USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > Tennent > History of the Old Tennent church : containing : a connected story of the church's life, sketches of its pastors, biographical references to its members, all its earlier record lists, full quotations of its earlier historical records, a complete list of burials in all its graveyards, many of its local traditions, most of its important illustations and maps, an account of the battle of Monmouth, and a large collection of genealogical notes > Part 8
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FREEHOLD CHURCH, CHARLTON, N. Y.
In 1774 a family of Sweetman's, of Scotch Irish descent and of Covenanter doctrine, left Freehold, Momnouth Co., and went up into the wilderness region north of Schenectady, and settled on the west- em borders of Ballston township, Saratoga Co., New York. They were shortly joined by other families from Freehold, from other parts of New Jersey, and by a few from Connecticut. A settlement was thus formed, and a church was organized Jan. 3, 1786, which took the type of "Presbyterian" largely through the influence, it is said, of the members from Old Tennent. The town became known as "Charlton," and the church as "The Freehold Presbyterian Church of Charlton." Many of the founders of this church had come from
Old Tement. One of its most efficient and successful pastors was Rev. Joseph Sweetman, son of Thomas Sweetman and Sarah Kerr, grand-daughter of Walter Kerr. He was baptized by Wm. Tennent in 1774, just before his father Thomas went with the first band of settlers up to the Charlton wilderness. In after years also the records of Old Tennent show that some members were dismissed to join this church at Charlton, manifesting the subsequent drawing of one com- munity to the other. Thus it may be said that the "Freehold Church of Charlton" is virtually the child of Old Tennent.
93
THE BATTLE OF MONMOUTH.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE BATTLE OF MONMOUTH. JUNE 28, 1778.
The vacancy between the pastorate of Wm. Tennent and that of Dr. Woodhull has been made memorable in the history of Old Tell- nent because of the famous Battle of Monmouth which took place during this interim and about one mile and a quarter to the southeast of the present church building. The battle occurred on Sunday June 28, 1778, beginning quite early in the morning, and continuing at intervals through the forenoon, raged in the afternoon until the setting of the sun, and is celebrated as one of the severest and also the longest in duration of all the battles of the Revolution. On the day of the Battle the calm and stillness of a summer Sabbath was resting in all nature around the old church, bright, warm, and beautiful. Fields of corn, wheat, oats, and flax stretched away in the openings, and the oak woods between were covered with their deepest green. For years the church doors had been opened on Sabbath morning for reverend worship by God's people. But on that Sunday the usual double preaching service could scarcely have been held, since the church was pastorless at the time, and though it is said that Rev. Benjamin Du Bois of the Brick church was performing most of the ministerial functions for Old Tennent during that interim, he could scarcely have left his own congregation on that Sunday morning when they were aroused by the British troops and trains passing near by on their way to Navesink. Moreover a portion of the women and chil- dren of Old Tennent community had been taken away to places of safety and hiding, a precaution to which some of them had been ad- vised as early as Saturday afternoon. But especially, a congregation could scarcely sit in a worshipful service when a battle was roaring three and a half miles distant : and about midday Gen. Washington with the artillery and infantry of about 6000 men came sweeping along the road by the church in hot haste to the Battle.
The Battle of Monmouth has sometimes been called the "Battle of Monmouth Court House," because it began near to that building, and because that building prominently identified the locality. Mon-
94
HISTORY OF OLD TENNENT.
...
MONMOUTH COURT HOUSE 1778. FROM A PAINTING.
mouth Court House was and is in the town of Freehold. It was built in 1715 and the place was called by its name, and not called Freehold until after the Revolution. At the time of the Battle the place had scarcely more than a dozen houses. But the Battle proper was fought in the woods and fields about half way between Old Ten- nent and St. Peters P. E. church in Freehold, both of which build- ings were standing at the time. A magnificent monument comment- orative of this historic battle has been erected in Freehold (town), and was unveiled with appropriate ceremonies Nov. 13, 1884. Thie funds for this monument were started by an Association organized in its interest in 1878, which raised $10,000. To this sum the State Legislature added $10.000, and Congress contributed $20,000. The monument is built of Quincy and Concord granite, and stands nearly 100 feet high. On the top is placed a large granite statue, styled "Liberty Triumphant." Around the base are five finely executed bronze tablets, Bas-reliefs of thrilling scenes in the Battle and previous to it. They were designed by Mr. J. E. Kelly.
