USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 22
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" When such friends part, 'tis the survivor dies."
-The Pennsylvania Evening Post, February 18, 1777.
Mount-Holly, February 11, 1777.
Run away from the subscriber, the 5th instant, an Irish servant girl, named Hester Cavanagh, about 18 years of age, 5 feet high, stout built, and looks remarkably innocent, has light brown hair, full grey eyes, and a remarkable burn, which she got lately, upon her right arm, near the elbow; had on, and took with her, a striped lincey short gown, a long blue and white India gingham ditto, the former lined with white calicoe, one old quilted petticoat, a cloth coloured cloth ditto, and a striped linen ditto, one pair of crimson worsted stockings, with white silk clocks, and a pair of blue yarn ditto, three shifts, two brown country made linen, and one above half whitened, one plain Lawn apron, a cambrick handkerchief with a border, a pair of half-soaled leather pumps, and plated shoe-buckles. Whoever secures said ser- vant in any goal of this State, or Pennsylvania, shall receive FOUR DOLLARS reward.
JOHN SHIELDS.
-The Pennsylvania Gazette, February 19, 1777.
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Deserted on or about the 15th of December 1776, from the Fourth New-Jersey battalion, commanded by Colonel Ephraim Martin1 and Captain John Anderson's2 com- pany, the following men, viz,
WILLIAM WOOD about 5 feet 8 or 9 inches high, very slim, small faced, and black hair.
GEORGE POWER, is about 5 feet 6 or 7 inches high, brown complexion, and short brown hair.
JOHN M'COLOMN about 5 feet, 6 or 7 inches high, round faced, dark complexion, and short black hair.
RICHARD CHEW, about 5 feet 7 or 8 inches high, brown complexion, slim waisted, short brown hair, small face, his nose is long and slim.
JAMES SMITH, frequently goes by the name of Jack the sailor, about 5 feet 6 or 7 inches high, midling slim waist, small round face, pock-marked, nock-kneed, and has long black hair.
HENRY M'NEAL, about 5 feet, 9 inches high, very thick round face, very much pock-marked, long brown hair, and a little bandy-leged.
JOHN WILLIAMS, about five feet 5 inches high, red hair, thin visage, has followed the water some time past, and now lives in Kensington-Whoever takes up and secures said Deserters, in any gaol belonging to the American States or will deliver them to their regiment, shall be intitled to a reward of TEN DOLLARS for each.
1 Ephraim Martin was a Colonel both in the militia and in the Continental Line. His militia regiment was the Second of Sussex, he also having command of a bat- talion of "Heard's Brigade." Upon November 28th, 1776, he became Colonel of the Fourth New Jersey Battalion.
2 John Anderson had an extended service in both the Continental Line and the militia. In the Line, he was First Lieutenant, Captain Reading's Co., Third Battalion, Second Establishment, from which position he resigned. In the militia, John Anderson was Captain in Colonel Johnson's Battalion, " Heard's Brigade." He re- tired from the service September 26th, 1780.
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LIKEWISE,
Deserted the first of February from the above regiment and company, a certain JOHN WILLIAMS and OWEN WILLIAMS, who say they are brothers; John is five feet, 10 or 11 inches high, has dark eyes and hair, some- thing brown-skin'd ; is an iron-founder by trade and has worked at Colonel Cox's works in New-Jersey, and mar- ried a wife in Evesham township, he is a likely well made fellow ; had on when he went away a blue coat, leather breeches and brown jacket.
OWEN WILLIAMS is about 5 feet, 8 or 9 inches high, says he has been a bombadeer ; had on when he went off, a snuff-coloured coat.
Whoever will secure them in any gaol of the State of New-Jersey, or in any of the United States, so as to give information to their regiment, shall be entitled to FORTY DOLLARS reward, or Thirty Dollars for John only : He is looked on to be a dangerous designing person, and is capable of as much deception as most men. It is thought they will be making towards the enemy .- The Pennsyl- vania Journal, February 19, 1777.
