USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 13
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For an account of this expedition, and others of a similar character, see "New Jersey as a Colony and as a State," Vol. II., Chapter X., p. 179, et seq.
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sent off in boats, landed at the back of them, and after killing and wounding a part, made prisoners of the residue. The rebels never afterwards appeared in force, so that the troops collected the forage without any in- terruption, and the inhabitants from all quarters flocked to them, bringing what cattle, provision, &c. they could spare, for which they received a generous price; but lamented much that the army was to depart, and leave them again to the tyranny of the rebel faction. How far this may correspond, with the pompous description which will be given to the world, by the immaculate Mr. Livingston, is a matter of little moment as truth, will shine with superior lustre to misrepresentation. If it is said that the king's troops evacuated the place, before the militia could be called, it will stand the test; for it is an uncontrovertable fact, that in a circuit of upwards or sixty miles, three hundred men could not be mustered ; the people being fully sensible of their error, and heartily tired of the petty tyrants, who have galled and broke their spirits. This needs no farther elucidution than that, in the place of fourteen hundred men who heretofore appeared and voted at the election of their assemblymen, no more than eight constituted the majority of the last electors, which is an evident demonstration that it is now a matter of indifference who now takes the lead, as tyranny and oppression is only to be expected from such as are willing to be of the number, who constitute that illegal assembly .- The Pennsylvania Evening Post, April . 3, 1778.
'On Tuesday last a party of the refugees, with a few marines, marched towards Woodbury, upon hearing the militia had collected about that place ;- we have not heard that the event of this march farther than that a large number of cattle has been taken .- Royal Pennsyl- vania Gazette, April 3, 1778.
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Yesterday upwards of thirty prisoners were brought in from the Jersies. One of them is a major Ellis, who has been a violent persecutor of the friends of government. It is said they were taken near Haddonfield, being sta- tioned to prevent the country people coming to market .- The Pennsylvania Evening Post, April 6, 1778.
New York, April 6. Last Week four Rebels were taken near Bergen by a Party of Colonel Turnbull's New- York Volunteers.
We have a Report that there has been a Skirmish be- tween a Party of the King's Troops and the Rebels, at or near Coryell's Ferry, in New-Jersey, in which the Latter were very severely handled .- New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, April 6, 1778.
TRENTON, April 8.
On Saturday last the GENERAL ASSEMBLY of this State adjourned to Princeton, where they are now sitting, for the further dispatch of business.
Extract of a letter from Monmouth county, dated April 1, 1778.
"The late storm has destroyed many of the small salt- works on our shore, with all the salt in them .- The night tide was several feet higher than has ever been known before-a considerable number of horned cattle 1 were drowned on Long Beach and other places. The Long Beach is almost wholly levelled, and but little more of it
1 Cattle were taken from the mainland to the island beaches on the New Jersey coast, and having been branded, were allowed to roam over the dunes. Many of these animals were never reclaimed and became the pro- genitors of the "wild cattle," which were not extinct in Cape May county as late as 1880.
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than a sand bar left-The furniture has floated out of the lower rooms of some houses that stood low on the water- side. The inhabitants never saw so distressing a time."
From a correspondent we have received the following Intelligence :
"On Saturday the 21st ult. about break of day our guard posted at Hancock's bridge, on Alloways, creek, in Salem county, consisting of about twenty men, were sur- prized by those the enemy call Jersey Volunteers: They, from their acquaintance with the country, had found means to cross the creek and come upon the guard from some unsuspected quarter; and being undoubtedly led by some person well acquainted with the disposition of centries, opened the guard-house door and came in, many of the guard being asleep, without giving the least alarm, nay, so far from it, that it is said some of them shook hands in a friendly manner with some of the guard with whom they were intimately acquainted, as indeed they were with most of them: and-O tempora, O mores !- immediately began bayoneting of them, without our people making the least show of resistance, not only reeking their fury on the guard but also on several of the peacable inhabitants who were slumbering in their beds. One Bacon, of the people called Quakers, was inhumanly murdered in his own house and bed; old Mr. Hancock, beside his being of that society, was a cripple in both his arms, was stabbed in his bed, and is since dead of his wounds. Another of that society is also since dead of his wounds; and the life of a fourth person is despaired of."
The enemy, after immortalizing the British arms in the way above-mentioned, and having collected a large quantity of forage, &c. embarked with their booty for Philadelphia.