95
THE BATTLE OF MONMOUTH.
TE
MONMOUTH BATTLE MONUMENT.
The facts and figures, as here given about the Battle, are chiefly based on "Battles of the United States, by Henry B. Dawson," and "Battles of the American Revolution, by Col. Henry B. Carrington," and a paper read by Charles King, Esqr., before the New Jersey Historical Society at Freehold, Sep. 13, 1849, and the excellent his- torical sketches by Lossing, and the full accounts given in "Old Times in Old Monmouth," (all of which see for the fullest information). Gen. George Washington for the Americans, and Gen. Sir Henry Clinton for the British, commanded the Battle in person. Students have variously estimated the number of troops in each army, but possibly it will afford a fair idea of the size of the Battle to accept the estimate of about 11,000 men for the Americans, and 10,000 for the British.
96
HISTORY OF OLD TENNENT.
The British army had been comfortably quartered in Philadelphia during the previous winter, while the American army had wintered at Valley Forge with all its rigorous experience. The events and conditions of the opening of the year 1778 made it necessary for Gen. Clinton to abandon Philadelphia and repair to New York. Accord- ingly he evacuated Philadelphia early in the morning of June 18th, crossed the Delaware river near Canden and began his march through New Jersey. First he came to Haddonfield, thence to Evesham with a portion of his army through Moorestown, and on to Mt. Holly, to Black Horse (Columbus), to Crosswicks, through Imlaystown and Allentown where he changed his course and turned towards the Jer- sey shore, and so came on to Monmouth Court House. The starting of this march from Philadelphia by the British made it necessary for Gen. Washington to follow and come to open battle if need be, in order to sustain and augment respect for his army and its cause, and to endeavor to fulfill the expectation of his country. So on the after- noon of June 18th Washington started his army from Valley Forge. They crossed the Delaware at Coryell's Ferry (near Lambertville), and came on to Hopewell where Washington held a second council
COUNCIL OF WAR AT HOPEWELL. BAS-RELIEF.
97
THE BATTLE OF MONMOUTH.
of war concerning this pursuit and attack of the British, which is depicted in one of the bas-reliefs on the handsome monument, and is described as representing "Generals Washington, Lee, Greene, Stirling, Lafayette, Steuben, Knox, Poor, Wayne, Woodford, Patter- son, Scott and Duportail as they appeared in the important council of war held at Hopewell, old Hunterdon county, New Jersey, June 24, 1778. General Washington is listening attentively as General Lafayette, standing by the table, is urging upon the council to decide on making a strong demonstration against the British column, even if it brought on a battle. The position and general expression of other officers clearly indicates their opinion of Lafayette's appeal. General Lee, who preferred to let the British force parade unmolested across the State, looks anxious and indignant that his military experience and judgment does not entirely control the board. It is also easy to see that the foreign officers, Steuben and Duportail, want to make a strong attack, and not simply to feel the enemy. General Patterson agrees with them, and so does the true-hearted Greene. General Wayne, always ready for fight, can hardly wait until Lafayette has finished that he may speak a few words of ardent patriotism. Colonel Scammel, Washington's Adjutant-General, who afterwards gave his life for liberty on Yorktown's ramparts, is here engaged in noting the opinions of the general officers for the guidance of his chief." Gen- eral Washington, favoring the opinion of Gen. Wayne, proceeded to Kingston, thence to Cranbury, and finally to near Englishtown by June 27. He had sent on in advance of his main army several de- tachments of troops at different times to harrass the British army. These detachments amounting altogether to about 5000 men, were finally commanded by Gen. Charles Lee, sent forward with instruc- tions to arrange an attack. On Saturday afternoon the Americans were completing their arrangements for this attack, and Gen. Clinton, previously apprehending it, had changed the positions of his troops so as to be ready. Saturday night was one of great anxiety to both the armies, and of considerable excitement to the people of the vicinity. Sunday morning opened, a day of sultry and enervating heat, exceed- ingly prostrating to soldiers. The armies were moving early, and the Battle was preceeded by a number of skirmishes of increasing severity. First was that of Dickinson's reconnoitering party between 7 and 8 o'clock. After this Butler, northwest of the Court House, drove back the Queen's Rangers acting as a small rear guard. The next fight-
98
HISTORY OF OLD TENNENT.
