USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > Old times in old Monmouth > Part 14
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The probability is that the ruse prevent- ed the refugees from doing as much dam- age as they had intended, although they remained long enough to inflict considera- ble injury as has been related.
CAPTAIN JOSHUA HUDDY, THE HERO MARTYR OF OLD MONMOUTHI.
adopted by Congress in 1837, “ It is fear- ful to state that after a lapse of fifty years, while the services of others of so much less merit have been made the theme of the biographer and the poet, the memory of Huddy has not been honored with an epi- taph. His country, it would seem, has outlived the recollection of his services, and forgotten that such a victim was sac- rificed for American liberty."
OUTLINE OF CAPTAINE HUDDY'S LIFE.
The following extracts from the archives of the State Department of New Jersey, were furnished in 1837 to a Congressional committee at the request of the chairman, by the late Governor Philemon Dickenson: " Joshua Huddy signs his name as Cap- tain, to a petition from the militia officers of the county of Monmouth, to the Legis- lature, which is dated the 12th of May, 1777.
"Captain Joshua Huddy is appointed by an act of the Legislature, passed Septem- ber 24th, 1777, to the command of a com- pany of artillery, to be raised from the mi- litia of the State. and to continue in ser- vice not exceeding one year.
"In the accounts of the paymaster of the militia there is an entry of a payment made on the 30th of July, 1778, to Captain Joshua Huddy, of the artillery regiment for services at Haddonfield, under Colonel Holmes. In the same accounts a payment is also made to Captain Huddy on the Ist July, 1779, for the use ot his horses in the artillery.
"I find a petition to the Legislature from the people of Monmouth, dated December 10th, 1781, recommending Captain Joshua Huddy as a proper person to command a guard, to be stationed at Toms River. On examining the minutes of both houses of the Legislature, I find no action had on this petition ; in fact there is no mention of its being presented. The Legislature adjourned on the 29th of December. and did not meet again until May 15th, 1782. Huddy was taken by the tories at Toms River, Sunday, March 24th, 1782, and it is not unlikely ( as the Legislature had no action on this petition ) he was ordered to that post by the Council of Safety, which exercised legislative powers during the re- cess of the Legislature. The minutes of the Council of Safety must be either lost or destroyed, as they cannot be found."
Among the multitude of heroic men fur- nished by our State in aid of the struggle for independence, the name of Captain Joshua Huddy should ever occupy a con. spicuous place in the memory of Jersey- men. Yet when we recall his daring deeds, his patriotic efforts and sacrifices and his unfortunate end, it is doubtful if less jus- tice has been done to the services and memory of any other hero of his day .- Though the Continental Congress, as well as General Washington and other noted men testified their warm appreciation of his services ; though his name at one time was a household word, not only through- out this country but at the courts of Eng- land and France; and though his unfor- tunate death and its consequences, for a The above extracts were inade and fur- nished to Governor Dickenson by George C. Westcott, then secretary of State. ( In time, caused the most intense excitement on both sides of the Atlantic, yet in the substance of the language of a report the original is an error corrected above :
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it says that Captain Huddy was taken prisoner April 2d; it should be March 24th.)
The details of the attack on Toms River have been given.
Captain Huddy, with other prisoners, was taken to New York and lodged in the noted Sugar House prison, from whence he was taken on Monday, April 1st, 1782, to the prison of the Provost Guard in New York, where he was closely confined "until Monday, April 8th, when he, with Daniel Randolph and Jacob Fleming, ( both of whom were taken prisoners with Huddy at Toms River, but soon exchanged for two tories, named Captain Clayton Tilton and Aaron White,) were taken on board a sloop and ironed.
The following is a copy of the order to the Commissary of Prison at New York, to deliver him to the care of Captain Richard Lippincott, of the Refugees, to be taken on board the sloop :
NEW YORK, April 8th, 1782.
SIR :- Deliver to Capt. Richard Lippen- cott the three following prisoners : Lieu- tenant Joshua Huddy, Daniel Randolph and Jacob Fleming, to take down to the Hook, to procure the exchange of Captain Clayton Tilton and two other associated loyalists.
By order of the Board of Directors of Associated Loyalists.
S. S. BLOWERS, Secretary. To Mr. Commissary Challoner.
Huddy, Randolph and Fleming were kept in irons in the hold of the sloop, until Tuesday evening, April 9th, when they were transferred to the guardship at Sandy Hook, where they were confined between decks until Tuesday, April 12th, on the morning of which day, Huddy was taken on shore by a party of refugees under com- mand of Captain Richard Lippencott, and at about ten o'clock executed. One refu- gee account says the hangman was a ne- gro. Captain Huddy executed his will under the gallows, signing it on the barrel from which he was a few moments after launched into another world.
