Historians generally concede that no state among the old thirteen suffered during the war more than did New Jersey; and it is generally admitted that no county in our state suffered more than did old Monmouth. In addition to the outrages to which the citizens were subjected from the British army, they were continually harrassed by depredations committed by regularly organized bands of Refugees, and also by the still more lawless acts of a set of outcasts known as the Pine Woods Robbers, who, though pretending to be Tories, yet if opportunity offered, robbed Tories as well as Whigs.

The Refugees, or Loyalists as they called themselves, were generally native born Americans who sided with the British regularly organized, with officers commissioned by the Board of Associated Loyalists at New York, of which body the President was William Franklin, the last Tory governor of New Jersey, an illegitimate son of Dr. Benjamin Franklin. The Refugees had a strongly fortified settlement at Sandy Hook, the lighthouse there defended with cannon and British vessels of war always lying in the vicinity. From this settlement or "Refugees' town," as it was sometimes called, these marauders would sally forth to plunder and murder in the adjoining county. To show the perils by which the citizens of old Monmouth were surrounded and the outrages to which they were subjected, we append some extracts chiefly from ancient papers, which though plain and unvarnished, yet will give a vivid idea of life and times in this county in the dark days of the Revolution.

"June 3d, 1778. We are informed that on Wednesday morning last, a party of about seventy of the Greens from Sandy Hook, landed near Major Kearney's (near Keyport,) headed for Mill Creek, Middletown Point, and marched to Mr. John Burrows, made him prisoner, burnt his mills and both his storehouses- all valuable buildings, besides a great deal of his furniture. They also took prisoners Lieutenant Colonel Smock, Captain Christopher Little, Mr. Joseph Wall, Captain Joseph Covenhoven (Conover) and several other persons, and killed Messrs. Pearce and Van Brockle and wounded another man mortally. Having completed this and several other barbarities they precipitately returned the same morning to give an account of their abominable deeds to their bloody employers. A number of these gentry, we learn, were formerly inhabitants of that neighborhood."

The "Greens" above mentioned, it is said, were Refugee or Loyalist Jerseymen who joined the British. Their organization was sometimes called "the New Jersey Royal Volunteers," under command of General Cortlandt Skinner.

"April 26th, 1779. An expedition consisting of seven or eight hundred men under Col. Hyde went to Middletown, Red Bank, Tinton Falls, Shrewsbury and other places, robbing and burning as they went. They took Justice Covenhoven and others prisoners. Captain Burrows and Colonel Holmes assembled our militia and killed three and wounded fifteen of the enemy. The enemy however succeeded in carrying off horses, cattle and other plunder."

In the above extract the name of Justice "Covenhoven" is mentioned. The names of different members of the Covenhoven family are frequently met with in ancient papers and records among those who favored the patriot cause. Since that time the name has gradually changed from Covenhoven to Conover.

In May. two or three weeks after the above affair, some two or three hundred Tories landed at Middletown, on what was then termed a "picarooning" expedition. The term "picaroon" originally meaning a plunderer or pirate, seems to have been used in that day to convey about the same idea that "raider" did in the late Rebellion.

"June 9th, 1779. A party of about fifty Refugees landed in Monmouth and marched to Tinton Falls undiscovered, where they surprised and carried off Colonel Hendrickson, Colonel Wyckoff, Captain Chadwick and Captain McKnight, with several privates of the militia, and drove off sheep and horned cattle. About thirty of our militia hastily collected, made some resistance but were repulsed with the loss of two men killed and ten wounded, the enemy's loss unknown.

April 1st, 1780. About this time, the Tories made another raid to Tinton Falls, and took off seven prisoners. Another party took Mr. Bowne prisoner at Middletown, who, but three days before had been exchanged, and had just got home.

About the last of April, the Refugees attacked the house of John Holmes, Upper Freehold, and robbed him of a large amount of continental money, a silver watch, gold ring, silver buckles, pistols, clothing, &c.