ing occurred a little nearer to the rear of the British on their march toward Middletown, Gen. Wayne in the front. But at this point the Americans began to fall back before the British, who had turned their rear guards into an advancing front. This backward movement of the Americans confused and irritated their brigade generals and colonels, who did not understand the reasons for it. They were vir- tually in retreat without seeing the explanation of it. There was disappointment and some confusion, but no panic among the Ameri- cans. The under officers and the soldiers were perplexed but not demoralized. The British continued their advance pressing on the Americans who retired through the woods and down the road leading from Freehold to Old Tennent. Upon Gen. Lee was laid the respon- sibility of this seemingly needless retreat. He was afterwards tried by court-martial, found guilty, and punished.
But meanwhile the cannonading during the forenoon aroused Gen. Washington, who was at Englishtown, to press forward with his main army. As he hurried on with the left wing of the rear column, led by David Forman and Peter Wikoff as guides, he was unaware of the confusion and retreat of his forward troops. Passing about a hundred yards in front of the church door, he soon began to meet men return- ing on the road, and inquiring the reason of their hurried return could scarcely believe their story of the retreat, until he came into the midst of the disorded and retrogade regiments. Considerably surprised, disappointed, and exasperated he met Gen. Lee and addressed him in terms of rebuke, near to the bridge over the brook that crosses the road about a mile and a quarter from the church. He quickly checked the retreat, reforming the line, and bringing up the new troops into position. Of the retreat of the Americans, Carrington says "The ordeal of Valley Forge saved the army. The arrival of Washington restored it." The sight of Washington riding down the line magnificently inspired the soldiers. One of the bronze tablets on the monument shows Washington "riding down the American lines on the splendid horse which had just been presented to him by New Jersey's War Governor, William Livingston, and rallying the troops after Gen. Lee's unaccountable retreat. He is placing the regiments of Stewart and Ramsey and Livingston in position to check the advance party of the British. General Washington's head and figure are modeled from Houdin's life-cast, now in possession of Mr. Power. The model is worked on a scale, and is entirely accurate in all its
99
THE BATTLE OF MONMOUTH.
WASHINGTON RALLYING THE TROOPS. BAS-RELIEF.
proportions, from Houdin's measurements. The style of the uniformi and horse equipments of the chieftain are all from authentic sources." Setting his batteries in advantageous positions, and placing Lord Stirling in command of the left wing, and Gen. Greene of the right, he took leading command in the center with Gen. Wayne in front of him. Lieu. Col. Nathaniel Ramsey, of Maryland, and others, were the first to stand and resist the pursuing British, after the retreat. In the bas-relief he is depicted "in the closing effort to hold his position until the main army could be rallied. General Washington had told him he depended on his exertions, and he had promised to check the enemy. He tried with his gallant regiment to defend the guns of Lieutenant-Colonel Oswald, until, having been dismounted, he was overwhelmed by the superior numbers of the British Dragoons. In the foreground he is represented with historical accuracy in a hand- to-hand conflict with a detachment of the Seventeenth British Regi- ment, Light Dragoons. Colonel Ramsey's portrait is from a minature and silhouette, both taken from life and furnished by his family. His sword is modeled from the short bladed weapon which he actually carried and used with great effect that day, and which is still preserved. The uniform, horse furniture and all the equipments of the Dragoons
100
HISTORY OF OLD TENNENT.
