), and reached it just at daylight. On their way they were chal- lenged and fired upon, and when they came to the works they found the rebels, consisting of twenty-five or twenty- six twelve months' men and militia, apprized of their coming and prepared for defence.
" The post into which the rebels had thrown them- selves was six or seven feet high, made with large logs, with loop-holes between and a number of brass swivels on the top, which was entirely open, nor was there any way of entering but by climbing over. They had, besides swivels, muskets with bayonets and long pikes for their defence. Lieutenant Blanchard summoned them to sur- render, which they not only refused, but bid the party defiance ; on which he immediately ordered the place to
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
be stormed, which was accordingly done, and though de- fended with obstinacy, was soon carried. The rebels had nine men killed in the assault, and twelve made prisoners, two of whom are wounded. The rest made their escape in the confusion. Among the killed was a Major of the militia, two Captains and one Lieutenant. The Captain of the twelve months' men stationed there is among the prisoners, who are all brought safe to town. On our side two were killed-Lieutenant Iredell, of the armed boat- men, and Lieutenant Inslee, of the Loyalists, both very brave officers, who distinguished themselves on the at- tack, and whose loss is much lamented. Lieutenant Roberts and five others are wounded, but it is thought none of them are in a dangerous way.
"The Town, as it is called, consisting of about a dozen houses, in which none but a piratical set of ban- ditti resided, together with a grist and saw-mill, were, with the Block House burned to the ground, and an iron cannon spiked and thrown into the river. A fine large barge (called Hyler's barge,) and another boat in which the rebels used to make their excursions on the coast, were brought off. Some other attempts were intended to have been made, but the appearance of bad weather, and the situation of the wounded, being without either surgeon or medicines, induced the party to return to New_ York where they arrived on the 25th."
The attack on Toms River was made on Sunday morning, March 24th, 1782. No Tory or Tory sympa- thizer was tolerated in the village of Toms River, which was the only reason that caused Ricington's Royal Gazette to call its people "banditi."
Upon the approach of the British, the Americans opened fire so effectually that the British account acknow- ledges that seven were killed or wounded, though the damage inflicted upon them must have been greater. A negro Refugee killed, was left by them outside of the fort for the Americans to bury.
What a terrible day to the inhabitants of Toms River was that memorable Sabbath! Probably not less than a
207 ยท
CAPTAIN JOHN BACON.
hundred women and children were rendered homeless ; the killed and wounded demanded immediate attention ; husbands and fathers were carried away captives, their household goods, provisions-their all destroyed. Some families were entirely broken up, the heads killed, mothers and children scattered, never as families meet- ing again.
CAPTAIN JOHN BACON,
THE REFUGEE LEADER OF MONMOUTH AND BURLINGTON-AN OUTLAW'S CAREER AND HIS DREADFUL END.
This noted Refugee leader, whose name is so well remembered by old residents of Monmouth, Ocean and Burlington, appears to have confined his operations chiefly to the lower part of old Monmouth county, be- tween Cedar Creek in what is now Ocean county and Tuckerton in Burlington County. His efforts were mainly directed to plundering the dwellings of all well known active members of the old Monmouth militia. Himself, and men were well acquainted with the roads and paths through the forests of Burlington and old Monmouth, and had numerous hiding places, cabins, caves, &c., in the woods and swamps, where they could remain until some trustworthy spy informed them of a safe chance to venture out on what was then termed a picaroming ex- pedition.
About December 1st, 1780, Bacon killed Lieutenant Joshua Studson ; the particulars of this affair are given in the chapter relating to Revolutionary events at Toms River during the Revolution.
Another affair in which Bacon was a prominent actor, was the skirmish at Mannahawkin, in Ocean county, De- cember 30th, 1781. The militia of this place, under com- mand of Captain Reuben F. Randolph, having heard that Bacon, with his band, was on a raiding expedition and would probably try to plunder some of the patriots in that village, assembled at the inn of Captain Randolph. prepared to give them a reception. After wait-
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
ing until two or three o'clock in the morning, they con- cluded it was a false alarm, and so retired to rest, taking the precaution to put out sentinels. Just before daylight the Refugees came down the road from the north on their way to West Creek. The alarm was given and the militia hastily turned out, but were compelled to retreat, as the Refugees had a much larger force than they anti- cipated. As they were retreating, Bacon's party fired and killed one of the patriots named Lines Pangborn and wounded another named Sylvester Tilton.
After this affair Tilton removed to Colts Neck, near Freehold, where we believe his descendants yet live.
BACON AT GOODLUCK, FORKED RIVER AND WARETOWN.
