USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 151
USA > New Jersey > Union County > History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 151
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April 29, 1872, the cost of the new city hall has been in bonds, $16,000 for building and furniture, gas and all, complete; and the dedication of this new city hall took place Oct. 15, 1872. Mayor John G. Garretson introduced ex-Mayor Alfred Hall. Mayor Garretson read some interesting historical facts connected with the history of Perth Amboy. Hon. William Paterson made an extended and deeply interesting address on the occasion, making reference to many incidents and the past history of this an- cient city, and was followed by ex-Mayor Joseph L. Crowell, who urged liberality in raising money for public purposes, saying, “ We must not be afraid to be taxed a little," and "if we fail in this liberal prin- ciple, we shall go backward instead of making ad- vances." Letters were read from Hon. William A. Whitehead, the "historian," Governor George C. Ludlow, Hon. James M. Chapman, Ed. J. Hall, and ex-Councilman Henry J. Hart, of Plainfield.
It has been with considerable research that the fol-
lowing list has been collected, many of the records being but meagre accounts of the officers present, the business transacted, and the adjournment, the clerk often not even signing his own name, much less giving a list of those elected :
MAYORS.
William Eier, 1718.
Sanmuel Neville, 1758.
James Parker, 1784-1815, 1831-33.
Theodore F. King, 1852.
Thomas Farmer, 1785.
Joseph D. Forbea, 1854.
John Ratoone, 1808.
Edward I. Ilall, 1857, 1861.
Joseph Marslı, 1834.
Joseph L. Crowell. 1862, 1870-71.
James Harriott, 1844.
Francis W. Brinley, 1845, 1847.
James M. Chapman, 1869,
William Paterson, 1846, 1855-56, 1858-60, 1874-78.
Eber H. Hall, 1879-80.
U. B. Wataon, 1881.
RECORDERS.
James Alexander, 1718.
Willism Paterson, 1854.
Joseph Marsh, 1831-33.
Robert A. Thorp, 1834, 1836-37.
James A. Nichols, 1840, 1842-43.
John Manning, 1861.
Williao Thomas, 1844-45, 1851.
John R. Watson, 1862.
Lewis Golding, 1846, 1848-49.
S. V. R. Paterson, 1863.
Robert Freeman, 1850, 1855.
William Hall, 1864-68.
John G. Golding, 1852.
Ezra W. Arnold, 1869.
Joseph G. Martin, 1853.
Alfred Hall, 1850-51,
Cornelius White, 1852. Edward J. Hall, 1854.
John Hall, 1854.
Henry D. Tyrrell, 1855. Edmond Dunham, 1852. William HIall, 1856.
J. G. Garretson, 1857.
Charles Keen, 1877.
John R. Watson, 1861.
Willianı B. Watson, 1862.
James M. Chapman, 1866.
Joseph E. Chapman, 1869. D. O. Nve, 1872.
John Fothergill, 1872-73. William G. Thomas, 1872-75. Henry B. Tyrrell, 1873-75. Samuel Hall, 1874-73.
-- James M. Chapman, 1876-78. Eber H. Ilall, 1876-79.
Patrick Convery, 1876-80.
Edward R. Pierce, 1879-81.
S. G. Phillips, 1880-81.
F. W. Gordon, 1881.
COMMON COUNCIL.
Benjamin Maurice, 1831-32. Abner Woodruff, 1831-32. Lewis Golding, 1831-32, 1835. Robert A. Thorp, 1831-33. Josiah B. Howell, 1831-34. Francia W. Brinly, 1831-33. William Thomas, 1832. David Crowell, 1834-35, Lewis Compton, 1834-35. John Arnold, 1835, 1840. David C. Wood, 1840, 1845. James Harriot, 1840. John Manoing, 1840, 1845-47.
Elias Tyrrell, 1845-46. John Wait, 1845.
Ephraim Martin, 1845. Thomas Dunham, 1845.
Willets Griffen, 1846-48.
Thomas G. Marsh, 1847.
Ephraim Martin, 1845.
William Thomas, 1848. Daniel Selover, 1848. James Compton, 1848-50.
Robert Freemao, 1849-50.
Charles Reader, 1849-50.
Lucius D. Moore, 1849.