We hear that on Saturday morning last, Colonel Shreve
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who commands the second Jersey regiment, sent a party of men under Major Howell 1 to join some of the Salem and Cumberland militia, in order to invest Billingsport, where about 150 tories had been intrenching and forti- fying themselves; but the militia not arriving in time, and the tories getting information, the Major returned to Haddonfield, where Col. Shreve had taken post. The enemy in Philadelphia getting intelligence of what had passed, despatched 1400 men about nine o'clock at night, who landed at Gloucester Point, making a circuitous rout, with intent to surprize Col. Shreve; but the Colonel, though in the dead of night, received intelligence of the enemy's movement, and his troops, being greatly inferior in number, all retired to Mountholly about three o'clock on Sunday morning, except three who were bayoneted by the enemy on their arrival. One of our cavalry, who had been dispatched to give notice to the guard at Cooper's ferry, was also killed on his way, by which means the guard had no notice of the enemy's approach, and several of them were killed and taken prisoners, among the latter is Major Ellis of the Gloucester Militia, and Lieutenants Stout and Hutchin of Shreve's regiment of Continental troops.
The enemy frustrated in their designs of massacreing our troops, and having gasconaded through the village, where they committed many acts of cruelty, besides burn- ing two dwelling-houses, returned to Philadelphia in the evening of the same day.
From Princeton we learn that charitable donations from the congregations of Newark, Elizabeth-Town, Con- necticut Farms, Turky and South Hanover, Springfield Morris-Town, Scotch Plains and Bound-Brook, for the sick soldiers in the hospitals, &c. were lately sent to that place, consisting of the following articles, viz. 68 sheets ; 9 pairs of new shoes; 46 blankets ; 347 pairs of stockings; 243 shirts; 200 breeches and trowsers; 200 jackets; 76
1 Richard Howell, subsequently Governor of New Jersey.
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coats ; 39 yards of new cloth ; 5 coverlets ; sewing thread, yarn, buttons, several new garments cut out but not made up, new linen and a large quantity of old, suitable for lint, &c. &c.
MARRIED, the 24th ult. FRANCIS BARBER,1 Esq. Lieu- tenant-Colonel of the 3d Jersey regiment, to Miss NANCY OGDEN,2 of Elizabeth-Town, a lady of beauty and merit.
SIX POUNDS REWARD
WAS stolen out of the stable late of Robert James, de- ceased, in Lower Freehold, Monmouth county, now in possession of Richard James, a young light grey HORSE, with black grey mane and tail, five years old this spring, about fifteen hands high; trots. Whoever secures the thief and horse so that the owner may have him again,. shall have the above reward; and for the horse only THREE POUNDS, paid by the subscriber.
RICHARD JAMES.
Trenton April 8, 1778.
STRAYED OR STOLEN
From Trenton the 27th of March last, a sorrel MARE, four years old, between 14 and 15 hands high, paces and trots. Whoever takes up said Mare and thief, and re- stores her to Captain Nixon . at Penington, or to Mr. John Dickson, Commissary at Trenton, shall receive TWENTY DOLLARS reward, or for the Mare only EIGHT DOLLARS.
WILLIAM CHRISTEY.
1 For sketch of Francis Barber, see History of Elizabeth, New Jersey. Edwin F. Hatfield, D.D.
2 Daughter of Moses and Mary Cozzens Ogden.
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April 3, 1778.
CAME to the Plantation of the subscriber in Amwell near Flemington, in May last, a small dunnish sorrel HORSE, appears to be young. If no owner appears by the 1st of May, he will be sold to pay charges.
THOMAS READING.1
Springfield, March 25, 1778.
THE Trustees of New-Jersey College are desired to be punctual in attending the meeting of their Board at Princeton on Wednesday the 15th of April, at ten o'clock, on business of the greatest importance to the institution. JAMES CALDWELL, Clerk.
To cover the ensuing season at Dr. Cundit's, inn-keeper, at, Newark Mountain Meeting-house, for NINE DOLLARS the season, the famous and well-known Horse
LIBERTY,
four years old this spring; he is a Salem colt out of the Dove mare, and is full-blooded, and thorough bred; a
1 Captain Thomas Reading, born 1734, a son of Governor John Reading. Entering the Revolution, by Congressional appointment, as Captain of the Sixth Company, Third New Jersey Regiment, February 9th, 1776, Thomas served for over a year in northern New York and Canada. Captain Read- ing was a State agent for securing military supplies June, 1778; com- missioned Justice of the Peace, 1783; founder of the Presbyterian Church in Flemington and ordained an elder. His plantation of 400 acres was located near Flemington Junction. Captain Reading died in 1814, his wife being Rebecca Ellis, daughter of Jonathan Ellis, of Waterford, Gloucester county. Genealogical and Biographical Memorials of the Reading, Howell, Yerkes, Watts, Latham and Elkins Families, p. 52; Josiah Granville Leach.
