USA > New Jersey > Historical collections of the state of New Jersey : containing a general collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, etc. relating to its history and antiquities, with geographical desciptions of every township in the state. > Part 45
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willing to obey his orders at all times ; but in the situation he had been in, he thought it by no means warrantable to bring on an action, er words to that effect.
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When the action had become general, the British army occupied the eminence east of the brook, somewhere in the vicinity of F., then covered by an apple orchard. The main body of Washington's army were stationed at E. E., on land considerably lower than the enemy. An advanced corps of the Americans under Wayne was on high ground, nearly as much elevated as that of the British at W., close by a barn (now down) about twelve rods back of the parson- age, while a park of artillery were on Comb's Hill, (H.) a height commanding that occupied by the enemy.
The British grenadiers several times crossed the fence, (G.) and advanced toward the barn, but were as often driven back by the fire of the troops stationed there, and the artillery from Comb's Hill. At length Col. Monckton, their leader, made to them a spirit- ed address, which was distinctly heard by the Americans at the barn and parsonage, distant only twenty or thirty rods. They then advanced in beautiful order, as though on parade. Such was the regularity of their march, that it is said a cannon ball from Comb's Hill disarmed a whole platoon. As they approached within a few rods of the barn, Wayne ordered his men to pick out the officers ; they thereupon poured in a terrible fire, when almost every Brit- ish officer fell, among whom was their leader, the gallant Col. Monckton. The spot near where he was killed is marked to the present day by an oak stump in the ploughed field about eight rods NE. of the parsonage. A desperate hand to hand struggle then occurred for the possession of his body, in which the Americans finally succeeded, and the grenadiers were driven back, and did not, it is believed, again advance beyond the fence. At night the ene- my encamped for a few hours behind the woods L. L., in the vicin- ity of I., and after the moon had set, secretly retreated towards the highlands of Navisink. During the action, Morgan lay with his corps at Richmond's (now Shumar's) mills, three miles south of the courthouse, where he had for guides Col. Joseph Haight, Tunis and Samuel Forman. For some unknown reason he did not partici- pate in the events of the day. He was waiting for orders in an agony of indecision, walking to and fro for hours within sound of the conflict, uncertain what course to pursue. Had he received directions to attack the enemy in rear with his fresh troops, when exhausted by fatigue and heat, their whole army might have been taken.
Comparatively few of the Americans were killed on the west side of the brook; those in the vicinity of the barn suffered severe- ly. The most desperate part of the conflict was in the vicinity of where Monckton fell. There the British grenadiers lay in heaps like sheaves on a harvest-field. Our informant states that they dragged the corpses by the heels to shallow pits dug for the pur- pose, and slightly covered them with earth ; he saw thirteen buried in one hole. For many years after, their graves were indicated by the luxuriance of the vegetation. Among the enemy's dead was a sergeant of grenadiers, designated as the " high sergeant." He was
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the tallest man in the British army, measuring seven feet and four inches in height.
The day was unusually hot even for the season, and both armies suffered severely ; the British more than the Americans, because in their woollen uniforms, and burdened with their knapsacks and accoutrements, while the latter were divested of their packs and superfluous clothing. The tongues of great numbers were so swollen as to render them incapable of speaking. Many of both armies perished solely from heat, and after the battle were seen dead upon the field without mark or wound, under trees and beside the rivulet, where they had crawled for shade and water. The countenances of the dead became so blackened as to render it im- possible to recognize individuals. Several houses in Freehold were filled with the wounded of the enemy, left on their retreat in the care of their surgeons and nurses. Every room in the courthouse was filled. They lay on the floor, on straw, and the supplications of the wounded and the moans of the dying presented a scene of wo. As fast as they died, their corpses were promiscuously thrown into a pit on the site of the present residence of Dr. Throckmorton, and slightly covered with earth.
The story of a woman who rendered essential service to the Americans in the battle is founded on fact. She was a female of masculine mould, and dressed in a mongrel suit, with the petticoats of her own sex and an artillery-man's coat, cocked hat and feath- ers. The anecdote usually related is as follows. Before the armies engaged in general action, two of the advanced batteries com- menced a severe fire against each other. As the heat was exces- sive, Molly, who was the wife of a cannonier, constantly ran to bring her husband water from a neighboring spring. While pass- ing to his post she saw him fall, and on hastening to his assist- ance, found him dead. At the same moment she heard an officer order the cannon to be removed from its place, complaining he could not fill his post with as brave a man as had been killed. " No," said the intrepid Molly, fixing her eyes upon the officer, " the cannon shall not be removed for the want of some one to serve it; since my brave husband is no more, I will use my utmost exertions · to avenge his death." The activity and courage with which she performed the office of cannonier, during the action, attracted the attention of all who witnessed it, and finally of Washington himself, who afterward gave her the rank of lieutenant, and granted her half-pay during life. She wore an epaulette, and was called ever after Captain Molly.
