USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 25
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Messrs Bradfords.'
Chatham (New-Jersey) March 10, 1777.
Moved by duty to my country, & from a grateful re- spect for merit, I desire to acquaint the public, through your paper, that Col. Potter and Major Robinson, with the officers and men of the Northumberland militia, under their command, have distinguished themselves in the most assiduous and active service, during this win- ter's campaign, and that they have deservedly received the repeated thanks of General Sullivan, General Max-
1 See p. 148.
2 William Churchill Houston was a native of North Carolina, and a graduate of Princeton College in 1768. He remained in Princeton, studied law with Hon. Richard Stockton, and was made a Professor in the College. He represented the State several times in the Continental Congress, and was also a member of the Con- vention which ratified the National Constitution, and signed the report made by the New Jersey Commissioners to the Legislature. He was too ill to be present at the meeting of the Convention upon the day the Constitution was signed. He died suddenly at Frankford, Pennsylvania, August 12th, 1788.
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well, and my self; under whose more immediate com- mand, they have so faithfully served
I am your's, &c. ADAM STEPHEN, Major General. -The Pennsylvania Journal, March 26, 1777.
Bordentown, March 18, 1777.
Notice is hereby given, that the Continental Loan- Office, is now opened at BORDENTOWN, in New-Jersey, where Certificates, bearing an Interest of Six per Cent, are given out by the Subscriber, agreeable to the Resolves of Congress.
JOSEPH BORDEN.1
-The Pennsylvania Gazette, March 26, 1777; April 1, 1777.
Alloway's Creek Township, March 15, 1777.
JEMIMA WILSON, the wife of JOHN WILSON, hereby forewarns all persons from trusting him on her account, for she never intends to live with him any more, nor have any concern with him, or to pay any of his debts ; he is lame and I have taken the best care I could of him ; he has sold all my effects.
J. W. -The Pennsylvania Gazette, March 26, 1777.
On the fourteenth ult. Isaac Rogers, Esq ; of Allen- town, in the Jersies, departed this life; a gentleman endowed with many excellent qualities, and of a sound and clear judgment, which enabled him to execute the important trust of a magistrate with a becoming dignity, and a steady and impartial administration of justice .- Vile Tories ! It cannot go unnoticed, that through your gross abuse and continual harassing, you brought on him a dejection of spirits and a broken heart, by which he fell a sacrifice to your villanous conduct. But, you worst
1 For a sketch of Joseph Borden and the Borden family, see 1 N. J. Archives, XXIII., pp. 651-5.
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of men, remember that the day will come, when the Almighty, in the course of his wisdom and providence, will punish you for your wickedness .- The Pennsylvania Evening Post, March 29, 1777.
rThe subscriber having permission from their Ex- cellencies the Commanders in chief to establish a
STAGE BOAT,
From this City to Perth-Amboy, has engaged for that purpose a very commodious vessel, and proposes sailing from New-York, every Monday and Thursday. Care will be taken to give satisfaction ; the hour of sailing will be known at Mr. Doughty's tavern, White-Hall, where care will be taken of all goods committed to his charge, and all favours gratefully acknowledged by the
Public's most humble servant,
WILLIAM DEMAYNE.
RATES :
Each passenger, . 3s.
Do. hogshead or pipe, Ss.
Do. Barrel, 3s.
And all other goods in proportion.
New-York, March 31. A man just come in from Mor- ris Town says, That in Consequence of the Report of the arrival of 60 or 70 Ships (English) in Chesapeak Bay, Mr. Washington had ordered home two of the Virginia Regiments from the Jersies.
The Rebels are innoculating great Numbers for the Small-Pox1 at Hanover in the Jersies. Mr. Washington
1 The first death from small-pox at Morristown in 1777 was on January 11th, when Martha, widow of Joshua Ball, fell a victim ; on January 24th, Gersham Hathaway died, aged 57; Ebenezer Winds followed. on January 31st ; after which there was a respite until February 17th, when Samuel, son of Eleazer Hathaway, died, aged 13 ; on February 20th Eleazer Hathaway, two of his children and a servant child were all swept away ; the following week Waitstill Munson and three of his children fell victims to the plague, which did not stay its course until fifty-three more persons had been added to the list in the course of the spring and summer. The ravages in the army were still greater. See Morristown Bill of Mortality, 1808 .- W. N.
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remains as yet at Morris Town, with not above 4 or 500 Men. The rest of his People are stationed about Quibble Town, and other Parts of the Country near the Troops, watching their Motions, and ready for Speed against the expected Time of their leaving Winter-Quarters. Most of the New England People are gone Home, some to their Farms and others to their Merchandize. Their new Levies have succeeded very ill ; and Men are not to be had upon almost any Terms.