RAMSEY DEFENDING HIS GUNS. BAS-RELIEF.
are taken from the official record of the regiment. So particular has the artist been that the 'death head' may be seen on the hat of the trooper of the Seventeenth Dragoons-the organization allowed to wear the same by the order of the King-with the motto 'Glory or Death.' In the background Oswald is directing his men in their attempt to carry off his guns." The Battle raged with the combat- ants face to face, and sometimes hand to hand. Gen. Wayne's posi- tion was near the parsonage. The British grenadiers attacked him but were repulsed again and again. The British moved against the left wing of the Americans, but were repulsed. They then turned against the right but were compelled to retire. Gen. Wayne at last advanced against the British and drove them back to a defensive posi- tion, which they held when the Battle ended at sundown. One of the five bas-reliefs "depicts Mad Anthony Wayne leading his troops in the final charge of the day through a trampled cornfield, and the battalions of British grenadiers falling back and trying in vain to carry away the body of their dead commander, Lieut .- Colonel Henry Monckton. The parsonage of Tement Church is seen in the back-
THE BATTLE OF MONMOUTH.
101
-
----
WAYNE'S CHARGE. BAS-RELIEF.
ground." Both armies, worn out with fighting and with the heat of the day, threw themselves on the ground to sleep for the night. Washington, wrapped in his cloak, slept the night under a tree. It was his purpose to renew the Battle in the morning. But during the night Gen. Clinton had drawn his men off the field, and by morning was well on his march towards the Navesink hills ; and Washington deemed it impracticable to pursue. The sudden, silent, and unusual retirement of the British from the battle-field made Washington's victory more pronounced ; and the battle and its issue strengthened and encouraged the colonies in their struggle for independence. In the Battle Gen. Washington was unusually exposed to the enemy's fire in his endeavors to insipirit his soldiers, and many of the promi- nent officers of the American army were engaged. A long list of names is preserved of the men of Monmouth Co. who at this time fought for their liberty and their homes. Many soldiers in both armies died of the effects of heat, and Dr. Sam. Forman said the tongues of hundreds of soldiers "were swollen so as to render them incapable of speaking." The Americans lost 8 officers and 61 non-commissioned
IO2
HISTORY OF OLD TENNENT.
officers and privates killed : IS officers and 142 non-commissioned officers and privates wounded : 5 sergeants and 126 rank and file miss- ing, some of whom were overcome with fatigue and heat, and subse- quently reported for service. The British lost 4 officers and 61 11011 - commissioned officers killed and 59 died from fatigue : 15 officers and 155 non-commissioned officers and privates wounded : and 68 missing. Dead British soldiers were buried on the battle-field, and probably also some of the Americans.
One of the thrilling stories about the Battle is that of Molly Pitcher called the "heroine of Monmouth." Her maiden name was Mary Ludwig, of German descent, born 1754 in New Jersey on a farmi situated between Princeton and Trenton, and married John Hays, of Carlisle Pa., who joined the Continental army, and Mary came back home to live with her father. As the army came across New Jersey she visited her husband and was with him on the Sunday of the Bat- tle. During the Battle she aided her husband and the gunners in Gen. Knox's artillery by carrying water in the cannon's bucket for her husband's cannon and for the thirsty men, who in pleasantry
MOLLY PITCHER.
BAS-RELIEF.
103
THE BATTLE OF MONMOUTH.
called her "Molly Pitcher." Her husband, overcome with fatigue and heat dropped down by the cannon, when his wife jumped forward and helped to "work the gun." A bas-relief on the monument gives this scene showing her as "an ideal woman of great muscular power. Her (exhausted) husband is at her feet, and Gen. Knox is seen in the background directing his artillery line. A wounded soldier uses his right hand instead of left in thumbing the vent. This, it is readily seen, improves the composition of the picture. The Old Tennent Church, still standing as a memorial of the battle, is seen on the ex- treme left of the relief." Molly soon nursed her husband to his usual strength after the battle. Gens. Washington, Greene, and Lafayette complimented her. Congress bestowed on her an annuity of $40. After the death of her first husband she married a man by the name of McCauley. She died Jan. 1833, and was buried at Carlisle, Pa. Years afterwards on July 4, 1876 the citizens of Cumberland Co., Pa. placed a handsome Italian marble stone over her grave. She was not a coarse camp-follower, as has sometimes been said, but a robust, in- dustrious, kind-hearted woman, faithful as a wife and mother. Mrs. Isabella (Crater) McGeorge has written a fine sketch of this subject in the American Monthly Magazine of Nov. 1900.
