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.