Probably no place in old Monmouth furnished a greater number of men in proportion to population for the service of the country during the Revolution than did Mannahawkin. Captain Reuben Randolph who owned the public house on the site of the one at present occupied by Mr. Joseph R. Wilkins, was, with his heroic band of militia, very active in guarding against Tory outrages at home as well as abroad. Among those who nobly stood by him besides his own two sons, Thomas and Job, were the ancestors of many well-known families now residing in that village, among whom may be named, the Cranes, Bennetts, Johnsons, Pangburns, Browns, Letts, Haywoods, Pauls and others.

At one time it was rumored that Bacon with a party of refugees was coming to Mannahawkin on a plundering expedition, and such of the members of the militia as could be notified were hastily summoned together at Captain Randolph's house to prepare to meet them. The militia remained on the alert the greater part of the night, but finding the Tories failed to make their appearance, they concluded it was a false alarm and retired to sleep after appointing sentinels. From the best information now obtained it is most probable that Jeremiah Bennett and Job Randolph were sentinels on one post and Seth Crane and Samuel Bennett on another, and Captain Randolph himself also volunteering.

The refugees came down the road from towards Barnegat and the first intimation the sentinels stationed near the Baptist church had of their coming was by hearing their bayonets strike together as they were marching. The sentinels halted long enough to see that the party was quite large, numbering perhaps thirty or forty, and firing, ran across the fields to the public house to give the alarm. By the time the few militiamen were aroused, the refugees were abreast of the house, and before they could form, they were fired upon and Lyons Pangburn was killed and Sylvester Tilton severely wounded, both men belonging to Captain Randolph's company. The militia were compelled to retreat down the lane before they could organize, when finding the refugees well armed and nearly double their number, they were reluctantly compelled to decline pursuing them. The refugees made but a short, if any halt, and passed down the road towards West Creek. In the party with Bacon was the same Englishman, Wilson, alluded to in the case of Reuben Soper in a previous chapter, and also a man named Brewer.

Tilton, who was so severely wounded, miraculously recovered, although the ball passed clear through him, going in by one shoulder and out on a little one side of his breast; the physician, as is well authenticated, passed a silk handkerchief completely through the wound. Several of our citizens yet living often saw the scars of this wound. Sometime after the war was over Tilton removed to Colt's Neck, where it is believed some of his descendants now live. He always believed that Brewer was the man who wounded him, and as after the war Brewer had the hardihood to remain in the vicinity, Tilton determined to punish him, and did give him a severe chastisement. One tradition of this punishment is, that when Tilton found out where. Brewer was, he started after him unarmed. On his way he met James Willetts then quite a noted and highly esteemed Quaker, who, upon finding out Tilton's errand, vainly pursuaded him to turn back; finding he would not, Willetts asked permission to go along, hoping something would turn up to make a peaceable end of the affair. Tilton willingly accepted his company, but plumply told him if he interfered he would flog him, too. Arriving at the house where Brewer was, Tilton suddenly opened the door and rushed toward him and grasped him before he could quite reach his musket which he had kept ready expecting such a visit. Tilton dragged him to the door and pummelled him to his heart's content; telling him, "You scoundrel, you tried to kill me once, and I mean now to settle with you for it. I want you now to leave here and follow the rest of the refugees." (Most of the refugees had then gone to Nova Scotia).

Two unarmed members of this militia company of Mannahawkin one time captured three refugees each armed with muskets! The following were the circumstances: Seth Crane and David Johnson had been fishing; as their boat lay alongside of the meadows on their return, the three refugees came down to the boat and the leader leaning his musket against the side of the boat stepped aboard and went aft and picked out a lot of the finest fish and said he meant to have them. Crane told him he couldn't without paying for them; the refugee said he would take them by force. Crane, quick as a flash, picked up an eel spear and held it over him, told him to drop the fish or he would run it in him. Seeing a serious fight now before them, Johnson who stood on the meadows by the other two tories instantly knocked one of them with his powerful fist into the salt pond, musket and all, then grasped the musket leaning against the boat, brought it to bear upon the other who was so startled by the unexpected turn of affairs that he had started to run and told him to drop his musket instantly, or he would shoot; the terrified man did as ordered. Johnson and Crane then took the muskets; the refugees were let go with a reasonable warning against again attempting to steal fish.

