Echoes-Sentinel from Warren Township, New Jersey • Page 5

E-5 THE BERNARDSVILLE NEWS-ECHOES-SENTINEL, THURSDAY. JULY 31,1975 History Shows Area Men Were Deeply Involved In Revolutionary Army EDITOR'S NOTE: The was prepared (or publication by Gwendolyn Thomas of Mlllington, a longtime resident of this area and well informed on the history of Passaic Township, by Gwendolyn Thomas Foreword As we celebrate the American Revolution Bicentennial, I feel many residents of Passaic Township would like to know a bit about the men who served from this area, two hundred years ago in that great struggle for independence and freedom. In my research 1 used, mainly, Munsell's "History of Morris County, N.J.", published in 1882, and John Littell's genealogy of this area entitled "Family Records or Genealogies of the First Settlers of Passaic Valley and Vicinity Above Chatham," published in 1852. It appears all of the men who served in Passaic Township area, served in the militia. 1 have searched for those who may have served in the Continental army and have found only one the Reverend James Caldwell.

However, men from the New Jersey militia were often selected to fill the ranks in the Continental army. In writing of these men, in some cases I have very little information and I have been unable to find descendants of some of them. The act of the Provincial Congress regulating the militia, passed Aug. 16, 1775, provided for two regiments and one battalion for Morris County. The two regiments were called eastern and western.

The men from Passaic Township area who served in the militia were in the eastern regiment. They belonged to Captain Peter Layton's company. At that time the land which is now called Passaic Township was called Long Hill. It was the southern tip of Morris Township. In 1866 Passaic Township was created from that area.

In New Jersey daring the American Revolution, when it was necessary to summon the militia, there were signal fires (huge bonfires) in several high places in New Jersey. One of these places was in this area at Cooper's windmill, at the home of John Cooper. Today this home is 1434 Long Hill Road where Mr. and Mrs Charles Clancy live. According to the map of this area, made by Robert General Washington's mapmaker, the windmill was a short distance diagonally north-east of the house.

At that time, John Cooper's property was extensive and ho undoubtedly selected the highest spot for a signal lire, which would have been east of the windmill. The men who served in Captain Layton's company, served with other militia men in New Jersey in assisting the Continental army. General Stryker in his "History of Jersey men in the Revolutionary Army," said, "The good service performed by the militia of this state is fully recorded in history. At the fights at Quinton's Bridge, Hancock's Bridge, Three Rivers, Connecticut Farms and Van Neste's Mills, they bore an active part; while at the battles of Long Island, Trenton, Princeton, Assunpink, Germantown, Springfield and Monmouth they performed efficient service in supporting the Continental line." The most considerable engagement in which the New Jersey militia were concerned was the battle of Springfield where the attempt of General Knyphausen (who commanded the British and Hessian troops) to reach Morristown was met and foiled, principally by the militia. To be presented now is the information about the men from Passaic Township area who served in the Morris County militia during the American Revolution.

The following war record has been correctly copied from the militiary records, formerly in the War Records Office, New Jersey Department of Defense, now on file in the Archives and History Bureau: LAYTON, PETER Morris County. Captain Eastern Regiment Morris County Militia. Active Service. Commanded his company in detachment of his Regiment serving in New York under command of Major John Doughty, 18 days, from March 21, 1776; Company consisted of 4 officers, 4 sergeants, 4 corporals and 67 privates; commanded bis company of 85 men serving at Elizabethtown under Brig. Gen.

Winds, 12th Sept. to 12th Oct. 1777; detachment of 22 men of his company served under Ensign Abraham Rutan serving at Elizabethtown under Brig. Gen. Winds, 22nd to 28th June, 1778; commanded his company of 55 men serving at Elizabethtown under Brig.

Gen. Winds, 21st June to 2nd July 1778; detachment of 13 men of his company under Sergeant John Roll served as guard at Court House in Morristown, 10th Aug. to 8th Sept. 1778; commanded his company of 42 men serving at Hackensack under Brig. Gen.

