History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 1, Part 43

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co.
Number of Pages: 974

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peril, and nobly maintained the Lippincott family motto, secundus dubusque rectus. Indeed, the truth is, I have always heard it declared by himself and others that he had the authority from Sir Henry Clinton himself to hang Huddy for White."

Doubtless, Lippincott did sustain a good char- acter among his Canadian neighbors during his later years, but that has very little to do with the murder of the patriot Huddy. It is doubt- less true, however, that he was ordered by a superior officer of the Board of Associated Loy- alists to hang the man (Huddy) whom, above all others, they hated and feared for the tireless vigilance and energy with which he acted against the villains of their gang; but the allegation that the murder of Huddy was ordered or countenanced by Sir Henry Clinton is too palp- ably false and absurd to be entertained for a moment. The historian Sparks, when in Lon- don, saw original letters from Sir Henry and from his successor in command at New York- Sir Guy Carleton-expressing in the strongest terms their indignation at the murder of the American captain.

The surrender of Cornwallis and his army was universally regarded as an announcement of the approaching close of the long struggle of the Revolution. Another year of nominal hostilities succeeded, but the event of Yorktown had assured the independence of America, and that fact was tacitly acknowledged, not only by the British, but by their Tory allies, to whom the result brought the deepest disappointment and despair. It was an announcement to them that their cause was irretrievably lost ; that they were homeless and without a country ; that their property would be (if it was not already) con- fiscated; and that, penniless and friendless, they must seek other homes in a foreign country, and there try to begin life anew. "When the news of peace became known," says a writer of that time, "the city of New York presented a scene of distress not easily described. Tory adherents to the crown who were in the army tore the lappels from their coats, stamped them under their feet and exclaimed that they were ruined ; others cried out that they had sacrificed all to

1 Probably having reference to Stephen Edwards, the circumstances of whose capture and execution were as he relates, and in whose execution Huddy did take part ; while the case of Philip White was entirely different.

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

prove their loyalty, and were now left to shift Thomas Leonard, Hendrick Van Mater, John for themselves without the friendship either of their King or their country."

In the month of September next preceding the final evacuation of New York by the British, more than twelve thousand Loyalists and Refu- gees-men, women and children-embarked at the city and at Long and Staten Islands for Nova Scotia and the Bahamas. "Some of these victims of the war tried to make merry at their

Throckmorton, Daniel Van Mater, John Longstreet, Jr., Alexander Clark, Joseph Clayton, Israel Britton, John Okeson, John Thompson, Thomas Bills and Benzeor Hinkson, all of the township of Freehold, will be sold at Freehold Court-House, begin- ning on Wednesday, the 17th day of March next, and continuing from day to day until all are sold.

"Thomas Crowel, George Taylor, Jr., James Still- well, John Mount, boatman, Conrad Hendricks, Joseph Baley, John Cottrell, Richard Cole, Samuel Ezekiel Tilton, Joseph Taylor, John Tilton, of Mid- dletown, and William Smith, of Middlesex, having lands in said town, will be sold at publick vendue, beginning on Monday, the 22d day of March next, at the house of. Cornelius Swart, and continue from day to day until sold.

- doom by saying they were bound to a lovely Smith, John Brown, James Pew, Thomas Thorne, country, where there are nine months winter and three months of cold weather in the year ; while others, in their desperation, would have torn - down their houses, and had they not been pre- vented, would have carried off the bricks of which they were built." Those who went to "John Taylor and William Walton, at New York, but having property in Shrewsbury, John Williams, Christopher Talman, John Wardell, Michael Price, James Mount, John Williams, Jr., John Pintard, Clayton Tilton, Samuel Cook,' James Boggs, James | Curlis, Asahel Chandler, John Morris, William Price, Robert Morris, Peter Vannote, James Price, John and Morford Taylor, John Hankinson, Timothy Sco- bey, William Lawrence, Peter Wardell, Oliver Tal- man, Richard Lippincott,2 Josiah White, Benjamin Woolley, Ebenezer Wardell, Robert Stout, Nathaniel Parker, John Hampton, Samuel Layton, Jacob Har- ber, Jacob Emmons, Britton White, Tobias Kiker and Daniel Laffeter, late of the town of Shrewsbury, and Gerardus Beekman, of New York, having prop- erty in said township, will be sold at publick ven- due, beginning on Monday, the 29th of March, at Tinton Falls, and continue from day to day until all are sold. Nova Scotia were landed at St. John's and Shel- burne, where many, utterly destitute, were sup- plied with food at the public charge, and were obliged to live in huts of bark and rough boards. " Among the banished ones were per- sons whose hearts and hopes had been as true as Washington's; for in the division of families, which everywhere occurred, and which formed · one of the most distressing circumstances of the conflict, many wives and daughters who, though bound by the holiest ties to Loyalists, had given their sympathy to the right from the beginning, and who now, in the triumph of the cause which had their prayers, went meekly-as woman ever meets a sorrowful fate-into hopeless, interminable exile."

