USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 27
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First, The wanton and oppressive devastation of the country and destruc- tion of property.
The whole tract of the British army is marked with desolation, and a wanton destruction of property, particularly through West-Chester county in the state of New-York, the towns of Newark, Elizabeth-Town, Wood- bridge, Brunswick, Kingston, Princeton and Trenton in New-Jersey. The fences destroyed, houses deserted, pulled in pieces, or consumed by fire, and the general face of waste and devastation spread over a rich and once well cultivated and well inhabited country, would affect the most unfeeling with compassion for the unhappy sufferers, and with indignation and resent- ment against the barbarous ravagers. It deserves notice that though there are many instances of rage and vengeance against particular persons, yet the destruction was very general, and often undistinguished ; those who submitted and took protection, and some who were known to favour them having frequently suffered in the common ruin. Places and things, which from their public nature and general utility should have been spared by a civilized people, have been destroyed or plundered or both. But above all, places of worship, ministers, and other religious persons of some particular Protestant denominations seem to have been treated with the most ran- corous hatred, and at the same time with the highest contempt.1
Second, The inhuman treatment of those who were so unhappy as to become prisoners.
The prisoners, instead of that humane treatment which those taken by the United States experienced, were in general treated with the greatest barbarity. Many of them were near four days kept without food alto-
1 Thus at Trenton the Tories destroyed property at the First Presbyterian Church to the value of £80. Nor did they spare the Friends' Meeting-House or the Pro. testant Episcopal Church of St. Michael's.
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gether. When they received a supply it was both insufficient in point of quantity, and often of the worst kind. They suffered the utmost distress from cold, nakedness and close confinement. Freemen and men of sub- stance suffered all that a generous mind could suffer from the contempt and mockery of British and foreign mercenaries. Multitudes died in prison When they were sent out, several died in the boats while carrying ashore, or upon the road attempting to go home. The Committee, in the course of their inquiry, learned that sometimes the common soldiers expressed sym- pathy with the prisoners, and the foreigners more than the English. But this was seldom or never the case with the officers ; nor have they been able to hear of any charitable assistance given them by the inhabitants who remained in or resorted to the city of New-York, which neglect, if univer- sal, they believe was never known to happen in any similar case in a Christian country.
Third, The savage butchery of those who had submitted, and were in- capable of resistance.
The Committee found it to be the general opinion of the people in the neighbourhood of Princeton and Trenton, that the enemy the day before the battle of Princeton had determined to give no quarter. They did not, however obtain any clear proof that there were general orders for that purpose, but the treatment of several particular persons at and since that time has been of the most shocking kind, and gives too much countenance to the supposition. Officers wounded and disabled, some of them of the first rank, were barbarously mangled or put to death. A minister of the gospel at Trenton, who neither was nor had been in arms, was massacred in cold blood, though humbly supplicating for mercy.
Fourth, The lust and brutality of the soldiers in abusing of women.
The Committee had authentic information of many instances of the most indecent treatment, and actual ravishment of married and single women, but such is the nature of that most irreparable injury, that the persons suffering it, and their relations, though perfectly innocent, look upon it as a kind of reproach to have the facts related, and their names known. They have, however procured some affidavits which will be pub- lished in the appendix. The originals are lodged with the Secretary of the Congress. Some complaints were made to the commanding officers upon this subject, and one affidavit made before a justice of the Peace, but the Committee could not learn that any satisfaction was ever given, or pun- ishment inflicted, except that one soldier at Pennyton was kept in custody for part of a day.
On the whole, the Committee are sorry to say the cry of barbarity and cruelty is but too well founded, and as in conversation those who are cool to the American cause, have nothing to oppose to the facts but their being incredible and not like what they are pleased to stile the generosity and clemency of the English nation, the Committee beg leave to observe that one of the circumstances most frequently occurring in the inquiry, was the opprobious disdainful names given to the Americans.
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These do not need any proof, as they occur so frequently in the newspa- pers printed under their direction, and in the intercepted letters of those who are officers, and call themselves gentlemen. It is easy, therefore, to see what must be the conduct of a soldiery greedy of prey, towards a people whom they have been taught to look upon not as freemen defending their rights on principle, but as desperadoes and profligates, who have risen up against law and order in general, and with the subversion of society itself.
