Lead up to Conflict
1765 to 1775
As the county seat of old Gloucester County, Gloucester Town hosted many of the formal meetings, informal gatherings, court hearings; as well as, the county goal (jail).
Leading up to the break with Great Britain and American Independence, Gloucester was witness to some of these events and in 1777 and 1778, war would visit Gloucester Town.
Some of the most famous participants in the American Revolution would fight at Gloucester.
At Gloucester Town, New Jersey, in November 1777, British General Lord Cornwallis and his forces would face American troops under the command of the marquis de Lafayette, Colonel Richard Butler and the Morgan's Riflemen along with Captain Henry "Light-Horse Harry" Lee and his horse troop.
On June 18, 1778, Gloucester Town would be selected by the British as the location to cross the Delaware River when they evacuated Philadelphia. Nearly 11,000 British & Hessian troops would cross the Delaware River into New Jersey with the goal of reaching New York City.
Ten days later, these same British forces would face the rejuvenated American Army at the Battle of Monmouth Court House, before continuing on to New York City.
Below are some of the events leading up to the break with Great Britain which are tied to Gloucester City's history.
The STAMP ACT of 1765
"As the vessel passed Gloucester Point all the ships in the harbor hoisted their Colours to half Mast. All the bells began to ring until evening Mourning the approaching Lost of Liberty."
( His Majesty's Yacht Royal Charlotte was originally named HMY Royal Caroline )
HMY Royal Charlotte
On the 5th of October 1765, the HMY Royal Charlotte along with the Man of War HMS Sardine sails up the River Delaware and passes Gloucester on it's way to Philadelphia.
The Royal Charlotte carried Stamped Papers for Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
November - December 1773
The Tea ship POLLY.
Gloucester Town had a front row seat to a well known event involving the tea ship POLLY.
The tea ship Polly under Captain Ayres arrives in the Delaware River.
A committee of Philadelphian's stop the vessel off of Gloucester Point (PA) asking Captain Ayres not to land his ship or face the destruction of it's "detested Tea"; as well as, possible harm to his vessel and crew.
( Tar and Feathering was planned )
The POLLY stayed at Gloucester Point while Captain Ayres proceeded with the committee to Philadelphia.
Captain Ayres having made port in Philadelphia before surely was known to the merchants and agreed, wisely not to bring his vessel into Philadelphia.
His ship was resupplied and left with it's cargo of "Detested Tea".
Unable to off load the tea anywhere else in British North America, the POLLY return to England.
The Boston Tea Party took place on December 16, 1773.
Philadelphia's Broadside side was dated November 27, 1773
You can see the broadside by clicking on the link for the Library of Congress: https://www.loc.gov/resource/rbpe.14303100/
July 11, 1774
"at the Court-house in the town of Gloucester..."
"... some proper measures to be taken in
the support of AMERICAN FREEDOM,..."
July 18, 1774
Support for Boston and appointment of a committee related to the First Continental Congress.
At the Gloucester County Court-House in Gloucester Town:
( southwest corner of King and Market Streets )
"At a general meeting of the magistrates, lawyers, freeholders, and other respectable inhabitants of the county of Gloucester, in New Jersey, held at the Court-House in the said county, July 18, 1774, the following resolutions were read, maturely considered, and unanimously agreed to; the third only excepted.
ROBERT FRIEND PRICE, Esq; Chairman"
A list of all Twelve Resolutions which were approved on July 18, 1774
At a general meeting of the magistrates, lawyers, freeholders, and other respectable inhabitants of the county of Gloucester, in New Jersey, held at the Court-House in the said county, July 18, 1774, the following resolutions were read, maturely considered, and unanimously agreed to; the third only excepted.
ROBERT FRIEND PRICE, Esq; Chairman.
1. Resolved, That Boston is now suffering in the common cause of all British America, and therefore merits the most speedy and effectual aid in the power of the whole to give.
2. Resolved, That if the other colonies withhold their assistance, until Massachusetts is crushed and deprived of her liberty by the high and dangerous arm of Parliamentary power, now stretched forth over her for that purpose, they may, with good reason, expect soon to share the same fate.
3. Resolved, That we are of opinion, the most proper and effectual aid Massachusetts can receive from the other colonies would naturally and even necessarily, result from their coming into a total cessation of trade with Great-Britain and the British West-Indies *, until the oppressive and arbitrary acts, under which she so heavily groans, are totally and effectually repealed, and the town of Boston restored to her ancient rights and privileges.
*What here relates to the West-Indies, being objected to by some; their reasons were heard and considered; and then, on the question being put, the resolve was passed by a very great majority.
4. Resolved, That if we suffer the Parliament of Great-Britain to tax us without our consent, they may then establish over us, at our expence (which they would never be able to do at their own) a military force, sufficient completely to subject us to the arbitrary will of the Minister, or, in his own words, to lay us at his feet.
5. Resolved, That we are of opinion, the measures are already begun, that will, step by step, at length fix us in this deplorable situation, unless we are virtuous enough to unite, and, at all events, keep the hand of the British Parliament out of our pockets.
6. Resolved, That if there are any amongst us, so destitute of the generous extensive feelings of the human heart, so void of every true idea of the real advantages of liberty, or so sordidly attached to, what they may think, their present particular interest, or even so deluded with hopes of future promotion from those arbitrary invaders of our rights, in case they succeed against us, as to refuse to unite with their Brethren in such lawful ways and means, as shall be generally deemed necessary effectually to guard our pockets against them, they will, to their eternal disgrace, demonstrate to the world, that they are really endowed with but a very small portion of the most lovely and noble qualities of the human mind. In short, such conduct will even disgrace the very form they bear, and cause their fellow men to blush, on beholding such meanness in creatures of their own shape.
