Asbury Park Press from Asbury Park, New Jersey • Page 144

Philip Freneau: Monmouth's Poet Patriot PIILIF MOIIN FRENEAU. often railed the port patriot of the American Revolution, was apparently a reluctant dragon In the years just before the outbreak af mar milk England. Freneau poured out articles and portry denouncing the mother country and promoting the cause of liberty. His mntmgs. km ea the temperate side, went even beyond the thinking cooler beads whs weren't anxious to entirely sever relations with the mother fiiiill He was graduated in 1771 from Princeton College, where his classmates included James Madison.

Henry Brecfc-enridge, Aaron Borr and Henry (Light Horse Harry Lee. From his family home near MiddTetowu Point be cont inued his writings after college as the war clouds grew. But villi the outbreak of fighting in 1771, Freneaa apparently decided upon discretion rather than valor. He began a series of sea voyages and according to Lewis Leary, his principal biographer, told a friend he could not see the merit of "being knocked in the bead." IN F.UCNESS, however, it should be noted that Freneau spent some of the time sailing with privateers which occasionally dashed with British warships. In a pension application, Freneau contended he carried in bis knee a british bullet, received during a privateer engagement.

But the poet, who continued his patriotic writings all during the war, did not become involved in the strife which engulfed Monmouth County until two weeks after the Battle of Monmouth. On July 8, 1778, Freneau was landed near Shrewsbury" from a ship on which he had sailed from Santa Cruz in the Virgin Islands. Freneau is said to have been shocked by the ravages war had inflicted on the county. Because of the divided loyalties of county residents, there was constant raiding by British Loyalists and colonial militiamen. Homes had been burned, crops destroyed and stock driven Sis days after his return.

Freneau enlisted as a private in Capl. Barnes Smock's company in the First Regiment, Monmouth Militia. HIS TOL'R of duty was apparently not too eventful since the unit performed mostly scout and guard duty along the shore. Freneau was involved in an assault and robbery near the Navesink Hills and his dog, Saneho, whs shared guard duties with his master, suffered a saber wound in the head. Freneau remained on the militia roll until May 1780, and advanced to the rank of sergeant.

Less than a month later, the poet went to sea again, this time Philip Freneau according to his diary as third mate aboard the Aurora, a small letter of marque out of Philadelphia. The Aurora's voyage was brief and ill-fated. Soon after rounding Cape May, she was overtaken and sunk by the British warship Iris. Those aboard the Aurora mho survived the attack were taken prisoner and though Freneau tried to contend he was only a passenger, his claim was di -proved by the Aurora's kg. FRENEAU was lodged aboard the notorious prison ship Scorpion at New York and a short time later was transferred to the so-called hospital ship Hunter.

The hardships were considerable and Freneau remained there until he was exchanged in July 1780. The poet's nprisonment prompted one of his most famous poems, 'The British Prison Ship," in which he declared: "Better to sleep on ocean's oozy bed, At once destroyed and numbered with the dead. Than thus to perish in the face of day. Where twice ten thousand deaths one death delay." Freneau returned home in poor health, his military activity ended. But he continued his patriotic writings, sparked by renewed hatred of the British.

IN 1789, Freneau married Eleanor Forman, sister of Gen. David (Black David) Forman, one of the county's most prominent Revolutionary militiamen. They had four daughters. The poet continued to live at Mount Pleasant until the house was nearly destroyed by fire in lie then moved to a property about two miles outside of Freehold which he and his mother had bought in 1791. In 1832, at the age of 80, Freneau attempted to walk home from Freehold during a snow storm.

He strayed into a bog, where his body was found the next day. Monument marks PhiGp Freneau's grove in Matawan Siting Militia Seized Grounded British Brigantine "The privateer Britannia, which lay near the Hook, dragged her anchors aad drove ashore on the Jersey Coast, amongst a large field af ice. which prevented any assistance getting to her until the crew who were quite Xatigned with the cn-rtioos they used to save the vessel, were made prisoners by the rebels. It is thought. af her stores mill be IT WAS LATE in December 1779 when the aortheast gale swept the Jersey coast and seat both British and American ships sarrymg for ewer.

The lajgaafiar Britannia, which had jest arrived from England heavily laden with supplies, tank shelter inside Sandy link, far her skipper. Cant. John Morrises, hesitated la try the trip throng the Narrows lata Near Jersey. The fill! wail wai doable anchored bat as the gale increased its fary. the aachars began to drag and.

despite the cautiwu af the crew, the ISttea vessel wag arivea refcatkajjr toward the Jersey Share. The crew's futile battle to sate their skip was observed by American wiihtiaa men itaied as kaknati an the Highlands af Navesiak aad the ward was qjnrkty relayed to CaL Asher Holmes at Pleasant Valley. Bat the optimism af the Tory writer as najastified and the Americans seined Another notice appeared in the papers March announcing that the sails and rigging would be sold March 15 at Pleasant Valley. This sale also was adjourned and the final mention af the Britannia appears hi this ad: To Be Sold, aa Monday the 27th day of this instant (March), at the bouse of Cornelius Dome, in the township of Middletown. Monmouth county.

The Sails and Running and Standing Rigging of the brigantine Britannia, with a number of Blunder Busses. Muskets, and Pistols, Cutlasses, Fire Arrows, 4c. fcc. lately captured by Colonel Asher Holmes and others. Samuel Dennis." PROCEEDS from the sale af sach captured material usually was used to buy provisions and pay the wages of American ntHaiampw.

The early newspapers do aot reveal whether the owners of the Britannia appeared at the admiralty court hearing, but even if they did they obviously didn't convince the court to give back the captured ship. What became of the Britannia's crew also is aot revealed the early accounts. beef, pork, bread, coffee, sugar, sweet oil, power, lead, muskets, swords, water casks, and sundry other things too tedious to mention; also the null of the brig Britannia, now lying near Cheesequake creek, in the county aforesaid. "And on Monday the 31st insL at ten o'clock in the forenoon, will be sold at publick vendue at Bordeaiowa, in the county of Burlington, the following articles, viz. If six aad 4 twelve pounders, 4 swivels, with all the necessary apparatus; also a quantity af shot of every kind, and all the sails aad rigging, late belonging to the brig aforesaid.

By order of His Honor the Judge of the Court of Admiralty. Zachariah Rossell, Marshal." FOE SOME reason, however, the sale apparently was postponed. The New Jersey Gazette carried notice of a court of admiralty to be held Feb. 11 at the ma of Gilbert Barton in ADeatewn to permit the owners of the Britannia aad another captured vessel to show caase "If any they have, why the said vessels and their cargoes should not be condemned according to the prayer of the said bute." With the looting aad pillaging to sfcirh lliiinmnlh County had been subjected by Bntish troops and their Loyalist support ers, a. wauM seem the Britannia's cargo weald simply have been divided np among the captors hut sach was not the case.

There began a series af admiralty court proceedings to legally dispose of the booty. TaTJS NOTICE was advertised Jan. 19, 1780: To be sold at publick vendue, at the house of Garret Schaack af Middletown, county of Monmouth, on Thursday the 27th of this instant, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, the following articles, viz. Irish AND THEN the Britannia finally drove ashore, Capt. Samuel Carhart and his militia company were waiting and took the brig's crew prisoner with hardly a struggle.

The New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury gave this account: 1 A. 23 JalyVlS7i.