The sales of Loyalist property in New Jersey, adjudged to be forfeited and confiscated during the war of the Revolution, were made under the provisions of " An Act for taking charge of or leasing the Real Estates, and forfeiting the Per- sonal Estates of certain Fugitives and Offend- ers," passed by the Legislature April 18, 1778. Following are the copies of notices of some of the sales made in Monmouth County, under that act, viz. :

"John Leonard, Gisbert Giberson, Samuel Still- well, Barzilla, Joseph, Thomas, William and Samuel Grover, John Horner, Fuller Horner, John Perine, William Giberson, Jr., Malakeath Giberson, John Polhemus, Jr., Benjamin Giberson, Samuel Oakerson, Elisha Lawrence and John Lawrence, sons of John, late of Upper Freehold, and Isaac Allen, late of Trenton, will be sold at publick vendue, be- ginning on Monday, the 5th day of April next, at Wall's Mills, and continue until all are sold.

"John Irons and David Smith, of the township of Dover, will be sold at Freehold Court-House at the time of sales there.

"The two emissions called in, and bank-notes will be taken in pay. No credit will be given. The sale

"Monmouth County, ss .: Whereas, inquisitions have been found, and final judgment entered thereon, in favour of the State of New Jersey against persons herein mentioned : Notice is hereby given that the | . real and personal estates belonging to Samuel Osborn, , who murdered Captain Joshua Huddy.

1 Previously rector of the Episcopal Church at Shrews- bury.

2 The notorious Refugee officer who commanded the gang

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MONMOUTH COUNTY IN THE REVOLUTION.

will begin at 9 o'clock each day. Also, deeds made to the purchasers, agreeable to Act of Assembly, by

"SAMUEL FORMAN,

" JOSEPH LAWRENCE,

" KENNETH HANKINSON,

" Commissioners.

" February 17th, 1779."

CHAPTER XI.

MONMOUTH COUNTY IN THE REVOLUTION (Continued).

Officers and Soldiers of Monmouth County in the Patriot Service.

THE first Continental troops of the "Jersey Line," raised in 1775, were two battalions, designated the Eastern and Western, and subse- quently the First and Second Battalions. The First was commanded by Colonel William Alexander (Lord Stirling), and, after his pro- motion to be brigadier-general, by Lieutenant- Colonel William Winds, who was raised to the rank of colonel ; the Second by Colonel Wil- liam Maxwell. The following year a third battalion was added, which was placed under the command of Colonel Elias Dayton. In the fall of this year (1776) a "second establish- ment " of troops from New Jersey for the Con- tinental army was made, embracing .four bat- talions, commanded by Colonels Silas Newcomb (succeeded by Colonel Matthias Ogden), Isaac Shreve, Elias Dayton and Ephraim Martin. These formed "Maxwell's Brigade," com- manded by General (late Colonel) William Maxwell.

regiment contained six companies, and they were commanded as follows :

First Regiment .- Captains Jonathan For- man, John Flahavan, Giles Mead, Alexander Mitchell, Peter G. Voorhees and John Holmes.

Second Regiment .- Captains John Hollings- head, John N. Cumming, Samuel Reading, Nathaniel Bowman, Jonathan Phillips and Wil- liam Helms.

