Clinton Township Newsletter

2 1 f e b r u a r y 2 0 2 6 t h e m a r C h O F t h e 3 0 0 0 The New England Army: December, 1776, By Spencer Peck Some updates on my 2011 article about the New England Army passing through the area in December, 1776 to join General Washington prior to the Battle of Trenton. First, the original name of Clinton in 1776 was Hunt's Mill, while Hof's was the original name of Pittstown. Next, Route 173 was not yet cut through so the army followed the Easton Road to Pittstown, then west to Bloomsbury and ultimately the ferry at Phillipsburg where they crossed. Just to let everyone know, the State Historical Commission issued a call for proposed historical markers to honor the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence which occurs next year. I have filed applications on behalf of fourteen towns through which the army passed. The applications remain pending as of this writing. One question the Commission asked was about the significance of each proposal. To this I submitted the following: When Washington was forced to abandon Fort Lee in November, 1776 he wrote of: "The wretched remains of a broken army." The American Revolution was then on the brink of collapse. His call for reinforcements was answered by 3,000 men of The New England Army. Their ten day passage across New Jersey can be traced by these 14 proposed markers. They represent the only tangible connection we have to these men and that time. Each location is a link in that chain which stretched from Ringwood Manor to the ferry landing in Phillipsburg. The public is largely unaware of this "March of the 3,000." This project is an attempt to correct that. Why did they do what they did, under extreme hardship? They could have remained home, safe in their beds, yet they persisted. They did this because they wanted to, not because they had to. What kept them going is what we call today: "The Spirit of '76." What makes this story more compelling is that among the 3,000 was a regiment of fishermen who would ultimately row Washington's army across the ice choked Delaware on Christmas night, 1776 when all other efforts failed. If this had not happened, the likely outcome would have been: • Washington would have never crossed the Delaware. • The Battle of Trenton would never have been fought. • The army would have gone home because enlistments expired on December 31. • The Revolution would have collapsed. • The USA would never have been born. • We would all be British citizens today. These proposed markers represent a story about the right men, in the right place, at the right time. They also represent the single, most significant, event which led to the birth of this nation. Is this not sufficient reason to both remember and honor these men? The significance of this march is best summarized by Lord George Germain, King George III's colonial secretary of state, who lamented, "All our hopes were blasted by that unhappy affair at Trenton." This was the time when the world was turned upside down and the hope of the world was born. And it all happened in New Jersey. That, my fellow citizens, is why these 14 markers must be approved. Presentations to Town Councils and Historical Societies of the affected towns have been enthusiastically received. Now we wait. – Spencer Peck, Lebanon Dear Spencer, Thank you so much for this column — I hoped that you didn't mind me re-running your [January, 2011] article in our December 2025 issue — it's always been a favorite of mine. It's so fascinating that all of this history happened right on our doorsteps, figuratively! I really hope that this article helps in some way to get those historical markers added to the army's historic path. As I might have mentioned before, my kids used to ride their bikes from our house, then on Blossom Hill, to the Oldwick General Store to get lunch, and then ride back again. I tried to impress upon them that they were traversing the same roads (as I understood it) as Washington's troops did, just before the Battle of Trenton! One has to use their imagination, but how amazing is that history? Historical markers would really help us all to understand the history. Thank you, and I hope that you and your family have a Happy and Healthy 2026! – Julie Flynn Combined, Anthony P. Kearns and Victor A. Rotolo have been serving the local community for over 60 years. Call Kearns Rotolo today 908.534.7900 to discuss any legal situation confronting you. Your half-hour consultation is free of charge! Their attorneys and staff are ready to serve your legal needs. Kearns Rotolo Law . 502 US 22 West, Lebanon, NJ 08833. www.KearnsRotoloLaw.com Working Together to Protect what's Important to You Criminal Law ~ Family Law ~ Personal Injury Municipal Court ~ DUI ~ Wills & Estates Tony Kearns Vic Rotolo 908-534-7900 h e l p i n G O u r s e n i O r s r e ta i n t h e i r i n d e p e n d e n C e Americans today can expect to live well into their 90s. The fact is, though, as we age, we tend to slow down. Simple tasks aren't as easy as they once were. Still, most seniors would prefer to age in place and maintain their independence. If that sounds like someone you know, you can help. The priority is to keep our seniors safe. This takes careful planning and consideration and involves hard conversations ranging from if and when they should give up their driver's licenses to documenting their end-of-life wishes. For these conversations: • Choose your timing wisely; broach these topics in casual, everyday conversation. • Be patient and respectful. Listen to their preferences rather than pushing your own agenda. To be most helpful, make sure your loved one has his or her important paperwork in place. The following legal documents serve complimentary roles in ensuring a patient's medical wishes are met. • A healthcare proxy – names someone to make medical decisions on the patient's behalf when they are unable to. • A living will or advance directive – specifies an individual's wishes regarding medical care when they can't communicate those wishes themselves. • A practitioner order for life-sustaining treatment (POLST) – a mobile medical order that ensures continuity of care from all medical providers – EMS personnel, nurses, doctors – by translating wishes into actionable instructions. One of a caregiver's biggest challenges is knowing when to help and when not to intervene. Look for signs at home. Are bills going unpaid? Is there a lack of food? Are there expired medications lying around? These are indications your senior loved one may need help. • Become familiar with their doctors; accompany them on appointments when possible. • Do a safety check and take appropriate action: install assistive devices, remove tripping hazards, make necessary repairs, subscribe to a medical alert system, for example. • Spend quality time with them engaging in activities they enjoy. Lastly, don't expect to do it all on your own. Research available community resources for support; enlist help from friends, neighbors, and other relatives; discuss all options with your loved one. It's their life, after all. – Victor Rotolo Combined, Anthony P. Kearns and Victor A. Rotolo have been serving the local community for over 60 years. Call Kearns Rotolo today 908.534.7900 to discuss any legal situation confronting you. Your half-hour consultation is free of charge! Their attorneys and staff are ready to serve your legal needs. Kearns Rotolo Law . 502 US 22 West, Lebanon, NJ 08833. www.KearnsRotoloLaw.com

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