Among the American wounded was Lieut. Tallman. He was shot through the throat, and crawled behind the barn to die. Two soldiers came to his relief; he told them to let him alone, as he had but a few minutes to live. They lifted him from the ground, and were retreating with him across the orchard in the rear of the par- sonage, when a musket-ball passing through the hat of one of them, he hastily abandoned his charge, and ran away. The other sup-
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ported him to the dwelling of a Mr. Cook, in the vicinity; where also was carried another wounded officer, Capt. Nealey. They were both confined a long time, and received the kindest treatment from the family. Between the latter officer and a daughter of Mr. Cook, who had assiduously attended upon him, arose a romantic attachment, finally resulting in marriage. Capt. Cook, of the Vir- ginia corps, was shot through the lungs. He was ordered by his surgeon not to speak. An officer came into the room, and on his not answering a question, went out and reported him dead. Upon this intelligence, Washington ordered a coffin to be placed under his window. This officer recovered, lived several years after, and was a frequent visitor at the residence of a gentleman now living near Freehold.
Among the officers of artillery was Col. David Ray, of whom we introduce the following amusing anecdote. In the morning, Ray, somewhat in advance of a militia regiment, observed a Brit- ish dragoon leave his ranks and come toward him. As he ap- proached, Ray perceived he was mounted on an elegant horse, and as his own was an indifferent steed, he determined to possess him- self of it. When within 50 or 60 yards, Ray, who was an excel- lent shot, felt perfectly sure of the horse, and deliberately drawing a pistol, coolly aimed and fired at the rider, but without effect. He fired the other pistol, and that too missed. The trooper was now within a few yards, dashing toward him at a furious speed, his eyes flashing vengeance, and sword uplifted for the fatal blow. There was no time for further ceremony. The colonel abruptly wheeled, put spurs to his horse, and galloped to a barn, the dra- goon after him. Around the barn, and through one door and out. at the other, went both pursuer and pursued. Ray galloped for safety to the regiment, passed in front, the trooper still at his heels. More than 100 muskets were discharged at him, but he escaped unharmed, galloped back to his regiment, and was seen to take his place in line. The colonel, in giving this incident to our informant, laughed heartily, declaring he "never saw such a daring fellow."
The following anecdote, extracted from a French work, reflects credit upon the humanity and forbearance of the British command- er. A general officer of the American army advanced with a score of men under the English batteries to reconnoitre their po- sition. His aid-de-camp, struck by a ball, fell at his side. The officers and orderly dragoons fled precipitately. The general, though under the fire of the cannon, approached the wounded man to see if he had any signs of life remaining, or whether any aid could be afforded him. Finding the wound had been mortal, he turned away his head with emotion, and slowly rejoined the group who had got out of the reach of the pieces. General Clin- ton knew that the Marquis de Lafayette generally rode a white horse ; it was upon a white horse the officer who retired so slowly was mounted; Clinton desired the gunners not to fire. This noble forbearance probably saved M. de Lafayette's life, for he it was.
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The annexed account of the depredations of the British army, when in this county, was communicated to the Jersey Gazette, a short time after the battle of Monmouth. It is supposed to have been written by Col. Thomas Henderson, an intelligent and active friend of the American cause. His dwelling was among those burnt. He was a member of congress after the adoption of the constitution, and vice-president of the council of New Jersey at the time of Shay's insurrection, and was acting governor when Gov. Howell was absent in Pennsylvania with some Jersey troops.
I have been waiting from the time the enemy passed through this country till the present, in expectation some of your correspondents would, through the channel of your paper, have given to the public an account of their conduct to the inhabitants ; but not having seen any as yet, and as it has been such as every honest person ought to despise, I take this opportunity of giving a short sketch of it, which, if you think will be any satisfaction to your readers, you may insert in your paper.
