During the Revolutionary war, Toms River, for such a small village, was evidently quite a busy, lively place, between the militia, the Refugees and the arrival and departure of privateers and their prizes; the arrival of boats and teams with salt from the several works along the bay; the departure of teams for West Jersey with salt, oysters, fish, etc., and their return with merchandise; the visits of business men from different parts of the State to purchase captured vessels or their cargoes, and the rafts or scows from the sawmills with lumber for vessels to carry to places in the State when they could run with safety. It would seem also that sometimes pleasure or fishing parties from other places visited the village, as on the 14th of May, 1780, Major John Van Emburgh, of Middlesex county, and eight or nine men came to Toms River to go out on a fishing excursion, but they were surprised in bed by the Refugees and made prisoners, and put on board of a vessel to be sent to New York. They were fortunate enough, however, to escape a few days after.

Near Toms River bridge were buildings owned by men engaged in the manufacture of salt. They were used to store salt from the various works along the bay, and also for provisions and supplies for men employed in the manufacture and transportation of this article. In 1777 Colonel John Morris, of the New Jersey Royal Volunteers, a Refugee organization, was sent to destroy these buildings. But a man named John Williams "had placed the significant letter 'R' on them by order of General Skinner" (says Sabine, in his History of Loyalists). General Cortlandt Skinner was in the British service and commander of a brigade of about eleven hundred New Jersey Refugees, or Royalists, as they called themselves. No explanation is given of what was meant by "the significant letter R," but the inference is that some of the owners had accepted papers guaranteeing British protection, which were given by John Lawrence (of Lawrence's line note), and perhaps others, to all who signed a pledge not to aid the Americans, but to adhere to the Crown. The partnership business in some of the salt works above Toms River, which had their depot in the village, seems at times to have perplexed armed parties of both sides, as some owners were known active patriots, and others sympathized with the British. A British expedition from New York in 1778 destroyed works at the head of the bay, which were owned in part by Loyalists, much to their dissatisfaction and to the gratification of the Americans.

The soldiers stationed at Toms River during the war were mainly twelve months' men, but probably occasionally by men who were to serve four months, at the expiration of which time they could be relieved, unless in actual service against the enemy. Among the officers who were stationed here were Captains Ephraim Jenkins, James Mott, John Stout and Joshua Huddy. Captain Mott had command of a company called the Sixth Company of Dover, and Captain Stout, of the Seventh Company of Dover. The Fifth Company of militia was commanded by Captain Reuben F. Randolph, of Mannahawkin. The commissions of some of these men are in the library of the New Jersey Historical Society.

It would seem that a number of soldiers from Pennsylvania were also stationed not far from the village, as the Pennsylvania State Council, November 2, 1776, ordered that an officer and twenty-five men be sent to Toms River to guard salt works erected by that State, the soldiers to take twenty-five spare muskets, two howitzers and a sufficient quantity of ammunition for defence in case of attack. On the 8th of April, 1777, the following resolution was passed by the Continental Congress:

"Resolved, That it be recommended to the Governor and Council of Safety of New Jersey not to call into the field such part of their militia, not exceeding forty, as are necessarily employed in the salt works now erecting in their State by the Governor of Pennsylvania; provided it be not inconsistent with the laws of the State."

To this the New Jersey Council of Safety made the following reply:

"The exemption above recommended is inconsistent with the militia law of the State, but if the Government of Pennsylvania will carry on said works with the inhabitants of their own commonwealth, care shall be taken to have them exempted as above, though they will also be liable to be called into the field by the said act as it now stands, as becoming, by their residence here, subjects of this State to that purpose.

"WILLIAM LIVINGSTON."

The duties of the militia stationed at Toms River were to guard the inhabitants from depredations by the Refugees; to check contraband trade with the enemy at New York by way of Cranberry Inlet, and to aid our privateers who brought vessels into the inlet.

Cranberry Inlet, nearly opposite the mouth of Toms River, was then open, and perhaps the best inlet on the coast, except Little Egg Harbor. On this account it was a favorite base of operations for American privateers on the lookout for vessels carrying supplies to the British at New York.

In the early part of 1778 Captain Peter Anderson, in a boat with sixteen men, captured the sloop "Hazard" and brought her into Toms River. She was loaded with Irish beef and pork. The Court of Admiralty to adjust his claim and that of his men, for their prize was held at Allentown, at the house of Gilbert Barton.

