Revolutionary NJ: The rest of the story

From My Central Jersey, an OPINION PIECE: Revolutionary NJ: The rest of the story

Cate Litvack’s article on New Jersey’s role in the American Revolution that appeared on July 17 was both entertaining and informative. New Jersey certainly was the crossroads of the Revolution, as a number of historians have dubbed the state. But perhaps your readers also would be interested to know that, by some estimates, New Jersey sent more of its sons to defend the Crown than it sent to support the rebellion.

According to Dennis P. Ryan’s report written for the New Jersey Historical Commission, the state’s population of 140,000 was sharply divided, with as many as 50,000 considered to be loyalists and approximately one-third of the population working hard to remain neutral. Slaves were especially eager to support the Crown in return for its promises of their freedom.

Among others, Gov. William Franklin, the illegitimate son of Benjamin Franklin, threw in his lot with the British. And New Jersey’s Richard Stockton was the only signer of the Declaration of Independence who also signed a British loyalty oath.

This, of course, would not be the last time that New Jersey has gone against the grain, as it also shares the distinction with two other states (Kentucky and Delaware) of having rejected Abraham Lincoln’s bid for the presidency both times, in 1860 and 1864.