Morris-Town, February 12, 1777.
Deserted from Captain Bond's1 company, in the 4th battalion of New-Jersey forces, commanded by Colonel Ephraim Martin, the following men, viz.
PETER Peterson, a German, about 5 feet 8 or 9 inches high, pitted with the small-pox.
Andrew Scott, John Green, Thomas Johnson, and Robert Armstrong, the last four all Irishmen, and were enlisted in Philadelphia about six weeks ago. Whoever secures
1 William Bond was commissioned Captain November 28th, 1776. He retired from the army September 26th, 1780. During his military service he was also Captain and later Lieutenant Colonel of the First Regiment of Sussex county.
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said deserters, in any goal, and gives notice to the com- manding officer so that they may be had again, shall have FORTY DOLLARS reward, or Eight Dollars for each, paid by
WILLIAM BOND, Captain. -The Pennsylvania Gazette February 19, and March 12, 1777.
Deserted last evening from Capt. Thomas Yard's com- pany of the New-Jersey Second battalion, at Burlington, the two following persons, viz. PATRICK ASHLEY, about twenty-six years of age, five feet six or seven inches high. He had on a linen frock coat, light coloured vest with 5th P. B. marked on the buttons, linen breeches, and a light colour surtout coat, his left cheek is swelled, and has a black patch on it. The other a slim fellow, about five feet seven or eight inches high, well dressed, a gold button and loop to his hat, and has a good hanger with him. He enlisted by the name of JOHN WHITE, and appears to be about twenty-five or twenty-six years of age. They both inlisted about two hours before they deserted, and received their full bounty. Whoever detects these villains, shall have TWENTY DOLLARS reward, or TEN DOLLARS for each.
Feb. 18.
Capt. THOMAS YARD.1 -The Pennsylvania Evening Post, February 22, 1777.
New-York, February 24. Extract of a Letter from an Officer at Amboy, Feb. 16.
" On Monday last, a Detachment of 170 Men from the 26th Regiment, under Major Gordon,2 marched from
1 Thomas Yard was in commission during the Revolutionary War as Captain of the Second New Jersey Continental Regiment.
2Andrew Gordon, commissioned Captain in the Twenty-sixth Regiment, Septem- ber 7th, 1768 ; and Major, January 18th, 1777. The Regiment was commanded by Lord Adam Gordon, 1775-1781 .- W. N.
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Richmond in Staten Island to Colis's Ferry, where they embarked for Sandy Hook, with the Intention of cutting off a Party of Rebels, stationed at the Highlands of Neve- sink. After being detained on board by hard Gales of Wind and bad Weather for three Days, they landed (wading up to their Waists) on the Beech at the High- lands, about two Miles below the Rebel Posts. A little before Day, they marched and surprized the advanced Guard without firing a Shot: From thence they pro- ceeded about a Mile further to the House of one Hartshorn, to which as they were approaching by two different Ways (the flanking Companies taking to the Right) a Guard posted at about 200 Yards from the House, were first alarmed. These after firing a few Shot together with their main Body, who at first affected to form and make a Stand, being pushed by the Battalion, fled too soon for the Grenadiers and Light Infantry to come up Time enough to cut off their Retreat. Between 30 and 40 escaped. We found several dead Bodies in the Woods, which were buried by the Soldiers. The whole of the Prisoners taken, amounting to 72 (amongst which are 2 Captains and 4 Lieutenants) were carried on board the Syren. Many had Certificates about them of their hav- ing taken the Oaths of Allegiance. Their Stores con- sisted of 2 or 3 Barrels of Powder, 770 Ball Cartridges, some Salt Provision, and 9 or 10 Quarters of fresh Beef, with a light Cart and Team. The 26th lost one Man killed. The next Day the Country People, who had met the Fugitives, reported that many of them were wounded. The Guides were intelligent and behaved very well. Col. Morris's new Levies with the Marines on board the Syren, who had been detached to a different Place, picked up some of those who made their Escape from Harts- horn's, together with an Officer and a small Party, who
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had crossed the River from a Rebel-Post at Black Point, for the Business of Tory Hunting."