The notorious John Bacon, the refugee leader, had before the war worked a year or so in the Crane family as a farm laborer.

It is said that on another evening a prominent Whig named Silas Crane, of the same family as Seth, was severely wounded at his own house. It being warm weather, the front door was open and also a window on the opposite side of the room by which Crane sat. Happening to look out of the door he got a glimpse of two or three men with muskets, &c, and knowing the refugees had threatened him, he sprang out the window; as he jumped he was fired upon and though severely wounded in the thigh managed to escape. Captain Randolph himself at one time was surprised, taken prisoner and taken to a swamp and tied to a tree, but managed to escape. He and his brave comrades just previous to the battle of Monmouth, marched on foot, though the weather was most intensely hot, to join Washington's force, but were unexpectedly prevented from joining him in season; traditionary accounts fail to give a reason for their going so near yet not actually participating, yet the history of that battle and Washington's disposition of his forces satisfactorily accounts for it. Washington had stationed General Morgan at Shumar's Mills with positive orders not to move until he should again hear from him, and through that ever memorable day Morgan was compelled to listen to the distant tiring and burned with impatience for orders to join, but the orders did not come. The Mannahawkin militia when they got to Shumar's Mills would most probably be placed under Morgan's command and this would account for their not participating. The goodly village of Mannahawkin is fertile in interesting local reminiscences. The name of Mannahawkin is an Indian word signifying "good corn land;" its history shows it could also boast of its good men. In the company which lately left that village for the seat of war it is gratifying as well as significant to see among them so many descendants of active heroes of the revolution; it proves them worthy sons of noble sires.

Another account says that one warm summer evening during the war there had been religious services at the church at Mannahawken. After services the minister went home with one of the Cranes (Silas Crane, we think it was,) when the minister and Crane sat conversing until late in the evening. The front door was open, and also a window on the opposite side of the room, by which Crane sat. At length, happening to look at the front door, Crane got the glimpse of two or three men with muskets, and knowing the Refugees had threatened his life, he sprang through the back window. As he jumped he was fired upon, and though severely wounded in the thigh he managed to escape.

The notorious Refugee leader, John Bacon, it is said, worked as a farm laborer, a year or two for the Crane family, before the war.

Captain Randolph and his heroic militia, just previous to the battle of Monmouth, marched on foot, though the weather was intensely hot, to join Washington's forces beyond Freehold, but were unexpectedly prevented from engaging in the battle. Tradition fails to give a reason why they went so near and yet did not participate, but the history of the battle and of Washington's disposition of his forces sufficiently explain it. Washington had stationed General Morgan at Shumar's Mill's (near Blue Ball), with positive instructions not to move until he should receive orders, and through that memorable battle Morgan was compelled to listen all day to the distant firing, chafing with impatience for orders to join, but orders failed to come. The Mannahawkin militia, when they got to Shumar's Mills, were probably placed under Morgan's command, and this would account for their not participating in the battle.

During the war Captain Randolph was one night surprised in bed at home by Refugees, taken prisoner and carried to a swamp and tied to a tree, but managed to escape. At another time the Refugees surrounded and searched his house while he was in it, but his wife successfully concealed him under feathers in a cask.

During the war the Refugee leaders appear to have had our shore divided into districts. Davenport and his men had Dover township for their "stamping" ground; Bacon from Cedar Creek to Parkertown, below West Creek; around Tuckerton and below it Joe Mulliner and Giberson, from their headquarters at the forks of the Mullica river, sallied forth on their predatory excursions. These men do not appear to have left their respective districts except to aid their confederates.

