Sunday, July 29, 2012

Revolutionary War Sites Around Monmouth County

From Monmouth.com:  Revolutionary War Sites Around Monmouth County

This year’s Independence Day may have come and gone, but local residents can still feel the colonists’ spirit just by exploring Monmouth County, which has more Revolutionary War sites than most New Jersey counties.

Here is a list of places to check out this summer:

Colts Neck
Colts Neck Memorial Park, Heyers Mill Road. This location features the Private Michael Field Gravestite and Joshua Huddy Memorial.
Colts Neck Inn, 6 County Road Route 537 West. The Joshua Huddy Homestead Site is directly adjacent from the historic inn.

Englishtown
Village Inn, Main St. and Water Street. It was here that General Washington ordered the arrest of General Charles Lee, who had disobeyed orders in the Battle of Monmouth.

Freehold
Covenhoven House, 150 West Main St. A British general occupied this house.
St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 33 Throckmorton St. Legend has it that this church was used as a hospital during the war.
Monmouth Court House, Main St. and Court St. This building was also used as a hospital.
Monmouth County Historical Association, 70 Court St. The historical association has a number of artifacts from colonial days and the Battle of Monmouth.

Monmouth Battle Monument, Court St. and Monument St.
Highlands
Joshua Huddy Hanging Site, Huddy Park, Bay Ave. and Waterwitch Ave. Captain Joshua Huddy was hanged here by the British.

Holmdel
Holmes-Hendrickson House, 62 Longstreet Rd. A major skirmish occurred here after the house was attacked by a group of Loyalists.


Manalapan
Monmouth Battlefield State Park, 347 Rte. 33. One of the largest battles of the American Revolution took place here.

Marlboro
Old Brick Ref. Church Cemetery, Rte. 520 and Dunn Drive. At least two Revolutionary War soldiers are buried here.

Matawan
Philip Freneau Grave Site, 112 Poet Dr. Revolutionary poet and friend of James Madison and Thomas Jefferson is buried here.
Burrowes Mansion, 94 Main St. This house was a rallying point for colonial troops.

Middletown
Murray Farmhouse, 345 Oak Hill Rd. This was the home of Joseph Murray, a member of the colonists’ local militia.

Marlpit Hall, 137 Kings Hwy. This house was the home of a prominent Loyalist.
Washington Reconnoitering Expedition Sign, Route 35 and Kings Hwy (in front of the police building). This sign states that George Washington and his men rode through here on a reconnoitering expedition
British Retreat Route Markers (Showing the British army’s movement after the Battle of Monmouth).
• Kings Hwy. near Normandy Rd.
• Kings Hwy. and Brandywine Way
• Church St. and Kings Hwy.
Throckmorton-Lippit-Taylor Burying Ground. 137 Kings Hwy. More deceased Revolutionary figures are here.
British Campsite, Kings Hwy. at Monmouth Ave. and Navesink Ave. This was an old campsite used by British soldiers while they waited for transport to Sandy Hook.

Rumson
Joshua Huddy's Leap Monument, West Park, Rumson Rd. and Ward Ave. Before being executed by the British, war prisoner Joshua Huddy briefly escaped here.
Battle of Black Point Marker, East River Rd. and Black Point Rd. Another skirmish took place here just as the British were leaving for Sandy Hook.

Sandy Hook
Lighthouse, Hartshorne Dr. This lighthouse was taken over by the British and remained under their control for most of the war.

Halyburton Monument, Hartshorne Dr. On this site there were more Revolutionary graves, although they were moved in the early 1900s.

British Embarkation Marker, Hartshorne Dr. British troops passed through this point to complete their withdrawal from the Battle of Monmouth.

Shrewsbury
Christ Church and Cemetery, Sycamore Ave. and Broad St. This was used as a barracks for patriot soldiers.
Sycamore Monument, Sycamore Ave. and Broad St. This marks a trail used by George Washington’s troops.
Allen House, 400 Sycamore Ave. It was here that a Loyalist patrol attacked Continental Army soldiers that were stationed there.

Tennent
Old Tennent Church & Cemetery, 448 Tennent Rd. Many soldiers are buried here, including Joshua Huddy.

Upper Freehold
Historic Walnford, 62 Walnford Rd. The owner of this house was arrested in 1777 for refusing to affirm his allegiance to the government.

West Long Branch
Old Free Church Cemetery, Monmouth Ave. near W. Palmer Ave. Several Revolutionary soldiers are buried here.

More information about historic sites in Monmouth County can be found at the Monmouth County Historical Association website, or at visitmonmouth.com.