About the first of August, 1778, the British ship "Love and Unity" was run ashore, it was said designedly, on the beach nearly opposite Toms River. She had a valuable cargo, consisting of eighty hogsheads of loaf sugar, several thousand bottles of London porter and Bristol beer, and other articles. She was taken possession of by the militia from Toms River and brought into Cranberry Inlet. This ship was one of the most valuable prizes captured by the Americans in this vicinity. A Court of Admiralty was held at the Court House at Trenton, August 28, 1778, to try the claim of Benjamin Pratt and others of her captors. The ship was advertised to be sold by the Marshal, John Stokes, at Toms River, August 31, together with a part of her cargo, consisting of Bristol beer, cider, porter, salt, flour, cheese, red and white wine, Queen's and delft ware, double-flint wine glasses and tumblers, etc. A part of her cargo had been removed to Manasquan, and was advertised to be sold ten days later, on September 2d. The ship was renamed the "Washington" by the purchasers at the sale. She was too valuable for the British not to attempt to regain her. On September 18, a little over two weeks after her sale, two British armed ships and two brigs came close to the bar of the inlet where they lay all night. Next morning between 7 and 8 o'clock they sent in seven armed boats and retook the ship, and also took two sloops near the bar and captured most of their crews. The American captain of the ship and most of his men escaped to the main land. The pilot of the British expedition was the notorious William Dillon, who had just before been in Freehold Jail under sentence of death. After the American captain of the ship reached shore, a refugee named Robert McMullen, who had been in Freehold Jail and condemned to death with Dillon but pardoned, jumped into the boat, hurrahing for the British and rowed off and joined them.

In the early part of March, 1779, the sloop "Success" came ashore on the north beach and was made a prize of by the militia under John, probably the John Price of Goodluck, known as Major after the war. The sloop proved to be a valuable prize, as she was loaded with molasses, coffee, cocoa, rum, etc. She had previously been captured by the British brig "Diligence" and a prize master and three men put on board of her to take her to New York. When she came ashore the prize master and the three men were made prisoners and sent to Princeton. She was advertised to be sold as she lay on Island Beach, by order of the Court of Admiralty, by Joseph Potts, Marshal, on April 7, 1779, the sale to take place at Toms River; her cargo was to be sold at the same time. On the 26th of April, Marshal Potts published the following order:

"The people concerned in capturing the sloop "Success" are desired to meet me at the house of Daniel Griggs at Toms River, on Thursday the 13th of May next, to receive their proportion of the moneys arising from the sales of said sloop and cargo. All persons indebted for goods bought at above sale are requested to make immediate payment to Mr. Abiel Akins at Toms River, or to the subscriber at Cranberry, that he may be able to close the accounts by the time mentioned.

JOSEPH POTTS."

Major John Cook, who was killed in the action at the Block House, was a resident of Toms River and interested in privateering. He captured the sloop "Fanny," Captain Bell, and his claim was adjudicated at a Court held at the house of Gilbert Barton, Allentown, February 24, 1779.

John Chadwick had a claim before the same Court for the capture of the schooner "Hope." This vessel and the " Fanny," captured by Major Cook, were brought to Toms River and they and their cargoes, consisting of pitch, tar, salt and other articles, were advertised to be sold here March 1, 1779, by Joseph Potts, Marshal.

John Kaighn about the same time, claimed as a prize the sloop "Experiment." The vessel and her cargo, which consisted of 1,500 bushels of salt, was at the Union Salt Works, Manasquan, and she was advertised to be sold May 7, 1779. No particulars are given of her capture, but it was alleged that some persons in that vicinity owning salt works or shares in them, were British sympathizers and had accepted papers guaranteeing British protection to obtain which they had to pledge allegiance to the Crown to agents of the British. John Lawrence, the noted surveyor who ran the celebrated Lawrence Line between East and West Jersey, was the most prominent agent of the British in secretly traveling around and persuading people to accept British protection; he was finally arrested for it by the Americans and imprisoned in Burlington Jail. The Union Salt Works above named, were advertised to be sold March 24, 1779, by Nathaniel Lewis, Joseph Newbold and John Kaighn, all probably of West Jersey.