On one of his picarooning or raiding expe litions, Bacon, with fifteen or sixteen men, plundered the dwell- ing house of John Holmes at Forked River, who then lived at the mill known in late years as Francis Cornelius' mill. The party camped in the wools, near the house, until daylight, and then came and demanded money. Mr. Holmes was supposed to be somewhat forehanded, and they hoped to have made a good haul. In the expecta- tion of such a visit he had buried many of his valuables in his garden. The Refugees pointed a bayonet to his breast and threatened to kill him if the money was not forthcoming. Mr. Holmes' wife happened to have some money about her, which she delivered up, and this seemed to satisfy them as far as money was concerned. They then ransacked the house and took provisions and such other things as they wanted.
An ancient paper says that about the last of April, 1780, " the Refugees attacked the house of John Holmes, Upper Freehold, and robbed him of a large amount of Continental money, a silver watch, gold ring, silver buckles, pistols, clothing, etc." It is possible that this refers to the same affair ; if so, it occurred in old Dover township instead of Upper Freehold.
209
THE MASSACRE ON LONG BEACH.
Bacon's party, at this time, entered the houses of the Prices and took whatever they could carry, though we believe these patriots, like others in those dark days, kept buried in gardens and fields many things they feared the Refugees might covet.
Among other zealous Americans for whom Bacon had strong antipathy were Joseph Soper and his son Reuben, both members of Captain Reuben F. Randolph's militia company. They lived about half way between Waretown and Barnegat, at a place known as "Soper's Landing." His attentions to the Sopers were so frequent that they often had to sleep in the adjacent swamps along Lochiel brook.
Mr. Soper's son Reuben was murdered by Bacon on Long Beach, about a mile south of Barnegat Inlet.
At one time Mr. Soper had received pay for building a small vessel. Wilson, a treacherous employee, acci- dentally was a witness to his receiving the money, but he did not know the amount. After Wilson had lett, Mr. Soper suspected he would inform Bacon, and so he divided his money into two parcels; a small amount in one parcel and the larger part in another, and then buried both lots in separate places not far from the house.
Mr. Soper at this time had taken refuge in the swamp, and the house was occupied only by women and young children. Their threats compelled the women to lead them into the garden to the spot where the smaller amount of money was buried, after receiving which they seemed to be satisfied, thinking it was all they had. They then returned to the house and made a clean sweep. Among other things taken by Bacon at this time was one of Mr. Soper's shirts, which afterwards served as Bacon's winding sheet, as he was subsequently killed with it on.
THE MASSACRE ON LONG BEACH.
BACON KILLS CAPTAIN STEELMAN, REUBEN SOPER AND OTHERS-MURDER OF SLEEPING MEN.
This was the most atrocious affair in which Bacon was engaged. The inhuman massacre of sleeping men
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
was in keeping with the memorable affair at Chestnut Neck, near Tuckerton, when Count Pulaski's guards were murdered by the British and Refugees.
The massacre at Long Beach took place about a mile south of Barnegat light-house, and there were, we think, more men killed and wounded then than in any other action in that part of Old Monmouth now com- prised within the limits of Ocean county.
A tory paper gives the following version of the affair : "A entter from Ostend, bound to St. Thomas, ran aground on Barnegat Shoals, October 25, 1782. The American galley 'Alligator,' Captain Steelman, from Cape May, with twenty-five men, plundered her on Saturday night last of a quantity of Hyson tea and other valuable articles, but was attacked the same night by Captain John Bacon, with nine men, in a small boat called the 'Hero's Revenge,' who killed Steelman and wounded the First Lieutenant, and all the party except four or five were either killed or wounded."
In this account the number of Steelman's men is doubtless overestimated and Bacon's underestimated.
THE DEATH OF BACON.
The following account of the death of Bacon was furnished to the New York Historical Society by the late Governor George F. Fort.
"John Bacon was a notorious Refugee who had com- mitted many depredations along the shores of Monmonth and Burlington counties. After having been a terror to the people of this section for some time, John Stewart, of Arneytown, (afterwards Captain Stewart), resolved, if possible, to take him. There had been a reward of fifty pounds sterling offered by the Governor and Council for his capture, dead or alive. A short time previous, in an engagement at Cedar Creek Bridge, Bacon and his com- pany had discomfited a considerable body of State troops, killing a brother of Joel Cook, Burlington county, which excited much alarm and exasperated the whole county. On the occasion of his arrest, Captain Stewart
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THE DEATH OF BACON.
took with him Joel Cook, John Brown, Thomas Smith, John Jones, and another person whose name is not recol- lected, and started in pursuit, well armed.