This is the most candid and charitable manner in which the Committee can account for the melancholy truths which they have been obliged to report. Indeed the same deluding principle seems to govern persons and bodies of the highest rank in Britain, for it is worthy of notice that not pamphleteers only but King and Parliament constantly call those acts lenity, which on their first publication filled this whole continent with re- sentment and horror.
The above report received, approved and ordered to be published with the proofs.
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
(The Proofs will be inserted in this paper.)
-The Pennsylvania Evening Post, April 24, 1777.
Appendix to the Report of the Committee, containing proofs and illus- trations.
On the first head of the report.
The substance of this part of the report it would be unnecessary to take or publish depositions upon as the state of the country has been seen by thousands who have travelled through it. The public has also long ago been made acquainted with the burning of Falmouth in Casco Bay-of a very considerable part of the city of New York-and a part of Brunswick -One of the best houses in Princeton was burnt while the enemy stayed there, and a valuable mill, with other buildings, at about one mile distance from it.
The following account of their conduct in Newark, and the neighbour- hood, contained in a letter from a minister of the most approved character in that part of the country, to a Member of Congress, will enable those at a distance to form some conception of the sufferings of the country.
Extract of a letter from Newark, March 12, 1777.
"Great have been the ravages committed by the British troops in this part of the country, as to what has been done by them in Trenton, Prince- ton, &c. you have seen. Their footsteps with us are marked with desola- tion and ruin of every kind. I, with many others fled, from the town, and those that tarried behind suffered almost every manner of evil. The mur- .der, robbery, ravishments, and insults, they were guilty of are dreadful. When I returned to the town, it looked more like a scene of ruin than a pleasant well cultivated village
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One Thomas Hayes, who lived about three miles out of town, as peace- able and inoffensive a man as in the state of New Jersey, was unprovokedly murdered by one of their Negroes, who run him through the body with his sword. He also cut and slashed his aged uncle in such a manner that he is not yet recovered of his wounds, though received about three months ago. The same fellow stabbed one Nathan Baldwin in the neighbourhood, who recovered. Three women were most horridly ravished by them, one of them an old woman near seventy years of age, whom they abused in a manner beyond description, another of them was a woman considerably advanced in her pregnancy, and the third was a young girl. Various others were assaulted by them, who, by the favorable interpositions of Providence, were preserved, that they did not accomplish upon them their base designs. Yea, not only common soldiers, but officers, even British officers, four or five, sometimes more sometimes less in a gang, went about the town by night, entering into houses and openly inquiring for women.
" Their plundering is so universal, and their robberies so atrocious, that I cannot fully describe their conduct, Whig and Tory were all treated in the same manner, except such who were happy enough to procure a senti- nel.to be placed as a guard at their door. There was one Nutman, who had always been a remarkable Tory, and who met the British troops with huzzas of joy, had his house plundered of almost everything ; he himself had his shoes taken off his feet, and threatened to be hanged, so that with difficulty he escaped being murdered by them It was diligently propa- gated by the Tories, before the enemy came, that all those who tarried in their houses would not be plundered, which induced some to stay, who otherwise would probably have saved many of their effects by removing them. But nothing was a greater deception or baser falsehood than this, as the event proved, for none were more robbed than those that tarried at home with their families. I shall only here mention a few names, John Ogden ; Esq ;1 an aged man, who had never done much in the controversy one way or another ; they carried out of his house every thing they thought worth bearing away; they ripped open the feather beds, scattered the feathers in the air, and carried the ticks with them; broke his desk to pieces, and tore and destroyed a great number of important papers, deeds, wills, &c. belonging to himself and others, and they insulted and abused the old gentleman in the most outrageous manner, threatening sometimes to hang him, and sometimes to cut off his head. They hauled a sick son of his, whose life had been for some time despaired of, out of his bed, and grossly abused him, threatening him with death in a variety of forms.
1Judge John Ogden was a son of Captain David Ogden, of Newark, and was a Justice of the Peace and a Judge of the Essex County Courts for many years. In 1759 he moderated the meeting which installed the Rev. Alexander Macwhorter as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Newark. He was elected to the Legisla- tive Assembly in 1751, and re-elected in 1761. With his uncle, Colonel Josiah Ogden, and his brothers, David and Uzal, he formed the Ringwood Company, for the de- velopment of the iron mines and works in the upper part of the present Passaic county .- E. D. H.
