USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 36
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The same day General Winds, of our militia, marched from Acquackanonk to Hackinsack with upwards of 1000 men in high spirits, and more were following. General Heard, our other Brigadier, was the evening before with four regiments at the Short-Hills above Woodbridge.
General Winds has since been as far as Hackinsack, and had parties out to the New-Bridge. He has offered the enemy battle but they declined it. They have sent near 100 small vessels up the bay to Hackinsack, such as sloops, shallops, row-gallies, and flat-bottomed boats, for the purpose, as it is supposed, of bringing off their plunder.
In the night of the 28th, they began a smart firing from their vessels, with small cannon or large swivels, at De- hart's Point, near Elizabeth-Town, upon our sentries, but
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hurt not a man - - - Our people briskly returned it, and supposed by the bawling of the enemy that some were wounded.
We hear Col. Baylor's regiment of horse, having taken post the beginning of last week at or near Old Tappan, were surprized in the night by means of a tory giving the enemy information, and who conducted them along bye roads into the rear and between our out-centries. These horrible murderers consisted of two regiments of British light-infantry, a regiment and two troops of horse - - - who made a joint attack, the British officers ordering their men to "give no quarter to the rebels." Our cavalry being in a situation which did not admit of a successful defence, a considerable part of the regiment unavoidably fell a sacri- fice to those cruel and merciless men: Several of our sol- diers were murdered after they had surrendered. Col. Baylor, Major Clough, and Dr. Evans, were dangerously wounded, taken prisoners, and left on parole; the Major, we hear, has since died of his wounds; 20 others were killed on the spot, the like number left for dead, and near 30 wounded and taken off by the enemy.
A gentleman from Morristown reports, that on Tues- day last a small detachment of our cavalry, on the other side the North-River, commanded by - - - - Butler, surprised a party of the enemy's horse, killed 15 of their men in the skirmish, took 14 prisoners and 20 horses, without any loss on our side.
The same Gentleman informs us, that Major General Lord Stirling, with a formidable body of the American army, crossed the North-River a few days ago, in order to chastize the plundering herd from New-York, under the command of Gen. Clinton. - - - - General Maxwell, with his brigade, has also marched to co-operate with his Lordship's detachment.
We hear that a Packet has arrived at New-York with the August Mail, which contains such dispatches for the Commander in Chief, as have given the tories and refugees
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great uneasiness. It is said New-York is shortly to be evacuated, and that those gentry are petitioning for a gar- rison to be left there; promising to do duty as soldiers, and to give the garrison every assistance in their power. The day of their distress seems to be hastening fast upon them.
We have just received information that ten regiments of the enemy have received orders to embark at New-York for the West-Indies.
In the night of the 29th Sept. Governor Livingston re- ceived intelligence of the enemy's intentions to attack Egg- Harbour, and at three o'clock in the morning called a Council, and took measures to defeat their enterprize.
General Count PULASKI, with his Legion of Horse and Foot, arrived here on Sunday last from Pennsylvania. Monday evening the General received intelligence that the enemy were about to make a descent upon Egg-Harbour, and yesterday morning he marched for that place with all his troops, in high spirits and with alacrity.
"To the unspeakable loss of a much bereaved and mourn- ing Husband and Children, died, of a tedious sickness, on the 27th ult. in the morning, Mrs. CHRISTIAN STELLE, the very amiable and much lamented Wife of the Rev. ISAAC STELLE, at Piscataway in East-Jersey, in the fifty-fifth year of her age. Her remains were the next day decently interred in the publick burying-ground in the town afore- said. On which occasion a very applicable sermon was preached the same day, on Ezek. xxIv. 16, by the Rev. BENJAMIN MILLER. She was a most obliging wife, a very tender-hearted mother, and a peaceable neighbour. In a word, such were her moral virtues, that wide room is left for liberal minds to enlarge on the subject. She made an early profession of Jesus Christ, and adorned the same with a becoming life; and in her last hours manifested a freedom to bid farewell to all things here below."
Psal. 112. 6. The righteous shall be in everlasting re- membrance.
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By virtue of an Act of the Legislature of this state, passed at Princeton, the 16th day of September last, the Supreme Court in future are to be held at Hillsbor- ough, in the county of Somerset, on the first Tuesdays in April and September; and at Burlington on the second Tuesdays in May and November annually. And all writs returnable to the next term, are to be tested at Crosswicks on the 16th day of May, 1778.
The sheriffs of the several counties are requested to furnish the Printer, as early as may be, with the names of the gentlemen who shall be returned at the annual Elec- tion, on Tuesday next, to represent this state in Council and General Assembly.
