USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > Old times in old Monmouth > Part 23
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29
CAPT. ADAM HYLER,
THE DARING PRIVATEER OF THE WATERS IN AND AROUND-OLD MONMOUTII.
It is rare to find in fact or fiction, more daring exploits recorded than those per- formed chiefly in the waters around old Monmouth, by Captain Adam Hyler, who resided at New Brunswick during the lat- ter part of the Revolutionary war. From some unaccountable cause, the heroic deeds of this man have received but little notice from historians ; indeed, we remem- ber of but one modere work that makes any allusion to them, and that gives only two or three of the items published below.
Capt. Hyler's operations were carried on in Raritan bay, and along our coast as far down as Egg Harbor-chiefly, however, in the first named place. Though he some- times used sail craft, yet he generally de- pended upon whale boats or large barges, rowed by skillful crews. These barges were generally kept at New Brunswick, but some were at times concealed in small streams emptying into Raritan bay and river, which place was then reached by old Cranberry Inlet.
Though the Refugee band which had its headquarters at the settlement on Sandy Hook, around the lighthouse, gave great annovance to the patriots of Mon- mouth, yet their operations were much circumscribed by the efforts of Capt. Hy- ler and his brave compatriots, who serious- ly interfered with the vessels of the refu. gees, as well as of the British, and when opportunity offered as will hereafter be seen, hesitated not to attack their settle- ment, and even the lighthouse fort itself. The refugees would sometimes boast of successful midnight marauding expedi- tions into the adjacent country, but the bold, skillful exploits of Hyler, far eclipsed their best planned efforts.
A clear idea of Capt. Hyler's manner of harassing the enemy is given in the fol- lowing extracts, copied from various an- cient papers published at the time. They serve to aid in completing the picture of life and times in and around Old Mon- mouth during the Revolution.
"October 7th, 1781. On Friday last. Capt. Adam Hyler, from New Brunswick, with one gun boat and two whale boats, within a quarter of a mile of the guard ship at Sandy Hook, attacked five vessels, and after a smart conflict of fifteen minu- tes carried them, Two of them were armed, one mounting four six pounders, and one six swivels, and one three pound- er. The hands made their escape with their long boats, and took refuge in a small fort, in which were mounted twelve swivel guns, from which they kept up v constant firing; notwithstanding which he boarded them all without the loss of a man. On board one of them was 250 bushels of wheat and a quantity of cheese belonging to Capt. Lippencott, bound to New York. He took from them fifty bushels of wheat, a quantity of cheese several swivels, a number of fusees, one. cask of powder and some dry goods ; and stripped them of their sails and rigging- not being able to bring the vessels into port, in consequence of a contrary wind and tide. After which he set fire to all save one, on board of which was a woman and four small children, which prevented her from sharing a similar fate."
On the 13th of October, a week or ten days after the above mentioned affair, Capt. Hyler with one gunboat and two whale boats, boarded a sloop and two schooners, which all hands, except two. had previously left, and which lay under the cover of the light house fort at Sandy Hook, and brought them all off; but the sloop being a dull sailor, and being much annoyed from a galley lying near Staten Island, she was set on fire about three miles from the fort. One of the schooners running aground by accident, was stripped and left ; the other a remarkably fine fast sailing Virginia built pilot, mounted with one four pounder was brought, with two prisoners, safely off.
On the 24th of the same month, he start- ed with one gunboat to surprise the " refu- gee town " at Sandy Hook. He landed within three quarters of a mile of the light house, but found the refugees were out in Monmouth County on a plundering expe- dition. He however fell in with six noted
125
OLD TIMES IN OLD MONMOUTH.
villains who he brought off and lodged in a safe place. A subsequent notice of Capt. Hyler, says that at one time he captured the Captain of the guard at the light house, with all his men, but whether it was at this or some other time, is not stated.
Nov. 14th, 1781. On Saturday night, Capt. Hyler, with a gunboat and a small party of men went to the Narrows, where he captured a ship with fourteen hands, and brought her off with the intention of running her up the Raritan river, but near the mouth she unluckily got aground, and as the enemy approached in force, he was obliged to set her on fire. She was loaded with rum and pork ; several hogsheads of the former he got out and brought off with the prisoners."