The devastation they liave made in some parts of Freehold exceeds, perhaps, any they have made for the distance in their route through this state ; having, in the neighborhood above the courthouse, burnt and destroyed eight dwelling-houses, all on farms adjoining each other, besides barns and outhouses. The first they burnt was iny own, then Ben- jamin Covenhoven's, George Walker's, Hannah Solomon's, Benjamin Van Cleave's, Da- vid Covenhoven's, and Garrit Vanderveer's ; John Benham's house and barn they wan- tonly tore and broke down so as to render them useless. "It may not be improper to ob- serve that the two first houses mentioned burnt, adjoined the farm, and were in full view of the place where Gen. Clinton was quartered. In the neighborhood below the court- house, they burnt the houses of Matthias Lane, Cornelius Covenhoven, John Antonidas, and one Emmons ; these were burnt the morning before their defeat. Some have the effrontery to say, that the British officers by no means countenance or allow of burning. Did not the wanton burning of Charleston and Kingston, in Esopus, besides many other instances, sufficiently evince to the contrary, I think their conduct in Freehold may. The officers have been seen to exult at the sight of the flames, and heard to declare they could never conquer America until they burnt every rebel's house, and murdered man, woman, and child. Besides, this consideration has great weight with me towards con- firming the above, that, after their defeat, through a retreat of 25 miles, in which they passed the houses of a number well-affected to their country, they never attempted to destroy one. Thus much for their burning.
To enter into a minute detail of the many insults and abuses those inhabitants met with that remained in their houses. would take up too much room in your paper ; I shall, therefore, content myself with giving you an account of Gen. Clinton's conduct to one of my neighbors, a woman of 70 years of age, and unblemished reputation, with whom he made his quarters. After he had been for some time in her house, and taking notice that most of the goods were removed, he observed that she need not have sent off her effects for safety, that he would have secured her, and asked if the goods could not be brought back again. The old lady objected, but upon the repeated assurance of Gen. Clinton, in person, that they should be secured for her, she consented, and sent a person he had ordered, along with a wagon, to show where they were secreted. When the goods were brought to the door, which was in the latter part of the day, the old lady* applied to Gen. Clinton in person for permission to have them broughit in and taken care of, but he refused, and ordered a guard set over the goods. The morning following, the old lady finding most of her goods plundered and stolen, applied again to him for leave to take care of the remainder. He then allowed her to take care of some trifling articles, which were all she saved, not having (when I saw her, and had the above information from her) a change of dress for herself, or husband, or scarcely for any of her family. With regard to personal treatment, she was turned out of her bedroom and obliged to lie with her wenches, either on the floor, without bed or bedding, in an entry exposed to the pass- ing or repassing of all, &c., or sit in a chair in a milk-room, too bad for any of the offi- cers to lie in, else it is probable she would have been deprived of that also. If the first officers of the British army are so divested of honor and humanity, what may we not expect from the soldiery ?
* This lady was Mrs. William Conover. She resided two miles west of the court- house, on the Burlington road .- Compilers Hist. Coll. N. J.
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The annexed incident, which occurred in Freehold, in the war of the revolution, evinces an act of bravery in a mere youth, that renders it worthy of record.
On a fine morning in May, 1780, as the family of Mr. David Forman, sheriff of the county, were at breakfast, a soldier almost out of breath suddenly burst into the room, and stated, that as he and another soldier were conducting to the courthouse two men, taken up on suspicion at Colt's Neck, they had knocked down his comrade, seized his musket, and escaped. The sheriff, on hearing this relation, immediately mounted his horse, and galloped to the Courthouse to alarm the guard. His son Tunis, a lad of about 17, and small of his age, seized a musket, loaded only with small shot to kill blackbirds in the corn-fields, and putting on a cartridge-box, dispatched his brother Samuel* upstairs for the bayonet, and then, without waiting for it, hurried off alone in the pursuit.
After running in a westerly direction about a mile, he discovered the men sitting on a fence, who, on perceiving him, ran into a swamp. As the morning was warm, he hastily pulled off his coat and shoes, and dashed in after them, keeping close upon them for over a mile, when they got out of the swamp, and each climbed into separate trees. As he came up, they discharged at him the musket taken from the guard. The ball whistled over his head. He felt for his bayonet, and, at that moment, perceived that, in his haste, it was left behind. He then pointed his gun at the man with the musket, but deemed it imprudent to fire, reflecting, even if he killed him, his comrade could easily master such a stripling as him- self. He compelled the man to throw down the musket, by threat- ening him with death if he did not instantly comply. Then, loading the prize from his cartridge-box, he forced his prisoners down from the trees, and, armed with his two loaded muskets, he drove them toward the courthouse, careful, however, to keep them far apart, to prevent conversation. Passing by a spring, they requested per- mission to drink.