Since our last a Number of Persons have left the Rebel Army in the Jersies, and came in with their Arms &c. to our Troops, in Consequence of the General's late indul- gent Proclamation ; and have joined the several Provin- cial Corps already appointed, which are now very nearly complete.
As soon as the News of the taking of the four Men at the English Neighbourhood, as mentioned in our last, arrived at Acquakanack ; all the Rebels in and about that Place took to their Heels, and never halted till they arrived at Smith's Clove in Orange County.
A T Amboy, on the 17th inst. lost a silver watch ; John Ebbs, Dublin, 141, cypher and ornaments on
the case ; a white carnelian seal in gold, the fancy a bird on a tree ; a red carnelian in gold, head of Jupiter Ammon ; sundry other seals, pendent by a gilt chain. The restorer shall be amply rewarded by Lieut. Doyle, 40th Regt. at Amboy, or by Isaac Heron, watch-maker, New-York .- New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, March 31, 1777.
Extract of a letter from Quibble Town, March 25.
" Yesterday a party of about sixty men from Sampton, under Major Ritney, of Colonel Stricker's battalion, fell in with a party of the enemy near one of their out-posts, where a smart engagement began. Major Ritney's party
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being much inferior to the enemy (who were continually reinforced) he was obliged to retreat, which he did in such good order as not to lose a man, though the enemy were three times his number. He was presently rein- forced by Lieutenant Colonel Hollingsworth with a de- tachment from Col. Rumsey's battalion of Maryland militia, and the Virginia volunteers, who after a smart skirmish caused the enemy to give way, and drove them into their breast works, leaving behind them several hats, knapsacks, blankets, and one bloody handkerchief.
"In this skirmish they must have lost some men, as they were seen carrying them off in the time of action (which happened within half a mile of their breast- works.) We had two rifles broke but not a man hurt in this skirmish, an evident proof that providence shields the just and brave, for we forced them from an advan- tageous wood, where they were posted behind trees and our people entirely exposed in an open field. The troops that were engaged with our's were British and not Hes- sians .- Our whole party did not exceed one hundred and thirty, and the enemy not less than three hundred men."
A Man well acquainted with blowing the Trumpet, and capable of teaching the Horse Duty on that instru- ment, will meet with good encouragement by applying to Major Bland, commandant of the first regiment of Light Horse, at Morris-Town, or at the Head Quarters of the Continental Army .- The Pennsylvania Packet, April 1st, 1777.
Burlington Boarding-School, March 25, 1777.
It is with much concern that the subscriber finds him- self under a necessity to inform his friends and the public that the very high price of provisions, and all other articles necessarily consumed in a family, renders the sum he has taken boarders at hitherto very inadequate
-
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to the expence ; and not only hopes that the above rea- son will be admitted as an apology for his charging Ten Pounds per quarter, but that his employers will gener- ously contribute towards the exorbitant expence of the last three months. The continuance of their favours, the return of such whose removal have been caused by the present unhappy disturbances, and the future counte- nance of the public, will be gratefully acknowledged by, their obliged friend,
THOMAS POWELL.
Assiduous attention will be given to the morals and education of the youth, and the utmost housewifry exerted to make their cloathing last as long as possible .- The Pennsylvania Gazette, April 2, 1777.
From New Jersey we learn, that on or about the 20th ult. a woman passing an evacuated house in Woodbridge, saw, through the window, a drunken Hessian soldier, who had straggled from his party ; there being no men within less than a mile of the town, she went home, dressed herself in man's apparel, and armed with an old firelock, returned to the house, entered it, and took the Hessian prisoner, whom she stripped of his arms, and was leading off, when she fell in with the patrole guard of a New-Jersey regiment, stationed near Woodbridge, to whom she delivered her prisoner.
On Sunday, the 22d ult. the enemy came out from Amboy, to bring in the property of one Barnes, who is gone over, when our people stationed near Woodbridge, attacked them and had a pretty smart shooting match, while they were retiring with the said effects : About the same time the enemy attempted to land from some boats on Woodbridge Neck and at Smith's Farm, to take off some cattle and hay ; but in this they were disap- pointed, as our People distributed them, and took the cattle and burnt the hay.
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Arrangement and Rank of the Field Officers of the Four New-Jersey Regiments in Continental Service.
First Regiment. Colonel Matthias Ogden1; Lieut. Col. William De Hart; Major Joseph Morris.