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"The next neighbour to this Ogden was one Benjamin Coe,1 a very aged man, who, with his wife, was at home; they plundered and destroyed every thing in the house, and insulted them with such fury and rage, that the old people fled for fear of their lives ; and then to shew the fulness of their malice, they burnt his house to ashes. Zophar Beach,2 Josiah Beach,3 Samuel Pennington,4 and others, who had large families, and were all at home, they robbed in so egregious a manner, that they were hardly left a rag of clothing, save what was on their backs. The mischief committed in the houses forsaken of their inhabitants, the destruction of fences, barns, stables, and other outhouses, the breaking of chests of drawers, desks, tables and other furniture, the burning and carrying away of car- penters and shoemakers tools are intirely beyond description.
"Now this is only a faint account of the justice and humanity of the British troops. They fully answer the character of the wicked, whose mercies are cruelty. For in addition to all, they imposed an oath of abso- lute submission to the British King, turning the declaration contained in Howe's proclamation into an oath, and causing the people solemnly to swear the same. Those who took the oath, and obtained what were falsely called protections, there are instances with us of these being robbed and plundered afterwards, but the most general way in which they obtained the effects of such people was by bargaining with them for their hay, cattle
1 Benjamin Coe came from Long Island with his widowed mother to Newark prior to 1732, and died December 21st, 1788, aged 86 years. He left children-1. Benjamin ; 2. Mary, wife of Moses Roberts ; 3. Sarah, wife of David Tuttle; 4. Eunice, wife of Joseph Baldwin ; and 5. Abigail, wife of Daniel Tichenor. His first wife, Abigail, died December 4th, 1761, aged 59 years ; his second wife, Rachel, died August 12th, 1779, aged 70 years. Being too old for active service himself, Benjamin Coe furnished a substitute, in the person of an able-bodied negro slave, Cudjo, who was rewarded by his master with the gift of his freedom and an acre of land. Mr. Coe's house was at the southwest corner of Washington and Court streets. For an inventory of his property destroyed by the British, see 3 N. J. Hist. Soc. Proc., I., 44, 45 .- W. N.
2 Zophar Beach was a grandson of Zophar, born May 27th, 1662, at Milford, Conn., and who settled at Newark prior to 1635. The Zophar of the Revolutionary epoch volunteered as a sailor in the American cause, and afterwards as a soldier .- W. N.
3 Josiah Beach was doubtless the son of Josiah Beach and Annanias Day; the latter Josiah was a son of Zophar Beach, one of the early settlers of Newark, men- tioned in the preceding note .- W. N
+ Samuel Pennington was a son of Judah, son of Ephraim, born 1615, one of the first settlers of Newark, and who died about 1694. Samuel married Mary Sandford, daughter of William, who died about 1750, son of William (baptized November, 1696, died 1750), son of William (died 1733) son of William Sandford, of the Island of Barbadoes, who bought, July 4th, 1668, the land lying between the Passaic and Hackensack rivers, from Newark bay northerly to Sandford's Spring (afterwards known as Boiling Spring), now Rutherford. Samuel Pennington was a resident of Newark, where he was a Trustee of the First Presbyterian Church. He died August 6th, 1791. He had ten children, the sixth being William Sandford, born 1757, Lieu- tenant of artillery in the Revolution; member of the New Jersey Assembly, 1797-8-9 ; of the Council, 1801-2; admitted to the bar, 1802 ; Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, 1804-13 ; Law Reporter, 1806-13 ; Governor of New Jersey, 1813-14; United States District Court Judge, 1815, until his death, September 1;th, 1826 .- W. N.
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or corn, promising them pay, but none with us ever received any thing worth mentioning.
I might have observed, that it was not only the common soldiers that plundered and stole, but also their officers, and not merely low officers and subalterns, but some of high rank were aiding and abetting. and reaped the profits of this business, no less a person than Gen. Erskine,1 who lodged at Daniel Baldwin's had his room furnished from a neighbouring house with mahogany chairs and tables, a considerable part of which was taken away with his baggage when he went to Elizabeth Town. Col. M'Donald who made his quarters at Alexander Robinson's had his room furnished in the same felonious manner, and the furniture was carried off, as though it had been part of his baggage. Another Colonel, whose name I have forget, sent his servants who took away a sick woman's bed, Mrs. Crane's, from under her for him to sleep upon. But there is no end of de- scribing their inhuman conduct. And what they practised in this town seems, as far as I can hear, only a sample of their general treatment of the inhabitants wherever they came 2
[To be continued]
ALEX. M'W HORTER.& '
The Commanding Officers of the Continental battalions in the states of New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland are hereby requested immediately to send such of the sick belonging to their respective corps as are in a situation to be removed, to the general hospital in Phila- delphia, where the utmost care will be taken of them, agreeable to the plan for regulating the military hospitals lately established by the Honourable Congress.