Joseph Salter advertised to sell May 2, 1779, the sloop "Lively," together with her cargo of lumber, at the house of John Cooke (Major John Cooke). It is not stated why the vessel was to be sold. She may have been the private property of Salter, who, it is supposed, removed from Toms River about this time. The mention of lumber shows that the lumber business was still carried on in the vicinity.

In the latter part of 1780, Captain Joshua Studson of Toms River took two prizes, the schooner "John" and sloop "Catherine," in Raritan Bay, near south side of Staten Island. The prizes were taken to Middletown Point. The Admiralty Court to adjust claims for these prizes was held at the house of Isaac Wood, Mount Holly, and the vessels were advertised to be sold at Monmouth Court House, January 1, 1781. Just a month before this, Captain Studson was killed by the Refugee Bacon at the inlet, opposite Toms River.

About the close of the year 1780, Captain Samuel Bigelow, who, before the war, lived on Wrangle Brook, a short distance from Toms River, captured a prize under the following circumstances: The brig "Dove," from Tortola, West Indies, bound to New York, fell short of water and provisions; her master, Captain Hannel, mistook this coast for Long Island and sent a boat with four men ashore to obtain supplies. These men were retained, and Captain Bigelow and others manned two boats and went out and captured the brig and brought her up to Toms River without difficulty. The brig, with her cargo of 140 puncheons of rum, was advertised to be sold at Toms River, January 3, 1781, by John Burrowes, Marshal. On the 25th of January, 1781, Captain Bigelow and Samuel Allen had their claims for prize money for these sales before a Court held at the house of Gilbert Barton, Allentown.

Captain Bigelow also made a prize of another vessel called the "Betsey," which had belonged to citizens of Delaware, where she was taken by the British out of a place called Muskmelon Creek. On her way to New York she was driven in a storm ashore near the bar of Cranberry, where Captain Bigelow recaptured her. His prize claim was adjusted at a Court held at the house of Isaac Woods, Mount Holly.

On January 24, 1780, a sale at the house of James Lippencott, Toms River, was advertised to take place, by Zachariah Rossell, Marshal, of a quantity of rum; also of sails, rigging and hull of ship lying at Cranberry Inlet. Perhaps the sloop was the "Betsey," captured by Capt. Bigelow.

James Randolph and Moses Robbins, of Toms River, presented a claim before an Admiralty Court at Allentown, January 25, 1781, against the sloop "Brunswick," of which Joshua Wooding had been captain, which had been cast away on the beach. Randolph and Robbins' claim was on behalf of themselves, Jacob Wilcot and others, who took possession of the vessel.

In the early part of 1782, just before the Block House at Toms River was taken by the British, Captain William Gray, in the privateer "Dart," of Salem, Mass., took a prize sloop from the British galley "Black Jack." Captain Gray seems to have been a driving, daring man, who lost no chance to annoy the enemy. It was announced, March 19, 1782, that he had brought his prize sloop to Toms River. The next day he went with his boat and seven men in pursuit of a British brig near the inlet. Unfortunately for him, instead of taking a prize, he was captured himself. For some time the people of Toms River wondered what had become of him; in August following they heard that after he got out of the inlet he was taken prisoner and carried to Halifax, and subsequently released on parole. He said he was well treated while a prisoner.

While Captain Gray was cruising out of Toms River he captured one prize that probably was one cause of the expedition which captured the Block House and burned the village of Toms River. This prize was the sloop "Lucy," of which the notorious William Dillon was captain. She was engaged in contraband trade from Egg Harbor and other shore places to New York. The following is a copy of the advertisement relating to Dillon's vessel published in the early part of March, 1782.

"To all whom it may concern:

"Notice is hereby given, That a Court will be held at the house of James Green, at Freehold, in the county of Monmouth, on the 16th day of March next, at the hour of ten o'clock of the forenoon of the same day, then and there to try the truth of the facts alleged in the bill of Captain William Gray (who as well, &c.,) against the sloop or vessel called the "Lucy," taken on her voyage from Egg Harbor to New York, William Dillon late master, with her tackle, furniture and cargo, and a negro man named York. To the end and intent that the owner or owners of said vessel, or any other person or persons interested therein, may appear and show cause, if any they have, why the said cargo and negro man should not be condemned to the captors pursuant to the prayer of said bill.