Third Regiment .- Captains John Ross, Wil- liam Gifford, Richard Cox, Jeremiah Ballard, Joseph I. Anderson and Bateman Lloyd.

On the 14th of June, 1780, an act was passed calling for six hundred and twenty-four men to be raised in the several counties of the State, to continue in service until January 1, 1781. The quota of the several counties was,-Monmouth, sixty men; Bergen, thirty-three ; Essex, forty- five; Middlesex, forty-seven ; Somerset, fifty- four ; Burlington, sixty-five; Gloucester, fifty- one; Salem, fifty-one; Cape May, thirteen ; Hunterdon, eighty-four; Morris, fifty-one; Cumberland, thirty ; Sussex, fifty. On the 25th of June the Legislature found it necessary to adopt more effectual means to complete the quota, the deficit of which was then four hun- dred and fifty men, to raise which number re- cruiting officers were appointed in each of the several counties. The officer so appointed for Monmouth was Gilbert Longstreet. The bounty then paid to each recruit was twelve pounds in gold or silver, and the recruiting officer was allowed thirty shillings in coin for each recruit. The men so enlisted were required to engage to serve during the war.

General Maxwell continued to command the Jersey Brigade until July, 1780, when he re- signed, and was succeeded by Colonel Elias Day- ton as senior officer, who commanded the same until the close of the war.

A new arrangement of the American army was effected in 1778, under which, and during the campaign of 1779, the " Jersey Line " em- braced three battalions. February 9, 1780, Congress called upon this State for sixteen hun- The news of the cessation of hostilities was an- nounced in the camp of the brigade April 19th, 1783, and the Jersey Line was discharged No- vember 3d of that year. dred and twenty men to supply the deficiency, in which volunteers were called for, large boun- ties offered, and recruiting officers and muster masters appointed for the several counties. The muster-master for Monmouth was Colonel Asher At various times during the war New Jersey, by reason of its being continually exposed to the in- cursions of the British and the ravages of Refu- Holmes. The three regiments thus raised were commanded by Colonels Mathias Ogden, Isaac Shreve and Elias Dayton, respectively. Each | gees and Indians, found it necessary to embody,

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

as occasion required, a certain quota of volun- teers from the militia of the different counties. These men were held liable to duty when needed, not only in this, but in adjoining States. These organizations were called " New Jersey Levies," "Five Months' Levies," but most generally designated as "State Troops."

Under the act passed November 27, 1776, for the raising of four battalions from the militia to serve until the Continental battalions could be . raised and organized, Monmouth County sent two companies, as part of the battalion assigned for Monmouth, Middlesex and Burlington, of which the field officers appointed were : Charles Read, colonel; Thomas Seabrook, lieutenant-col- onel; John Taylor, major.

An act was passed, September 24, 1777, to raise a company of artillery. The battery was soon organized under command of Captain Joshua Huddy. It was stationed in Monmouth County, when its commander was taken prisoner at Tom's River, and was soon after murdered by Refugees, as has been narrated.

and did good service until March 24, 1782, Lieutenant David Rhea and Cornet Jonathan

Under the call of October 9, 1779, for four thousand volunteers to continue in service until December 20, 1779, one regiment of ten com- panies was raised in Monmouth, Essex and Mid- dlesex Counties, and placed under command of Colonel Asher Holmes, of Monmouth.

On the 7th of June, 1780, an act was passed " to embody, for a limited time, six hundred and twenty-four men for the defense of the frontiers of this State." This force-of which the term of service was limited to January 1, 1781- was formed into two small battalions, one of which, consisting of two hundred and sixty-two men, was placed under command of Colonel Asher Holmes, and stationed in Monmouth and Middlesex, south of the Raritan River. Another body of men, under Major Samuel Hayes, was stationed north of the same river, in Middlesex and Bergen ; and a smaller detachment, stationed in Sussex County, was placed under command of Major Samuel Westbrook. On the 14th of the same month an additional company of thirty men was ordered to be raised for duty in Mon- mouth, under Colonel Asher Holmes. The offi- "cers of this company were Captain Ephraim

Jenkins and Lieutenant Joshua Studson, both of whom were afterwards killed by Refugees in that part of Monmouth which is now Ocean County.