THOMAS BOND, jun. Assistant Director.
N. B. Dr Bond, jun. is to be found at the Director General's house in Fourth street.
-The Pennsylvania Evening Post, April 26, 1777.
1 Sir William Erskine was a British officer who came to America as a Brigadier- General ; commanded the Seventh British Brigade at the battle of Long Island ; was promoted a Major-General in 1781; a Lieutenant-General in 1789, and made a Bar- onet of the British Empire in 1791.
2 Then follows a description of the treatment received by some men taken prison- ers at Fort Washington, but as none of them were New Jersey men, it is omitted.
3 Rev. Dr. Alexander Macwhorter was born in New Castle, Delaware, July 26th, 1734 ; was graduated from Princeton College in 1757; studied theology with the cele- brated William Tennent, and in 1759 became pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Newark. He was an active patriot during the Revolutionary War; followed the American Army on the retreat through New Jersey, and took part in the council of war before the surprise at Trenton. In 1778 he was Chaplain of the Artillery Bri- gade, Continental Army. In 1779 he removed to Mecklenburg, North Carolina, and in 1781 returned to Newark. He was a Trustee of Princeton College, 1772-1807. He died in Newark, New Jersey, July 20th, 1807.
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New York, April 28. Last Monday about 50 of the Royal Bergen Volunteers under the Command of Capt. Van Allan, went in Quest of a Party of Rebels that in- fested Clouster, (a Place about 25. Miles from Bergen Town) who, on hearing of their Approach made off, but in pursuing them smartly some Miles, they took three Rebel Suttlers, with their Stores of Rum, Sugar, Coffee, Chocolate, &c. to the Amount of seven Waggon Loads, without losing a Man. One of the Suttlers is named David Philips, who formerly kept a Beer House at the Sign of the Horse and Cart in this City.
A few Days after the Mermaid Frigate destroyed a Rebel Privateer Schooner at Egg-Harbour upon the Coast of New-Jersey.
Friday Afternoon last a Rebel Captain and 25 of his Men were brought to Town from Amboy : The Morning before they attacked the Picket Guard at that Place with about 30 in Number, when the whole Party was killed and taken Prisoners .- New York Gazette and Weekly Mer- cury, April 28, 1777.
New-Jersey,
To ALL whom it may concern.
Notice is hereby given, that a Court of Admiralty will be held at Haddonfield, in the county of Gloucester, on Wednesday the 21st day of May next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon of the same day, (or as soon after as the said Court shall direct) then and there to try the truth of the facts alledged in the Bill of Thomas Seabrook, Esq ; (who as well, &c.) against the brigantine called the RABY, &c. burthen about sixty tons, lately in the pos- session and under the command of Captain Elphingston. To the end and intent, that the owner or owners of the said ship, &c. or any person concerned therein, may ap- pear and shew cause, if any they have, why the same
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should not be condemned according to the prayer of the said Bill.1
By order of the Judge,
April 22, 1777. W. Livingston, Jun. Register. -The Pennsylvania Packet, April 29, 1777.
Burlington County, March 20, 1777.
Deserted from the Second Regiment of the State of New-Jersey, and of Captain John Noble Cumming's Com- pany, now quartered at Woodbridge in said State :
WILLIAM MILLER, about 23 years of age, 5 feet, 10 inches high, dark complexion, much pock-marked, short brown hair, sandy beard, talkative, speaking much in his own praise. Had on when he deserted, a pale blue coat, jacket and breeches new beaver hat. Stole and took with him the night when deserted, 100 Continental Dollars, the property of his aged father, who lives in Bucks county, Pennsylvania ; and a servant girl to William Grendine, late of Burlington. Whoever takes up said deserter, or secures him in any goal of the United States, or returns him to the regiment, shall receive the sum of TWENTY DOLLARS Reward.