Stephen G. Woodbridge, 1849-50.
Joel Smith, 1849.
A. Slaght, 1851. Isaac S. Hamed, 1850. P. P. Woglum, 1850, 1852-53.
James Tuite, 1852.
Elum Sanford. 1851. Merrit Martin, 1852.
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ALDERMEN.
John Parker, 1718. Jolın Rudyard, 1718. Samuel Leonard, 1718.
William Hodgson, 1718.
William Whitehead, 1831, 1833, 1836.
James Harriott, 1831, 1838.
Matthias Bruen, 1831.
Solomon Andrews, 1835-36.
Hermon Bruen, 1840.
Charlea Mcknight Smith, 1840, 1846-48, 1850-51.
Thomas G. Marah, 1847-48.
Benoni Mandeville, 1844-45. Benjamin Hull, 1844, 1856. Alexander M. Brnen, 1844-45. John Arnold, 1845. Theodore F. King, 1846. James Harriott, 1846. David Crowell, 1846-51. Thomas G. Marsh, 1848, 1851. David T. Wait, 1847-49, 1851. Cleavland A. Forbs, 1848.
Charles M. Smith, 1849-50.
James L. Compton, 1850.
James L. Compton, 1855. James S. Crowell, 1856-60.
Alfred Hall, 1863-68.
Jolın G. Garretson, 1872-73.
Lawrence Kearny, 1848.
Solomon Andrewa, 1849, 1853-55.
James Parker, 1850. Lewis Compton, 1851.
618
HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.
Abram Sleight, 1851.
William Dunham, 1853-54.
William W. Martin, 1868. Thomas Langan, 1868.
J. Compton, 1853-54. Daniel Selover, 1853-54. William Laforge, 1853. Garret Onderdonk, 1854. 1 .. Golding, 1854-55.
J. U. Coutta, 1854. E. Martin, 1854-55. Joseph L. Crowell, 1854-55. D. T. Wait, 1855. Elam Sanford, 1855-56. Eber H. Hall, 1854-55.
Joseph Tanner, 1855.
Abram Dunham, 1856, 1858. John G. Garrettson, 1856. William Thomas, 1856. Thomas B. Liddle, 1856-57. Ileory Buchanan, 1857. Henry C. Drost, 1857.
Henry M. Stone, 1857. William Hall, 1851, 1858. Cornelius Winant, 1858. James M. Martin, 1858. HI. Buchanan, 1858. John P. Woglom, 1855. William King, 1859. John W. Sneath, 1859.
Richard P. Barton, 1861. C. Van Doren, 1861. James L. Beers, 1861. Moses Martin, 1862.
Albert S. Jackson, 1862. William A. Masker, 1862. Ilugh Timmins, 1862. Albert Roll, 1863. Garret Jacobie, 1863.
Aaron Masker, 1864.
Ezra W. Arnold, 1864.
James A. Gillman, 1864. John H. Ryno, 1865.
B. Hartung, 1880-81. Edward Keashey, 1881.
John G. Rathun, 1881.
Ellia Wait, 1881.
CITY CLERKS.
Joseplı A. Martin, 1848, John D. See, 1850.
Henry I. Hart, 1861. I. T. Golding, 1870.
Isaac D. Ward, 1855.
Lewis B. Harrold, 1858.
I. D. Ward, 1872-81. | Cortlandt L. Parker, 1882.
TREASURERS.
Charlea Keen, 1875. Richard P. Barton, 1876-81.
ASSESSORS.
Ezra W. Arnold, 1875-80. | Joseph L. Crowell, 1881.
COLLECTOR OF REVENUES.
Joshua B. Ford, 1874. John Manning, 1876-81. John llall, 1875.
CONTROLLERS.
George A. Seameo, 1878-80. J. Thorn Golding, 1881.
Joseph E. Chapman, 1874-77.
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
Rev. Aaron Peck, 1874-77.
II. D. Tyrrell, 1878-79.
U. B. Watson, 1874-76. W. W. Hubbard, 1878-79.
Edward R. Pierce, 1874-77. John Fothergill, 1879-81.
Cornelius Hadden, 1874-78. Jamea L. Compton, 1879-81.