BY HIS EXCELLENCY
WILLIAM LIVINGSTON, Esquire
Governor, Captain-General and Commander in Chief in and over the State of New-Jersey, and territories thereunto belonging, Chancellor and Ordinary in the same.
A PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS it has been represented to me, That a Number of Persons in the County of Monmouth, and particularly those hereinafter mentioned, have committed divers Rob- beries, Violences and Depredations on the Persons and Property of the Inhabitants there of, and in order to screen themselves from Justice, secrete themselves in the said county : I HAVE, therefore, thought proper, by and with the Advice of the Council of this State, to issue this Proclamation, hereby promising the Rewards herein men- tioned to any Person or Persons who shall apprehend and
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secure, in any Gaol of this State, the following Persons or Offenders, to wit: For JACOB FAGAN1 and STEPHEN EM- MONS, alias BURKE,2 Five Hundred Dollars each; and for SAMUEL WRIGHT, late of Shrewsbury, WILLIAM VANNOTE, JACOB VANNOTE, JONATHAN BURDGE and ELIJAH GROOM,3 One Hundred Dollars each. And all Judges, Justices of the Peace and other Officers or Ministers of Justice, and all other the Subjects of this State are hereby required to be aiding and assisting in the Apprehension of the above Offenders, as they tender the Welfare of their Country and are ambitious of signalizing themselves in the glorious cause of Liberty and Virtue.
Given under my Hand and Seal at Arms, in Prince- ton, the fifth Day of October, in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ser- enty-eight.
WIL LIVINGSTON.
By His Excellency's Command, BOWES REED, Dep. Sec.
1 Jacob Fagan, "a monster in wickedness," was one of a band known as "Pine Robbers." A resident of Shrewsbury, in Monmouth county, he espoused, nominally, the Tory cause, but actually became a highwayman. Attempting to rob the residence of Captain Benjamin Dennis and murder his family, near Howell's Mills, Fagan was later betrayed by a comrade. A party of Whigs in ambush killed the outlaw, and his body was buried. So incensed were the inhabitants that they disinterred Fagan's remains, and, after heaping indignities upon the corpse, enveloped it in tarred cloth and chains. The body was hung from a chestnut tree on Colt's Neck road, near Monmouth court house. Finally the birds picked the flesh from the skeleton and the bones fell to the ground.
2 Stephen Emmons, alias Burke, was killed in January, 1779, by Cap- tain Benjamin Dennis, who had been active in the death of Fagan. Emmons was famous as a "Pine Robber."
3 The Vannotes, Burdge and Groom were also members of the freebooters fraternity in the old county of Monmouth. Many who were implicated in these crimes were men of respectable families, and some were highly con- nected with the plantation-owning aristocracy of that section of New Jersey. Of so atrocious a character were the crimes of the "Pine Robbers" that even those in New York, who were keenest to palliate massacre and robbery, when done for the Tory cause, refused to offer excuses for the atrocities committed in the county of Monmouth.
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ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS REWARD.
BROKE out of Trenton gaol last night, the two follow- ing villains, viz. CHRISTOPHER LOOP, about six feet high, black straight hair, swarthy complexion, and is a down looking fellow, resembles an Indian, and is very much pitted with small-pox; he is about 20 years old. Also PHILIP BEVEN, about five feet six or seven inches high, short hair and full faced, a down looking fellow, very much pitted with small-pox, has a scar on the right side of his nose, and is about 21 years old. It is needless to describe their cloaths, as they will probably change them. Whoever takes up the said villains, shall have Fifty Dol- lars for each, paid by
HUGH RUSSEL, Gaoler.
Trenton, October 4, 1778.
To be sold by publick vendue, on Saturday, the 17th inst. a number of CAST HORSES. The sale to begin at the Market-house in Trenton, at twelve o'clock on said day.
By order of Moore Furman, Esq. D. Q. M. G.
PETER GORDON, Q. M. Trenton.
October 6, 1778.
TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS REWARD.
STOLEN from the subscriber, on the 28th of September, at night, two three years old half-blooded MARES; the one is a light brown, with a dull star in her forehead, about fourteen hands and an inch high, long and square built, long tail and mane. The other is a light sorrel, about fourteen hands high, with a blaze in her face a little to one side, with a long switch tail, fine limb'd, and one or both her hind legs white; they are both natural trotters, and each of them marked by wearing neck yokes. The
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brown mare has never been shod before she was taken away; the sorrel has old shoes on. Whoever takes up the said mares, and returns them to the owner, and secures the thief or thieves, so that he or they may be brought to jus- tice, shall have the above reward and reasonable charges, or Fifty Dollars for either of the creatures, paid by
Basken-Ridge, Sept. 29, 1778.