ABIEL AKIN."

Abiel Akin was a leading patriot of Toms River, Justice of the Peace and prominent generally in public matters. Captain James Green, at whose house at Freehold the court was to be held, it is supposed was the same who married Captain Joshua Huddy's daughter, and it was to his house, shortly after, that the body of Captain Huddy was brought after he was murdered by the Refugees near the Highlands. Many trials were held at Captain Green's house during the war. The court to adjudicate on claims relating to prize "Lucy" was to be held the 16th of March, which was Saturday. The following Saturday the British expedition from New York arrived at Cranberry inlet, and the next day the Block House was captured and the village, burned, Esquire Abiel Akin's house among the rest. Dillon, from whose family Dillon's Island derived its name, was evidently well acquainted with the coast, as he was captain of a coasting vessel and had lived so near the bay. He bore no good will to the patriots, for he had once been sentenced to death by them, and now he had had his vessel captured. The British had sent expeditions to destroy privateers up the Raritan as far as New Brunswick, and also at Chestnut Neck and other places around Egg Harbor. And the expedition to Toms River, so soon after Dillon lost his vessel, leads to the conclusion that he went to New York and induced the British commandant there to send the expedition to Toms River and inflict vengeance on all persons interested in privateering, or who aided the patriot cause, with most of whom he was personally acquainted. And he was the willing pilot of this fleet that came to destroy his former neighbors and burn their homes. It was undoubtedly he who pointed out what houses to destroy and what to spare. The house of Mrs. Studson, whose husband had recently been murdered by Bacon, was spared, and also the house of Aaron Buck, whose wife was a niece of Dillon's, Buck having married his brother's daughter.

Another prize brought into Toms River was the schooner "Speedwell," which had been captured by the daring Captain Adam Hyler. The "Speedwell" was nearly new and of about twenty-two tons burden. The sale of this vessel was advertised to take place at Freehold June 20, 1782, at the house of Captain James Green, by Robert Hude and John Bray, agents. This vessel had been captured by the British and recaptured by Captain Hyler. Toms River had been burned about three months before this sale took place, and it is not probable that there were any houses in the village to accommodate persons who might desire to purchase the "Speedwell," and hence a reason for the sale at Freehold.

In the early part of 1783, some of the Mannahawkin militia, under the lead of Captain Joseph Randolph and Nathan Crane, Adjutant in the militia, made prizes of the schooners "Polly" and "Dilly Latta," with two hundred and two barrels of flour and fifteen kegs of bread. These vessels had been captured by the British and cast away on the beach, where they were retaken by the Americans. The prize claims of Captain Randolph and Adjutant Crane were adjudicated by a court held at the house of Benjamin Lawrence, Allentown, Joseph Lawrence, judge.

The following account of the capture and sale of a prize brings to light an interesting fact in the Revolutionary history of Toms River, which is the name of one of the first, if not the first, of the citizens of the place who rebuilt a house after the village was burned.

In the early part of 1783, Captain John Wanton, in the armed boat "General Washington," captured the sloop "Rebecca" and brought her into Toms River. She had been captured by the British brig "Renown," and retaken by Captain Wanton. The following is a copy of the advertisement for her sale:

"To be sold at public vendue, at 10 o'clock, on Friday, March 14, 1783, at the house of Moses Robbins, at head of Toms River, the sloop Rebecca, with her cargo of 330 barrels of flour, a few barrels of pork, &c, lately captured by Captain John Wanton.

"DAVID POTTER, Marshal."

From the above it seems that Moses Robbins, who was wounded in the fight at the Block House, had a house then built suitable for business.

The following notice of a prize brought to Toms River by Rhode Islanders is from a certificate in possession of Hon. Ephraim P. Emson:

"PROVIDENCE, Feb. 21, 1777.

"JAMES MARO,
"JOHN FISH."

On the 9th of December, 1778, it was announced that a British armed vessel, bound from Halifax to New York, and richly ladened, came ashore near Barnegat. The crew, about sixty in number, surrendered themselves prisoners to the militia. Goods to the amount of five thousand pounds sterling were taken out of her by our citizens, and a number of prisoners sent to Bordentown, at which place the balance of prisoners were expected.