Jamea M. Chapman, 1874.
W. H. McCormick, 1878-79.
George II. Tice, 1874-75.
James E. Noe, 1881.
John L. Kearney, 1875-81.
J. B. Smith, 1881.
William Dally, 1881.
CITY SUPERINTENDENT.
Henry Farmer, 1874-81.
CHAPTER LXXXVIII.
CITY OF PERTH AMBOY .- ( Continued.)
Resident Governors .- The "Long Ferry Tav- ern" was the first public house erected in Perth Amboy. Governor Rudyard was superseded in 1684 by Gawen Laurie, and through him the proprietors bestowed upon their new town the name of Perth in honor of James, Earl of Perth, one of their number. The suffix " Amboy" is a change from the original Indian "Ompoge." Governor Laurie (1684- 86) appears to have been the first of the proprietary Governors who resided a portion of the time at Perth Amboy. After 1686, the date of the removal of the government to Perth Amboy, the proprietary and royal Governors resided here with more or less per- manence. Governor Laurie laid the foundations of the new city. Andrew Hamilton, Lord Neil Camp- bell, and Jeremiah Basse filled respectively the chief office in the province. Hamilton and Campbell appear to have been permanently established here, the latter during his entire term, and the former prior to 1689, and again from 1692 to 1698. We find that Robert Hunter, then Governor, about the fall of 1709, was the first of the royal Governors of New Jersey who regarded this province with sufficient favor to make upon its soil anything like a permanent home. He has been considered the first one who made his permanent home in Perth Amboy. He was much esteemed for mauy excellent qualities, aud his house stood upon the knoll south of St. Peter's Church. He was born in Scotland, but of his parentage or of the incidents of his early life nothing is known. In 1707 he bears the title of "colonel," and has as asso- ciates men of literary attainments, such as Swift, Steele, Addison, and others. He arrived in the province at a most inauspicious period for his own ease, immediately succeeding the unpopular and dis- organizing administration of Cornbury.
There is no account given respecting the Governor's family. "While in the army he married Lady Hay, the relict of Lord John Hay, and daughter of Sir Thomas Orby, Bart., and had several children. She came with him to America, and died in August, 1716."
In 1719, the Governor's health not being good, and his interests seeming to require his presence in London, he left his government here never to return, and in 1720 was succeeded in office by William Burnet, who continued therein until his death, which took place about nine years later, or 1730.
Col. John Montgomerie, who succeeded Mr. Burnet, died in 1731, and William Cosby, his successor, also died in 1736, and on the death of the latter, upon John Anderson, then president of Council, the gov- ernment of New Jersey devolved, but after his assump- tion of the chief authority he died in a few weeks. The following is an obituary published at this time :
S. B. P. Higgons, 1876-77.
L. S. Blackwell, 1877-78.
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Georga H. Buchanan, 1868. James Smith, 1868. William Meskeroua, 1868. David O. Nos, 1869. James Wait, 1869. John Adair, 1869. Lewis A. Golding, 1870. N. 11. Tyrrell, 1870. Jacob L. Martin, 1870. J. T. Golding, 1870. A. S. Jackaon, 1872-73. William Bell, 1872-73. J. S. Kearney, 1872-73. Thomas Macan, 1872-73. James Wait, 1872-73. Solomon Andrewa, 1872. Joseph Burna, 1873-74. George Foster, 1873-75. Theodore Barton, 1873. Eber II. Hall, 1874-75. William Sofield, 1874-76. William Buchanan, 1874-76. Franklin Griffen, 1874-76. William Adair, 1876-77. Richard M. Cornell, 1876-78. A. M. Johnson, 1876-77. S. G. Phillipps, 1877-78. Thomas Langan, 1877-78. William Adair, 1877-79. Chester Sueath, 1878-81.
F. S. Mead, 1878.
Jacob W. Martin, 1879. 1'. V. R. Van Wyck, 1879-80. Charles T. Jackson, 1879-80. John McCluskey, 1879-80. John Meshrow, 1880-81.
Juahua B. Ford, 1866. John Fothergill, 1866.
George Foater, 1866.
Williamı llunter, 1866.
619
CITY OF PERTH AMBOY.