" No !" replied the intrepid boy, understanding their design. " You can do as well without it as myself; you shall have some by and.bý."
Soon after, his father, at the head of a party of soldiers in the pursuit, galloped past in the road within a short distance. Tunis hallooed, but the clattering of their horses' hoofs drowned his voice. At length he reached the village, and lodged his prisoners in the county prison.
It was subsequently discovered that these men, whose names were John and Robert Smith, were brothers, from near Philadelphia, that they had robbed and murdered a Mr. Boyd, a collector of taxes in Chester co., and, when taken, were on their way to join the British. As they had been apprehended on suspicion merely of
.* Now Dr. Samuel Forman of Freehold, from whose lips the compilers had the nat- ration.
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being refugees, no definite charge could then be brought against them. A few days after, Sheriff Forman saw an advertisement in a Pennsylvania paper, describing them, with the facts above- mentioned, and a reward of $20,000 (continental money) offered for their apprehension. He, accompanied by his son, took them on there, where they were tried and executed. On entering Phila- delphia, young Tunis was carried through the streets in triumph upon the shoulders of the military. In the latter part of the war, this young man became very active, and was the peculiar favorite of Gen. David Forman. He died within the last ten years.
Ancient Church near Englishtown.
GEN. DAVID FORMAN, above alluded to, was born near English- town, in this township. In the war, he was the most influential man in the county, commanded the Jersey troops at the battle of Germantown, and was high in the confidence of Washington. Afterward he was judge of the County Court, and a member of the Council of the State. His person was commanding, his address gentlemanly. Possessed of great fearlessness and energy, his name struck terror to the wood-robbers and tories, toward whom he exercised a vindictiveness, that only the severity of the times could justify. Wo to the guilty culprits who fell in his power; without waiting for superfluous ceremony, the gallows was generally their fate. His complexion was dark and swarthy, and such was the terror he inspired among them. that he acquired the name of Black David, and sometimes Devil David, in contradistinction to David Forman the sheriff. Were it not for his exertions, the county would have suffered far more from its intestine enemies. He died about thirty years since.
Near the battle-field of Monmouth stands the first Presbyterian church of Freehold, erected in 1752. It is of wood, shingled, and painted white. It stands partially enveloped in a grove of forest trees, is surrounded by an old graveyard, and has an ancient and venerable appearance. It is on the site of a former one, and public
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worship has been held on this venerated place for about two cen- turies. On this spot, within the walls of the church, Whitefield, David Brainard, and the two Tennents, have labored and prayed.
At the time of the battle, a person, while sitting on a grave-stone in the yard, was mortally wounded by a cannon-ball. He was carried into the church, and there died. His blood stained the floor, and remains plainly visible to the present day, a melancholy memento, in this house of God, of those dark and troublesome times. Col. Monckton, of the British grenadiers, killed at Monmouth, lies buried within six feet of the west end of the church. He was a gallant officer, and of splendid personal appearance. No monu- ment is there, but his name, rudely cut on the building, marks the spot.