Winds." Peter Layton was a nephew of Richard Runyon, who in 1740 purchased a great part of the land which is Stirling today. Layton acquired a 250 acre strip of land lying west of Runyon's land. He was also related to Daniel Cooper, who in 1732 purchased 500 acres of land, from the river on the south over to Black Brook on the north, in the most eastern section of today's Millington. Layton's land lay between Runyon's and Cooper's. Peter Layton had no descendants, for he never married.

CORNELIUS LUDLOW Colonel-Morris County Militia Cornelius Ludlow was a major January 13, 1776 and served in Martin's battalion, June 14, 1776. In may 23, 1777, he was a Lieutenant-Colonel. He resigned November 13, 1777 because he was disabled. His home, today, is numbered 1292 Long Hill Road, Stirling. It is called St.

Joseph's Villa, now. During the life-time of Colonel Ludlow, only the central part of this house existed. The two wings were added later. The Ludlow family called their home, "Sentinel Descendants of Colonel Ludlow are, Mrs. Evelyn Bowers of Somerville, N.J., Mrs.

Marjoric Lindabury of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Mr. Leland A. Davis of Warren, N.J. STAFFORD WILSON Private Morns County Militia. Stafford Wilson owned a large tract of land in the northwestern part of today's Millington on which he and his family lived.

It ran along Long Hill Road from Old Forge Road to the Passaic River Bridge on the south and east bounded by the Passaic River on the north. Rayburn Road now runs through the western part of this property. Wilson's home, which burned many years ago was situated near the coiner of Long Hill and Kayburn roads. A covered well, which existed at that time in front of the house, can still be seen today, on this property. Private Stafford was the great-great-great grandfather of Mrs.

Mildred Van Dyke who lives in Basking Ridge. SAMUEL STANSBURY Private Morris County Militia. Samuel Stansbury was the son af Josiah Stansbury, who was among the first settlers in Scotch Plains, N.J. Samuel, his wife, Polly Littell, and Daniel Cooper home at 2 Carlton Rd. was remodeled in 1912.

their seven children lived on a large tract of land which they had purchased in the eastern part of what is now Passaic Township. In 1777, Stansbury was captain of the first Regiment in the Essex County militia. His brothers, Colonel Recompense Slansbury and Captain Jacob Stansbury, also, served in the Essex County Militia. Captain Stansbury was the great-great-great grandfather of Miss Gwendolyn Thomas and Russell Thomas of Millington. JOHN ROLL Sergeant Morris County Militia John RoU lived on the north side of Long Hill Road on a large tract of land in the Meyersville Gillette area, west of Meyersville Road.

He had 6 children by his first wife and 3 by his second wife. From Captain Peter Layton's military record, is a statement about Sergeant Foil: "Detachment of 13 men of his Company (Capt. Layton's Company) served under Sergeant Roll as guards at Court House in Morristown from lUth Aug. to 8th Sept. 1778" Sergeant Roll was the great-great-great grandfaffte'r of Charles S.

RoU of Berkeley Heights. Copied from the Archives and History Bureau: "CORY, DANIEL Wagonmaster Received from Joseph Lewis, (Quartermaster, Morristown Certificates as follows: Certificate No. 391 dated March 4, 1780 for $240.00, Continental certificate, No. 804, dated April 15. 1780 for $149.50, for sledding to Staten Island to January 20, 1780, Certificate No.

1823, dated Oct. 31,1780 for $424.00 for carting to April 21, 1780." Later Daniel Cory became a private in Captain Peter Layton's Company. Private Cory, his wife, Martha Bedell, and their five children lived on their farm of 108 acres on the north side of Long Hill Road in the Meyersville-Gillelte area, west of Meyersville Road. He was the great-great-great grandfather oi Mrs. Helen Cory Mercier of Liberty Corner.

SAMUEL VANCE Private Morris County Militia Samuel Vance was the son of Kennedy Vance. This family lived on their property of 200 acres on today's Morristown Road urea in Gillette. Private Vance, age 20, was killed in action June 23, 1780 at the battle of Springfield. ABRAHAM RUTAN Kn- sign. Morris County Militia "(In the British and United states armies, ensigns were formerly entrusted with the colors, or ensigns of the Regiment.