" PERTH AMBOY, March 30, 1736. "On Sunday Last, March 27th, died here in the 71st year of his age, after a short indisposition, the Honorable John Anderson, Esq., President of his Majesty's Council and Commander-in-Chief of this Province of New Jersey, which station he held but 18 days. He was a gentleman of the strictest honor and integrity, justly valned and lamented by all his acquaintances."
The next incumbent was John Hamilton, a colonel, and the son of Andrew Hamilton, Governor under the proprietaries, and is the only descendant of whom any knowledge has been obtained. It has not been determined whether he was a native of Scotland or America. He first appears in public life as one of Governor Hunter's Council in 1713, and continued to hold a seat at the board during the succeeding administrations of Burnet, Montgomerie, and Cosby, so that when he became chief magistrate he was fully prepared for its duties. In 1735 he was associate judge of the Provincial Supreme Court. He resided, it is thought, in the house now known as the Lewis House or Place, beautifully situated, overlooking the broad bay formed by the junction of the Raritan and the Sound with Sandy Hook inlet. He was buried in the old burial-ground, then used, lying north of the Britain House, but no trace can now be seen indicat- ing the spot.
His successor was Jonathan Belcher, who arrived as Governor in 1747, landing at Amboy early in the morning of August Sth, having come in his barge from Sandy Hook; the voyage across the Atlantic having been made in the "Scarborough" man-of-war. He was well pleased with Amboy, but after a time made his residence at Elizabethtown, and died there in 1757.
Francis Bernard succeeded Governor Belcher. He was descended from a respectable family ; had been educated at Oxford, and was engaged in the profes- sion of the law at the time of his appointment, being a proctor or solicitor at Doctors' Commons, in Lon- don. He arrived at Amboy, Wednesday, June 14, 1758, from " His Majesty's ship the Terrible," bring- ing his wife and family. From the papers of that day, furnishing account of his reception in the prov- ince, it appears that more honors were bestowed upon him than were given to any of his predecessors. It may be well to portray the form and ceremony that in those days " did hedge about a Governor."
" On the second day after his arrival, attended by the members of his Council, the mayor and other author- ities of the city, the Governor proceeded to the town hall and published his commission in the usual mode, by causing it to be read aloud in the presence and hearing of the assembled multitude. He then re- ceived the compliments of a great number of persons of distinction who had come hither to witness the august ceremony which placed once more over them a representative of majesty, and the day closed with various suitable demonstrations of joy." The next day the corporation of the city waited upon him, and the then mayor, Samuel Neville, Esq., presented him
-
with the usual complimentary address. The Governor returned satisfactory replies, assuring the mayor that he should "embrace every opportunity to show his regard for the city of Perth Amboy."
His residence was what was called the " old John- ston house," which stood upon the bank of the Rari- tan, about half-way between Long Ferry and Sandy Point. He continued to exercise the chief authority until the beginning of the year 1760, when he was transferred by the royal command to the province of Massachusetts Bay.
" He was sober and temperate, and had fine talents for conversation if the subject pleased him. He had an extensive knowledge of books, and memory so strong as to be able to refer to particular passages with greater facility than most men of erudition. He would sometimes boast that he could repeat the whole of the plays of Shakspeare. He was a friend of lit- erature, and interested himself greatly in favor of Harvard College when Harvard Hall with the library and philosophic apparatus were destroyed by fire, after which he presented to it a considerable part of his own private library. The building which now bears the name of Harvard is a specimen of his taste in architecture. He was a believer in the principles of Christianity, the effect of study as well as of edu- cation, and was regular in his attendance upon pub- lic worship, attached to the Church of England, but no bigot, . . . when in the country attending service at the nearest Congregational Church.
Thomas Boone was the next Governor to succeed Governor Bernard ; he received his appointment Nov. 27, 1759, but did not reach Amboy until July 30, 1760, being detained in New York waiting for his commis- sion. The Governor was escorted on his way through the county of Essex by a troop of horse commanded by Capt. Terrill, of Elizabethtown, and through the county of Middlesex by a troop under the command of Capt. Parker, of Woodbridge. On his approach to Amboy he was met by the mayor and officers of the corporation, and conducted by them into the city. The next day the oath of office was administered, and then preceded by the corporation and attended by His Majesty's Council he walked in the procession to the city hall, where his commission was published with the usual formalities. An elegant entertainment was subsequently spread for the assembled company, at the expense of the Governor, and the day closed with illuminations and other demonstrations of joy " usual upon such occasions," says the record, now no longer occurring within the precincts of the old capital.