Second Regiment. Colonel Israel Shrieve2; Lieut. Col. David Ray ; Major, Richard Howell.3
+ Third Regiment. Col. Elias Dayton4; Lieut. Col. Francis Barber5; Major, Joseph Bloomfield.6 Fourth Regiment. Colonel Ephraim Martin ; Lieut. Col. David Brearley7; Major, Thomas Morrell.
RANK.
Colonels. 1 Elias Dayton. 2 Israel Shrieve. 3.
·
Ephraim Martin. 4 Matthias Ogden.
Lieut. Colonels. 1. David Brearley, 2 David Ray. 3. Francis Barber 4. William De Hart.
Majors. 1. Richard Howell. 2 Joseph Bloomfield. 3. Joseph Morris 4. Thomas Morrell.
If the Sister of JOHN WINEMAN, a German of the Township of Pitsgrove, Salem County, in the State of New-Jersey, lately deceased, is living, and will apply to the subscriber in said township, she will find something to her advantage.
ELIAS CRAIG.
1 Afterward Brevet Brigadier General Matthias Ogden ; born 1754, died 1791. A member of the Council of New Jersey 1785, and Presidential Elector 1789.
2 See p. 103.
3 Richard Howell was also Clerk of the New Jersey Supreme Court from 1788 to 1793, and Governor of the State, 1794 to 1801. He was born 1754 and died 1802. 4 See p. 78.
5 Colonel Francis Barber was born 1750; accidentally killed 1783; four times wounded in action between 1778 and 1781.
6 See page 341.
7. Colonel David Brearley was elected Chief Justice of New Jersey June 10th, 1779, and soon resigned from the army. He was a member of the Federal and State Con- ventions of 1787, and United States Judge for the District of New Jersey 1789. He was born in 1745, dying in 1790.
.
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Deserted from my Company, in the Train of Artillery, the following men, viz. WILLIAM RAWLINS, born in Gloucester, in the state of New-Jersey, by trade a shoe- maker, is a likely well set fellow, 5 feet 5 inches high, black hair tied behind : Had on when he went away, a green coat, turned up with red, leather breeches, and carved silver shoe buckles.
THOMAS GREEN, of Penn's Neck, Salem county, New-Jersey, 5 feet, 7 or 8 inches high ; he commonly wears a frock, and is much inclined to strong liquor. Both deserters have been fairly inlisted, and received their full bounty. It is to be hoped, that the friends to their country will endeavour to apprehend such villains. Whoever takes up and secures said deserters in any goal, or delivers them to any recruiting officer, shall have. TWENTY DOLLARS reward, or TEN Dollars for either of them, paid by
SAMUEL HUGG, Captain of Artillery. -The Pennsylvania Journal, April 2, 1777.
To be Let, a convenient HOUSE and Lor, on Green- bank, in the city of Burlington ; the situation is high, and affords a most delightful and extensive prospect for miles up and down the river; the house is two stories high, and about fifty feet front, well finished ; the lot upwards of five hundred feet deep, on which there are convenient stables, coach, waggon, cart and cowhouses, two gardens abounding with a great variety of fruit trees, together with rasberries, strawberries, currants, &c. &c. For terms apply to Mrs. Mary Morris adjoining the premises, or to the subscriber in Philadelphia.
JOHN COX.1
April 5, 1777.
1 For a note on John Cox, see p. 93.
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PHILADELPHIA.
A gentleman from camp informs that the British troops at Perth Amboy, in number about three thousand, last Tuesday morning, embarked on board several transports, and sailed out of Sandy-Hook under convoy of three men of war, but in the evening they returned, and disembarked under cover of the night on Staten-Island- This manoeuvre, it is supposed was intended to make the appearance of a reinforcement from Europe, and. which the Tories have industriously reported to be real. -The Pennsylvania Evening Post, April 5, 1777.
New-York, April 7. A few Days since the Tartar Frigate chaced a large American Vessel. The Rebel Crew, finding no other way of Escape, ran her ashore on the Jersey Coast, where the Tartar's People burnt and destroyed her. She had on board a very valuable Cargo.
The Rebels came down to Secacus last Wednesday, and carried away all the Grain, Horses, Cows, and Sheep they could get together, which they were obliged to swim over- Hackensack River, for Want of Boats.
By several Persons come in from the Jersies, we are informed, that Mr. Washington's whole Force in that Colony does not exceed 4000 Men, who are for the most Part in a very ragged Condition. Their Provisions are- likewise very bad and scarce. Most of their Beef and Pork is stinking for Want of Salt to cure it properly ; and for several Days they were at short Allowance. By their Preparations, they seem to intend shortly to repass the Delaware .- New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, April 7, 1777.