This ship captured was probably " The Father's Desire," as twenty hogsheads of rum and thirty barrels of pork were adver- tised by the U. S. Marshal to be sold a few days after ; which the advertisement states were taken from a ship of this name by Captain Hyler.
" On the 15th of December. Capt. Hyler, who commands seven or eight stout whale boats, manned with near one hundred men, at the Narrows, fell in with two refugee sloops trading to Shrewsbury, one of them commanded by the noted villain, 'Shore Stephens,' and had on board £600 in spe- cie, besides a considerable quantity of dry goods ; the other had similar articles, also sugar, rum, etc. They were taken to New Brunswick."
The many daring exploits of Capt. Hy- ler, following so close one after another, aroused the British at New York, and they fitted out an expedition with the de- termination of destroying his boats, and if possible, capturing him. The following account of this expedition is derived chiefly from Philadelphia papers, of the date of January 15th and 16th, 1782 :
" A party of the British lately (about January 9th) made an incursion to New Brunswick with the design, it is said, of carrying off the boats of the celebrated partizan, Capt. Adam Hyler. They land- ed at New Brunswick and plundered two houses, but were gallantly opposed by the neighboring militia, and the enemy were driven off with some loss. Farther ac- counts say there were some 200 refugees and British, and that they succeeded in destroying the whale boats. No Ameri- cans were killed, but five were wounded and six taken prisoners. Several tories · were killed-four known to be, and sev-
eral were seen to be carried off. The British made the attack about 5 o'clock, A. M., just before daylight, and the Ameri- can account says the expedition was well planned, and that the Tories held the town for about an hour. The British reg. ulars were detachments from the 40th and 42d regiments, under command of Capt. Beckwith, in six boats, and they took away all of Hyler's boats. The Brit- ish alleged that Captain Hyler was a de- serter from the Royalists."
It is probable that at this time, besides his boats at New Brunswick, Capt, Hyler had others concealed elsewhere, as we find early in the following spring he was at work as usual, apparently, but little in- convenienced by the loss of the boats taken by the British, though he may have built some in the meantime, In March following, when the British attacked and burned Toms River, they boasted ot hav- ing captured there a fine large barge, be- longing to Capt. Hyler.
In April, 1782, Capt. Hyler, in an open boat, boarded and took a large cutter, almost ready for sea, lying near Sandy Hook, and near the Lion man-of-war, 64 guns. This cutter mounted twelve 18 pounders, and was commanded by one White, formerly of Philadelphia, but turned apostate. Hyler blew up the ves- sel, which was designed as a cruiser, and took forty prisoners. Another account says the number of prisoners was fifty, and the cutter's armament was six 18 pounders and ten 9 pounders. At the same time he took a sloop which was ransomed for £400. The Captain of the cutter gives an amus- ing account of the way Hyler captured his vessel, which will be found hereafter.
"On the 25th of May, 1782. Capt. Hyler, with his armed boats, being in Shrewsbury river, a party of British troops, consisting of twenty-five men, under Capt. Shaak, was detached to intercept him in the gut. Hyler discovered them, and landed thir- teen men, with orders to charge; when four of the enemy were killed or wounded, and the Capt. and eight men taken prison- ers. By the firing of a gun it was sup- posed others were killed, as they were seen to fall. JJust before this affair, Capt. Hyler had met with a hurt, or otherwise he probably would not have let a man es cape."
On the 2d of July, Captain Hyler. assist- ed by Captain Story, another brave par- tizan, in New York bay, with two whale | boats, boarded and took the schooner Skip
126
OLD TIMES IN OLD MONMOUTH.
Jack, carrying six guns, besides swivels, and burned her at noon, in sight of the guard-ship, and took the captain and nine or ten men prisoners. About the same time he also took three or four trading vessels, loaded with calves, sheep, &c.
These were probably about the last ex- ploits in which Captain Hyler was en- gaged, as we find no farther mention of his name in ancient papers until the an- nouncement of his death, some two months after. He died at New Brunswick, on the 6th of September, 1782.