He was soon removed, and his position filled by Josiah Hardy, a man of few words and prompt action, but his administration, too, was brief.
Governor Boone was present on the arrival and installation of his successor, and did not sail from New York till Dec. 3, 1761, and arrived and entered upon his duties in South Carolina early in January, 1762, and remained there a little over two years (May,
620
HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.
1764), when he left for England, being recalled in con- sequence of differences with his Assembly.
Of Governor Hardy very little is known. He was appointed the 14th of April, 1761, to succeed Gov- ernor Boone. As we have said, he was a man of few words, and as a specimen the following is given, being his answer to the trustees of the College of New Jersey, who presented their address Sept. 29, 1762 :
"GENTLEMEN,-I heartily thank you for your address. It will be at all times a particular satisfaction to me to give you every assistance in my power in promoting the prosperity of this useful seminary of learn- ing. JOSIAH HARDY."
The Governor met the Assembly on the 30th No- vember, 1761, and also in the months of March, April, and September, 1762, but there is no record in the public documents of the time indicative of his char- acter or acquirements, and in February, 1763, he was succeeded by William Franklin, the last of the colo- nial Governors. He was a son of Dr. Benjamin Franklin, and was born in the province of Pennsyl- vania in 1731. But little of his youth is known. He early showed a marked predilection for books, which his father, of course, encouraged. He received the rank of captain in campaigns on the northern fron- tier before he was of age, rising from a subordinate station. On his return to Philadelphia young Frank- lin seems to have become in a great degree the com- panion and assistant of his father in his various scien- tific and professional pursuits, and subsequently himself entered into official life, and from 1754, for two years, 1756, he acted as comptroller of the gen- eral post-office, then under the management of Dr. Franklin, and in January, 1755, then holding in ad- dition the clerkship of the Provincial Assembly, he accompanied the troops that were sent under the command of the doctor to build forts on the frontiers of Pennsylvania, and in June, 1757, his father having been appointed colonial agent at London, he sailed with him for Europe.
William Strahan, his father's friend, a man of talents and discrimination, thus alludes to him in a letter written shortly after his arrival in England :
" Your son,"-he is writing to Mrs. Franklin,-" I really think is one of the prettiest young gentlemen I ever knew from America. He seems to me to have a solidity of judgment not very often to be met with in one of his years. This, with the daily opportunity he has of improving himself in the company of his father, who is at the same time his friend, his brother, his intimate and easy companion, affords an agreeable prospect that your husband's virtues and usefulness to his country may be prolonged beyond the date of his own life." 1
Young Franklin commenced the study of law in the Middle Temple, and was called to the bar in 1758, after which he traveled with his father through Eng- land, Scotland, Flanders, and Holland, and was the
means of profit as regards mental and personal attain- ments. Courted as was the society of his father by men of the highest literary and scientific acquire- ments, he could not but imbihe in such a circle a taste for similar pursuits, and we consequently find that when the University of Oxford, in 1762, conferred upon the father, for his great proficiency in the natural science, the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws, the son was thought worthy of that of Master of Arts for having distinguished himself in the same branches of knowledge.
In the year 1762 (August) he was appointed, through the influence of Lord Bute, and without any solicitation on the part of his father, Governor of New Jersey, " previously undergoing, it is said, a close ex- amination by Lord Halifax, minister of American affairs,"2 deemed advisable, perhaps, on account of his colonial birth and youth, he at that time being ouly thirty years of age.