BENJAMIN VAIL.
On SATURDAY next The 10th instant October, WILL BE SOLD, at the Vendue-store in Trenton,
AN assortment of MERCHANDISE, such as broad-cloths, plush, linens; deer-skins and deer-skin breeches; hand- kerchiefs; spelling-books; ivory and coarse combs; but- tons ; shoemakers' tools ; shoes, stockings; silver watches ; pint, half pint, gill and wine glasses; also feather beds, bedding, tables, chairs, &c. - likewise two horses, two riding-chairs, and some old harness, and a variety of other articles too tedious to enumerate.
Goods for sale received at said store at any time, by
FRANCIS WITT, JACOB BENJAMIN.
THIS DAY, at the house of GEORGE PAYNE, at Chestnut-Neck, on Great Egg-Harbour river, WILL BE SOLD BY PUBLICK VENDUE, Agreeable to an order from the Judge of the Admiralty, THE CARGO OF THE PRIZE SCHOONER Fame, captured by the armed sloop Comet, Yelverton Taylor, Commander ; consisting of a quantity of excellent Jamaica spirit, sugar, melasses, coffee, and pimento. And
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TO-MORROW, at MAY's LANDING, on Great Egg-harbour river, will also be sold a PUBLIC VENDUE, agree- able to a like order,
THE Cargo of the prize schooner Hannah, captured by the aforesaid armed sloop; consisting of the following articles, viz .- A quantity of coarse salt; Glauber's and Epsom's salts; loaf sugar; pepper; China; topsail duck and other brown linens; a valuable assortment of white linens ; checks and stripes of different kinds; chintzes and printed linens; handkerchiefs; diapers; dimoties ; cambricks and lawns; a quantity of hardware and iron- mongery; nails of various kinds in small casks; clout nails; frying pans; a quantity of brushes of different kinds, &c. &c.
The sales to continue until the whole is sold.
JOHN STOKES, Marshal. Oct. 7.
JOHN POPE,
Has for sale at his Store in Mansfield, and county of Burlington,
JAMAICA spirit, Bohea tea, coffee, loaf sugar, pepper ; beaver hats; allum, copperas, camphor, rhubarb; an assortment of cotton and linen handkerchiefs; and a quantity of foreign and continental SALT.
To all whom it may concern.
State of New- NOTICE is hereby given, that a Court of Jersey, ss. Š Admiralty will be held in Allentown, at the house of Gilbert Barton, on Wednesday, the 21st day of October inst. at ten o'clock in the forenoon of the same day, then and there to try
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the truth of the facts alledged in the bill of William Dunlop and Moses Griffing, (who as well, &c.) against the sloop or vessel called the Commerce, her tackle, apparel, furniture and cargo; to the end and intent that the owner or owners of the said sloop and her cargo, or any person concerned therein, may appear and shew cause, if any they have, why the same should not be condemned according to the prayer of the said bill.
By order of the Judge,
Oct. 5, 1778. BOWES REED, Pro. Reg.
AT an Inferior Court of Common-Pleas held for the county of Salem, on the 15th instant, were returned inqui- sitions for joining the army of the King of Great-Britain, and for other offences against the form of allegiance, found against Abraham Saunders, John Murrow, John Booth, Erasmus Kent, junior, Matthew Money, Obadiah Wood, John Booden, John Stallcope, Joseph Munyen, Peter Kearney, Elisha Hall, John Youren, Hugh Copperthi- wait, Moses Atkinson, Richard Meed, Jacob Van Meter, Philip Adams, William Pearce, James Sutton, John Sut- ton, Thomas Sutton, Jacob Sutton, Israel Elwell, Reuben Langley, Abdon Abbott, jun. Robert Whitacar, Ananias Nelson, John Cowman,. Joseph Kindal, Richard Smith, Jacob Garrison, John Daniels, James Flanagan, Trivis Jenkins, John Sparks, John Sparks, jun. Lewis Reed, Pheneas Dunham, Samuel Davis, Samuel Jamison, Wil- liam Rawson, Henry Corse, Thomas Clarke, George Johnson, Joseph Hilton, Henry Langbog, Thomas Lamb, Joseph Hewlings, Noah Kerby, James Dougherty, An- thony Noble, Jerman Davis, Michael Miller, James Dean, Moses Sutton, Christopher Raindoleer and George Clark, jun. Proclamation was made in open Court, and infor- mation given, that if they, or any on their behalf, or any persons interested, would traverse, a trial should be awarded and an opportunity of preventing forfeitures given ; no traverses were offered: Therefore NOTICE is
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hereby given, that if neither they, nor any on their be- half, nor any persons interested, should traverse at the next Court held for the county of Salem, on the first Tuesday in December next, the inquisitions will be taken to be true, and final judgment entered thereon in favour of the State; their personal estates will then be forfeited to the use of the State, and their lands taken into the hands of the Commissioners, until the Legislature shall take further order therein respecting the lands.
