Clinton Township Newsletter

2 1 m a y 2 0 2 6 l i F e , l o y a l t y a n D t h e P u r s u i t o F h a P P i n e s s A Series on the Vought Family of Revolutionary Hunterdon County By David Overaker, President, Board of Trustees, 1759 Vought House Part 2: The Die is Cast: By the early 1770's, the Vought farmstead was producing an abundance of corn, wheat, and hay and raising almost 150 head of livestock including pigs, sheep, cows, and horses. Now in his 60's, Christopher had handed over management of the farm largely to his son John. He was Hunterdon County Road Commissioner and Elder of the Zion Lutheran congregation. John Vought was elected Township clerk in 1774 at a meeting held at Thomas Jones' tavern. Cornelia and daughter-in-law Mary, with the help of two enslaved laborers, would have managed a great deal of domestic work such as tending the kitchen garden, cooking, preserving foods, tending to animals and making and mending clothing. In January 1775, Hunterdon County joined the 'Association' established by the Continental Congress to enforce a ban on trade with Great Britain aimed at forcing repeal of the 'Intolerable Acts'. Violators were publicized as 'enemies of the liberties of Americans'. Despite his opposition, John Vought signed an Association pledge as he 'durst [dared] not declare his sentiments'. On April 19, 1775, war with Great Britain began at Lexington and Concord. Patriot rebels responded by forming the New Jersey Provincial Congress in May 1775, subverting the authority of the existing colonial government presided over by Royal Governor William Franklin (Benjamin's son). Thomas Jones was elected as a Hunterdon County delegate to this rebel Congress formed to challenge the authority of Parliament and the King. As the war pressured the colonies to stand united, the people of New Jersey were deeply divided. While about one third of the population supported the Patriot rebels, nearly as many remained Loyal British Americans, and the rest – the 'disaffected' – were caught in the middle, reluctant or refusing to choose sides in the conflict. John and Christopher Vought were staunch Loyalists opposed to rebellion. Their friend and neighbor Thomas Jones was an ardent supporter of the Patriot rebel cause. – Support the mission of the 1759 Vought House! Donate at: www.VoughtHouse.org or mail a check to: 1759 Vought House, P.O. Box 369, Annandale, NJ 08801. n C b r a n C h l i b r a r y ' s u P C o M i n g e v e n t s Visit the Library and enjoy our programs! Please register for events! Use LibCal: www.hclibrary.us/home, or call: 908.730.6135 For more information, registration help, and adult programs and outdoor concerts at our HQ location in Flemington, please call: 908.730.6135, or visit our website at: www.HCLibrary.us For information and events for children, visit our website at: www.HCLibrary.us, or call: 908.730.6834 May 4 2 pm Adult Improv - they're fun! May 5, 10 am-7 pm Blood Drive (Am. Red Cross) Every Drop Counts! May 6 12 pm Art Workshop May 8 2 pm Matinees at NCB (check website or call for title)* May 11 2 pm Adult Improv – they're fun! May 13 2 pm Silver Belles & Beaus Choir Concert May15 2 pm Matinees at NCB (check website or call for title)* May 18 2 pm Adult Improv – they're fun! May 18 6:30 pm Medicare with Confidense May 20 2 pm Bingo May 21 6:30 pm Open Mic May 27 6:30 pm SEO for Small Businesses (Search Engine Optimization) May 28 7 pm SciFi & Fantasy Book Group: Dark Matter by Blake Crouch *Please call: 908.730.6135 or check website for title • Check out the HCL Makerspace in Flemington! Equipment includes ceramics, garment printing, audio recording, milling, sewing, VR, heat press, design software and printing, and more! Visit: https://hclibrary. us/makerspace. • Scrabble meets upstairs every Friday at 1:00 pm! • NCB Fiber Artists Drop-in: Chat While You Craft! Second and Fourth Wednesdays from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. • Check out our Puzzle Swap! Take and/or bring a puzzle (in good condition). 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 b i k e a n D e - b i k e s a F e t y t i P s As the weather gets warmer, more people take their exercise routines outdoors. That includes cycling. In New Jersey, cyclists, including e-bike riders, have all the rights and responsibilities of motorists and are required to follow rules and regulations intended to prevent accidents and keep traffic flowing smoothly. New Jersey Bike Safety Rules: • All riders 17 years and younger are required to wear well-fitted safety helmets. • Cyclists must obey all traffic rules, i.e., traffic lights, stop signs, one-way street restrictions. • Bikes must be equipped with a white-light headlamp, red-light rear lamp and red reflector for night riding. Bikes must also have a bell, horn or other audible signal that can be heard from 100 feet away. • Cyclists are required to ride as far to the right of the road as possible (exceptions: left-hand turns, passing, avoiding road hazards like debris or potholes). • Riding on sidewalks is subject to local municipal ordinances. • Not all responsibility for sharing the road safely falls to the cyclists, however. Motor vehicle drivers are required to move over or leave at least four feet of room if possible when passing a cyclist. Drivers and cyclists alike must yield for pedestrians. E-Bike Specific Safety Tips and Regulations: New Jersey classifies e-bikes as motorized bicycles and, effective this past January, requires all e-bikes (Class 1, 2, and 3) be registered, licensed and insured. E-bikes have fully operable pedals coupled with an electronic motor to provide a maximum speed of 20 mph. This distinguishes them from electronic motorcycles and electric dirt bikes, which may have throttles and/or reach maximum speeds of 28mph. Regardless, e-bikes should be treated as motor vehicles and riders are subject to all the above listed safety rules. The main difference between standard bikes and e-bikes is the battery that supplements the pedal power of the latter. Safety tips for maintaining these batteries include: • Plugging batteries directly into wall outlets • Not overcharging • Using only original equipment • Never stacking batteries when charging • Storing e-bikes and batteries in well-ventilated spaces These safety tips can help you enjoy the weather and the ride! – Anthony Kearns 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 "God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers." ~ Rudyard Kipling

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