They traversed the shore and found Bacon separated from his men at the public house or cabin of William Rose, between West Creek and Clamtown (now Theker- ton), in Burlington County. The night was very dark, and Smith being in advance of the party, approached the house, and discovered through the window a man sitting with a gun between his knees. He immediately in- formed his companions. On arriving at the house, Cap- tain Stewart opened the door and presenting his musket demanded a surrender. The fellow sprang to his feet, and cocking his gun was in the act of bringing it round to the breast of Stewart, when the latter, instead of dis- charging his piece, closed in with him and succeeded af- ter a scuffle in bringing him to the floor. He then avowed himself to be John Bacon, and asked for quarter, which was at once readily granted to him by Stewart. They arose from the floor, and Stewart (still retaining his hold on Bacon) called to Cook, who, when he discovered the supposed murderer of his brother, became exasper- ated, and stepping back gave Bacon a bayonet thrust un- known to Stewart or his companions. Bacon appeared faint and fell. After a short time he recovered and at- tempted to escape by the back door. Stewart pushed a table against it. Bacon hurled it away and struck Stew- art to the floor, opened the door, and again attempted to pass out ; but was shot by Stewart (who had regained his feet) while in the act. The ball passed through his body, through a part of the building, and struck the breast of Cook, who had taken position at the back door to prevent egress. Cook's companions were ignorant of the fact that he had given Bacon the bayonet wound, and would scarcely credit him when he so informed them on their way home. They examined Bacon's body at Mount Misery, and the wounds made by both bayonet and ball were obvious. They brought his dead body to Jacobstown, Burlington county, and were in the act of
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
burying it in the public highway, near the village in the presence of many citizens who had collected on the occa- sion, when Bacon's brother appeared among them and after much entreaty succeeded in obtaining his body for private burial."
This affair took place on Thursday evening, April 3rd, 1783.
The Refugee leaders in our State-Hetfield, Bacon, Lippencott, Davenport, Moody and others-all doubtless held commissions from the " Board of Associated Loyal- ists," of which the President was William Franklin, the last British Governor of New Jersey.
DICK BIRD,
THE POTTERS CREEK OUTLAW.
This seoundrel, who was probably one of Daven- port's gang, was exceedingly obnoxious to the Americans on account of outrages in which he was concerned. He was intimately acquainted with all the roads and by- paths in the woods and swamps in old Dover township, which then extended to Oyster Creek. Tradition says, that early in the war he had a cave near the head-waters of Cedar Creek.
Near Quail Run was a woman of low character, whom he often visited. On the day he was shot he called on her; she told him as the militia were after him, they would find him there, and advised him to go to a less suspected place. He was seen by some patriotic women, who sent information to his pursuers, who surprised him at the house while the woman was sitting on his lap. He sprang for his musket, which was in the chimney corner, and just as he reached it his pursners fired through the window and killed him instantly.
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THE REFUGEE DAVENPORT AND HIS DEATH.
THE REFUGEE DAVENPORT AT FORKED
RIVER, AND HIS DEATH.
On the first of June, 1782, Davenport with eighty men, half of whom were black and half white, in two long barges landed at Forked River, first on the north side where they demanded provisions of Samuel and James Woodmansee, brothers who then lived on the James Jones and Joseph Holmes places. They then proceeded to the south branch of Forked River, to the house of Samuel Brown, an active member of the militia, who then lived on the place owned some twenty odd years ago by John Wright, still known as the Wright place. They plundered his house, burnt his salt works, and came near capturing Mr. Brown himself, who just had time to escape to the woods. Mr. Brown often had to sleep in the woods for fear of Refugee raids at night.
After completing their work of destruction, the two barges proceeded down Forked River to its mouth, when one went up the bay, while the other with Davenport himself proceeded down the bay with the intention of destroying the salt works of the Americans at Waretown and vicinity. Davenport expected to meet with no op- . position, as he supposed no militia were near enough to check him. But before he reached Oyster Creek he per- ceived a boat heading for him. His crew advised him to turn back, as they said the other boat must have some advantage or they would not venture to approach.
Davenport told them they could see the other boat had fewer men, and ridiculed their fears. He soon found, however, why it was that the American boat ventured to attack them. Davenport's men had only muskets with which to defend themselves ; the Americans had a can- non or swivel, and when within proper distance they dis- charged it with so effective an aim that Davenport, who was standing up in the boat, was killed at the first dis- charge, and his barge damaged and upset by his fright- ened crew. It happened that the water was only about font feet deep and his crew waded ashore and landed
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
near Oyster Creek, not far from the place lately owned by James Anderson, deceased, and thus escaped, scatter- ing themselves in various directions in the woods and swamps. The late John Collins of Barnegat remembered some of them calling on his father and other Quakers begging for provisions.
Back of Toms River is a stream called Davenport's Branch, which some suppose to have derived its name from his having places of concealment on its banks, but this is an error, as the stream was known before the war as "Davenport's Tavern Branch."