CAPTAIN HUDDY'S WILL.
The following is a copy of the will of Captain Huddy, signed by him under the gallows :
" In the name of God, amen : I, Joshua Huddy, of Middletown, in the county of Monmouth, being of sound mind and memory, but experting shortly to depart this life, do declare this my last will and testament :
"First : I commit my soul into the hands of Almighty God, hoping he may receive it in mercy ; and next I commit my body to the earth. I do also appoint my trusty friend, Samuel Forman, to be my lawful executor, and after all my just debts are paid, I desire that he do divide the rest of my substance whether by book, debts, notes or any effects whatever belonging to me, equally between my two children, Elizabeth and Martha Huddy.
"In witness whereot I have hereunto signed my name this twelfth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two.
"JOSHUA HUDDY."
The will was written on half a sheet of foolscap paper, on the back of which was the following endorsement, evidently writ- ten shortly after the will was executed :
" The will of Captain Joshua Huddy, made and executed the same day the ref- ugees murdered him, April 12th, 1782."
The will was found some years ago among the papers of his executor, the late Colonel Samuel Forman. It was signed by Captain Huddy, but was apparently writ- ten by another person. Captain Huddy's daughters subsequently became Elizabeth Green and Martha Piatt-the last named lived to an advanced age. In early life she removed to Cincinnati, Ohio; both daughters we believe left descendants.
After Captain Huddy's inhuman murder his body was left hanging until afternoon, when the Americans came and took it to Freehold, to the house of Captain James Greene, where it was April 15th. He was buried with the honors of war. His fun- eral sermon was preached by the well re- membered Rev. Dr. John Woodhull, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Free- hold.
.
CAPTAIN JOSHUA HUDDY, THE HERO MARTYR OF OLD MONMOUTH.
MEASURES FOR RETALIATION.
The execution of Huddy was regarded by General Washington as a matter of so much importance, that he directed that a number of general officers of the army should meet at West Point to decide on what measures should be adopted. At this council it was unanimously decided that retaliation should be made, and that it should be inflicted on an officer of equal rank, and the designation should be made by lot from among prisoners of war, unless
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the British surrendered Captain Richard Lippincott. A formal demand was made for the surrender of Lippincott and refus- ed, and in consequence on the 13th of May, lots were cast among the British of- ficers held as prisoners, ( at this time con- fined at Lancaster, Pa.,) and the unfortu- nate victim was Captain Charles Asgill, ( afterwards Sir Charles Asgill ) of a noble family, at this time but nineteen years old He was among the prisoners captured at Yorktown, Va.
The particulars of the casting of lots and the events consequent upon the selec- tion of Captain Asgill, are of thrilling in- terest, and excited so much attention at the time that the celebrated Baron de Grimm speaking of the affair being made the ground work of a tragedy brought out in Paris, in 1789, says :
" The public prints all over Europe re- sounded with the unhappy catastrophe which for near eight months impended over the life of this young officer. The general curiosity in regard to the events of the war yielded, if I may say so, to the interest which young Asgill inspired, and the first question asked of all vessels from any port in North America, was always an inquiry as to the fate of that young man. It is known that Asgill was thrice con- ducted to the foot of the gibbet, and that thrice General Washington, who could not bring himself to commit the crime of pol- icy without a struggle, suspended his pun- ishment ; his humanity and justice made him hope that the English general would deliver over to him the author of the crime Asgill was condemned to expiate .- Sir Henry Clinton, either ill-advised or insensible to the fate of young Asgill, per- sisted in refusing to deliver up the barbar- ous Lippincott. In vain the King of Eng- land, at whose feet the unfortunate family of Asgills fell down, had given orders to surrender up to the Americans the author of a crime which dishonored the British nation ; George the Third was not obeyed. "In vain the States of Holland entreated the United States of America the pardon of the unhappy Asgill. The gibbet erected in front of his prison did not cease to offer to his eyes those dreadful. preparations more awful than death itself. In these circumstances, and almost reduced to de- spair, the mother of the unfortunate vic- tim bethought herself that the Minister of a King armed against her own nation, might succeed in obtaining that which was refused her own King. Madam Asgill
wrote to the French Minister, Count de Vergennes, a letter, the eloquence of which. independent of oratorical forms. is that of all people and languages, because it de. rives its power from the first and noblest sentiment of our nature."
