History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 19

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts
Number of Pages: 1224

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 19
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 19

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The year 1778 was unusually barren of incident so

1 Gordon's Rev. War, ii. 252. Gordon's N. J., pp. 250, 252. Sparks' Correspondence of the Rev., il. 22, 23.

2 Rivington's Gazette, No. 140.

8 Guines' Mercury, No. 1361.

4 Sparke' Correspondence of the Rev., ii. 49-51. Sparks' Washington,

v. 174, 183. Rivington's Gazette, No. 145. Gordon's N. J., p. 255. 6 Gordon'e N. J., p. 324. Mulford's N. J., p. 444.

. 6 Sedgwick's Livingston, pp. 245-46.

7 Ibid., p. 246.

WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.

far as the history of this town is concerned. The people were permitted to dwell at home, undisturbed by the visits of the hated and dreaded foe. The mili- tary occupation was continued throughout the year, and the utmost vigilance was required in guarding against invasion from Staten Island. During a por- tion of the winter one-half of the male adults were required to be always on duty, and ready at a mo- ment's warning to take the field.1

It was reported in New York, June 3, 1778, that "great numbers of flat-bottomed boats" were then building and old ones repairing at Bound Brook, Elizabeth Town, and Newark, in New Jersey. A few days after Gaines published the following :

"Tha Rebels made an attempt on the Piquet Guard on Staten Island last Tuesday night (Jnna 9th), but were baat off, the Particulara of which are as follows, viz. :

" About one o'clock the Rebels began a heavy Cannonade from their Worka at Elizabeth Town Fort, and soon after attempted to land in a puoiber of Flat Boats upon Staten Island, between the Blazing Star and Burnt Island; but finding the Provincial Troops stationed at that Placa wara alarmed and prepared to give them a proper Reception, they returned to the Jersey shore and remained quiet till about four o'clock the sama Morning, when they again mada their Appearance in tan Boata, each supposed to contain oua hundred Men, and attempted to land at the auma Place andar cover of the Fire from their Batteriea, and a continned Diacharge of Small Arma from the Boata; but they ware ao vigorously opposed by Ganaral Skinnar's Brigada, that thay wera obliged to make a final and diagraceful Retreat."2

The New Jersey Gazette gives an entirely different version of the affair in reply to Gaines' article. The ten boats with a hundred men in each dwindle down to three boats with about fifty men ; but one landing was made or attempted ; they marched half a mile into the interior, when they were discovered, on which they fired and the provincials ran away. The party then returned to their boats, and when they had nearly reached this side were fired upon. So con- flicting were the statements in respect to these incur- sions it is often perplexing to arrive at the exact truth.3

Occasional encounters with the enemy were occur- ring, of which the following, as related by a Tory paper of the 29th, is a specimen :

'" Last Wednesday Night (24th), Captain Randla, from Elizabeth Town, cama over to Staten laland with a Party of about fourtean Meo and fired upon auma of the militia that wera on Guard, wounded Mr. Richard Connor in the Arm, and one Aahar Tappen io the Leg. but Deither dangerously. Tha Militia pursued the Party, but they got into their Buat in a great Hurry, and made for the Jersey ahora with all expedition." +

The next Sunday, 28th, the battle of Monmouth was fought, in which the Jersey Brigade under Max- well and the militia under Dickinson did signal service, having previously heen detached to annoy the rear and flanks of the British on their route through New Jersey. In this action Lieut .- Col. Barber (who had received the appointment in April of brigade

inspector, and on the 24th of March had been mar- ried "to Miss Nancy Ogden, of Elizabeth Town, a Lady of beauty and merit") was wounded by a musket-ball, which passed through the right of his body, but, happily, not mortally. The British after their defeat made good their escape by Sandy Hook on the 5th of July, whence they were distributed in three divisions, one on Staten Island, one on Long Island, and the other in New York.

The presence of so large a force on Staten Island compelled Washington, in the arrangement of his forces, to order the Jersey Brigade under Gen. Max- well " to take post in the neighborhood of Elizabeth Town," to guard against invasion and foraging.5

Again this post became headquarters for flag-boats and exchanges. A large number of prisoners had been captured from the British on their route through the State. "Thursday last," 16th, says Rivington, "upwards of seven hundred Rebel prisoners were sent from here [New York] to Elizabeth Town, to be ex- changed for an equal number of British and Hes- sians." A corresponding notice appears on the 15th in the New Jersey Gazette, also on the 21st of Au- gust, 20th of October, and 8th of November. Col. Ethan Allen was sent here in May previously for the same purpose.6