THOMAS SAYRE, Esq. and | Commis- WILLIAM GARRISON, 5 sioners.
Salem county, Sept. 26, 1778.
-New-Jersey Gazette, Vol. 1, No. 44, Oct. 7, 1778.
Piles Grove, Salem county, West-Jersey, Oct. 9, 1778.
·
TWENTY FIVE POUNDS reward. Stole from the Forks of Little Egg harbour, about two o'clock last Thursday morn- ing, a likely quarter blooded sorrel chestnut HORSE, six years old last spring, fourteen hands and a half high, has a blaze down his face, wind galled in his hind legs, his mane hangs on both sides, some of which is worn off by the collar, just below the withers, and has a switch tail. He is a leader in a team. He trots well, carries his head low, and when rained up, he keeps throwing it up and down. Whoever secures the thief and horse, shall, upon conviction of the thief, have Twenty Pounds reward, and for the horse alone, Five Pounds and reasonable charges.
ANTHONY SHARP.
POSTSCRIPT.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 10. Extract of a letter from Springfield, New-Jersey, dated Oct. 6, 1778.
"Since I came home, I snatched a moment to give you a small account of the enemy's proceedings, and now I take another. They possess the ground between the North and Hackinsack rivers, near the half of Bergen county,
-
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which they were very busy stripping. Upwards of one hundred vessels, some pretty large, went up to bring off their forage; several have returned, of these we have burnt four; these were loaded with forage and the petti- coats of old women. The hay was pressed, and stalls made, and to appearance ready to put directly to sea. Yesterday they crossed Hackinsack river, and possessed the heights on the east of Passaick river, driving and carrying off with great industry till near night, when they returned into their old quarters over Hackinsack. Which way they intend to stretch their course next is uncertain. Great preparations were made at Staten island to invade us at Elizabeth town and Woodbridge, and Vaughan, the fire brand who has the command on the island, swears by the Eternal God, he will burn every house in Elizabeth town. Our comfort is that he as well as other devils has his chain, beyond this he cannot go. Our militia here seem to manifest their usual spirit. The distance of our grand army leaves us indeed much exposed; but if we are invaded, we are determined to yield our country but by inches, and to sell every inch slow and dear."
By accounts from Little Egg Harbour, we learn that on Tuesday afternoon the enemy landed about four or five hundred men out of the sloops and rowgallies, which they had brought up Little Egg Harbour river as far as capt. Pain's house, which they burnt with several vessels scut- tled in that part of the river, the owners not having time . to move them higher up. And it is thought they would have gone up to the Forks, in order to destroy the vessels there, if they had not discovered that col. Proctor, with his artillery, had taken possession of an important post upon the river betwixt them and that place; and on Wednes- day evening, they embarked in great hurry and confusion, upon hearing that some American reinforcements were arrived. On Thursday morning the Continental forces, consisting of col. Proctor's artillery, Polaski's legion, and New-Jersey militia, were upon their march to Great Egg
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Harbour, at which place it was expected the enemy would attempt to land. None of the stores, public or private, were destroyed, being moved at the first of the alarm, and capt. Pain had fortunately carried off his stock and house- hold furniture. The Philadelphia militia, on Thursday noon, were within sixteen miles of Little Egg Harbour, in high spirits .- The Pennsylvania Evening Post, October 9, 1778.
Last Wednesday evening the enemy left Egg-harbour, after destroying several vessels, and the houses of a few gentlemen remarkable for their attachment to the welfare of this country .- The Pennsylvania Packet, October 10, 1778.
OFFICE for the Sale of REAL ESTATES.
TO BE SOLD
A Valuable plantation and tract of land, situate about ten miles from Trenton, up the river road, in Hunterdon county, West-New-Jersey, containing 370 acres; 200 acres cleared; about 20 acres of meadow made, and ten more to make; remarkably well fenced and watered; the remainder woodland excellent good; part of the land rough but produces fine crops and grass, the fields prop- erly divided with plenty of water in each, a young apple orchard and a good garden; there are on premises a large stone dwelling-house, two stories high, with a stone kitchen adjoining, an excellent Dutch barn with sheds on each side that will contain 20 horses, with several other con- venient buildings.