June 1st, 1780. The noted Colonel Tye, (a mulatto formerly a slave in Monmouth Co.) with his motley company of about twenty blacks and whites, carried off prisoners Capt. Barney Smock, and Gilbert Van Mater, spiked an iron cannon and took four horses. Their rendezvous was at Sandy Hook.

Shortly after this, Colonel Tye aided in the attack on Capt. Joshua Huddy, at his house at Colts Neck. Colonel Tye, (or Titus, formerly a slave belonging to John Corlies,) though guilty of having a skin darker than our own, yet was generally acknowledged to be about the most honorable, brave, generous and determined of the Refugee leaders. Like our forefathers, he fought for his liberty, which our ancestors unfortunately refused to give him.

October 15, 1781. A party of Refugees from Sandy Hook landed at night, at Shrewsbury, and marched undiscovered to Colt's Neck, and took six prisoners. The alarm reached the Court House about four or five o'clock P. M., and a number of inhabitants, among whom was Dr. Nathaniel Scudder, went in pursuit. They rode to Black Point to try to recapture the six Americans, and while firing from the bank, Dr. Scudder was killed. Dr. Scudder was one of the most prominent, active and useful patriots of Monmouth, and his death was a serious loss to the Americans.

About the beginning of August, 1782, Richard Wilgus, an American, was shot below Allentown, while on guard to prevent contraband trade with the British.

February 8th, 1782. About forty refugees under Lieut. Steelman, came via Sandy Hook to Pleasant Valley. They took twenty horses and five sleighs, which they loaded with plunder; they also took several prisoners, viz: Hendrick Hendrickson and his two sons, Peter Covenhoven, or Conover as the name is now called, was made prisoner once before in 1779, as before related, Garret Hendrickson, Samuel Bowne and son, and James Denise. At Garret Hendrickson's a young man named William Thompson, got up slyly and went off and informed Capt. John Schenck, of Col. Holmes' regiment, who collected all the men he could to pursue. They overtook and attacked the refugees, and the before mentioned William Thompson was killed and Mr. Cottrel wounded. They however took twelve refugees prisoners, three of whom were wounded. But in returning, they unexpectedly fell in with a party of sixteen men under Stevenson, and a sudden firing caused eight of the prisoners to escape. But Capt. Schenck ordered his men to charge bayonet, and the tories surrendered. Capt. Schenck took nineteen horses and five sleighs, and took twenty-one prisoners.

The first of the foregoing extracts, relating to a raid of the British in Middletown township, in 1778, and landing near Major Kearney's, in the vicinity of Keyport, is probably the affair referred to in a tradition given in Howe's collections, which we give below, as it explains why the Refugees fled so precipitately. It will be noticed, however, that the tradition does not agree with extract quoted as to damage done; but we have no doubt but that the statement copied from the ancient paper (Collins' Gazette) is correct, as it was written but a few days after the affair took place.

"The proximity of this part of Monmouth county to New York rendered it, in the war of the Revolution, peculiarly liable to the incursions of the British troops. Many of the inhabitants, although secretly favorable to the American cause, were obliged to feign allegiance to the crown, or lose their property by marauding parties of the refugees, from vessels generally lying off Sandy Hook. Among those of this description was Major Kearney, a resident near the present site of Keyport. On one occasion a party of thirty or forty refugees stopped at his dwelling on their way to Middletown Point, where they intended to burn a dwelling and some mills. Kearney feigned gratification at their visit, and falsely informed them there were probably some rebel troops at the Point, in which case it would be dangerous for them to march thither. He ordered his negro servant, Jube, thither to make inquiry, at the same time secretly giving him the cue how to act. In due length of time Jube, who had gone but a short distance, returned and hastily entered the room where Kearney and the Refugees were, and exclaimed: "Oh Massa! Massa! the rebels are at the Point thick as blackberries! They have just come down from the Court House and say they are going to march down here to-night." The ruse succeeded; the Refugees, alarmed, precipitately retreated to their boats, leaving the Major to rejoice at the stratagem which had saved the property of his friends from destruction."