In the winter of 1780-1 the British ship "Molly" was driven ashore in a snow storm on the beach (at what point not stated) and her crew made prisoners and sent to Philadelphia.

In December, 1778, Captain Alexander, of the sloop "Elizabeth," of Baltimore, was taken by the British. He was permitted to leave in a small boat, and he landed at Cranberry Inlet.

In January. 1778, the sloop "Two Friends," Captain Alexander Bonnett, of Hispaniola, was cast away near Barnegat Inlet with 1,600 bags of salt, forty-eight hogsheads of molasses, also a lot of rum, sugar, etc. Only 160 gallons of rum was saved. The shore people went to their assistance, but one man was lost. Captain Bonnett then shipped as a passenger in the sloop "Endeavor," at Toms River, for New York; but, sad to relate, while she lay at the inlet at anchor a storm parted her cable - and all on board were drowned in the bay.

Captain Studson, during the Revolution, lived at Toms River, on the bank of the river a few hundred yards below the present bridge. He was a captain in the privateer service and was also appointed a lieutenant in Captain Ephraim Jenkins' company of militia, June 14, 1780. In the latter part of 1783,' Captain Studson took two prizes, the schooner "John" and the sloop "Catharine," on the south side of Staten Island, in Princes or Raritan Bay. The prizes were taken to Middletown. The Admiralty Court, which adjusted prize claims in his case met at the house of Isaac Wood, Mount Holly, and the vessels were advertised to be sold at public sale at Freehold Court House, January 1, 1781. Just a month before this sale, on December 1, 1780, Studson was killed by the Refugee Bacon. It would seem that after taking his prizes to Middletown Point, he sailed down the beach and into the inlet, and thence up to Toms River, probably to lay up his vessel for winter. The particulars of his death have been handed down as follows:

Three men living along the bay, named Asa Woodmansee, Richard Barber and Thomas Collins, hearing that farm produce was bringing exorbitant prices among the British at New York, loaded a whale boat with truck from farms along the bay and proceeded to New York by way of old Cranberry Inlet, which was then open nearly opposite Toms River. These men were not known as Refugees, but undertook the trip merely to make a little money by a kind of "running the blockade" business on a small scale. They arrived safely in New York, sold out their produce, and were about returning home, when the noted Refugee, Captain John Bacon, called on them and insisted on taking passage back in the whale boat. Much against their will they were forced to allow him to come on board. They arrived near Cranberry Inlet before sundown, and lay outside until after dark, being afraid to venture in the bay during the day. In the meantime the patriot militia stationed at Toms River had got wind of their proceedings, and being determined to put a stop to the contraband trade, a small party under command of Lieutenant Joshua Studson took a boat and went across to the inlet and concealed themselves behind a point just inside. After dark the whale boat came in, but no sooner had it rounded the point than to the consternation of those on board they saw the boat of the militia so close by that there was no apparent chance of escape. Lieutenant Stndson stood up in his boat and called upon them to surrender. The unfortunate speculators were unarmed and in favor of yielding, but Bacon knowing that his life was already forfeited, refused, and having his musket loaded, suddenly fired with so deadly an aim that the brave lieutenant instantly dropped dead in the boat. The sudden, unexpected firing, and the death of Studson, threw the militia into momentary confusion, and before they could decide how to act the whale boat was out of sight in the darkness. The militia rowed back to Toms River the same night, and landing in front of the house, some of the number went up and aroused Mrs. Studson, and told her the sad news. His unexpected death, and so shortly after leaving home, completely overwhelmed her with sorrow. The men procured a blanket from the house aud went down to their boat, took the body of Captain Studson and put it in the blanket and carried it up to the house.

The crew of the whaleboat, knowing it was not safe for them to remain at home after this affair, fled to the British army and were forced into service, but were of little use as "they were sick with the small pox, and suffered everything but death," as one of them (Collins) said, during their stay with the British. Taking advantage of one of General Washington's proclamations, offering protection to deserters from the British army, they were afterwards allowed to return home. James Mills, an aged, respected citizen now living at Barnegat, born 1806, in his young days resided with one of the Woodmansees on the James Jones place, at Forked River, and frequently met one or two of these ill-starred blockade runners. Thomas Collins lived to an advanced age, and was always badly scarred from the small pox, which he caught within the British lines.