For a more particular description of the above premises and the terms of sale, apply to EDWARD BONSALL, or ABRAHAM SHOEMAKER, at his office in Fourth street, between Spruce and Pine-streets, and opposite the end of Union street, where Deeds, Mortgages, Bonds Wills, and all other kind of Writings are done with the greatest
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care, neatness and dispatch, and money let out at interest. -The Pennsylvania Packet, October 10, 1778.
New-York, October 12. Last Wednesday six Light Dragoons belonging to Seldon's Regiment, were taken at a Place called King-street, near Byram River, by a Party. under the Command of Lieut. Col. Simcoe, who at the same Time burnt a Store with a considerable Quantity of Merchandize .- New-York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, October 12, 1778.
Came to the subscriber's living in Manington, near Salem, West-Jersey, a roan Horse, supposed to be twelve years old. The owner is desired to prove his property, pay charges and take him away.
CHARLES BILDERBACK -The Pennsylvania Packet, October 13, 1778.
From the PENNSYLVANIA PACKET.
"Virtuous woman is never solicitous to resound her chastity, although she feels a proper degree of resentment at being called a Whore even by implication."
Mr. DUNLAP,
I HAVE very little faith in dreams, but whenever those unaccountable visions of the night make such strong im- pressions upon the sensorium as to leave whole pages of what I dreamt I had read or heard, it is my practice to commit them to writing early in the morning, and at my leisure to remark the difference between my sleeping and waking vagaries. I am an old man, and have been thought a good friend to American Liberty, but too insignificant to be called on to carry a musket. I amuse myself with reading newspapers, conversing with my neighbours about the times, applauding the young fellows who turn out cheerfully against the common enemy, and encouraging such as appear a little timid.
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I was last night under my pipe reading your packet of the 10th of September, some parts of which led me into deep reflection, and while I was taking a general view of public affairs, the conduct of each of the United States, and of their representatives in Congress, I felt asleep.
In this state of freedom from the cares of the world, a little fairy maid, ten thousand times handsomer than any Tory Lady in Philadelphia with her top-gallant-royal com- mode,1 stood at the foot of my oaken elbow chair, delivered me a paper containing the identical words here-under written. She dropt a curtesy, said, "Old man, Virtue is its own reward," and vanished.
"FACTS."
"The largest return of the army commanded by Major- "General Sullivan in his late attempt against Rhode- "Island, amounted to ten thousand men; the Militia of "the Eastern States who had joined him could not there- "fore exceed five thousand.
"The firing of a tar barrel and the discharge of a cannon "collected instantly four thousand of the New Jersey "Militia, who joined and co-operated with the army under "His Excellency General Washington in his pursuit of "the enemy through that State-and-N. B. this was in "the time of harvest.
"The Eastern Volunteers, who composed about one "moiety of General Sullivan's army, took occasion to return "home before the General's retreat, leaving him and the "other moiety of troops on the island.
"The Jersey Militia continued with General Washington "till the enemy was routed, and their assistance no longer "necessary.
"General Sullivan seems to complain a little of the "Eastern Militia going off and reducing his army to little "more than the amount of those of the enemy.
"General Washington declares his deep sense of the ser-
1A style of head dress affected by Royalist women.
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"vices of the New Jersey Militia in opposing the enemy "in their march from Philadelphia, and for the aid which "they had given him in harrassing and impeding their mo- "tions, so as to gain time for his troops to come up with "them.
"Congress by their resolves of the tenth ult. declared "their high sense of the patriotic exertions made by the "four Eastern States on the late expedition against Rhode- "Island.
"BUT,
"By no resolve have Congress ever manifested any sense "of the patriotic exertions of the State of New-Jersey, "whose Militia have twice put to the route nearly the "whole army of the enemy in their marches through that "State."-
I had finished reading this paper, and was entering upon reflections in order to reconcile the conduct of Con- gress from a persuasion that they never wilfully err, when my pipe dropped out of my hand; the clattering upon the floor startled and awoke me.
Now I am awake, let me, Mr. Printer, say what I should probably have dreamt had not the breaking pipe disturbed me.
From the sentiment which I entertain of the wisdom of Congress, I am perfectly satisfied the partiality implied in the fairy tale did not arise from a predilection in that august body to any particular State or States, but from mere inadvertency - Inadvertence, howbeit the common failing of human nature, should not too often appear in the acts of those who are appointed guardians of an infant empire and with the most profound respect for the FREE CHOICE OF THE PEOPLE, I claim the liberty of the press to inform them that all their proceeding in and out of doors are inspected by
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