Ancestral tales and traditions are still told that relate to the church and its people in connection with the Battle, and with a good degree of authenticity. It is said that the house of Win Ker, now long since taken down, and that stood about a quarter of a mile from the church, was one of the places used as a hospital at the time of the Battle. Also it is a current story in the present Bilis' family, descendants of the George and Tone families, that their great-grandmother and her mother nursed the wounded soldiers in the church ; and their great- grandfather George and his brother carried water all day to the wounded soldiers on the battle-field from Molly Pitcher's spring : and also that their great-grandmother, aided by her mother, entered the British lines, having the pass-word from her father an American soldier of the most loyal type, and by means of a few biscuits and two or three chickens, bought silk for a gown and broadcloth for a cloak, bringing them home secretly, and keeping them without her father's knowledge, for her wedding apparel, sonie five years after.
It is a current tradition that musket balls pierced the sides of the old church during the Battle. Whatever breakings were thus made in the enclosure have long since been repaired with other shingles.
10.4
HISTORY OF OLD TENNENT.
It is also a much repeated tradition that during the Battle an Ameri- can soldier, possibly fatigued with the heat and having drank at the well on the south line of the church lot, had come up and sat on the headstone of a grave a few feet to the southwest from the church, when he was struck by a cannon ball and badly wounded, and the headstone broken off. He was carried into the church and laid in the third pew from the door in the west aisle. There his blood drip- ped out and he died. The blood stains from his wounds can still be plainly seen on the board seat ; and before the graining of the pews was put on, the marks of the bloody hands of this dying soldier were visible on the book-rest of the pew in which he died, and on that also in the pew behind. The headstone of the grave is now gone though a part still remains under ground, and the footstone is also standing. The grave was that of Sarah Mattison, buried in 1774.
Lieut. Col. Henry Monckton, a man of tall stature and fine per- sonal bearing and high moral character, a brave loyal subject of his King, a gallant and able officer commanding the 2nd battalion British Grenadiers, was killed in the Battle while leading his men in a fierce charge against Gen. Wayne near the parsonage. Over his body was a desperate struggle until finally the Americans secured possession of it, carried it to the rear, brought it up to the church yard, and buried it a few feet from the southwest corner of the church. A half century or more later, Win. R. Wilson, a native of Scotland, and a school master in Monmouth Co., set up a board over Col. Monckton's grave with an inscription thereon beginning with the Latin words "Hic jacet." Some years after this, Samuel Fryer, a marble dealer of Hightstown, N. J., gratuitously erected a marble headstone with a suit- able inscription, in the place of the board slab. Over this grave on Decoration Day for many years a British flag was placed by Mrs. For- man Stillwell, while the stars and stripes were set over many graves around it by the detail from the Post of the Grand Army of the Republic.
May 12, 1874 R. Perrine Craig, sexton of the cemetery, in digging a grave came upon three skeletons of human bodies. One apparently had an arm broken, or the arm amputated. The bodies had evidently been buried together, and there were no signs of there being any coffin. These were supposed to have been soldiers that possibly had died in the church. Three flags are placed across each other over this grave on Decoration Day.
It is a tradition in the Perrine family that Gen. Washington slept
+Z
W-TE
-
Samuel Craig's
To Matawan -
Drawn by Frank R. Symmes, 1904, from traditions, from a State topographical map by Cook& Vermeule, and chiefly from a field study by James T. Burtis, Freehold, N. J.
British %
Amer.