On the 26th of December, 1780, eight hundred and twenty men were ordered to be raised and embodied with the State troops for service to January 1, 1782. Of these, Monmouth fur- nished two hundred and fifty-nine men, in three companies, of which the captains were John Walton, Samuel Carhart and David Anderson ; lieutenants, Nathan Sheppard, John Davis and Moses Sheppard; ensigns, John Morris, Matthias Johnson and David Imlay. Another call of State troops was made December 29, 1781, for four hundred and twenty-two men to serve till December 15, 1782. Of these, one com- pany (light horse) was from Monmouth, and under command of Captain John Walton. The other commissioned officers of the company were Forman.

The militia were the first troops organized in New Jersey in the Revolution. On June 3, 1775, the Provincial Congress passed an act providing a " plan for regulating the militia of the colony." This plan was still further considered and amended August 16, 1775. After that date all officers were ordered to be commissioned by the Provincial Congress or the Committee of Safety. In the assignment then ordered Monmouth County had three reg- iments. "Minute-men" having been raised in three of the counties, in obedience to the recommendation of Continental Congress, this ordinance [of August 16, 1775] ordered the other counties to furnish them, ranging from one to eight companies each, the assignment for Monmouth being six companies. These com- panies of " minute-men " were "held in con- stant readiness, on the shortest notice, to march to any place where assistance might be required, for the defense of this or any neighboring colony." They were to continue in service four months. Their uniform was a hunting- frock, similar to that of the riflemen in the Continental service. On the 26th of February, 1776, the " minute-men " organizations were

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MONMOUTH COUNTY IN THE REVOLUTION.

dissolved and the men incorporated with the militia.

June 3, 1776, the Continental Congress called for thirteen thousand eight hundred militia, the quota of New Jersey being three thousand three hundred. Monmouth and Middlesex furnished one of the five bat- talions required, four companies being raised in each of the two counties. The battalion was commanded by Nathaniel Heard, colonel ; . David Forman, of Monmouth, lieutenant-colo- nel, and Thomas Henderson, of Monmouth, major.

July 16, 1776, Congress requested the Con- vention of New Jersey to supply with militia the places of two thousand men of Washington's army who had been ordered into New Jersey to form the " Flying Camp." Of the thirty com- panies of sixty-four men each furnished under this call, Monmouth sent three companies, which, with three from Middlesex and two companies from Salem, comprised one of the four battalions ; and its officers were George Taylor, of Mon- mouth, colonel ; Whitton Cripps, lieutenant-col- onel ; John Duyckinek major. Colonel George Taylor refused to qualify, and deserted to the enemy, and Samuel Forman, of Monmouth, was appointed colonel.

April 14, 1778, the militia was divided into two brigades, that of Monmouth being in the Second Brigade. January 8, 1781, the militia force was formed into three brigades. "The good service performed by the militia of New Jersey is fully recorded in history. At the fights at Quinton's Bridge, Hancock's Bridge, Three Rivers, Connecticut Farms and Van Neste's Mills they bore an active part ; while at the battles of Long Island, Trenton, Assan- pink, Princeton, Germantown, Springfield and Monmouth they performed efficient services in supporting the Continental line."1

The following list of officers and enlisted men of Monmouth County who served with the American forces in the war for independence is made up from Adjutant-General William S. Stryker's " Official Register of the Officers and

Men of New Jersey in the Revolutionary War," with the addition of names gathered from other sources ; therefore, though it is not claimed to be perfect and complete, it is believed to be as nearly so as is practicable to make it.

BRIGADIER-GENERAL.

David Forman, lieutenant-colonel in Colonel Heard's battalion "Heard's brigade," June 25, 1776; colonel, ditto; brigadier-general militia, March 5, 1777; resigned November 6, 1777, to accept a col- onelcy in the Continental line. Commanded Jersey militia at the battle of Germantown.

COLONELS.

David Brearley, lieutenant-colonel, battalion "Heard's brigade," June 14, 1776; colonel, second regi- ment, Monmouth; also lieutenant-colonel, Conti- nental army.