The probability is that the ruse prevented the Refugees from doing as much damage as they had intended, although they remained long enough to inflict considerable injury, as has been related.

A few days previous to the battle of Monmouth, the prisoners in Freehold jail, six of whom were under sentence of death, were removed to the jail at Morristown, under charge of Nicholas Van Brunt, who was at the time Sheriff of Monmouth County. The following is an extract from the minutes of the State Council of Safety, under date of September 28, 1778:

"Agreed that there be paid to Mr. Schenck for the use of Nicholas Van Brunt, Sheriff of Monmouth, for his expenses in removing the prisoners from the gaol in Monmouth Co. to that of Morris, at the time of the enemy's march through Monmouth & in fetching back to Monmouth those who were there to be executed, as per his account, the sum of £48 6s."

It will be remembered that the corpse of Captain Joshua Huddy, after his murder, was brought to the house of Captain James Green, at Freehold. Captain Green's house seems to have been the principal place, for a time, in Freehold, for meetings to transact public business. A number of trials were held there, notably Courts of Admiralty to try claims for prizes captured by the Americans. Esquire Abiel Aiken, of Toms River, had one here the week before Huddy was taken, to try the claims for the prize "Lucy,' of which William Dillon had been master. Dillon was one of the eight men in Freehold jail under sentence of death, to whom Rev. Abel Morgan preached in June, 1778, but he somehow escaped death. The next week after Esquire Aiken had the examination at Captain Green's house, at Freehold, for claims against Dillon's vessel. Dillon piloted the British expedition into Toms River, which destroyed the block house, captured Huddy and others, and burned the village and Esquire Aiken's house among the rest.

Captain James Green may have been a seafaring man previous to the war. At a Court of Admiralty he at one time had claim on the Betty, a captured prize.

It will be remembered that one of Captain Huddy's daughters married a Green and the other a Piatt. This last was a Middlesex County name. John Piatt was sheriff of Middlesex in 1779 and thereabouts. John Van Kirk was sheriff before him, and John Conway followed him.

In Monmouth, during the war, Nicholas VanBrunt was sheriff, then David Forman, and the last year of the war John Burrows, Jr.

In 1780, sales were advertised to take place at the house of Daniel Randolph, Freehold. A very prominent man at Toms River in the early part of the war was James Randolph, extensively engaged in saw mills and other business. He died about 1781, and Daniel Randolph's appearance, then, at Toms River, suggests that he might have gone there to manage the estate. An executor named Benjamin Randolph then lived in Chestnut street, Philadelphia.

James Wall is named as an innkeeper, at Freehold, in 1778, and William Snyder, innkeeper, is named 1779.

The only paper published in New Jersey then was the New Jersey Gazette, of which Isaac Collins was publisher. There were no post offices then in Monmouth. The nearest one was at Trenton, of which B. Smith was Post-Master. The New Jersey Gazette had many subscribers in Monmouth, to whom papers were delivered by post riders who undertook such business on their own account.

By the courtesy of C. D. Deshler, Esq., of the New Brunswick Historical Club, the Editor of the Monmouth Democrat, Mr. James S. Yard, was given permission to publish the following interesting paper communicated by Mr. Deshler to the Club, from which paper it is copied:

Bernardus Legrange, an attorney living at New Brunswick in 1769, was complained of to the Assembly for having taken exorbitant fees. For this he was reprimanded by the Council, but this punishment was mitigated by their publishing, subsequently, letters from Chief Justice Smith, and Second Justice Read, which stated that his charges were only such as were customarily made.

