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With the nation celebrating the 198th, anniversary of the birth of George Washington tomorrow, It 'a interesting to recall the trouble some days of the Revolution when Woodbridge was the center of war time excitement and when several Woodbridge men rendered. com.aplici ous service to General Washington. When the news of trouble In Bos ton fiel reached Woodbridge, a “commit of ‘ observation” was ‘chosen and later the rnhabitants of the town. met and recommended that “all trade, commerce, dealings and intergause” with the Staten dylanders be broken ‘of us they “manifested an unfriendly dispussa tlon : towards the liberties of America”. Among other things they recommended “Frugality, Economy, and Industry and the prohibition of all kinds of Gaming”. . A committes of safety was ap pointed in this area of Jersey.’ A Man and horse were kept In con stant readiness In Woodbridge, New ark, ‘Elizabethtown, New Mrnnewick, Pripeston and Trenton, to carry messages to the’ Continental Con gress or to notify neighboring towns ‘bn ..guee.of, rovagion or alarm?'. From June 16, 1775,*until Decem ber 28, 1783, a period of practically eight ghd one-half years during which the duties of commander-a chief fell upon George Washington, he spent’two years and three months in=.Now, Jergey, either at canten mnepts, in the field, or upon offeral Matte. .It may be truthfully said the quarter of hie military Hte ad 18 Revolution’ was spent no thin » It is well known that he traveled ‘through Wooldbridge on his way to Porth Amboy, where he had established a camp under the’ com mand of General Hugh Morecy. . At Lone time the camp was in danger of being captured by, a British wan of an in the harbor.’ An eighteen- pounder gun, brought to Amboy by some citizens of Woodbridge, saved the day, edie The years 1777 to 1782 were hard years for Woodbridge. Several en gagements were fought near here although no complete record was kept. The dates of three important engagements have been verified and are as followed April 19, 1777, July 1, 1779, and September, 1782. In June of 1777, the British army vacuated New Brunswick and start to retreat to Perth Amboy, under the command of Sir William Howe and Lord Cornwallis. They marched through Westfield, intending to wipe out Washington's camp, which was in the neighborhood of Flainheid. When they fled Woodbridge, they were checked for a half hour by Daniel Morgan'’s Rangers. This delay allowed Washington and his men to O4Cape, ‘ ‘ Sometime during the year of 1777, the Hygsians, troops of the British, were epidamped in Wood bridge. ‘ One of Washington's neat trusted generals was Nathaniel Heard, a Woodbridge resident, who had un der his command a company of Woodbridge men. Heard’s company is known to have rendered ¢conspicu ous service to Washington while he was encamped in this district. Other Woodbridge men who ren dered great service to Washington, were’ Captain David Edgar and Cap tain “Natty” Randolph. The siege of Yorktown and Its surrender on October 19, 1781, for ever closed the possibilities of any more Revolutionary warfare in New Jarney. The timed of reorganization were hard for the people, of this section, which had borse mithh of the burden of Peecallipalmas for the control of the Hudson and the Dela' s ware. But by theme Washington was elected president = in April, 1789, they had recovered enouet to give him a royal welcome. .sh ington’s tnip from Mt. Vernon New York was one grand’ triumphal tour. In New Jersey, the name of Wash ington was sufficient a thrill the people. The whole state united to do him the most distinguished honor they had ever paid any lan. Washington left Philadelphia on April 21, 1789. About two o'clock in the afternoon, Washington and members of his staff arrived in Mor rinville. Then, under the ferriage of Patrick Colvin, Washington crossed to New Jersey, where he was Welcomed ‘by the residents of Tren ton. After dining at the City Tavern a reception to the citizens completed the day. The same evening the suite proceeded to Princeton, where, the night was spent at the regimenes of Rev. Dr. John Witierspoon, president of the college. In the morning, In company with William Livingston, the war for eornor of New Jersey, Washington went on to’ Woodbridge. We was entertained at John Manning’s Inn, at the spot where the Knights of Columbus Home,now stands. The original building ‘has been moved to the rear, and is still standing and occupied as a tenement. ‘In Wood bridge, a enthusiastic groupe of farm ers assembled at the crossroads, Bentry weledified “the “presidential party from their porches, ” the soldiers who fought in Washington's campaigns cheered and saluted the president. Washington did not de part from Woodbridge until the next warming, when practically the whole town escorted him as far as Rahway. From there Washing ton went on for Piteabethtown and thence to New York, where he was inaugurated the flat. president of the United States on April 30, 1789, Neighbor— You look tired and sleepy, Janie,” ‘Little Jane—“It's that men baby at our house—he Broadcast a almoat at night song.~Neshville Christina , Advocate,
Newspaper Details
Woodbridge Leader
Woodbridge, New Jersey, US
Fri, Feb 21, 1930
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 30 May 2026
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