7. Resolved, That if we do not acquit ourselves like men on this important occasion, our truly generous and patriotic friends on the other side the water, will have just cause to be ashamed that they ever stood forth in our behalf. We shall demonstrate to them and the world, that we did not deserve their aid or friendship, that they did wrong in endeavouring to preserve us free, because we are only worthy to be slaves.
8. Resolved, That as the fate of Boston must, under providence, greatly depend upon the part the other colonies shall take, in this, most important of all temporal causes; every day she is kept in suspense, respecting their resolutions, must be to her, a day of great anxiety and keen distress; therefore, and as she is suffering bitterly from another quarter, and in the general cause, they seem to be in duty and honor bound to form their resolutions as speedy as possible. Unnecessary delays, in this case, would indeed be cruelty.
9. Resolved, That if a general non-importation does not take place, we are of opinion that a general non-consumption ought; and in this public manner declare, that we are heartily disposed inflexibly to engage therein.
10. Resolved, That we the inhabitants of Gloucester county aforesaid do, with pleasure and sincerity, profess and acknowledge ourselves to be truly loyal and dutiful subjects of George the Third, King of Great-Britain, &c. and that we will, to the utmost of our power, assist in carrying into execution any general, legal, well concerted measure, for the support and preservation of British liberty, in its genuine and primitive purity, throughout all these his extensive, and (till very lately) happy dominions in America.
11. Resolved, That as a general Congress of Delegates from each respective Colony, is proposed to be held at Philadelphia, in order to deliberate upon some general legal plan of opposition to the arbitrary measures of the British Parliament, lately devised, and now, with unexampled rigor, carrying into execution, manifestly with a design to overturn, and (if not prevented) totally lay waste all the ancient chartered forms of civil government throughout British America, and even, if possible, extirpate the very idea of liberty from these, our once free and happy regions; and as some of the counties in this province have, and others are preparing to appoint committees, to meet at some suitable place, to be agreed on for that purpose, in order to choose delegates to represent this Colony at the said general Congress, so we also, approving the said measure, do appoint Robert Friend Price, John Hinchman, Samuel Harrison, John Cooper, John Sparks, James Hinchman, Joseph Ellis, Samuel Clement, Joseph Hugg, Isaac Mickle, Joseph Morgan, Thomas Clark, and Isaac Tomlinson, to act as a Committee of Correspondence with the other Colonies; and also to appoint a Committee of three of their own members, to meet the said Committees of the other counties, and assist them in choosing Delegates to attend the said general Congress for the purpose aforesaid. And we do also agree, that seven of this our Committee, shall be a sufficient number to transact business at all times.
12. Resolved, That it will be proper, and it is the desire of this meeting, that our said Committee do immediately set on foot a subscription for the relief of our suffering Brethren in Boston; and that they also receive and appropriate the same, in such sort, as to them shall seem most likely to answer the benevolent purpose intended.
Signed, by Order of the Meeting,
ROBERT FRIEND PRICE, Chairman
[ As appeared on August 8th 1774
To the Printer of the Pennsylvania Packet
SIR,
AS the three several copies of the Gloucester county resolves, published in the Packet, Gazette, and Journal, were, through hurry, and error of the Clerk in transcribing, rendered very incorrect, and consequently dissatisfactory to the people of the county; no two being exactly alike; you are therefore desired to publish the following, which is a true copy ]
November 23, 1774
Joseph Ellis of Gloucester Town turns over funds raised by Gloucester County for the relief of Boston.
Ellis having already fought in the French and Indian War, would go on the become a General in the NJ Militia.
May 18, 1775
"A deadly enemy to Liberty lurks here"
Gloucester County instructions given to the committee related to the Second Continental Congress. There is great distrust of the New Jersey's Royal Governor and those who in the Legislature.
The last line states:
"Our legislative representatives hold that important trust, not during the will of their constituents; nor for any limited time; but during the Governor's pleasure.
— A deadly enemy to Liberty lurks here!"
( Seems to say they think there is a 'fox in the hen house'.)
Click on image or hyperlink to view the full document at the Library of Congress: https://www.loc.gov/resource/rbpe.09906600/
1777 - Quakers Jailed at Gloucester Town
Starting in January 1777, Thomas Redman and Mark Miller were imprisoned in the Gloucester County goal (jail) at Gloucester Town for eight weeks.
Redman and Miller were Quakers and were imprisoned for eight weeks due their stance of not supporting the Revolution; as well as, for refusing take a pledge of loyalty to the State of New Jersey.
The Quakers throughout the area would come to Gloucester Town to support Redman and Miller during their eight weeks imprisonment.
The jail was in poor condition, it did not have glass in the windows, it had no furniture or bed.
Sheriff Joseph Ellis who lived only a few hundred feet away from the court house was a former Quaker would visit these men. He would take them to his house for dinner and would have them stay the night, returning them to the jail after breakfast.
When they finally went on trial, they were fined but refused to pay the fine. At such time Sheriff Joseph Ellis announced that the fine had been paid.
It's believed that Ellis had paid the fine.
January 21st, 1777
Quaker Mark Miller was put in the County goal (jail) for refusing to take the oath of allegiance to the newly form State of NJ.
He would spend several long cold weeks in the jail at King and Market Street in Gloucester Town ( Gloucester City ).