Before giving farther details of Captain Asgills' case, his mother's letters, and the. course of the French court, of Gen. Wash- ington and of the Continental Congress re- lating to the affair. it would perhaps be proper to return to Captain Huddy and recall the particulars of such of the events of his life as have been preserved. The following, a part of which at least will be familiar to most of our readers, comes first in order:
HUDDY'S CAPTURE AND EXECUTION.
The next important affair in which. we find Captain Huddy engaged, was in the defence of the military post at Toms Riv. er. As we gave elsewhere a detailed ac- count of the attack of the British on this post, burning of the village, massacre of the men after asking for quarters, and oth- er particulars relating to this affair, it is not now necessary to repeat them, except as they are incidentally given in some im- portant papers, which will be copied here- after. These papers contain many authen- tic, interesting particulars which should be preserved by the citizens of Old Mo .- month. Betore copying these, we quote the following extracts from " Howe's Col- lections :"
White Huddy was confined on board the guardship, he was told by one of the refugees, that he was to be hanged. "for he had taken a certain Philip White, a refugee in Monmouth county, cut off both his arms, broke his legs, pulled out one of his eyes, damned him and bid him run." He answered, " It was impossible I could have taken Philip White, I being' a pris- oner in New York, closely confined, and for many days before he was made a pris- oner.". One or two of his. comrades cor- roborated this statement. Four days after ( April 12th,) Huddy was taken by 16 ref- ugees under Capt .. Lippencott, to Gravelly Point, on the seashore at the foot of Navi- sink hills, abont a mile north of the High- land lighthouse where he was deliberate- ly, executed. He met his fate with an. ex- tragrdinary degree of firmness and sereni- ty. It is said he even executed his will under the gallows, upon the head of that barrel from which he was to make his exit, and in a hand writing fairer than usual .-
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The following label was attached to his breast :
" We, the refugees having long with grief, beheld the cruel murders of our brethren, and finding nothing but such measures daily carrying into execution ; we therefore determined not to suffer without taking vengeance for the numer- ous cruelties ; and thus begin, having made use of Capt. Huddy as the first ob ject to present to your view ; and further determine to hang man for man while there is a refugee living.
"Up Goes Huddy for Philip White."
The gallows was formed of three rails, and stood on the beach, close to the sea. Tradition states that Capt. Lippincott, ob- serving reluctance in some of his men to take hold the rope, drew his sword and swore he would run the first through, who disobeyed orders. Three of the party, bringing their bayonets to the charge, de- clared their determination to defend theul- selves-that Huddy was innocent of the death of White, and that they would not be concerned in the murder of an inno- cent man.
The British version of the execution of Huddy will be given in the account of the trial of the refugee Captain Richard Lip- pincott.
CAPT. JOSHUA HUDDY, THE HERO MARTYR OF OLD MONMOUTH.
MEETING AT FREEHOLD.
As soon as the citizens of Old Monmouth received information of the barbarous mur- der of Capt. Huddy, a large meeting num- bering some four hundred of the most re- spectable citizens of the county, assembled at Freehold to take appropriate action .- This meeting was held on the 14th of April, one day before Huddy's burial, and while his corpse was lying at the house of Capt. James Greene. This meeting con sidered and approved the following ad- dress :
To his Excellency George Washington, Esq., Commander in Chief of the com- bined Armies of America and France, acting in North America, &c., &c., &c.