On Wednesday last, Sir William Howe and his Suite passed over to the Jersies.
TF DANIEL CARROLL, late of Elizabeth-Town, New- Jersey, will call upon Mr. David Mercereau, on Staten-Island, he will hear where his wife now is, -New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, February 24, 1777.
To the OFFICERS of the CONTINENTAL ARMY
The following men have deserted from my company, belonging to COL. EPHRAIM MARTIN'S regiment of foot, of the State of New-Jersey, viz .- William Rane, Peter Ross, John Laugh, Thomas Crothers, Nathaniel Larrence, John Thare, Samuel Turner, Thomas Bennet, Benjamin Robeson, John Falls, Robert Stewart, Charles Monday, John Cassock, William Fagan, John Roddin, Commesole Farrary, William Ashmin, Melsher Miller. George Campbell, Roger Cleil, Elijah Burnes, Daniel Clem, William Jenkins, Thomas Hatherley, Francis Morris, John M'Donnald, James Johnson, John Young, Alexander Montgomery, William Robeson, William Dodd .- Many of the above deserters received the bounty several times, and are now endeavouring to defraud the Continent by enlisting into other regiments. In order to bring the villains to justice, I hereby offer a reward of TEN DOLLARS for each of them brought to me at Morris-Town, or secured in any gaol. I more over re- quest all officers in the Continental army to examine the men they have lately enlisted, and if it appears that any of them have been enlisted before I got them, I will cheerfully give them up ; but if they have been enlisted by me first, I expect they will be delivered to me.
JAMES HALLITT, Captain.
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Extract of a letter from Morris Town, Feb. 21, 1777.
" Yesterday a party of our men near Quibble Town,1 · took twenty of the enemy's waggons loaded with forage, drove in their picket guard, and sustained no loss. A soldier killed two light-horse men of the enemy, and narrowly escaped being taken ; the horses and accoutre- ments were brought in. The same day a Lieutenant of the enemy's artillery was taken and brought to General Sullivan's quarters, with seven other prisoners most of them Highlanders."2
Last Saturday afternoon Major Stockton,3 with about sixty men, lately made prisoners in New Jersey, were brought to Philadelphia under a strong guard, and are confined in the New Jail.
On the second day of February inst. departed this life, at Freehold, in the Jersey State, Captain ANDREW M'FARLAND, of the Third Battalion of Cumberland County, a man possessed of many virtues among which
1 New Market, Middlesex county.
2 To the above account is added in the Pennsylvania Evening Post, February 25th, 1777 : "This morning twelve hundred men were detached to bring off forage from the enemies lines. I hope they may prosper. A brigade of New England troops- arrived this day from the White Plains."
3 Richard V. Stockton, known as "Stockton the Land Pilot," was Major of the Sixth Battalion, New Jersey Volunteers (Loyalists). He was surprised with sixty- three privates of his Battalion, and taken prisoner, February 18th, 1777, by Colonel John Neilson, of New Brunswick, and was sent in irons to Philadelphia, by order of General Putnam. To this course General Washington objected, he- considering that Major Stockton should be treated as a prisoner of war and not as a felon. He was tried by court-martial at Philadelphia, August 15th, 1780, for the murder of Derrick Amberman, of Long Island, found guilty and sen- tenced to death. The sentence was not carried out. He accompanied the Tory refugees to the province of New Brunswick. Four sons and a daughter accom- panied him in exile -Sabine's Loyalists, II., pp. 334, 335; New Jersey Volunteers (Loy- alists), by W. S. Stryker, 34. Richard V. Stockton was probably the son of Samuel Stockton (son of Richard Stockton 2d, the first of the family to settle at Princeton, 1696, who died in 1709), born 1694-'95, died 1739. Major Stockton married a daughter of Joseph Hatfield, of Elizabeth, N. J .- Ancestry of the Children of Jas William White, M.D., by William Francis Cregar, 1888, p. 108 ; Hatfield's Elizabeth, p. 462 ; Hageman's History of Princeton, I., pp. 38, 39. Richard Stockton, of Somerset county, was adver- tised August 24th, 1779, as "a fugitive now with the enemy"-probably the same person .- F. B. L.