The following from an ancient paper gives a graphic account of his manner of conducting his operations. It was original- ly published June 19th, 1782 :
" The exertions of the celebrated water partizan, Captain Adam Hyler, have been a considerable annoyance to the wood shallops, trading vessels, and plundering pirates of the enemy about Sandy Hook, Long Island, and Staten Island, for sev- eral months past. You have heard that his effort to take an eighteen gun cutter was crowned with success. It was indeed a hold and hazardous attempt, considering how well she was provided against being boarded. He was, however, compelled to blow her up, after securing his prisoners and a few articles on board. His surpris- ing a captain of the guard, at the light- house, with all his men, a short time ago, was a handsome affair, and gained him much credit. He has none but picked and tried men ; the person who discovers the least symptom of fear or diffidence, be shore, and never suffered to enter again .-
he who he will, is immediately turned on | o'clock. Here he left his boat in charge
In the next place, they are taught to be particularly expert at the oar, and to row with such silence and dexerity as not to be heard at the smallest distance, even though three or four boats be together, and go at the rate of twelve miles an hour.
"Their captures are made chiefly by surprise or stratagem; and most of the crews that have hitherto been take by these boats declare they never knew any- thing of an enemy being at hand till they saw the pistol or cutlass at their throats.
Lion man-of war about one quarter of a mile distant. It was calm and clear, and we were all admiring the beautiful and splendid appearance of the full moon which was then three or four hours above the horizon. While we were thus atten- tively contemplating the serene luminary, we suddenly heard several pistols dis- charged into the cabin, and turning around, perceived at our elbows a number of armed people, fallen as it were from the clouds, who ordered us to 'surrender in a moment, or we were dead men ! Up- on this we were turned into the hold and the hatches barred over us. The firing, however, had alarmed the man-of-war, who hailed us, and desired to know what was the matter. As we were not in a sit- uation to a iswer, at least so far as to be heard, Captain Hyler was kind enough to do so for us, telling them through the speaking trumpet that 'all was well.'- After which, unfortunately for us, they made no farther inquiry.'
After the notorious refugee, Lippencott, had barbarously murdered Captain Joshua Huddy, near the Highlands, General Washington was anxious to have the mur- derer secured. He had been demanded of the British General, and his surrender refused. Captain Hyler was determined to take Lippencott. On inquiry he found that he resided in a well known house, in Broad street. New York. Dressed and equipped like a man-of-war press gang, he left the Kills, with one boat, after dark, and arrived at Whitehall about nine
of three men, and passed to the residence of Lippencott, where he inquired for him and found that he was absent, having gone to a cock pit. Thus failing in his object he returned to his boat, with his press gang, and left Whitehall, but finding a sloop ly- ing at anchor off the battery, from the West Indies, laden with rum, he took her, cut her cable, set her sails, and with a north-east wind sailed to Elizebethtown Foint, and before daylight had landed from her and secured forty hogsheads of rum. He then burned the sloop to pre- vent her re-capture .- (This again furmishes the groundwork of a very interesting story. published originally in Major Noah's New York Sunday Times, and afterwards re- published by the author, in a book entitled " Tales and Traditions of New York."- The writer however, occasionally blends fiction with facts, which, though perhaps
" There was a droll instance of this some weeks ago, as one of the prisoners, a shrewd, sensible fellow, and late captain of one of the captured vessels, relates it himself. Said he, 'I was on deck with three or four men, on a very pleasant even- ing, with our sentinel fixed. Our vessel was at anchor near Sandy Hook, and the 'serving to increase the interest of his sto-
127
OLD TIMES IN OLD MONMOUTH.
ries, yet renders his work unreliable as a matter of history ).
The writer of this has been unable to find any notice of Captain Hyler previous to 1771. The occasion of this probably is that he was in the British service in the early part of the war, but being convinced of the unjustness of the cause in which he was engaged, he left them and joined the Americans. The British at New Bruns- wick, as before stated, charged him with being a deserter, and the Tory paper pub- lished in New York (Rivington's Royal Gazette), Jan. 12, 1782, says : " This Hyler is a deserter from the royal service, and ever since his defection has proved too successful an enterprizer in his various descents upon'our vicinities."
The fact of Captain Hyler's having been formerly in the British service, increases our admiration for his bold operations .- Had he been taken by the British. he probably would have received a deserter's punishment.
The writer of this has had occasion to make a thorough examination of the origi- nal pay rolls of all vessels of war in the ser- vice of our government in the war of 1812, and previous, which rolls are now preserved in the Treasury Department at Wash- ington. In looking over the rolls contain- ing the list of officers and men serving un- der Commodore Perry and other noted heroes on the lakes is to be found the name of an under officer named Adam Hyler, who faithfully served throughout that war, who was evidently named after and probably a near relative of the Captain Adamı Hyler of Revolutionary fame.