A corporal and a private who had ventured over to Staten Island from this post were captured July 21st; and by way of reprisal, a party from this town went over to the island on the night of the 5th of August, and carried off Mr. Bunnell, barrack-master, who was released on parole four days afterwards.7

Measures long contemplated, but for prudential reasons deferred, were now taken looking to the con- fiscation of the property of those who had deserted their country and espoused the cause of the Royal- ists. Several had gone over during the spring and summer of 1778. The following advertisement was not made public until November 14th, on which day it was dated at Elizabeth Town:

" At an inferior court of Common Pleas held for the county of Essex, on the 15th day of September last, were returned inquisitiona for join- ing the army of the King of Great Britain, and other treasonable prac- ticea, found against Cavilear Jewit, Ichabod Beat Barnet, William Luce, John Smith Hetfield, Job Hetfield, Abel Hetfield, Broughton Reynolde, Richard Miller, John Willis, Jacob Touker, Jaimee Hetfield, James Frazee, Sammel Oliver, James Moore, Jonathan Oliver, Samuel Smith, John Stites, jun., Daniel Moore, Joho Morse, Isaac Stanbury, Thooras Burrowa, and John Folker."

At a later date, Feb. 17, 1779, final judgment was entered against all of these persons except Job and Abel Hetfield, Jacob Tooker, and John Stites, Jr., and their estates sold at auction.R

Gaines says, October 5th,-

" We learn that the Militia of New Jersey was collecting fast, there being io and about Elizabeth Town and Woodbridge not less than two thousand Men under the command of General Maxwell.

1 Rivington'a Gazette, No. 154.

2 Ibid., No. 175. Gaines' Mercury, No. 1390.

8 New Jersey Gazette, No. 30.

4 Gainex' Mercory, No. 1392.

6 N. J. Gazette, Nos. 19, 31. Irviog'a Washington, iii., 425-37. Sparks' Washington, v. 422-29.

6 Riv. Gazette, No. 188. N. J. Gazetta, Nos. 38, 46, 49.

7 Riv. Gazetta. No. 190. Gaines' MarcDry .No. 1412.

B N. J. Gazatte, Noa. 50, 64.

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

" Last Friday (2d) a large Body of Militia and some Continental Troops marched from Woodbridge, Elizabeth Town, &c., under the command of the Generals Maxwell and Heard for Hackinsack."1

These movements were occasioned by a feint of the enemy and an invasion of Bergen County. Lord Stirling at Aquackanonk on the 13th sends word to Col. Elias Dayton that "the moving off of the Brit- ish troops enables him to order Col. Dayton with his two regiments to march to Elizabeth Town the next morning." Two days afterwards, on the 15th, Lord Stirling himself repaired to this town, and made it his headquarters for the remainder of the year.2

The following order was issued Oct. 28, 1778 :

"No Flag from the enemy shall be received at nny post or place within this State, except at Elizabeth Towa Point, without a special permission for that purpose front the Governor or commanding officer of the troops of the United States in New Jersey." 3

On this subject Washington says, Jan. 11, 1779,-

" It was absolutely necessary that the open and free interconrse with New York which I found prevailing on my arrival at Elizabeth Town, the Ist of December, should be restrained, and I gave pos tive orders to Gea. Maxwell to suffer no person to pass noless permission should be previon-ly obtained from the Governors of the respective States, or my- self, and I requested Governors Livingston aud Reed to fix on the first day of every month for this purpose, to which they readily acceded." 4

In his reply to this request of Washington, Living- ston says, December 21st,-

" Of all those who have applied to me for recommendations to the com- manding officer nt Elizabeth Town to go to Staten Island or New York, not above one iu twenty appeared entiled to that indulgence, aod many of them were as venomous Tories as any in this country. It is either froio a vain curiosity (extreoily predominant in women), closked with the pretence of securing their dehits or effects, in which they seldom if ever succeed, or for the sake of buying tea and trinkets (for which they would as soon forfeit & second Paradise, as Eve did the first, for the forbidden fruit), that they are perpetually prompted to those idle radi- bles. . . . The men are still more seriously mischievous, and go with commercial motivee, and to secure capital quantities of British mer- chaudise." 5

Livingston had again been chosen, October 27th, Governor of the State, greatly to the annoyance of the loyalists, who regarded him as an incorrigible rebel. James Humphreys, Jr., writing from New York, Nov. 23, 1778, to Galloway, in London, says,-

" Living-too is reappointed Governor of New Jersey, and more wan- tonly pursuing his career of barbarity and wickedness than ever." 6

Isaac Ogden, a refugee from Newark, writing also to Galloway from New York the day before (22d), says,-

" Livingston is re-elected Governor, an attempt was intended to he made to supersede hioi, Unt the dissenting Parsons getting knowledge of it exerted themselves in such a manner that his oppquente were de- terr'd from making the Experiment. You know the Mau, & will with Me pitty the poor People that fall under his displeasure."