The Rev. William Tennent, remarkable for his piety, and devo- tedness to the Christian cause, was, for a long period, the pastor of this church. He came from Ireland in 1718 with his father, the Rev. William Tennent, and was educated under his tuition. at the Log College on the banks of the Neshaminey. Being of a serious turn, he resolved to devote himself to the gospel ministry, and com- menced the study of divinity under the direction of his brother, the Rev. Gilbert Tennent, pastor of the church at New Brunswick. While there, he was thrown into a remarkable trance, and remained apparently dead for a number of days. The following account is from a Life of Mr. Tennent, ascribed to Elias Boudinot, LL.D., and first published in the Evangelical Intelligencer, a work printed in Philadelphia :*
After a regular course of study in theology, Mr. Tennent was preparing for his exami- nation by the Presbytery as a candidate for the gospel ministry. His intense application affected his health, and brought on a pain in his breast and a slight hectic. He soon be- carne ernaciated, and at length was like a living skeleton. His life was now threatened. He was attended by a physician, a young man who was attached to him by the strictest and warmest friendship. He grew worse and worse, till little hope of his life was left. In this situation his spirits failed him, and he began to entertain doubts of his final hap- piness. He was conversing one morning with his brother, in Latin, on the state of his soul, when he fainted and died away. After the usual time, he was laid out on a board, according to the common practice of the country, and the neighborhood were invited to attend his funeral on the next day. In the evening, his physician and friend returned from a ride in the country, and was afflicted beyond measure at the news of his death. He could not be persuaded that it was certain ; and, on being told that one of the per- sons who had assisted in layang out the body thought he had observed a little tremor of the flesh under the arm, although the body was cold and stiff, he endeavored to ascertain the fact. He first put his own hand into warm water, to make it as sensible as possible, and then felt under the arm, and at the heart, and affirmed that he felt an unusual warmth, though no one else could. He had the body restored to a warm bed, and in- sisted that the people who had been invited to the funeral should be requested not to at- tend. To this the brother objected, as absurd,-the eyes being sunk, the lips discolored, and the whole body cold and stiff. However, the doctor finally prevailed, and all proba- ble means were used to discover symptoms of returning life ; but the third day arrived, and no hopes were entertained of success but by the doctor, who never left him night nor
* The evidence establishing the truth of this trance, is undoubted. Another letter was written by the Rev. Mr. Woodhull (the successor of the Rev. Wmn. Tennent) to Mr. Boudinot, in which he gives the account of the trance, as related to him by Mr. Tennent himself. This letter, which we have seen, is now in the possession of Professor Dod, of Princeton .- Compilers His. Coll. of N. J.
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day. The people were again invited, and assembled to attend the funeral. The doctor still objected, and at last confined his request for delay to one hour, then to half an hour, and finally to a quarter of an hour. He had discovered that the tongue was much swol- len, and threatened to crack : he was endeavoring to soften it by some emollient oint. ment put upon it with a feather, when the brother came in, about the expiration of the last period, and, mistaking what the doctor was doing for an attempt to feed him, inani- fested some resentment, and in a spirited tone said, " It is shameful to be feeding a life- less corpse,"-and insisted, with earnestness, that the funeral should immediately pro- ceed. At this critical and important moment, the body, to the great alarm and astonish ment of all present, opened its eyes, gave a dreadful groan, and sank again into apparent death. This put an end to all thoughits of burying him, and cvery effort was again em- ployed in hopes of bringing about a specdy resuscit tion. In about an hour the eyes again opened, a heavy groan proceeded from the body, and again all appearance of ani- mation vanished. In another hour, life seemed to return with more power, and a com- plete revival took place, to the great joy of the family and friends, and to the no sinall astonishment and conviction of very many who had been ridiculing the idea of restoring to life a dead body.
Mr. Tennent continued in so weak and low a state for six wecks, that great doubts were entertained of his final recovery. However, after that period he recovered much faster ; but it was about 12 months before he was completely restored. After he was able to walk the room, and to take notice of what passed around him, on a Sunday af- ternoon, his sister, who had stayed from church to attend him, was reading in the Bible, when he took notice of it, and asked her what she had in her hand. She answered that she was reading the Bible. He replied, " What is the Bible ? I know not what you mean." This affected the sister so much, that she burst into tears, and informed him that he was once well acquainted with it. On her reporting this to the brother when he returned, Mr. Tennent was found, upon examination, to be totally ignorant of every transaction of his life previous to his sickness. He could not read a single word, neither did he seem to have an idea of what it meant. As soon as lie became capable of atten- tion, he was taught to read and write, as children are usually taught, and afterward be- gan to learn the Latin language under the tuition of his brother. One day as he was re- citing a lesson in Cornelius Nepos, he suddenly started, clapped his hand to his head, as if something had hurt him, and made a pause. His brother asking him what was the matter, he said that he feit a sudden shock in his head, and it now seemed to him as if he had read that book before. By degrees his recollection was restored, and he could speak the Latin as fluently as before his sickness. His memory so completely revived, that he gained a perfect knowledge of the past transactions of his life, as if no difficulty had previously occurred. This event. at the time, inade a considerable noise, and af- forded not only matter of serious contemplation to the devout Christian, especially when connected with what follows in this narration, but furnished a subject of deep investiga- tion and learned inquiry to the real philosopher and curious anatomist.
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