OTHER PRIVATEERS.
CAPTAIN STORER.
The following is from an ancient paper published in 1782, just previous to the close of the war.
" We learn that the brave Captain Stor- er. commissioned as a private boat of-war under the State. and who promises to be the genuine successor of the late Captain Hyler. has given a recent instance of his valor and conduct in capturing one of the enemy's vessels. He went in two boats through the British fleet in the Narrows, and boarded a vessel under the flag staff battery. He captured the vessel without alarm She was a sloop in the Engineers department of H. B. M. service, and was carried away safely."
CAPTAIN WILLIAM MARRINER.
Captain Marriner lived in New Bruns- wick during the war. From notice of him in ancient papers, we find he was another brave enterprising partizan, as the follow- ing extracts will show, The first is from a letter dated June 17th, 1778.
" William Marriner, a volunteer, with eleven men and Lieutenant John Schenck, of our militia, went last Saturday evening from Middletown Point to Long Island, in order to take a few prisoners from Flat- bush, and returned with Major Moncrieff and Mr. Theophilus Bacho (the worshipful Mayor and Tormentor-General, David Matthews, Esq., who has inflicted on our prisoners the most unheard of cruelties, and who was the principal object of the expedition, being unfortunately in the city,)with four slaves, and brought them to Princeton, to be delivered to his excel- lency the Governor. Mr. Marriner with his party left Middletown Point on Satur- day evening, and returned at six o'clock next morning, having traveled by land and water above fifty miles, and be- haved with greatest prudence and brav- ery."
The following is from an official naval work in the Library of Congress :
" The privateer Blacksnake was captur- ed by the British, but in April, 1780, Cap- tain William Marriner, with nine men in a whale boat, retook her. Captain Mar- riner then put to sea in his prize, and cap. tured the Morning Star, of 6 swivels and 33 men, after a sharp resistance, in which she lost three killed and five wounded ; he carried both prizes into Egg Harbor."
After the war Captain Marriner removed to Harlem, where he lived many years.
The Daniel Matthews alove spoken of was the Tory Mayor of New York. during the Revolution, and noted for his enmity to all favoring the Americans.
CAPTAIN JACKSON.
" December 18th, 1782 .- Capt. Jackson of the Greyhound, in the evening of Sun- day, last week, with much address, cap- tured within the Hook, the Schooner Dol- phin and sloop Diamond, bound from New York to Halifax, and brought them into Egg Harbor. These vessels were both condemned to the claimants, and the sale amounted to £10,200.
SUCCESSFUL EXPLOIT.
In the following item from the Packet, Jan. 1779, no names are mentioned.
128
OLD TIMES IN OLD MONMOUTH.
"Some Jerseymen went in row boats to Sandy Hook and took four sloops, one of which was armed. They burned three and took one; also nineteen prisoners.
The share of prize money per man, was £400."
PASSAGES IN THE RELIGIOUS HIS- TORY OF OLD MONMOUTH.
THE UNIVERSALISTS-ORIGIN OF THE SOCIE- TY IN AMERICA.
THE POTTER CHURCH.
A Free Church in the Olden Time-A Ref- uge for Methodism in its Dark Days- The Cradle of Universalism in America -Its Benevolent Founder and Remark- able Incidents in his Life.
A singular and interesting chapter in the religious history of our State, and one but little known outside of members of the Universalist society, relates to a church formerly called "the Potter church," built not far from 1760 to 1765, at Good- luck, in that part of old Monmouth now confined within the limits of Ocean coun- ty, by a benevolent resident of that village named Thomas Potter. Before building the church, Potter had been in the custom of opening his house to travelling preach- ers of all persuasions ; and, after a while, to accommodate them, he built this church free for all denominations. His object is best expressed in his own words : " As I firmly believe that all mankind are equal- ly dear to Almighty God, they shall all be equally welcome to preach in this house which I have built." After it was built, it was used by traveling ministers of the Presbyterian, Baptist, Quaker, Methodist and other societies, and in it was preached the first Universalist sermon ever delivered in America. The Methodist society in New Jersey owe a debt of gratitude to Thomas Potter for always opening his church to the noble pioneers of Method- ism in the dark days of its history, when Methodism not only met with opposition from other societies on account of differ- ence in religious sentiments, but also, when during the Revolution, their ene- mies most unwarrantably slandered them by charging them with being in sympathy with Great Britain. Though these slan- ders had the effect of rendering the heroes of Methodism so unpopular that they could hardly obtain a hearing in most parts of this State, as well as in other
States, yet the Potter church was always open to them, and so often used by them, that some Methodist writers at the present day who have found the name of this church frequently mentioned in the jour. nals of these pioneers, have concluded it must have been a Methodist church, though where it was situated, and why it was so called, they have been unable to divine. Among the preachers well known in the annals of Methodism who preached in it, were Benjamin Abbott and Bishop Asbury ; and in it was married James Ster- ling. the most earnest, effective layman the society had in its early struggles in New Jersey.