The following account of his marriage is interest- ing : " About the time of his appointment Governor Franklin married a Miss Elizabeth Downs, of whom recollections are, or were cherished by aged persons who knew her, as an exceedingly amiable woman, possessing many virtues and of very engaging man- uers. With her he arrived in the Delaware River in February, 1763, and, after some detention from the ice, reached Philadelphia ou the 19th, whence he started for New Jersey on the 23d. He slept at New Brunswick on the 24th, and arrived at Perth Amboy the following day.3
" Almost immediately after his entrance upon his duties in New Jersey the vexatious measures of the British ministry began to excite throughout the colo- nies that abhorrence which eventually led to their separation from the mother-country, and Governor Franklin, although favorably disposed towards the colonies so long as no direct opposition to the au- thority of Parliament was manifested, advocated and enforced the views of the ministry with a devotion and energy worthy a better cause. The war-clouds were gathering, and disseusion for the time crept into the Council. Hitherto this body had coincided with the views of the Governor, but he, in the fall in 1775, felt obliged to suspend from membership in it Lord Stirling, the latter having accepted a military com- mission under the Provincial Congress. From this time a palpable estrangement dates between the Gov- ernor and the Council, and so rapidly did it grow that all harmony of action ceased, and the former was left to face the rising storm alone." Writing about this period to the Earl of Dartmouth, Franklin says, " My situation is not a little difficult, having no more than one or two among the principal officers of government to whom I even now speak confiden- tially on public affairs." The dispatch containing this passage was intercepted by Lord Stirling, who took
1 Franklin's Writings, vol. vii. pp. 158, 170.
2 Public Characters of Great Britain, vol. Iv.
3 E. J. Hist., p. 188.
621
CITY OF PERTH AMBOY.
measures to prevent the possible escape of Governor Franklin, although nothing goes to show that the latter had any such intention. Not long after this he was arrested by authority of the Provincial Con- gress, and upon refusing to give his parole was placed under guard and taken to Burlington and sent tbence to Connecticut, where, he was kept a prisoner until regularly exchanged.1
By this time the city had become an important centre, not only from the fact that it was the seat of government and the residence of the principal royal officers, but on account of its commanding military situation, of which both parties were fully aware, and in the month of December, 1775, two New Jersey provincial regiments were organized, and a company under Capt. Conway marched down from New Bruns- wick and occupied the "barracks," since owned by the Andrews family (see account of barracks). The space between the barracks and the turnpike was used for a parade-ground, and was inclosed by a high board fence, and shaded until 1832 by numerous tall poplar-trees. Capt. Conway's force was soon strength- ened by a regiment under Capt. Longstreet, and a company under Capt. Howell, and all found quarters at the barracks. Meanwhile the colonial officers con- tinned nominally in possession of their respective posts, and several months passed without any open act of hostility or breach of peace. But in April a detachment of the Third Regiment of Jersey troops arrived here and at once began to throw up earth- works.
Encouraged by the arrest of Governor Franklin, and the desertion of Amboy by a number of the ad- herents of the royal cause, there was a more active display of organized resistance to British rule. About the end of June the appearance of Sir William Howe with a large force on Staten Island decided Gen. Washington in his intention to form a camp at Amboy, and Gen. Hugh Mercer was put in command. Troops were at once ordered here, and several armed whale-boats and vessels were disposed along the front of the town. It was at this period that a British war brig carrying twelve guns came up and anchored west of Billop's Point. During the night the Americans mounted an eighteen-pounder behind the breastworks Dear St. Peter's Church, and at daylight opened such a hot fire upon the brig that she was obliged to retire. Her retreat was covered by the guns of another English vessel which lay east of the Point, and hy a shot from her the tombstone at the grave of Capt. Bryant was broken and the church itself hit.
The next hostile act occurred July 24th, when an American battery of four guns fired upon two sloops on their way from Staten Island to Sandy Hook. No damage seems to have been done to them, but the cannonade provoked a reply from the British artillery on Billop's Point " which lasted for an hour."
The casualties on our side were two: a man confined in an upper room of the court-house, and a horse which was killed in High Street near the town pump. Single shots from muskets and rifles were often fired across the Sound, and now and then either from pre- cision or by chance one would be effective. During the summer a want of proper vessels prevented the Americans from undertaking any aggressive opera- tions at Amboy on a large scale, but after the failure of the famous conference in the Billop House, on Staten Island, between Lord Howe and the committee from Congress, there were several successful raids and sorties upon the British on Staten Island. But noth- ing of much moment took place, and in November, 1776, when Washington began his retreat through New Jersey, the troops at Amboy were withdrawn and joined his army.
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