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beautiful bay. Good pasture will be provided for Mares at Half a Dollar per week by Doctor Cundit.1
TO BE SOLD
A FEW Hogsheads of good MUSCOVADO and LOAF SUGARS, by JAMES HOOD, or SAMUEL YOUNG, near Howel's ferry.
The famous and well-known HORSE
TRAVELLOR,
Now rising eight years old, will cover the ensuing sea- son at the plantation of AMOS SWAN on the Scotch Plains, a short half mile from the meeting-house on the road leading to Springfield. TRAVELLOR is of a full size, fifteen hands and a half high, well set to his height, his colour is a dark claret, and very beautiful. He sprung from the best blood in Great-Britain; his pedigree is the same as True Briton, they being brothers. His carriage, beauty, behaviour and spirit, make him equal if not superior to any horse within this State. He is to cover at TEN DOLLARS a mare and a Dollar to the groom, the money to be paid at the time of covering, or before taken if required. Good pasture will be provided for Mares at Half a Dollar per week.
AMOS SWAN.
1 Dr. John Condit was born in Orange, July 8th, 1755, and in 1776 was commissioned a Surgeon in Heards' Brigade, but soon resigned, returning to his home to practice his profession. In political life he was a member of the New Jersey Legislature, represented the State in Congress and subsequently became Assistant Collector of the Port of New York in Jersey City. Clark says of him, "He kept many horses and was perpetually on the road." Dr. Condit's death occurred May 4th, 1834, his grave being in Orange, near the Academy of which he was a founder and trustee.
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THIRTY DOLLARS REWARD.
WAS stolen from the subscriber on or about the fourth instant, One Hundred and Thirty Dollars Continental currency, in a sheet, containing bills of the following de- nominations, viz. two of Thirty Dollars; two of Eight Dollars; two of Seven Dollars; two of Six Dollars; two of Five Dollars; two of Four Dollars; two of Three Dollars; and two of Two Dollars each, dated the 20th May 1777-one half of them numbered 177354, and the other half 177397: All persons are desired in receiving payment for any debt, to secure such bills if offered, also. the person from whom they receive them, of which they will please to give me notice, that the thief may be brought to punishment, and the money restored to the proper owner; in which case the above reward shall be paid by me, living at Mr. Samuel Hunt's, about a mile from Pennington.
April 6, 1778.
BERRYMAN GREEN, Pay-Master 1st Regt. L. D.
Bound-Brook, April 2, 1778.
ALL persons indebted to the estate of WILLIAM CROLIUS, jun. of New-York. Potter, deceased, whether by bond, note or book debt, are desired to come and make im- mediate payment to George Janeway or John Crolius at Bound-Brook. All those likewise who have any demands against said estate, are requested to bring in their ac- counts properly attested, that they may be settled by
GEORGE JANEWAY, JOHN CROLIUS, PETER CROLIUS,
Executors.
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April 2, 1778.
All persons indebted to the estate of JOSEPH CHAMBERS, late of Nottingham, Burlington county, deceas. either by bond, bill or book debt, are requested to make speedy pay- ment to the subscribers, or else they may expect to be dealt with as the law directs. And all those who have any demands against said estate, are desired to bring them well attested for settlement.
ROBERT CHAMBERS, 1 Executors. ROBERT WILSON,
Trenton, April 5, 1778.
WAS taken out of the office of Ebenezer Cowell, Esq. when the enemy were in Trenton, a DAY-BOOK, LEIDGER and two or three DOCQUETS, with a number of other books and papers belonging to the estate of Abraham Cottnam, Esq. deceased. The subscribers think some person in or near Trenton has them-30 dollars reward for the Leidger, 20 for the Dockets, and a handsome reward for any other books or papers belonging to the said estate will be given to any person who will deliver or inform the subscribers who has them, so that they may get them again.
The subscribers propose to sell or let that tenement called DOWSDALE, situated near Trenton, on the Hopewell road, with two dwelling-houses, a kitchen, barn, and a good orchard thereon, containing thirteen acres more or less, five of which are excellent meadow, with a constant stream of water running through the same, being very convenient for erecting a tan-yard. Any person in- clining to purchase the above, will be informed of further particulars by applying to the subscribers, or in their absence to Ebenczer Cowell, Esq.