Most cordially was the Governor hated by every Tory in the State, and with still greater cordiality, if

1 Sparks' Washington, vi. 75. Gaines' Mercury, No. 1407.

2 Anal. Index of N. J. Doc., p. 456. Duer's Stirling, p. 204. Hist- Mag., ii, 321-24.

3 N. J. Gazelte, No. 47.

4 Sparks' Washington, vi. 155-74.

6 Sparks' Correspondence, ii. 243.

6 Hist. Magazine, v. 272.

possible, was he loved and trusted by every friend of the country. His well-known connection with the Presbyterian Church of this town accounts for the story about " the dissenting Parsons." In the same letter Ogden speaks of this town and its vicinity as " a Rebellious country,"-a good testimony this to the patriotism of the town. In closing the letter he in- troduces some family allusions :

" Remember me to Doctor's Chandler and Cooper. Tell Doct. Chandler that Mrs Chandler & his Daughter Polly with Mise Ricketts, are now in York with a Flag for a few days. His son Bille I saw last week, at Staten Island, who has recovered from his Illness, he intends sailing for Eogland in n short time in the Amazon."7

In arranging the winter-quarters of the army, Gen. Washington made choice of Middlebrook (Bound Brook), Somerset Co., N. J., for his own headquarters with seven brigades, detailing the Jersey Brigade to occupy Elizabeth Town, as the advanced post of the army. This brought him, on the 1st of December, to this town, where he remained until the morning of the 5th. In honor of his visit a festive entertain- ment was given him on the 4th.8

Attempt to Capture Livingston's and Maxwell's Brigades .- A practical illustration of the fear and hatred entertained by the British, and especially the Tories, towards Governor Livingston was given near the close of the winter of 1779-80. A plan was de- vised by the authorities at New York to surprise and capture both Governor Livingston's and Maxwell's brigades at this post. " The Thirty-third and Forty- second Regiments, with the light company of the Guards, under the command of Lieut .- Col. Stirling," about one thousand in number, were detailed for this purpose. They embarked at Red Hook, L. I., at nine o'clock P.M. of the 24th of February, 1779, crossed the bay to the Bergen shore, landed, and marched overland to Newark Bay, when they re- embarked, the boats having passed around through the Kills. They landed between two and three o'clock A.M. of the 25th on the salt meadows about a mile north of Crane's Ferry. Having obtained Capt. Wil- liam Luce, Cornelius Hatfield, Jr., and John Smith Hatfield (who had gone over to the British in 1778) as guides, the Forty-second Regiment advanced im- mediately, and gained the upland. The remainder of the force through a misunderstanding waited at the place of landing for further orders. Col. Stirling, impatient for their appearance, came to a halt after he had got well up towards Woodruff's Farms, and sent back one of the guides to order them forward.

7 Hist. Magazine, v. 335, 338. " His son Bille," Wm. Chandler, of Eliza- beth Town, N. J., presented, Feb. 11, 1779, a petition to Lord George Germain, representing " that on account of his loyalty and being sun of the Rev. Dr. ('handler, he was obliged to fly in Jan., 1776-that he re- turned in Dec., following, but on the Royal army evarnating Elizabeth Town in Jan., 1777, he was again obliged to fly-that Brig. Gen. Skinner granted him a warrant to be captain in the New Jersey Volunteers io the April following, that he has not received any pay for two years, and praye his Lordship's recommendation to Sir Henry Clinton for a captain's commission in the New Jersey Brigade," Anal. Index., p. 458.

8 Rivington's Gazette, No. 228. Sparks' Washington, vi. 125, 129, 131, 155.

WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.

The officer in command declined to receive the order from the lips of the guide, who thereupon returned to Stirling for an official order. In this blundering they lost about an hour and a half.

Col. Stirling, in order to gain fuller intelligence as to the state of affairs in the town, sent one of the guides with six soldiers to capture one of the residents. They came to the house of Mr. Hendricks, and ques- tioned him in respect to the troops, some of the sol- diers in the mean time entering the house of Mr. Woodruff, directly opposite, and beginning to plunder. Mr. Woodruff made good his escape, and gave the information to Col. Ogden, the officer of the day. Gen. Maxwell immediately called the troops to arms, and marched them to the rear of the town, whither also the principal part of the inhabitants retired, un- certain as to the number and designs of the enemy.