Shortly after, a singular letter was addressed to Legrange. It was anonymous, and was thought to be of sufficient importance to be inserted in the Minutes of the Assembly. It was as follows:

To Bernardus Legrange, Esq., Attorney at Law in New Brunswick:

FRIEND LEGRANGE- As I am a lover of peace and concord, there is nothing gives me greater pleasure than beholding the same having a subsistence among mankind. And on the other hand there is nothing can give me so much pain as to see any of the human species become a Nuisance to the commonalty of mankind. Whether they become such thro' an act of inadvertence or from a selfish ambition. As for the 1st I heartily bemoan and bewail them (as it may flow from some natural passion) and I think so ought all considerate men rather than ridicule 'em; for my own part I am always led to pity & lament the condition of that man I see act against his own peace & well-being here. And if it is Ambition, that has made him such to his fellow creatures, Oh! Wretch indeed! that Satan shou'd lift up his mind, that he shou'd become the cause of his own ruin, and the derision and hissing of the general part of his acquaintance. What has begotten you the hatred & aversion of the public in these parts are best known to thyself, & whether deservedly or undeservedly I shall not determine; but one thing I can assure you, that thou hast accrued it to the highest degree. And, if thou comest this way, may God Almighty have Mercy on thee, for I am convinced the people have none, if the Lord does not turn their hearts from their present resolutions.

I will let thee know what I heard the other day among a parcel of people, having met accidentally with 'em at the Mill at English town concerning you and some more of your brethren; thee especially they seemed to have the greatest grudge against: One of them said, He wished that fellow Legrange would come to Court this month, he should not escape from out of a back window as he did before; another of the company makes answer Damn him, I hear he is to come and act as King's Attorney; but that shall not screen the rascal, says he; Aye, says he, the lawyers has done that a purpose, that we might not disturb the villain; but if we catch him, we will Legrange him!

I hearing the people expressing themselves in this manner I began to examine them what you had done unto them that enraged them so against you. Why, says one, he will bring down our heads & humble us. They say you egged up their Creditors to put their bonds in suit saying Monmouth people are all like to fail, and much more of the like nature. And, I inquired, if they cou'd prove their assertions against you, they say, yes they can, by some of their creditors; and will if you carry some action; but I could not learn against whom, or where the person lived.

Yesterday I was in Upper Freehold among some Company, where I heard them resolve concerning you, much the same as above; wishing you might come to Court, for there were between seven and eight hundred of them ready to receive you. Nay, I have heard some of them declare solemnly they would use you as the informers were used at New York and Philadelphia. I know, they collected some money to purchase two barrels of Tar and have agreed with a man to haul it a Monday. And as far as I can learn it is for you. They intend to tar & feather you, and to cart you from the Court house to Vankirk's Mill & back again. In imitation of the Oisterman in New York.

I shou'd have taken the trouble to come to your house and informed you of the plotters against your person ere now, only, as I have some considerable property in this County, I know they would utterly ruin me if they knew I divulged to you the least matter.

Friend Legrange, you can act as you think will best suit you. Only I would advise you as a friend, to consider seriously the fury of an enraged mob; mad with oppression; and think deliberately with yourself how you expect to escape their hands: O, I beseech You! to ponder well in your own breast, the fate of many Kings & Princes, when they become obnoxious or hateful to the people. And the spirit of rioting seems to increase in our day; think of the fate of Major James Ogden, and many of the custom house officers. Nay, we have daily instances of one or another falling a sacrifice to the people when provoked. And I can positively affirm if thou hadst dwelt in this County there would not been left one stone on another of your house ere now.

Raro antecedentem scelestum deseruit pede poena claudo.*

I ordered my young man to leave this for you, at your house or Duff's for thee.

This letter was thought of sufficient importance by the House of Assembly to be made the subject of its action, and the following additional record is to be found concerning it in the Minutes of Assembly:

"On the question

"Resolved that the said letter is scandalous and unwarrantable: and that this house look upon the same as manifestly tending to a breach of the public peace. The voices being equal the Speaker decided in the Affirmative."

On the vote the members from Middlesex voted in the negative, and those from Monmouth and Somerset were divided.