One time Bill Giberson (as he was usually called) with a part of his band, suddenly appeared at Tuckerton, and thinking they were safe, went to Daniel Falkinburgh's tavern (where Dr. Page's house now is) and determined to have a good time. They began by making night hideous with their bacchanalian revels. Some of the villagers at once sent word to the Mannahawkin militia, and Sylvester Tilton and three or four more started in a farm wagon to attempt to capture or disperse the outlaws. Giberson was informed by a Tory that the militia had been sent for, and so he retreated towards the landing, to a good position near his boats, and when the militia arrived he poured into their ranks such a volley that they were compelled to retreat, as they found the Refugees were in greater force than had been represented.

The militia jumped into their wagon and drove back, followed by Giberson and his men, who pursued them to West Creek bridge, where the Refugees halted. This little affair was about the only one during the war that gave the Refugees a chance to boast, and so they often related the story with great glee and much exaggeration. But after all, there was but little to brag about, in a strong force causing the weak one to retreat. As the militia were driving over West Creek crossing a mishap occurred to the wagon-tongue - one end dropping down, which checked them long enough to allow the Refugees to fire again, but fortunately without effect.

Giberson was wounded by the patriots during the war, and the particulars are thus given in Mickle's Reminiscences of Camden:

"Captain John Davis was sent with a company of men to Egg Harbor. Here his lieutenants, Benjamin Bates and Richard Howell, were informed that the Refugee officers were concealed in a certain house. They called early in the morning and found and captured William Giberson and Henry Lane, both Refugee lieutenants, the former a notorious rascal, who had committed many outrages and killed one or two Americans in cold blood. On their way to the quarters of Davis' company, Giberson called Bates' attention to something he pretended to see at a distance, and while Bates was looking that way, Giberson started and ran the other way, and being a fast runner, made his escape, although Bates fired his musket. The next day Bates went to hunt for him at the same house, and while opening the door heard the click of a musket-lock behind a large tree within a few feet of him, and turning around saw Giberson taking aim at him. Bates dropped on his knees, and the ball went through the rim of his hat. Giberson then started to run, but before he got many rods Bates gave him a load of buckshot, which broke his leg. Giberson was then well guarded and taken to Burlington jail, whence he finally escaped to New York."

Tradition says that Giberson escaped from Burlington jail by assistance of his sister. She obtained permission to visit him, and while in the cell exchanged clothes with him. So strikmgly did they resemble each other that when he came out of the cell the jailor thought it was the sister, and actually helped him in the wagon and thus he escaped.

Mickle corroborates the Stafford and Egg Harbor traditions in regard to the marvelous strength and activity of Giberson and his sister. It is said that "at a hop, skip and jump he could clear an ordinary Egg Harbor wagon," and was fleet-footed as an Indian; and that his sister could stand in one hogshead, and without touching her hands, would jump into another by its side.

After the war Giberson's sister, it is probable, removed to Salem county, as traditions there speak of a woman named Giberson who could perform the feat of leaping from one hogshead into another. Giberson himself went to Nova Scotia, with other Refugees, about 1783, but after a few years he returned to Atlantic county, where be settled down to a peaceful life.

Mrs. Leah Blackman says the house where Giberson sought refuge, when Bates was seeking him, was on a small lot below Tuckerton, between the farms of James Downs and Dr. T. T. Price, and that he had a rude hut in the centre of a thicket, called Oak Swamp, in the neighborhood of Down Shore. This hut was composed of branches of trees, leaves and moss, and called "Giberson's Nest." She says he was wounded by a hickory tree near Downs' farm, and this tree was frequently pointed out to her.

A license to engage in whale fishery was granted February 14, 1678, to Joseph Huet, Thomas Ingram, Richard Davis, Isaac Benit, Randal Huet, Thomas Huet, Henry Leonard, Thomas Leonard, John Whitlock, John Crafford (Cranford), Thomas Applegate and Charles Dennis, "twelve persons or more," they having made proposals to undertake the fishing trade. They were licensed to take whales or like great fish between Barnegat and the eastern part of the Province, and to pay for the privilege one-twentieth of the oil.