Samuel Breese, colonel, third regiment; resigned July 9, 1776.

John Covenhoven, colonel. Richard Poole, colonel.

Samuel Forman, captain, second regiment ; lieutenant- colonel, ditto, October 25, 1775; colonel, battalion "detached militia," July 18, 1775; colonel, sec- ond regiment, Monmouth, May 23, 1777; re- signed.

Daniel Hendrickson, colonel, third regiment, July 9, 1776; resigned; recommissioned November 20, 1777; taken prisoner June 9, 1779.

Asher Holmes, first major, first regiment, November 28, 1776; colonel, ditto, March 27, 1778; colonel, regiment State troops, October 9, 1779; colonel, battalion State troops, June 7, 1780.

Elisha Lawrence, colonel; also quartermaster.

Nathaniel Scudder, lieutenant-colonel, first reg- iment; colonel, ditto, November 28, 1776; killed in skirmish with Refugees at Black Point, Mon- mouth County, October 15, 1781.

John Smock, captain, first regiment, 1777 ; major, ditto ; lieutenant-colonel, ditto, March 27, 1778: prisoner of war September, 1780; colonel, first regiment.

George Taylor, colonel, battalion "detached militia," July 18, 1776 ; colonel, first regiment ; resigned November 28, 1776, and deserted to the enemy.

LIEUTENANT-COLONELS.

Jonathan Forman, captain, fourth battalion second Continental establishment, November 23, 1776; captain, first regiment, September 26, 1780; ma- jor, third regiment, November 20, 1781; lieu- tenant-colonel, second regiment, February 11, 1783; discharged at close of war; also captain Monmouth militia.

Thomas Henderson, second major, Colonel Stewart's battalion "minute-men," February 15, 1776; ma- jor, Colonel Heard's battalion, June 14, 1776, lieutenant-colonel, Colonel Forman's battalion, " Heard's brigade;" brigade major, Monmouth.

1 " Officers and Men of New Jersey in the Revolution- 'ary War," by General W. S. Stryker.

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Elisha Lawrence, Jr., first major, second regiment, October 25, 1775 ; lieutenant-colonel, ditto, May 23, 1777.

Joseph Salter, lieutenant-colonel, second regiment; resigned October 21, 1775.

David Rhea, second battalion, Jersey line, November 28, 1776.

Thomas Seabrook, first major, Monmouth; lieutenant- colonel, ditto, November 28, 1776; lieutenant- colonel, Colonel Read's battalion, State troops, No- vember 27, 1776.

Auke Wikoff, lieutenant-colonel, third regiment.

MAJORS.

John Burrowes, captain in Forman's regiment, Con- tinental army ; captain, Spencer's regiment, Con- tinental army, January 1, 1777; major, ditto, July 22, 1779; discharged at close of war.

John Cook, captain, second regiment ; second major, ditto, October 13, 1777; killed at block-house, Tom's River, March 24, 1782.

Dennis Denise, first major, third regiment, July 23, 1776.

Thomas Hunn, captain, first regiment ; second major, ditto, March 27, 1778; cashiered February 21, 1781, for conduct unbecoming an officer.

James H. Imlay, major.

William Montgomery, captain, second regiment ; first major, ditto, October 13, 1777.

James Mott, second major, second regiment, Oc- tober 25, 1775; resigned June 18, 1776.

John Polhemus, first battalion, Jersey line.

Hendrick Van Brunt, lieutenant, third regiment, 1778; captain, ditto; second major, ditto, July 23, 1776; prisoner of war, September, 1780.

Elisha Walton, ensign, first regiment ; captain, ditto, May 7, 1777; second major, ditto; - first major, ditto, March 27, 1778; major, battalion State troops, June 11, 1779.

James Whitlock, second lieutenant, Captain Burrowes' company, first regiment, June 18, 1776 ; captain, ditto ; second major, ditto ; prisoner of war; ex- changed December 22, 1780.

ADJUTANTS.

Kenneth Anderson, adjutant, first regiment.

George Cook, lieutenant, June 3, 1777; adjutant, ditto, June 11, 1778.

Nathan Crane, adjutant.