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Wednesday, April 9, 1777. From the London Gazette.
Nov. 5. After the Provincials are driven from King's- bridge, and expelled the province of New-York. After a junction of the forces from Canada shall be effected. After Washington's army shall be entirely subdued, and the New England provinces shall be forced to submit. After the several batteries on the river Delaware, shall be silenced, then may Gen. Howe venture to Philadelphia to treat, sword in hand, with the Congress.
American Intelligence.
Extracts of Letters from Princeton and Philadelphia, dated January 7 and 15.
"Among the officers of the enemy killed at Princeton, is a Capt. Leslie, nephew to General Leslie, and second son to the earl of Leven. He was an accomplished offi- cer. General Washington buried him with the honours of war.
" Lieutenant Yates1 of Col. Read's Virginia regiment, died on Friday last at Princeton. The circumstances of death merits attention : In the action on the 3d instant, he received a wound in his side, which brought him to the ground. Upon seeing the enemy advance towards him, he begged for quarters ; a British soldier stopped, and after deliberately loading his musket, by his side, shot him through the breast. Finding that he was still
1 Bartholomew Yates, son of the Reverend Robert Yates, of Gloucester county, Virginia, was but eighteen years of age at the time of his death, and maternally was descended from the Randolphs of that Province. The Pennsylvania Journal of Feb- ruary 19th, 1777, contains this tribute :
"But oh ! Again my mangled Yates appears Excites new vengeance and provokes new tears ;
Behold my wounds ! he says, or seems to say, Remember Princeton on some future day ; View well this body pierced in every part And sure 't'will fire the most unfeeling heart."
-- Battles of Trenton and Princeton, Stryker, p. 455 .- F. B. L.
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alive, he stabbed him in thirteen places with his bayonet ; the poor youth all the while crying for mercy. Upon the enemy being forced to retreat, either the same or another soldier, finding he was not dead, struck him with a butt of a musket on the side of his head. He lan- guished a week in the greatest anguish, and then died (I declare it upon my honour, as a man and a physician). of the wounds he received after he fell and begged for quarter. The savages murdered a Clergyman (chaplain to a regiment of militia) in cold blood at Trenton, after he had surrendered and begged for mercy ; his name was Rosborough. It is a prostitution of language and truth, to attribute a fibre of humanity to General Howe's heart ; the nature of the service he is engaged in has made him a mere Jeffries for every species of political iniquity. I write from good information, having picked up a number of anecdotes which justify the picture I have given of him.
Charles-Town, April 9.
Notwithstanding the many pompous Accounts pub- lished to the World, in Hugh Gaine's New-York Mercury and the London Gazettes, of signal Victories gained, im- portant Conquests made (of Places that were abandoned by raw and scarcely armed Troops, because found un- tenable against a well-provided, and then greatly superior Force, such as, Staaten Island, Long-Island, New-York and Rhode-Island) and the rapid Progress of the British Arms in America, calculated to delude an infatuated People, upon the Brink of Ruin, who have been induced even to make public Rejoicings .-
We are assured, that General Howe's Army, since the Beginning of August last, has, by Deaths, Desertion, Killed, and Prisoners, been reduced, from 26,000 to 17,000 Men (of whom a considerable Number are said to be in Hospitals) and those, unavoidably, so posted, that he cannot possibly collect above 12,000 together in one
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Body, for the Purpose of spreading Ruin and Desolation throughout this Continent. This being the Situation of the British Army, it is thought by some, that General Howe will be difficulted, and rather studious, to preserve the vast Magazines he had collected at Brunswick, than to prosecute further offensive Operations-for, the Head- Quarters of General Washington were, according to the last Accounts, at Morris-Town, in the Jersies, within thirty Miles of Brunswick ; of General Putnam, at Prince- ton, only seventeen Miles from the same Place ; and of General Heath, near Kingsbridge, about fourteen Miles from New-York-and General Howe had then only 10,500 Men at Brunswick, including 2000 lately recalled from Rhode-Island, where the remaining 3000 are closely watched by General Lincoln. Others affect to believe, that the General will make an early and vigorous Effort to seize on the City of Philadelphia. But, the most probable Conjecture is, that he will endeavour, if it be in his Power, to re-imbark the Troops employed in the Jer- seys, at Amboy, proceed to New-York, there re-imbark the Rest, abandon that Place, and move, by Sea, more Southwardly ; where every Preparation is making, should he present himself, to receive and salute him in a Manner suitable to his Rank and Errand .- The Gazette of the State of South Carolina, April 9, 1777.
