Clinton Township Newsletter

2 0 N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 6 www.ClintonTwpNewsletter.com R e v o l u t i o n O n O u r D o o r s t e p : November 1776! A six-part special series marking the 240th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence By Donald Sherblom, 1759VoughtHouse.org At the start of 1776, New Jersey's provincial Congress had largely usurped the legal Assembly and royal governor's power to tax and organize the militia yet its delegates to the Continental Congress were still instructed to pursue the goal of reconciliation. In May, the Continental Congress's call for colonies to form new governments transformed New Jersey's elections to its provincial Congress into a referendum on independence. Hunterdon County moderates and loyalists managed to elect one of their own, John Allen, owner of the Union Iron Works. When it assembled in Trenton, John Allen was in the minority as Congress voted by large margins to arrest the governor and write a new state constitution. Loyalist sentiment was strong in northern Hunterdon, as seen at the militia drills at Allen's iron works. In June, iron works manager Joseph Lee and John Vought, a prominent local farmer, led two dozen angry club- wielding iron workers and farmers to the tavern of Captain Thomas Jones, where they clubbed Jones, a former delegate to the provincial congress. They were arrested for this assault, jailed briefly, fined 100 pounds each and released in July, as New Jersey became a sovereign state under the new constitution. In the summer and autumn of 1776 General Washington's outnumbered army faced the impossible task of defending New York City from the world's greatest naval power and a heavily reinforced army of British and Hessians. Washington was defeated on Long Island, in Manhattan, and at White Plains. In November, Fort Washington fell with 2800 prisoners taken; British troops crossed the Hudson and scaled the palisades at Fort Lee. Just ahead of the enemy, the tattered remains of Washington's continental army retreated across New Jersey to Trenton. In retreat with the troops, Thomas Paine wrote that, "both officers and men, though greatly harassed and fatigued, frequently without rest, covering, or provision, the inevitable consequences of a long retreat, bore it with a manly and martial spirit. All their wishes centered in one, which was, that the country would turn out and help them to drive the enemy back." Paine's hope, that the people would rise up to help repel the invaders, did not materialize. New Jersey's legislature quickly relocated from Princeton to Burlington, then Pittstown, before it dissolved in the face of advancing army. In early December, John Vought, his father Christopher, and Joseph Lee led seventy–five local loyalists to join the British army. After a skirmish with local militia turned out to intercept them, they arrived in New Brunswick and joined the New Jersey Volunteers, one of the largest provincial corps. Roughly 35% of New Jersey's people became active loyalists. Another 3,000 New Jersey people sought protection from General Howe by signing an oath of allegiance. Three Hunterdon militia captains, Daniel Bray, Jacob Gearhart and tavern-keeper Thomas Jones, answered Washington's request to collect boats along the Delaware above Trenton to speed Washington's escape and halt the advancing British troops at the river. Washington's calamitous defeats and the rapidly advancing British caused a panic in Philadelphia. The rich and powerful Allen family were reportedly on the list of some 200 men of suspect loyalty which rumor had it would be arrested by the recently empowered radical patriots. John Allen with his brother Andrew, Pennsylvania's former attorney general, fled their Philadelphia homes to the family's Hunterdon County iron plantation. A friend, Ned Shippen had gone to New Jersey on an errand. Amidst the chaos, Ned also sought refuge at the Union Iron Works. As Howe approached Trenton, John Allen, Andrew Allen and Ned Shippen rode south from the Union, along the Delaware, to seek protection from the British. John and Andrew continued on, across British-occupied New Jersey to New York City. Ned Shippen remained at Trenton as Hessian troops settled into winter quarters, a return to his family in Philadelphia temporarily blocked by Washington's troops across the Delaware. Ned would soon have an unexpected audience with General Washington. (Continued in December) S i g n S T h a T a C h a r i T y M i g h T B e a S C a M It seems that as the holidays approach, requests from charities spike. While there are a lot of good causes out there, there are just as many, if not more, fraudulent ones. I recently came across a survey conducted a couple of years ago which uncovered about 6,000 so-called charities that weren't exactly what they said they were. Many of these are for-profit companies that spend more on operating costs and fundraising efforts than on the cause they profess to help. The survey took an in-depth look at 50 of the worst of these charities and found they applied less than 4% of donations collected directly to aid, using the remaining 96% of funds for things like paying salaries and consulting fees, financing contracts with friends and bankrolling startup expenses. A "good" charity should spend no more than 35% of money donated on fundraising, according to non-profit industry experts. There are several red flags to help you distinguish good charities from scams. Be wary if you are: 1. Harassed or threatened 2. Thanked for a pledge you don't recall making 3. Asked to make donations in cash, with a prepaid card, or by wire transfer 4. Guaranteed a "prize" or "gift" in exchange for your donation 5. Pressured to make an immediate contribution 6. Directed to make your donation payable to an individual rather than the charity 7. Unable to get a phone number or website address for the charity Fake charities often use names similar to better-known, legitimate charities. Unfortunately, this confusion can result in legitimate charities getting blamed for the actions of the fake ones. Then everyone loses. The holidays are traditionally a time of goodwill, and charitable donations are one way to express that. Do your homework and don't let the scam artists dampen your spirit. Have a Happy Thanksgiving! – Victor Rotolo LAW FIRM THE ROTOLO 502 U.S. 22 Lebanon, NJ 08833 908∙534∙7900 www.RotoloLawFirm.com Victor A. Rotolo, Esq. Former Police Officer, City of Elizabeth Mediation and Arbitration: Services and Venue Available Victor A. Rotolo is a long-time resident of Clinton Township and the founder of The Rotolo Law Firm. Call The Rotolo Law Firm 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. The Rotolo Law Firm • 502 US 22 West, Lebanon, NJ 08833. www.RotoloLawFirm.com

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