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were, the lover and practiser of temperance, the affection- ate husband, tender parent, sincere friend, agreeable companion, and zealous patriot, his life was remarkably innocent ; and on the sixth his remains were decently interred in the first Presbyterian burial ground, attended by the Honorable Assembly, the Rev. Mr. Ewing, and a number of respectable Officers and Citizens .- The Penn- sylvania Packet, February 25, 1777.1
Extract of a letter from Morris-Town, Feb. 21.
"A gentleman who left New-York on Monday last, of the name of Crane, assures he saw 72 of the Jersey Militia, who by stratagem were surrounded and taken prisoners at the Light-House and carried to New-York. The day before yesterday a party of our men took twenty waggons with forage, drove in their picquet guard, and sustained no loss. A soldier killed two light horsemen of the enemy, and narrowly escaped his pursuers, by crossing a water in a great heat, which has put him into fits ever since, but the horses and accoutrements were brought in; the same day a Lieutenant of the artillery was taken and brought to General Sullivan's quarters, with seven other prisoners, most of which are High- landers. Not one day passes but they are visited by one party or other of our people. This moment twelve men of a company have been detached to the amount of twelve hundred to bring off forage from the enemy's lines."
The PUBLIC are hereby cautioned not to receive any of the Paper Bills2 emitted by the Convention of the State
1 Also in the Pennsylvania Journal, February 26th, 1777.
2 These paper bills were issued under and by virtue of an Ordinance of the Pro- vincial Congress of New Jersey, sitting at New Brunswick, February and March, 1776. There were four signers authorized : Hendrick Fisher, Vice President of the Provincial Congress, from the county of Somerset, and Azariah Dunham, from the county of Middlesex, for the Eastern Division of the Province; John Hart, from the county of Hunterdon, and Samuel How, from the county of Burlington, for the Western Division of the Province .- Minutes of Provincial Congress, 1879, p.413 .- F. B. L.
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of New-Jersey, dated the 20th of February, 1776, unless they have three Signers names thereto ; as a quantity of those Bills were plundered by the enemy from one of the person's appointed by the said Convention to sign them, before he had put his name to the same; some of which have been since circulated through New-Jersey and Penn- sylvania. As they are not perfect, and of consequence not a legal tender, and being the property of the State of New-Jersey, the public are requested to stop such as are offered in payment.
N. B. The names of the two persons who have signed the said Bills, are JOHN HART' and SAMUEL HOW. -The Pennsylvania Journal, February 26, 1777.
New-York, March 3. On Sunday last, the 23d ult., the gallant Colonel Mawhood (who commanded the 17th Regiment with such Eclat in the Affair near Prince- town)2 with his Brigade, in Quest of Forage, fell in with the main Body of the Rebels not far from Morris Town in New-Jersey, and, after a running Engagement with them in which he drove them several Miles, giving them the Bayonet as usual, he ordered his Men to return. The Rebels endeavoured to form an Ambuscade in the Way our Troops returned ; but being discovered, they were warmly attacked first by a Volley, and then im- mediately by the Bayonet, and put to flight as before with considerable Loss. The King's Troops lost one valuable Officer (Captain Hall of the 46th)3 and 4 Men killed, and about 40 wounded. The chief of this Loss
1 For a sketch of John Hart, see N. J. Archives, X., 269 ; and N. Y. Gen. & Biog. Record, XXI., 36.
2 Charles Mawhood, commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the Seventeenth Regi- ment, October 26th, 1775, and Colonel, August 29th, 1777. This regiment served in America, 1776-1782; during the first six years under the Hon. Robert Monckton ; from May 29th, 1782, under Colonel George Morrison -W. N.