So devoted were they to the traditions embodied in the flan, that death was preferable to the loss of the ensign they guarded)." Abraham Rutan, his wife and 13 children lived on the west side ol the Passaic River in Gillette which is the line, today, between Gillette and Berkeley Heights. Ensign Kutan's home was near the Sulpher Spring in that area. He inherited the eastern one- half of the 200 acre tract of land owned by his lather, Peter Rutan. THE REVEREND JAMES CALDWELL Chaplain, in June 1776 to Col. Elms Dayton's Third New Jersey Regiment and later that year, Deputy Quartermaster- General of the Continental Army.

He was a grandson of James Caldwell, who with his wife, mary, emigrated from Ireland about the year 1732 and settled on land recently known as the Cornish farm in Gillette, 275 Mountain Avenue. James, the grandson lived there with the family, at one time, and, eventually, married Hannah Rutan, a neighbor of the Caldwells. He became a clergyman and was pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Elizabethtown. His home at that time was in Connecticut Farms, known today as Union (New Jersey). James Caldwell played a very important pail in the battle of Springfield, winch took place on June 23,1780.

He was entrusted with the establishment of a system of signal fires and warning guns on the Short Hills, west of Elizabethtown. In June 1780, the British began an invasion of central New Jersey in an attempt to reach Morristown. On June 7th General vwn Kiisphausen. who commanded the British and Hessian spent the entire day fighting the militia and the New Jersey brigade of the Continental anm, in Connecticut Farms. They plundered and burned part of the town and they went to the home of the Revtniul James Caldwell and through the window shot and.k.ileil CaUlweU's wile, Hannah, as she sat liold- ing the youngest of their nine children.

The climax of the British invasion took place at Springfield, June 23, 17811 At this battle thousand of the New Jersey militia gathered to aid a handful of Washington's Continentals anil to oppose the invasion. They held the enemy at bay until the soldiers ran out of wadding, essential for firing 18th century rifles A messenger dispatched in look for more wadding, mei the Reverend James Caldwell on his way. On learning ol the shortage, Caldwell galloped to his church ami collected as many The former home of John Cooper at 1434 Long Hill Road, MilUngton, is now the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles hymnals as he could.

These hymnals contained music written, mainly, by Isaac Watts, an English cleric. As Caldwell arrived at the scene of the battle, he threw the books to the soldiers and said, "Give em Watts, boys!" The British and Hessians were, finally, halted and never got through to Morristown. The Reverend Mr. Caldwell never lived to see the final treaty of peace between Great Britain and this country, in 1783, for which he had fought so valiantly! He was and killed in 1781 by a drunken soldier standing sentinel at Klizabethtown! In conclusion: "The losses of New Jersey in the Revolutionary struggle, both in men and property, in proportions to her wealth and population were greater than those of any of her sisters. When General Washington was retreating through the Jerseys, almost forsaken, her militia were at all times obedient to his orders, and for a considerable time composed the strenlh ol his army.

The military services performed by the soldiers of New Jersey and the sufferings ul her people during the Revolu- tionary War, entitle her to the treasure in resisting oppres- those who struggled for gratitude of her ister states, sion she is entitled to stand in American freedom." By her sacrifice of blood and the foremost rank among Gwendolyn Thomas BACK TO 1973 PRICES With This Coupon Ye Olde Sub Pub Announces: Continuing Our 3rd. Anniversary Sale For Your Area. Avoid the Rush. "CALL AHEAD' i 464-9493 (Complete bottom ol coupon) Check One. New Friend 1 Old Friend ItMaaWaflB TOWN JBERKELEY HEIGHTS TOWN ES BN 559 SPRINGFIELD A I A A your own carpets RENT OUR RINSE VAC- thi naw compact carptt cltaning machina that lifts dirt, grima and rasiduas out of and dots tha job professional cleanars charge up to a hundred dollars lor.

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