A detachment was sent with one of the guides the shortest route to "Liberty Hall," the residence of Governor Livingston, to apprehend him. The Gov- ernor, happily. had left home some hours before, and was passing the night at a friend's house a few miles distant. It was falsely reported by the enemy that he had left his bed only five minutes before his house was surrounded. The house, of course, was searched in vain for his person. His papers were demanded of Four or five weeks after this occurrence Governor his eldest daughter, who had sufficient presence of | Livingston addressed a note, March 29th, to Gen. mind to lead them into the library, and show them a drawer filled with intercepted letters from London, taken in a British vessel, a part of which they pock- eted, and then carried off the remainder with the drawer itself. All his recent correspondence with Congress, Washington, and the State officers was in a box in the parlor, which was saved by this artifice.

In the mean time the main body of the enemy pro- ceeded directly to the rear of the town, and had every road guarded except the Rahway road, by which sev- eral of the inhabitants escaped before the guard could reach it. The barracks and the Presbyterian par- sonage, then used as barracks, were found deserted, and in the rage of their disappointment the enemy set them on fire and they were burned down. The school-house, or academy, adjoining the Presbyterian burying-ground, had been used for storing provisions for the troops. This also they fired and destroyed. While it was burning a few of the female neighbors, of whom Mrs. Egbert was one, rescued from the ruins twenty-six barrels of flour. A blacksmith's shop also was burned. They boasted also that they burned " the ferry-house of Stephen Crane," of which, however, the people themselves made no mention.

As soon as the light enabled Maxwell to ascertain the force and positions of the enemy he set his troops in motion and Col. Stirling beat a retreat. The mi- litia both of this town and Newark took the alarm, and assembled with great alacrity. Cols. Dayton, Ogden, and Barher conducted the pursuit. Aban- doning the horses and cattle which they had col- lected the enemy retreated as they came by the

way of the salt marsh, usually regarded as quite inaccessible. Some skirmishing ensued, but the well-directed fire of two pieces of artillery greatly quickened their steps. After wading a considerable distance in mud and mire, they reached their boats, and re-embarked under the cover of a galley and two or three gunboats, not a little galled by the fire poured in upon them from the shore. One of their boats grounded, and with the hands on board was captured.

The enemy acknowledged that from four to six of their number were slain and about forty were wounded. They took with them about a score of the elderly meu of the place, but soon after restored them to their homes. Brigade-Major Ogden, who first reconnoi- tred the enemy, received a bayonet-wound in his right side, hut not dangerous. Lieut. Reucastle also was wounded and four privates; one man, a private, was killed. Chaplain Andrew Hunter, on his return from the Governor's house, whither he had hastened to give the alarm, was captured, but soon after made his escape. The invasion, save in the burning of the barracks, the parsonage, and the academy (a proce- dure worthy of a savage foe), was a complete failure, a signal blunder.1

Sir Henry Clinton, informing him that he was " pos- sessed of the most authentic proofs" that one of his general officers had "offered a large sum of money to an inhabitant of this State to assassinate" him- the Governor-" in case he could not take" him "alive." Ephraim Marsh, Jr., of this town, had de- posed before Isaac Woodruff, Esq., that Cortlandt Skinner had offered him a reward of two thousand guineas and a pension for life for such an exploit. A reply, very curt and impertinent, was received from Sir Henry, to which the Governor returned a wither- ing rejoinder.2

Depreciated Currency and Hard Times .- The immense depreciation of the Continental currency began to be seriously felt among all classes of the community, but especially among the soldiers of the patriot army whose families were in any measure depending on their wages. The Jersey Brigade, under Maxwell, stationed at Elizabeth Town, sent an affecting memorial of their distressed condition for want of adequate compensation to the Legisla- ture. Gen. Maxwell also urged their case, and called attention to the necessity of sending out of the lines the Tories who were seeking every opportunity to induce the soldiers to desert. He instanced the cases of Capts. Kennedy and McCloud at large on their parole and yet in the pay of the enemy, "licensed

1 N. J. Journal, No. 2. N. J. Gazette, No. 65. Gaines' Mercury, No. 1429. Remembrancer, vii. 368. Sparks' Washington, vi. 175, 1x2, 191. Sedgwick's Livingston, pp. 322-24. Barber's Hist. Cull. of N. J., p. 165. Ilist, Magazine, vi. 180-81, 239.

º N. J. Journal, Nos. 10, 12. Barber's Hist. Coll. of N. J., pp. 163-64.