3 John Hall, commissioned Captain of the Forty-sixth Regiment, April 13th, 1767. The regiment was in Ireland in 1775, commanded by the Hon. William Howe. It served in America, 1776-1782, under the command of the Hon. John Vaughan .- W. N.
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happened through the impetuous Bravery of the Soldiers, who, instead of flanking a Fence, marched up to it in Front, and received the Enemy's Fire, which indeed they afterwards sufficiently revenged. The Brigade returned without further Molestation, conducting the Waggons with a very large Quantity of live Stock and Forage to the Army.
The British Army in the Jersies are in the highest Health and Spirits, longing only for the Opening of the Campaign to assert the insured Rights of their King and Country. They are well-supplied with every Necessary both of Provision and Clothing.
Early in the Beginning of the last Week, several Parties of Rebels crossed the North River, and marched into the Jersies. These Worthies have not yet taken, or even attacked, Fort Independence.
The victualling Ship, which was lately cast away near Sandy Hook, is lost, but almost the whole of her Cargo is saved.
Mr. Washington, we hear, has sent his Baggage from Morris Town towards the Delaware .- New York Gazette and Weekiy Mercury, March 3, 1777.
Extract of a letter dated Raritan River
Feb. 26, 1777.
I was at Gen. Dickenson's last evening when he re- ceived the following intelligence,-That on Sunday last about 1000 of our army, under command of Gen. Max- well, were attacked near Spank Town by near four times their number of the enemy from Perth Amboy, and after an obstinate engagement the enemy were obliged to retreat, with the loss of fifty killed, one hundred wounded, and nine taken prisoners : Our loss is but five killed and nine wounded."
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To be SOLD at PUBLIC VENDUE,
On the premises, on the 25th day of March inst., That valuable Plantation whereon Peter Van Pelt,1 deceased did live (pursuant to the directions of his last will and testament) in the Township of Bridgewater, in the County of Somerset, and State of New-Jersey, containing 427 acres of excellent land, 80 where of is meadow and low- land, and 180 acres of wood-land. The improvements thereon consist of a good frame house with four rooms on a floor, a good kitchen, a large convenient barn 50 feet square, a cyder-house, barracks, a good orchard of the best grafted fruit, and a. well of excellent water, near the door. The whole pleasantly situated along the north branch of the Raritan River, about 17 miles from New- Brunswick .- There will be sold on the same day, green corn, waggons, ploughs, harrows, and gears, horses, cows, two yoke of oxen, sheep, hogs and all the house and kitchen furniture. The conditions will be made known on the day of sale, and attendance given by
JACOB BOGART, EDWARD BUNN, Executors ..
ABRAHAM TEN EYCK,
TO BE SOLD,
And may be entered on the first day of April next,
A PLANTATION or tract of LAND, containing 300 acres, or thereabouts, situated and lying in Hacket's Town, part in the county of Sussex and part in the
1 Understood to have been a descendant of Teunis Jansen Lanen, a Walloon who emigrated from Liege in 1663 and settled in New Utrecht, L. I. He signed his name Tonis Jansen Lanen Van Peelt. Johannes, a grandson of Teunis, settled at Six- Mile-Run, in the Raritan Valley, in 1717; Alexander, brother of Johannes, settled in Monmouth county, with five nephews, sons of his brother Tunis .- Bergen's Kings County Settlers, 358; Our Home (Somerville, 1873), 507.