The inhabitants of the county of Mon- mouth, being assembled on account of the horrid and almost unparalleled murder of Capt. Joshua Huddy, by the refugees from New York, and as we presume by appro bation, if not by the express command of
the British commander in chief, Sir Henry Clinton ; hold it as our indispensable duty, as well to the United States in general, as ourselves in particular, to show to your ex- cellency, that the aforesaid Captain Joshua Huddy, late commanding the post at Toms River, was after a brave and gallant de- fence made a prisoner of war, together with fifteen of his men, by a party of ref- ugees from New York, on Sunday, the 24th of March, last past. That five of the said Huddy's men were most inhumanly murdered after the surrender; that the next day at night, to wit, on Monday, the 25th of March, aforesaid, the said Capt. Huddy and the other prisoners who had been spared from the bayonet, arrived at New York, and were lodged in the main guard, during that night ; that on Tuesday morning, tue 26th of the same month, the said Huddy was removed from the main guard to the sugar house, where he was kept closely confined, until removed from thence to the provost guard, on Monday, April Ist, where he, the said Captain Hud- dy, wasclosely confined, until Monday, the 8th of April, instant; when the said Cap- tain Huddy, with two other prisoners, was removed from the provost jail at New York, on board of a sloop, then lying at New York dock, was put in the hold of said sloop in irons ; and then the said Captain Huddy was told he was ordered to be hanged, although the said Captain Huddy had never been charged, or brought to any kind of trial. That the said Captain Huddy demanded to know upon what charge he was to be hanged ; that a refu- gee by the name of John Tilton, then told him that he, ( the said Captain Huddy meaning.) was to be hanged for that he had taken a certain refugee by the name of Philip White, and that he, ( the said Captain Huddy, meaning,) had, after car- rying him, theaforesaid Philip White, five or six miles, cut off his ( the aforesaid Philip White's ) arms, broke both his legs, pulled out one of his eyes, and most cruel- ly murdered him, the aforesaid Philip White; and further said, that he, the aforesaid Captain Huddy, was ordered to be hanged for the murder aforesaid ; that Cap. Huddy replied that he had never taken the aforesaid Philip White prisoner ; and further said, that he, the aforesaid Philip White was killed after he, the said Captain Huddy, was taken prisoner hin- self, and was closely confined at New York at the time the said Philip White was kill- ed. Which in fact, and in truth, was ex-
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actly as the said Captain Huddy had relat- ed; for he, the aforesaid Philip White, was in New York, on Wednesday, the 27th of March, last past, and did on the night of that day, sail from New York to Sandy Hook, where he lay until Friday, the 29th of March ; that late the same night, he in company with Aaron White, John Fenni- more, negro Moses, John Worthley, and one Isaac, all refugees, weighed anchor for Sandy Hook, and ran down to Long Branch, in the township of Shrewsbury ; that the said Philip White, ( so as aforesaid men- tioned to have been killed by the said Captain Huddy,) and the said negro Mo- ses, landed on Long Branch, in Shrews- bury aforesaid, on Saturday morning. the 30th of March ; he, the said Joshua Hud- py, being then a close prisoner in the su- gar house at New York.
That he, the said Philip White, was taken priso jer on the same 30th of March, in the afternoon, and as a guard was con- ducting him, the said Philip White to jail, the said Philip in attempting to escape, was killed by his guard. That on Friday, the twelfth instant, a party of refugees, said to have been commanded by a Capt. Richard Lippencott, brought the said Capt. Huddy over to the Highlands of Middle- town, hanged him at ten o'clock in the forenoon of the same day, and left him hanging until four o'clock in the after noon, with the paper herewith annexed pinned upon his breast ; at which time a party of the inhabitants having been in- formed of the cruel murder, went to the place of his execution, and cut the unhap- py victim from the gallows.
These being a state of induitable facts, fully proven, we do, as of right we may, look up to your excellency, as the person in whom the sole power of avenging our wrongs is lodged, and who has tull and ample authority to bring a British officer of the same rank to a similar end ; for what man after this instance of the most unjust and cruel murder, will presume to say that any officer or citizen, whom the chance of war may put into the hands of the enemy, will not, suffer the same igno minious death, on some such groundless and similar pretence.
And we do with the fullest assurance rely upon receiving effectual support from your excellency, because,
First, the act of hanging any person without any (even a pretended ) trial, is in itself not anly disallowed by all civilized people, but is considered as barbarous in !
the extreme, and most certainly demands redress.
Secondly, because the law of nature and of nations, points to retaliation as the only measure which can, in such cases, give any degree of security, that the practice shall not become general.
Thirdly, because the honorable, the Con- tinental Congress, did on the 30th day of October, 1778, resolve in the following words :
"We, therefore, the Congress of the United States of America, do solemnly declare and proclaim, that it our enemies presume to execute their threats, or persist in their present career of barbarity, we will take such exemplary vengeance as shall deter others from a like conduct. - We appeal to that God who searcheth the hearts of men, for the rectitude of our in- tentions, and in his holy presence declare,
that as we are not moved by any light and hasty suggestions of anger or revenge, so through every possible change of fortune, we will adhere to this, our determination."
Fourthly, because the minds of the peo- ple are justly irritated, and if they have not compensation through a public chan- nel, they may, in vindicating themselves. open to view a scene at which humanity itself may shudder.
The above and within, was read to, con- sidered of, and approved, by upwards of four hundred respectable citizens.
Ordered by them, that the Committee by us appointed, do in our names sign it.
Ordered. That General Forman and Col. Holmes be requested to wait on his excel- lency, General Washington, with it, and that they do wait his excellency's final determination.
MONMOUTHI, April 14, 1782.
John Covenhoven, Samuel Forman,
Thomas Seabrook, William Wilcocks,
Peter Forman, Asher Holmes,
Richard Cox, Elisha Walton,
Joseph Stillwell, Stephen Fleming,
Barnes Smock, John Smock,
John Schanck. Thomas Chadwick.