Not long after the war, Mrs. Studson married a man named Chamberlain at Toms River.

In giving an account of this affair we shall first copy a brief statement from Have's Collections the editor of which visited the place in 1842 in search of historical information relating to olden times in old Monmouth:

"In the American Revolution, a rude fort or blockhouse was erected a short distance north of the bridge, at the village of Toms River, on a hill about a hundred yards east of the road to Freehold, on land now belonging to the heirs of Elijah Robbins, deceased. In the latter part of the war, this blockhouse was attacked by a superior force of the enemy. Its commander, Captain Joshua Huddy, most gallantly defended it until his ammunition was expended and no alternative l>u< surrender left. After the brave little garrison was in their power, it is said they deliberately murdered five men asking for quarter. From thence Captain Huddy, Justice Randolph, and the remaining prisoners were taken to New York, where, suffering the various progressions of barbarity inflicted upon those destined to a violent or lingering death, these two gentlemen, with a Mr. Fleming were put into the hold of a vessel. Captain Huddy was ironed hand and foot, and shortly after barbarously hanged on the shore of the Highlands of Navesink."

The tory organ, Rivington's Royal Gazette, of New York, gave the following account of the battle:

"On Wednesday, the 20th inst. (March, 1782,) Lieutenant Blanchard, of the armed whale boats, and about eighty men belonging to them, with Captain Thomas and Lieutenant Roberts, both of the late Bucks County Volunteers, and between thirty and forty other Refugee loyalists, the whole under the command of Lieutenant Blanchard, proceeded to Sandy Hook under the convoy of Captain Stewart Ross, in the armed brig 'Arrogant,' where they were detained by unfavorable winds until the 23d. About 12 o'clock on that night the party landed near the mouth of Toms River and marched to the Block House at the town of Dover (now Toms River), and reached it just at daylight. On their way they were challenged and fired upon, and when they came to the works they found the rebels, consisting of twenty-five or twenty-six twelve months' men and militia, apprized of their coming and prepared for defence.

"The post into which the rebels had thrown themselves was six or seven feet high, made with large logs, with loop-holes between and a number of brass swivels on the top, which was entirely open, nor was there any way of entering but by climbing over. They had, besides swivels, muskets with bayonets and long pikes for their defence. Lieutenant Blanchard summoned them to surrender, which they not only refused, but bid the party defiance; on which he immediately ordered the place to be stormed, which was accordingly done, and though defended with obstinacy, was soon carried. The rebels had nine men killed in the assault, and twelve made prisoners, two of whom are wounded. The rest made their escape in the confusion. Among the killed was a Major of the militia, two Captains and one Lieutenant. The Captain of the twelve months' men stationed there is among the prisoners, who are all brought safe to town. On our side two were killed - Lieutenant Iredell, of the armed boatmen, and Lieutenant Inslee, of the Loyalists, both very brave officers, who distinguished themselves on the attack, and whose loss is much lamented. Lieutenant Roberts and five others are wounded, but it is thought none of them are in a dangerous way.

"The Town, as it is called, consisting of about a dozen houses, in which none but a piratical set of banditti resided, together with a grist and saw-mill, were, with the Block House burned to the ground, and an iron cannon spiked and thrown into the river. A fine large barge (called Hyler's barge,) and another boat in which the rebels used to make their excursions on the coast, were brought off. Some other attempts were intended to have been made, but the appearance of bad weather, and the situation of the wounded, being without either surgeon or medicines, induced the party to return to New York where they arrived on the 25th."

The attack on Toms River was made on Sunday morning, March 24th, 1782. No Tory or Tory sympathizer was tolerated in the village of Toms River, which was the only reason that caused Rivington's Royal Gazette to call its people "banditti."

Upon the approach of the British, the Americans opened fire so effectually that the British account acknowledges that seven were killed or wounded, though the damage inflicted upon them must have been greater. A negro Refugee killed, was left by them outside of the fort for the Americans to bury.

What a terrible day to the inhabitants of Toms River was that memorable Sabbath! Probably not less than a hundred women and children were rendered homeless; the killed and wounded demanded immediate attention; husbands and fathers were carried away captives, their household goods, provisions - their all destroyed. Some families were entirely broken up, the heads killed, mothers and children scattered, never as families meeting again.