ROBERT HOOPS, Executors.
GEORGE COTTNAM,
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THIS is to certify to the Publick that the Newark Post will not carry letters unless they are paid for it; except letters from the subscribers for this paper to the Printer. JOHN HEDDEN,
ALEXANDER ANDERSON.
EIGHT DOLLARS REWARD.
Supposed to be taken from the door of Mr. William Downing, in Princeton, a Dapple Grey MARE, between fourteen and fifteen hands high, not branded; trots and gallops; is about eleven years old. Whoever secures either mare or thief, shall have Five Dollars for the mare and Three Dollars for the thief, with reasonable charges, paid by Thomas Earl, living in Springfield, or B. Smith, in Trenton.
April 3, 1778.
Mr. COLLINS,
IF the following account of an extraordinary News Paper promises any entertainment to your Customers, you may give it a place in the New-Jersey Gazette.
AMONGST those who left Philadelphia on the approach of the enemy to that city, a Gentleman, who had with him a portable printing-press, took refuge somewhere near Egg-Harbour. By means of a well-conducted corre- spondence with a friend in the city, he obtained constant and authentic intelligence of the most minute occurrences there. Thus provided, he, for the amusement of himself and a few friends, publishes a paper every fortnight, which he calls PASQUIN, or the MINUTE INTELLIGENCER. As these papers are not for sale, and but a few copies struck off, they do not circulate and are but little known. Being an old acquaintance, he constantly sends me one of his curious performances. As a specimen of the work ; I have selected the following articles.
.
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"It is said the English Ministry, having no hopes of subduing America by force of arms, whilst the inhabi- tants retain their native virtue, have instructed the officers in their army to try a more certain method of success ; by debauching the morals of the men, and seducing the virtue of the women. For this purpose play-houses are opened, gaming-tables established, and balls promoted, in a city languishing under a scarcity of the necessities of life."
"His Excellency General Howe, ever attentive to the health of his army, took the advantage of some fair weather in December last, and determined to give his troops an airing, of which they stood in great need. For this purpose he ordered the whole of his forces out, and heading them himself, took a walk into the country. His benevolent intention was to proceed as far as Reading and Lancaster, but finding the roads about Edge-Hill much infested with armed rebels he thought proper to return to the city; which he did with considerable precipitation, being apprehensive of an approaching storm. Some think he might have forced his way through the banditti, but he was too prudent a General to expend his Majesty's powder and shot on such a ragged crew."
"We have the pleasure of assuring the publick, that the disputes respecting the arrangement of the Royal African Regiment, are now at an end, his Excellency having de- termined that arrangement in the following manner :
QUACO, Colonel, SAMBO, Lieutenant-Colonel, CUFFEY, Major, TONEY, . CUDJOE, Captains.
The contest for pre-eminence between Quaco and Sambo was long and obstinate. It is evident that Sambo has the thickest lips and the whitest teeth, but his Ex- cellency's partiality is in favour of Quaco, as he has
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honoured him with the command; and at the entertain- ment lately given by the officers of the Royal African Regiment, his Excellency opened the ball with Colonel Quaco's Lady, and danced very gracefully to the music of a full orchestra of banjoes and hurdy-gurdies .- How far the superior beauty of Colonel Quaco's Lady may have contributed to his promotion is uncertain." 1
"We hear that general orders have issued for having the Royal African Regiment shorn every three months ; in order to supply the Ladies of the Court of Great- Britain with wool, sufficient for the present fashionable head-dress."
ADVERTISEMENT
"NOW in the press, and shortly will be published, neatly bound in calf, The Miscellaneous Works of his Excellency General Sir William Howe, in prose and verse; containing, amongst many other curious particu- lars, the following articles ;
"1st. The history of the American war; or, the art of insuring infamy in this world and misery in the next. 2d. A dissertation on the cardinal virtues; in which it is proved, that justice and mercy ought to be excluded from holding any place among them. 3d. The game of picquet in a new way; by which it is shown how a person may win ten thousand guineas at a game, and yet the loser remain perfectly satisfied. By this method, cards become not only an amusement, but very useful in the settlement of accounts. N. B. In this learned work his Excellency acknowledges that he has been assisted by Mr. Ware the Commissary General.2 4th. The value of British gold ; or, the art of paying off large accounts with small sums; illustrated by a variety of real cases, particularly one in which a just bill of 550 1. was discharged by 50 guineas,