The most satisfactory account of Thom- as Potter and his church is given by Rev. Jolin Murray, who preached in it the first Universalist sermon ever delivered in America, under circumstances so very sin- gular that his narrative forms an interest- ing as well as important part of our church history. As Murray's Journal is rarely to be met with except occasionally among some of his own denomination, we give the substance of his account, though, before giving it, it is necessary to say a few words in regard to Mr. Murray himself.
The Rev. John Murray, the first preach- er of Universalism in America, sailed from England for New York, July 21st, 1770 .- When he left England though a warm ad- vocate of the principles of that society, yet he was not a regular preacher and had but httle idea then of becoming one in Amer- ica. During a thick fog in the early part of the month of September, the brig " Hand in Hand," in which he was act- ing as supercargo, struck on the outer bar of old Cranberry Inlet ( now closed ) near- ly opposite Toms River ; she soon passed over and was held by her anchors from go- ing on shore. Here she remained several days before she could be got off. While lying here the provisions of the brig were exhausted, and after locking up the ves- sel, all hands proceeded in a boat across the bay to the main in search of susten- ance. Being unacquainted with the main, they spent a great part of the day before they could effectuate their purpose, after which, it being late, they proceeded to a tavern to stay all night. Mr. Murray's mind appears to have been much exercised by eventful scenes in his previous life and to have longed to get somewhere where the busy cares of the world would not dis- turb his meditations ; and hence as soon as the boatmen arrived at the tavern he
129
OLD TIMES IN OLD MONMOUTH.
left them for a solitary walk through the dark pine grove. " Here," said he, I was as much alone as I could wish and my heart exclaimed, Oh that I had in this wil- derness the lodging of a poor wayfaring man ; some cave, some grot, some place where I might finish my days in calm re- pose." As he thus passed along musing, he unexpectedly reached a small log house where he saw a girl cleaning fish ; he re- quested her to sell him some. She had none to spare, but told him he could get all he wanted at the next. house. "What, this ?" said Mr. Murray pointing to one he could just discern through the woods .- The girl told him no, that was a meeting house. He was much surprised to find a meeting house there in the woods. He was directed to pass on by the meeting house and at the next house he would find fish. He went on as directed and came to the door near which was a large pile of fish of various sorts, and standing by was a tall man, rough in appearance and evidently advanced in years. "Pray sir," said Mr Murray, " will you have the goodness te sell me one of those fish ?" - " No sir," was the abrupt reply of the old gentleman. "That is strange," replied Mr. Murray, "when you have so many fish, to refuse me a single one !"
"I did not refuse you a fish, sir; you are welcome to as many as you please, but l do not seil the article; I do not sell fish, sir, I have them for taking up and you may obtain them the same way." Mr. Murray thanked him ; the old man then inquired what he wanted of them, and was told he wished them for supper for the mariners at the tavern. The old man of- fered to send the fish over for him, and urged Mr. Murray to tarry with him tha! night. Mr. Murray consented to return after visiting the crew at the public house. This old gentleman was Thomas Potter .- Mr. Murray says he was astonished to see so much genuine politeness and hospitali- ty under so rough an exterior, but his as- tonishment was greatly increased on his return. The old man's room was prepared, his fire bright and his heart opened .- "Come," said he, " my friend, I am glad you have returned, I have longed to see you, I have been expecting you a long time." Expecting himl Mr. Murray was amazed, and asked what he meant. Mr. Potter replied, "] must answer in my own way ; I am a poor ignorant man, I know how neither to read or write; I was born in these woods and worked on these
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.