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

spies in our very lines, among our troops." then adds,-

" Mrs. Chandler is much in the same way here that McCloud is, with respect to her living, but in the way of giving intelligence to the enemy I think her the first in the place. There is not & Tory that passes in or ont of New York or any other way that is of consequence but what waits on Mrs. Chandler, and mostly all the British officers going in or out on parole or exchange wait on her : in short, the Governor (Will am Franklin , the whole of the Tories, and many of the Whigs. I think she would be much better in New York, and to take her baggage with her that she might have nothing to come back for. Lawyer Ross and some other noted Tories here I would recommend to be sent some distance back in the country. . . . There wante a thorough reform here."1

A gratuity of two hundred pounds to each commis- sioned officer and forty dollars to each private was ordered by the Legislature, the money immediately for- warded to Elizabeth Town, and the brigade soon after took up their line of march for the Susquehanna. So many of the officers and men of the brigade were residents of this town, and so long had they been on service at this post during the war, that the people of the town took the deepest interest in everything per- taining to their welfare. It was their own right arm of defense.2

Washington removed his headquarters from Mid- dłebrook the first week in June, and soon after took post at New Windsor, on the North River. In conse- quence, as the regular troops that usually kept watch of Staten Island were on their way to the Indian country, the eastern coast of this town was consider- ably exposed. Col. Neilson, a vigilant officer, was left here with a small corps, which with the militia, ready to be called out on any emergency, was thought sufficient for the time being. Col. Frederick Freling- huysen at a later date was appointed to the command of the State regiment, with his headquarters at this post.3

Removal of Tories and Refugees .- The refugees on Staten Island took advantage of the reduction of the forces here and renewed their predatory excur- sions. On the night of Saturday, June 12th, Corne- lius Hatfield, Jr., with five other "loyal refugees," as Gaines calls them, crossed over the Sound to Lieut. John Haviland's house, which they effectually plun- dered of its contents, and seizing Haviland and the captain of one of the guard-boats, whom they had also surprised, they returned with them in safety to the island. A few nights after, Friday, 18th, the same party, with other Tories and several British sol- diers, repeated the experiment and landed at Hal- stead's Point.

" From whence they stole up in small parties amongst their friends, where, probably, they obtained full information of the strength and situation of our guard at Hal-ted's house, which they attacked about daylight in the morning. The guard being vigilant escaped (except one man killed) and gave the alarm to the town ; the vilhtins in the mean time plundered the house of almost everything portable, took off his

riding-chair, and made Mr. Halsted a prisoner, who, however, had the address to take advantage of the surprise these British worthies were thrown into by the firing of a single gou and made his escape from them ; had they stayed a few minutes longer they would probably have paid dear for their presumption, as it was they had two men wounded, one of them mortally."+

To these troubles was added, at midsummer, June 20th, a panic respecting the negroes of the town :

"On Sunday night last it was discovered that the negroes had it in contemplation to rise and murder the inhabitants of Elizabeth Town. Many of them are secured in gaol."5

This conspiracy was of course attributed to the Tories, and with the plundering incursions had the effect to quicken the Court of Common Pleas in find- ing, July 6th, inquisitions and entering judgment in favor of the State against the following fugitives and offenders, viz. :

" Isaac Milla, John Stiles, jun., George Marshall, James Frazee, jun., Ichabod Oliver, Thomas Bradbury Chandler, John Stone, Robert Gault, Joseph Marsh, John Ackley, Cornelius Hetfield, jun., Oliver De Lancey, and John Lee, jr , in the County of Essex. (It is ad led) Notice is hereby given that all the real estates that lately belonged to the above fugitives within the bunnds of Elizabeth Town will be sold st public vendne on Monday, the sixteenth day of Angust next, at the house of Samme! Smith, innkeeper, in Elizabeth Town aforesaid, or on the premises, and also that part of the estate late the property of Cavalier Jonet, that was sold to a certain Nathaniel Hubbell (son of Rev.), unless the said Hub- bell appears and pays the purchase-money for the same before the day of sale."6

The representations of Gen. Maxwell in respect to the removal of Tories from the State were not without effect :

" A motion was made at Elizabeth Town last Thursday (12th of Au- gust, says Gaines) to remove all the suspected persons from that place, agreeable to a law lately passed io that province; but the motion could not be carried, it being strongly opposed by Governor Livingston, who said it was impolitic to the highest degree, and that it would only increase the number of their enemies."7

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History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 19

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed. Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts Number of Pages: 1224

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts
Number of Pages: 1224