David Rhea, Jr., adjutant, first regiment ; adjutant, battalion State troops.

QUARTERMASTERS.

John Campbell, quartermaster.

Richard Hartshorne, quartermaster, first regiment. David Rhea, quartermaster ; also lieutenant.

John Stillwell, quartermaster, first regiment, May 1, 1777.

PAYMASTERS.

Peter Covenhoven, paymaster.

David Forman, paymaster.

SURGEONS.

Thomas Barber, surgeon, first regiment, February 14, 1776.

Jacobus Hubbard, surgeon, first regiment, June 10, 1780.

SURGEON'S MATE.

John Anderson Scudder, surgeon's mate, first regi- ment, May 1, 1777.

CAPTAINS.

David Anderson, captain, first regiment; captain, Colonel Holmes' regiment State troops.

George Anderson, captain.

David Baird, private, first regiment; first sergeant ditto, 1776; ensign, ditto; lieutenant, ditto; quar- termaster, ditto; captain, ditto, 1777.

Joshua Bennett, captain.

-- Brewer, captain.

Andrew Brown, captain, first regiment.

James Bruere, first lieutenant, Colonel Lawrence's regiment, (second?); captain, ditto.

John Buckalew, captain.

John Burrowes, captain, first regiment.

John Burrowes, Jr., captain, first regiment, June 18, 1776.

Samuel Carhart, ensign, Captain Burrowes' company, first regiment, June 18, 1776; captain, ditto; prisoner of war and paroled; captain, State troops.

Thomas Chadwick, captain, third regiment, Septem- ber 4, 1777.

John Colaton, captain,

John Conover, captain, Monmouth militia; also cap- tain, State troops.

Joseph Cowperthwaite, captain, first regiment, Mon- mouth militia ; also captain, Burlington ditto.

Jacob Covenhoven, lieutenant, troop light horse; (Captain Barnes Smock's company); captain, ditto; prisoner of war September, 1780.

Benjamin Dennis, captain, February 23, 1778.

John Dennis, captain, second regiment; prisoner of war, and died in the hands of the enemy at New York, January 15, 1778.

Samuel Dennis, lieutenant, Colonel Holmes' reg- iment, State troops; lieutenant, first regiment, 1779; captain, ditto, 1780.

John Downie, captain, second regiment.

Stephen Fleming, captain, third regiment; prisoner of war.

Jonathan Forman, first lieutenant, Captain Burrowes' company, first regiment ; captain, ditto ; captain, battalion "Heard's brigade," June 14, 1776; also lieutenant-colonel, Continental army.

David Gordon, ensign, Captain Elisha Walton's com- pany, first regiment, May 7, 1777 ; captain, ditto, 1778.

Peter Gordon, captain.

James Green, captain.

Guisbert Guisbertson, captain, second regiment ; re- signed August 2, 1776; afterwards joined enemy.

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MONMOUTH COUNTY IN THE REVOLUTION.

Kenneth Hankinson, captain, Colonel Forman's bat- William Schank, lieutenant, first regiment ; captain, talion, "Heard's brigade," June 16, 1776; captain, ditto; also lieutenant in "Captain Smock's com- pany, artillery." first regiment, Monmouth militia, 1777. John Henderson, lieutenant; captain, 1777. John Schank, ensign, Captain Carhart's company, first regiment; lieutenant, Captain Hunn's com- pany, ditto; captain, ditto, October 12, 1777. Daniel Hendrickson, private, troop light horse; cor- poral, ditto ; lieutenant, ditto ; captain, ditto. John Holmes, second lieutenant, Captain Long- Moses Sheppard, lieutenant, Captain David Ander- son's company, State troops; lieutenant, first reg- iment; captain, ditto. street's company, first battalion, first establish- ment, December 16, 1775; second lieutenant, Captain Polhemus' company, first battalion, sec- Nathan Sheppard, lieutenant in Captain John Wal- ton's company, State troops ; captain, ditto. ond establishment, November 29, 1776; captain, first regiment, February 1, 1779; discharged at close of war.

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History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 1, Part 43

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885 Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co. Number of Pages: 974

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co.
Number of Pages: 974