JOHN NOBLE CUMMING, Captain.
TO BE LETT
And entered on immediately,
An Inn, with a Plantation, consisting of a fertile tract of arable wood and meadow land, situated in the town of Sweedsborough, on the main road leading to Salem, and known by the name of the Half-Way-House. Its healthy, pleasant and central situation from Philadelphia on a
1 Similar advertisements were published in the same paper referring to bills of John Field and John Monro, Esqrs , against the schooner called the Popeshead, lately commanded by Hugh Murphy, and of Richard Somers, Esq., against the brig- antine Defiance.
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road so public, its contiguous meadows, excellent water, and old accustomed business, render it a most commo- dious and profitable stand, if to these are added its secure retreat from the river, and consequent exemption from the depredations of marine parties. It is within a quar- ter of a mile to the Church, three miles to the Friends' Meeting House, and four miles to the Moravian Meeting : A wharf or landing place belonging to said place, where a 12 cord boat may load at or a coasting vessel : On said premises is an excellent stream of water, suitable for a grist or other mills. It may be considered as a place equally profitable and safe, provided a person offers, who is calculated for, and of ability sufficient, to support a. reputable inn, and no other need apply.
For particulars inquire of
THOMAS JAMES, on the premisses.
N. B. A very good shad fishery, belonging to said place, the best on the creek. April 9.
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. -The Pennsylvania Journal, April 30, 1777.
EIGHT DOLLARS REWARD.
Run away from the subscriber, living in Evesham township, in the state of New-Jersey, Burlington county on the 20th of April 1777, a certain SARAH M'GEE, Irish descent, born in Philadelphia; she is about 23 years of age, about 5 feet 7 inches high, and very lusty made in proportion ; she had on, when she went away, a snuff coloured worsted long gown, a spotted calicoe pet- ticoat, stays and a good white apron, a snuff coloured cloak, faced with snuff colored shaloon, a black silk bon-
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net, with a ribbon round the crown : She was seen with her mother in Philadelphia, who lives in Shippen-street, where it is supposed she is concealed. Whoever takes up said servant and brings her to her master, or puts her in confinement, so that her master gets her again, shall have the above reward, and reasonable charges, paid by
BARZILLAI COAT
N. B. She has a cross on her right arm, put in with gun-powder, and the two first letters of her name and the date of the year .- The Pennsylvania Gazette, April 30, 1777.
PHILADELPHIA
By advices this day from the East-Jersies, we learn that the enemy are abandoning Brunswick, having sent some of their cannon and stores to Staten-island ; and that Cortland Skinner had sent all his furniture from Amboy to New-York. Sickness amongst the Hessian soldiers, and the excessive fatigue of the British, is said to be the occasion of this manœuvre ; however that may be, we have another instance of Howe's declining a gen- eral engagement with Washington .- The Pennsylvania Evening Post, May 3, 1777.
TO BE SOLD,
At Sussex Court-House,1 West-New-Jersey, and entered upon immediately.
A Good new House, in excellent repair, two stories high, four rooms on a floor, with a cellar and cellar kitchen under the same; also stabling for thirty or forty horses in a plentiful country : It has been formerly oc- cupied as a store and tavern, and in the best situation for public business in that part of the country. For terms apply to Edward Dunlop, on the premises.
1 Now Newton.
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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION.
[1777
THE NOTED HORSE NORTHUMBERLAND,
Commonly called the Irish Horse,
Will cover this season, at the stables of Mounce Keen, Inn-keeper in Sweedsborough, Gloucester county, West New-Jersey, and at William Thompson's in Pittsgrove, viz. from the sixth day of April to the sixteenth, at the stable of Mounce Keen, and from the sixteenth to the twenty-sixth of the same month, at the stable of William Thompson, and so regularly by turns at each stable, till the first of August next. Northumberland is a beautiful grey, 15 hands one inch high ; As to his shapes, blood and performances, it is unnecessary to dwell upon them, as he is known to be full blood, his shapes and figure most elegant, and his performances great ; he is a noted good foal getter, and will cover at Three Pounds Five Shillings the season, Forty Shillings the single leap, or Six Pounds to ensure a foal ; the money to be paid when the mares are taken away. Good pasture provided at each place for mares, at 2s 6d per week, and proper at- tendance given by
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