Here
Batteries.
Regiments
=
Began.
Englishtown 2 miles from Old Ten. Ch
LOld Tennent Church. Win. Ker's, used as O hospital by Americans.
Henry Perrine's, pierced O it is said by 7 cannon balls.
John Craig's,. D used as hospital by British .
Col. Oswald's ". %
Briar Hill
Amer. Battery 1
To Shrewsbury
-
Tennent depot. 0
Here Washington kirquacked night after Baftie.
00 Occupied
across the Battlefield. by
Amer
Old Ten. ParsonageD
Here
Barn D
X Col. Monckton fell
Occupied
rsued by British: "
MBroof.
From m which Molly Pitch Carried water to thec American Cannoneers
To Long Brandi ->
Dr. Thos. Henderson's> burned by British. ·
Gen Clinton's Headquarters
from Allentown to Freehold.
-
Ground
Aaron Davis house
-
Mon. Court Hong
Hotela
k
TWO
Combs' Hill. % % % Gen. Knox's Batty.
Hedgerow.
Farmer housen by. British.
DRhea farm house.
QHotel. Village of "monmouth Court House or Freehold.
To Manalapan +4m. from Old Ten.
Approximate Map of the Monmouth Battlefield, showing public roads, houses, churches &c at time of the Battle, June 28, 1778.
3% m. from Old Ten. Ch.to Mon. Court House -7.
Ground
Farm House.
Spotswood Middle Brook.
Fenn. R. R. now runs
Here Washington, coming from Englishtown, met Lee in retreat from Freehold .
Line of Lee's
Advance
, "Battle Monumen ---
st. Peter's F.E.Cha O Hotel.
&Lee's Line of Retreat
To New Brunswick & Amboy
% Battle %
To Sandy Hook
·
106
HISTORY OF OLD TENNENT.
the night after the Battle under an appletree on ground belonging to Henry Perrine, who had a farm of about Soo acres right close by the battle-ground ; his 100 acre field of barley was a part of the battle-field where the struggle took place. Seven cannon balls it is said passed through his house ; which house stood, it is supposed, near to what is known now ( 1904) as the Sheriff John Perrine home. The present house was built about 1832 by John Conover. The previous house was one with low hanging eaves and a large porch. Henry Perrine was the son of Henry, and father of Lewis and Matthew.
Lieut. Col. David Rhea, son of David ruling elder in Old Tennent, fought in the Battle almost over the very spot where the graves of his family's dead were made. His sister, Janet Rhea wife of Aaron Davis, lived near Monmouth Court House on the place now known as the John Bowne farm, with their seven children, Anna the oldest at twenty years and little Aaron the youngest at one year and four months. In the imminence of battle on that hot Sunday morning Anna had assisted in driving the cattle to the woods for protection. She wore a straw hat, the kind that was plaited and sewed together. Being startled by a rustling of leaves behind her she hurried away and her hat caught in the bushes and the straw plait unraveled. Hearing a laugh she looked behind her and saw in Continental uni- form a tall soldier of the New Jersey line. He was Alexander Low, a carpenter and cabinet-maker, whom she afterwards married. Col. David Rhea rode up to his sister's, Janet Davis, and wanted to help them to hurry away to some place of safety, as her home appeared to be right in the path of the Battle. But Mrs. Davis refused to leave her home ; nevertheless at the earnest urging of her brother she went with her children into a dirt cellar near the house, after burying the pewter platters and other ware, no sooner having finished which they heard the fife and drum of the soldiers. Mrs. Davis took with her into the cellar a piggin of mush for the children. Little Aaron was put in his cradle and set against the inside of the cellar door to keep it closed. Before long a cannon ball thundered past the cellar door. Mrs. Davis thinking she was as safe out of there as in there went with her children out of the cellar into the house. She found that British cannon had been placed around the barn, for a short time in the morning. Two Hessians were ran-sacking the house, and frightened the little four year old Janet. Mrs. Davis fearlessly upbraided them especially for trying to carry away some of the baby's clothes. They
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