Extract of a letter from Morris Town, April 5 ..
Last week we took about 40 horses and a large num- ber of cows and sheep, part from the Philistines, and part from the Tories. Just now received an account of an action yesterday at Quibbletown ; we drove the enemy, and killed five : We had only one Rifleman wounded.
A Col. Jonathan Henry Smith, of the New-Jersey Militia, and T. W. Collins, late a clerk in the King's Custom House for this port, are both taken in New Jer- sey, being accused of treasonable practices against the
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States, in concert with James Molesworth,1 (who was executed the 31st ult.) Smith was brought to town last Monday evening, and safely lodged in the state prison.2
TO BE SOLD,
In Gloucester county and township, at the north branch of Timber creek, near Aaron Chew's, Inn-holder, about five miles from Gloucester.
A Good two story Brick-House, 26 by 18 feet, and a brick kitchen, one story and a half high 12 by 18 feet, a good well at the door, and bake oven, a cedar log barn, and stables, a young orchard, and two acres of land ; there is a good stone cellar under the house. It will suit a merchant, or any public business ; the water is naviga- ble within about fifty rods of the house, and if it suits the purchaser, may have the use of a row flat and land- ing, either for hire or purchase. For terms enquire of the subscriber, living on the premises.
CHRISTOPHER SICKLER.
N. B. It may be entered on immediately .- The Penn- sylvania Journal, April 9, 1777.
Run away from the subscriber in Roxbury, Morris county, East-Jersey, the 4th of this instant, a negro named PRINCE, about 5 feet 8 or 9 inches high, about 23 years old : Had on when he went away, a dirty flannel shirt, old leather breeches, light coloured new jacket, lined with old striped linsey, half worn shoes and stockings ; he is pretty broad shouldered, and walks loose in his knees, has a scar in his thumb, it being split open, as also his foot, by an axe last fall. He has just been
1 James Molesworth, a spy, was sentenced to death, under a court martial presided over by General Gates. Molesworth accused Galloway, the Loyalist leader, and Lord Howe with having cognizance of his movements. An immense crowd of spectators in Philadelphia watched the execution of Molesworth, who, having acted as clerk of several mayors in that city, was well known. Sabine's Loyalists, I., 86 .- F. B. L.
2 In Philadelphia, Only the first paragraph above is from the Morristown letter.
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inoculated for the small-pox, not yet cleaned up, his arm still sore, and is very liable to spread the infection. Whoever takes up said negro, so that his master may have him again, shall have THREE Dollars, if in this State ; if in Pennsylvania, SIX Dollars reward, and all reasonable charges, paid by
AUGUSTINE REID.1 -The Pennsylvania Journal, April 9, 1777.
A Gentleman, late from Head-Quarters in the Jersies, acquaints us, that when he came away, both Armies seemed disposed to remain quiet .- That the enemy were lurking within the scanty confines of Brunswick and Amboy ; surrounded by detached corps of our troops, whose advantageous situation enabled them to discover and repel any plundering party that hunger could force to sally out. Scarce a day passed without an attempt to forage and plunder, but the vigilance and bravery of our troops obliges the enemy to return commonly without plunder and often with a very great loss of their men and baggage. The enemy too well know the fate that must attend their passing the woods and mountains which leads to Morris County, to hazard such an expedi- tion. And in any other part of the Jersies there is no object worthy their attention, even if the danger and difficulties were inconsiderable. He further acquaints us, that 200 Hessians were lately disarmed upon a repeated refusal to obey orders when commanded to annoy and attack some of our advanced parties.
The Gentleman remarks, that he could not have be- lieved it was in the power of any events to have made so great an alteration in the sentiments and spirits of a
1 Augustine Reid, son of Col. John Reid, was born on his father's plantation, "Hortensia," Monmouth county, in 1731, dying at Roxbury in 1817. The Roxbury estate was granted him and his wife, Mary Reading, by her father, President John Reading, in 1762. For sketch of the Reid and Reading families, see "Genealogical and Biographical Memorials of the Reading, Howell, Yerkes, Watts, Latham and Elkins families," by J. Granville Leach, 189.º .- F. B. L.
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people in so short a time, as the enemy's rout and ravages made among the Jerseymen. The specimens of British Government exhibited on their momentary triumph has fully gratified any hankering the inhabitants might have to see it established. The repeated failure of their mili- tary operations has cast such reproach on their arms, that those who were frightened with Gen. Howe's success and begged his pardon and protection, have almost to a man returned to the cause, and are now fighting for the defence of their country ; being resolved at all hazards to prevent any future ravages.
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