Samuel Brown, above named, after the war removed to Mannahawkin and has many descendants now living there and elsewhere.
MANNAHAWKIN IN THE REVOLUTION.
Mannahawkin, during the Revolution, was noted for the patriotism of its citizens. From a manuscript origin- ally found in Congressional Records, but now in the library of the New Jersey Historical Society, it appears that the militia company here was called the Fifth Com- pany of Monmouth, Reuben F. Randolph, captain, and Nathan Crane, lieutenant. Captain Randolph was origi- nally from Middlesex county. About the time of the war, he kept the public house at Mannahawkin. His sons, Thomas and Job, were in his company. As the names of the heroic men of his company should be preserved as far as possible, and especially by their descendants, we give a list of such as we have ascertained.
FIFTH COMPANY, MONMOUTH MILITIA.
Reuben F. Randolph, captain ; Nathan Crane, lieu- tenant ; James Marsh, ensign.
Privates-Michael Bennett, Jeremiah Bennett, Sam- uel Bennett, Israel Bennington, Joseph Brown Ist, Joseph Brown 2d, Joseph Camburn, Thomas Chamberlain, William Casselman, Luke Courtney, Seth Crane, Amos
THE OLD TENNENT CHURCH
AND PARSONAGE.
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THE OLD TENNENT CHURCH.
Cuffee, David Howell, David Johnson, Thomas Johnson, David Jones, Thomas Kelson, Philip Palmer, Jr., Ben- jamin P. Pearson, Benjamin Paul, Enoch Read, Job Ran- dolph, Thomas Randolph. David Smith, Joseph Soper, Reuben Soper, Zachariah Southard, Jenny Sutton, Lines Pangborn. Sylvester Tilton.
Of the above, Reuben Soper was killed by the Refu- gees on Long Beach, in October, 1782. He left a son, named Reuben, who has children still living, among them Mrs. George W. Lippencott, of Tuckerton, who has preserved several interesting old-time relics; and her brother, also named Reuben Soper, inheriting the patriot- ism of his grandfather, enlisted in the Union army, in the Rebellion, was mortally wounded, and died three weeks after in Saterlee hospital. Lines Pangburn was killed in the skirmish at Mannahawkin, December 30th, 1781. Sylvester Tilton was dangerously wounded at the same time. One of the Cranes was wounded near his own residence.
THE OLD TENNENT CHURCH.
The Rev. J. F. Halsey, who was for two years a pastor of the church, wrote to the editor of the Mon- mouth Democrat in 1873, giving him information relating to this historical oldl church, which we copy. He writes :
" In the early history of the Presbyterian Church in Monmouth county, N. J., a special meeting was held to pray that the Lord would send them a minister, and at that meeting a Mr. Carr was selected to go to the Log College (now Hartsville, Pa.), where the Father of the Tennents preached and taught. Though it was at har- vest time, so eager was Mr. Carr to execute his mission that he started the very next day. When he had made known the object of his visit, he could get none of the sons to consent to go. But as he left to return home lie said : 'So sure am I that I have come on the Lord's errand, and that our prayers will be favorably answered, that I shall not reach home before you will send for me
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
and assure me that I have not taken this journey in vain,' and so bid them farewell.
" And sure enough, he had not gone on his way more than a few miles before a messenger overtook him, calling him back, and assured him that Rev. John Ten- nent would return with him as their minister, which he did. He lived and labored among them less than two years, and was succeeded by his brother, Rev. William Tennent, who labored at Freehold forty-eight years, and is buried in the aisle of the church.
" I said that Mr. Carr went on his mission to Ney- hamings, Pa., leaving his harvest unreaped. When the farmers had hurriedly gathered in theirs, feeling that he had gone on their business as well as his own-that he was the church's servant-they turned out and cut his grain for him, and Mr. Carr, on his return, found it put up in shocks in the field. A sudden and long rain com- pelled him to leave it standing so, and so it happened that when the next season for sowing arrived the best seed grain was Mr. Carr's, as his neighbors had gathered in theirs before it was thoroughly ripened, and many applied to him for seed.
"Such was the tradition told me more than half a century ago by some of my aged elders, who themselves had been gathered into the church under the ministry of Rev. William Tennent. J. F. HALSEY.'
VISITORS AT THE BATTLE GROUND.
THE OLD TENNENT CHURCH AND PARSONAGE.
The author of the Field Book of the Revolution says :
"I visited the battle ground of Monmouth toward the close of September, 1850. and had the good fortune to be favored with the company of Doctor John Wood- lull, of Freehold, in my ramble over that interesting locality. Dr. Woodhull is the son of the beloved minister of that name who succeeded Rev. William Tennent in the pastorial care of the congregation that worshipped in the Freehold meeting-house, and who, for forty-six consecu-
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