1 A covert allusion to General Howe's reputation for indiscriminate gallantry.
2 An allusion to General Howe's love for gambling.
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and a receipt in full obtained. 5th. Men immortalized and death defeated; or, the returns of the British army; wherein is shewn how the pay and rations of a thousand soldiers may be drawn, who have long since died of putrid fevers, or been slain in battle. 6th. The contented cuckold, an heroic poem. 7th. Songs and amorous odes. in the Eastern style; a hymn to Venus; Chloe, or the African beauty; an invitation to Bacchus, in the German taste; the progress of cruelty, in six cantos, &c.
"The work will be comprised in three volumes octavo ; a fourth volume will contain congratulatory addresses to his Excellency, from the several provinces, wherein he has restored constitutional liberty. But these addresses have not yet come to hand."
"NOW publishing in sheets, and to be sold at Phila- delphia THE POLITICAL LIAR; or, The New Fairy Tales: Wherein is related how a shameful defeat may, with ease, be converted into a glorious victory-how large re- inforcements may be obtained by art magic-how France is abandoning Ameica, by sending her large supplies of warlike stores and other necessaries-how General Wash- ington lost his senses, and left a portmanteau, containing all his original letters and secrets of State, with a sick negroe, whereby they fell into the hands of the British officers, and are now publishing at large in the political , liar - - with many other entertaining aticles of the same kind.
"A GREAT price in hard money, will be given for a little heart's-ease. Apply to the Superintendant General."
From the late London papers.
TO BE SOLD by publick auction, on the first of April, 1778, at the Royal Exchange-HANOVER, WITH ALL THE PRIVATE ESTATE OF GEORGE WELPS. 1
1 Guelph. This satire is probably from the pen of Governor Livingston.
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The vast sums arising from this sale, are, by his Majesty's most gracious promise, to be distributed amongst the TORIES in America, who have suffered so much on his ac- count .- New-Jersey Gazette, No. 19, April 8, 1778.
Last week a rebel schooner was taken in Duck creek, and brought up to this city. The number of the crew now prisoners, are about twenty, amongst whom are two pilots, Henry Tudor and James Bruce. It is said she was taken by a party of the crew belonging to the Diamond.
New-York, April 8. Last Sunday Morning a Party of about 200 of the King's troops landed at a Place called Squam, 40 miles to the Southward of Sandy-Hook, in New-Jersey, and destroyed the Rebel Salt-Works at that Place, and next Day also destroyed some of the same Kind of Works lately set up at Shark-River near that Neighborhood. The Particulars of which we must defer till our next .- New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, Extraordinary, April 8, 1778.
Extract of a letter from Trenton, New-Jersey, March 20.
A considerable number of the enemy are over at Salem, mostly Greens; but I believe their stay will be short, as the militia from Cumberland, aided by their Magistrates and old men (who are exempt by law) are marching with a determination to fight them wherever they can find them. If Pennsylvania and the whole of Jersey were like Cumberland, Morris, Somerset, and some other parts of the State, where no person, who is able to carry a musket, will be exempt when the enemy come near, these plunderers must have sucked their paws in the city, or quit the parts before now." --- The Pennsylvania Packet, April 8th, 1778.
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New-York, April 13. Last Tuesday arrived Captain Robertson, of the 35th Regiment, from an Excursion on the Monmouth Coast, with the pleasing Account as fol- lows: That on the 4th Instant, Capt. Potterfield of the 71st Regiment, with a Detachment of 150 men, sailed from New-York in three small Vessels, under the Convoy. of the armed Sloop George, and proceeded to Sandy- Hook, where they were joined by forty Marines and Pro- vincials. On the 5th in the Morning they sailed from the Hook, under the Command of Capt. Collins of the Fowey; at eight o'Clock of the same Morning arrived off Squam, where the Troops landed and marched up to some very considerable Salt-Works, erected there by the Rebels, which they entirely demolished. There could not be less than One Hundred different Houses, in each of which were from six to ten Coppers and Kettles, for the Purpose of boiling Salt, one of the Houses (which belonged to Congress) cost 6000 1. building. Besides demolishing the above Works, they destroyed immense Quantities of Salt, Beef, salted and dried Hams, Sides of Bacon, Flour, Corn and Hay. They brought off a sloop belonging to Boston, partly loaded with Flour, and at three o'Clock in the Afternoon re-embarked without Opposition.
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