Accompanying the address is a copy of the label ( elsewhere given ) fastened to Huddy's breast. The committee appoint- ed to wait on General Washington, in ad- dition to the foregoing address, furnished him with the affidavits of Aaron White. John North, William Borden and John Russell, in relation to Philip White's case. These have been given in speaking of Phil- ip White. They also furnished the affida- vit of Daniel Randolph, a copy of which will
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begiven hereafter. When General Washing- ton received their papers, he at once trans- mitted them to the President of Congress, with the following letter :
HEAD QUARTERS, NEWBURGA, April 20, 1782. 5
SIR :- The enclosed papers, which I have the honor to transmit to your excellency, contain a state of facts, with their testi- monials, respecting the death of Captain Joshua Huddy ; who after being a prison- er some days, with the enemy at New York, was sent out with a party of refu gees, and most cruelly and wantonly hang- ed on the heights of Middletown.
This instance of barbarity, in my opin- ion, calls loudly for retaliation ; previous however, to adopting that measure, and for my own justification, in the judgment of an impartial world, I have made a rep- resentation by letter, ( a copy of which is herein transmitted,) to Sir Henry Clinton, and have demanded from him, the actual perpetrators of this horrid act.
If, by Sir Henry's refusal. I should be driven to an act of retaliation, a British officer of equal rank must atone for the death of the unfortunate Huddy.
Happy, if I find that my resolutions meet the approbation of Congress, I have the honor to be, with the sentiments of sincere respect and esteem, Your Excel- lency's most obedient, and most humble servant, GEO. WASHINGTON.
His Excellency, the President of Con- gress.
CAPT. JOSHUA HUDDY, THE HERO MARTYR OF OLD MONMOUTHI.
AFFIDAVIT OF DANIEL RANDOLPH ESQ., OF TOMS RIVER.
STATE OF NEW JERSEY, Monmouth County, SS.
Personally appeared before me, David Forman, Esq .. Judge of the Court of Com- mon Pleas, of the county aforesaid, Daniel Randolph, Esq., of full age, who, being duly sworn according to law, deposeth and saith, that he, this deponent, did reside at Toms River, in the county afore- said; that on Saturday night of the 23d of March, they, the inhabitants of Toms River, aforesaid, were informed by Cap tain Joshua Huddy, then commanding the guard at that post, that he, the atore-
said Captain Joshua Huddy, had informa- tion that a body of refugees were ap- proaching to attack that post; that this deponent did join himself to the guard ; that just as day began to appear on Sun- day morning, Captain Huddy detached a party of his guard to make a discovery, where the enemy were, and to bring him accounts; that as this deponent expects, and believes the guard so sent out, as aforesaid, entirely missed the enemy, for that soon after, viz: before it was yet broad daylight, the enemy appeared in front of their small and unfinished block house, and immediately commeneed an attack, without any previous demand of a surren- der ; that Capt. Huddy, aforesaid, did all that a brave man could do, to defend him- self against so superior a number; that after quarters were called for, and the blockhouse surrendered, this deponent saw a negro, one of the refugee party, bayonet Major John Cooke, and he also saw a number of the refugees, as aforesaid, jump into the blockhouse, and heard them say that they would bayonet them, but this deponent did not see the deed done to any other person but. Major John Cooke. This deponent further saith, that . the same day, viz : Sunday, the 24th day of March, they were carried on board the refugees' boats, and arrived at New York the evening of the same day ; that he, this deponent, Capt. Huddy, and the other prisoners, were thit night lodged in the main guard at New York; that on Mon day morning, the 25th of March, afore- said. Captain Huddy, this deponent, and the other prisoners, were carried and con- fined in the sugar house, where they re- mained close confined, until Monday, the Ist day of April ; that on Monday, the 1st day of April, instant, afor-said, Capt. Huddy, this deponent, and the other prisoners, aforesaid, were removed from the sugar house, aforesaid, to the provost guard at New York, aforesaid, and were there closely confined, until Monday, the 8th of April, instant, when this deponent, Capt. Joshua Huddy, and a certain Jacob Fleming, were taken out of the provost guard, aforesaid, and carried immediately on board a sloop, put down in her hold, and ironed ; the aforesaid Joshua Huddy having irons on both feet and both hands And further, this deponent saith, that a certain refugee, called John Tilton, told the aforesaid Capt. Joshua Huddy, that he, the aforesaid Joshua Huddy, was or- dered to be hanged; that the aforesaid
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