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county of Morris,1 whereon is erected a large frame dwelling-house, four rooms on a floor, a frame kitchen and convenient barn, stables and shade ; has been kept a public house some years past, and is an exceeding good stand for that business. There is also on said premises a large frame mill with two pair of stones, the one pair sopes, the other cullen, one pair for merchant and the other for country work, with four boulting cloths, all in good order ; a saw mill joining to the other mills, a good. frame dwelling-house for a miller, a frame house for a blacksmith, and shop, a house and shop for a cooper, a dwelling house for a farmer, with two other dwelling- houses fit for tradesmen of any kind : The situation is healthy, pleasant, and in a fine wheat country, and is an excellent place for a store, tavern, or any kind of public business. The mills are turned by the river Masco- neteong, well known to be one of the best streams in the State of New-Jersey : There is a very good convenience for building a fulling-mill and oil-mill on the same dam the other mills stand on, and water sufficient. About half the land is clear, 20 acres of which is meadow, and 30 more may be made. It lays 35 miles from Brunswick Landing and 50 from New-York, but the passage to the latter is not very clear at present. The whole premises will rent for near two hundred pounds per ann. in the worst of times. Any person or persons inclining to pur- chase may know the terms by applying to HUGH HUGHES,2 Esq ; at Greenwich Forge, or to the sub- scriber on the premises.
MARK THOMPSON.
-The Pennsylvania Packet, March 4th, 1777.
1 Now in Warren county.
2 Hugh Hughes was of Welsh extraction and was the founder of the village of Hughesville on the Musconetcong, near its mouth. An early forge was here erected, and a school built .- History of Sussex and Warren Counties, 602. See also N. J .- Archives, XXIII., 646, note.
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New-Jersey, March 1, 1777.
Pursuant to the directions of an act of the Council and General Assembly of New-Jersey, lately made and passed, intitled "An act to impower the Marshal of the Court of Admiralty to secure and sell the prize vessel, or brigantine called the DEFIANCE, and her cargo, lately taken by the militia of this state,"1 Notice is hereby given, that the said brigantine called the Defiance, with all her tackle, apparel and furniture, now lying at the mouth of Tuck- ahoe river, in Great Egg harbour inlet, and the cargo of the said brigantine, consisting of molasses, sugar, coffee, cocoa, salt, cotton, &c. and sundry whaling tackle, will be sold at public vendue, at the house of John Summers, jun.2 at Great Egg Harbour, in the county of Gloucester, on Wednesday the 12th instant. The sale to begin at ten o'clock in the forenoon. The cash to be paid on the delivery of the goods.
Isaac Kay,3 Marshal.
-The Pennsylvania Evening Post, March 4, 11th, 1777.
1 On October 5th, 1776, an act was passed by the Legislature authorizing the Governor and Council to establish by ordinance or commission a Court of Admiralty and cus- tom houses. "The Defiance " was sold under an act of the Legislature dated February 28th, 1777, the preamble of the law reciting that Col. Richard Somers, with a militia detachment, acted as a Sea Coast Guard at Great Egg Harbour, and providing that .owing to the inconveniency of holding a Court of Admiralty, she be sold by virtue ·of this special act. The 5th of December, 1778, the Legislature of New Jersey passed :a new and comprehensive act, establishing a Court of Admiralty and directing the mode of appointing custom house officers, under the stimulus of a recommendation .of the Congress of the United States. Provision was made as to modes of practice, and a fee-bill was prescribed, while the officers of the court were defined to be a Judge, a Register, a Marshal, Proctors and Advocates. Further legislation regard- ing admiralty jurisdiction in New Jersey was passed December 18th, 1781, which provided, among other things, for a seal "with the Device of an Anchor and Thir- teen Stars on the Face of it, and a Legend round the Border with these Words 'Admiralty Seal New-Jersey.'" This act, revised November 29th, 1782, was finally repealed by the Legislature of New Jersey June 3d, 1799 .- F. B. L.
2 John Somers, Jr., of the family which gave its name to Somers Point, Atlantic county, and Somerton, now a part of Philadelphia, was an influential property owner in old Gloucester county, an intense Whig, and like his near relative, Col. Richard Somers, was subjected to annoyance on the part of the Tories .- Daily Union History of Atlantic City and County, Hall, 433 et seq.
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