Clinton Township Newsletter

2 4 D e c 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 : December 1776! A six-part special series marking the 240th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence By Donald Sherblom, 1759VoughtHouse.org New Jersey was slow to make the shift from resistance to rebellion, in part because the military clashes of 1775 occurred in New England and distant seaports. Also, colonial boycotts of British imports had brought effective pressure on Parliament to repeal several taxes, making less relevant the lack of colonial representation in that body. But when the American crisis came to a head, when the Continental Congress turned away from seeking a reconciliation with the mother country and declared independence, full-scale war came home to New Jersey. Thirty thousand British troops and Hessian mercenaries sailed into New York harbor and debarked on Staten Island, just off the Jersey coast. Washington's badly outnumbered troops and militia were routed in Brooklyn, Manhattan and around New York City before the action shifted to New Jersey. Here the story of 1776 was one of civil conflict amidst the continental struggle, of a short-lived independence soon followed by military occupation, a rapidly dwindling army retreating ahead of overwhelming forces, and a population with divided loyalties. New Jersey's ethnically diverse population of predominantly English, German, and Dutch colonists belonged to various congregations. More Presbyterians joined the rebellion than did Quakers, who tended to be neutral, and many Anglicans tended to remain loyal. With diverse communities and divergent perspectives, New Jersey's population was not as united as Puritan Massachusetts or the Virginia plantation slaveholders who were in the vanguard of the rebellion. Under British occupation 3,000 people signed the loyalty oaths and protection offered by General Howe, including Samuel Tucker, president of the convention which had written New Jersey's constitution just a few months earlier. Richard Stockton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was captured due to intelligence from loyalists and forced to recant. More men joined the New Jersey Volunteers to serve with British troops than remained in the state militia. As Washington and his troops escaped across the Delaware ahead of Howe's arrival in Trenton, then the capital of Hunterdon County, he feared than unless a new army was recruited, "the game is pretty near up." Facing further depletion of his army when enlistments expired at the end of 1776, Washington made a bold decision to take the offensive. Washington re-crossed the Delaware on Christmas day with 2400 men and marched through the night to arrive at Trenton on the morning of December 26. His stunning victories at Trenton, where 900 Hessians were captured, and at Princeton a few days later, turned the tide of war. As a British observer said, "A few days ago, they had given up the cause for lost. Their late successes have turned the scale and now they are all liberty mad again." Despite the militia's failure to turn out to resist the occupation, once the British and Hessians settled into winter quarters, the Hunterdon militia had harassed forage parties and messengers. Travel between outposts required as many as a hundred troops for protection. This constant harassment, which David Hackett Fisher terms the Hunterdon uprising, was such a part of life for the garrison in Trenton that the first encounter, on the outskirts of town, initially appeared to pose no great danger. The threat became clear as more and more men appeared to face the hastily collected Hessians. Ned Shippen had arrived in Trenton with the Allen brothers, who traveled on to British-held New York while Ned remained with the garrison. He was there the morning of Washington's surprise attack. George Washington belonged to the same social class and had socialized with the prominent families of Philadelphia like the Allens and the Shippens. Washington listened to Ned's story and decided that since he hadn't taken a commission or engaged in hostile action he could return to his family in Philadelphia. Despite their flight together to the British, at the end of 1776 Ned's fate diverged from that of John Allen, north Hunterdon's leading loyalist. Ned remained at home in what would become, against the odds, an independent and United States of America. T h i s h o l i d a y s e a s o n , F o c u s o n s a F e T y Robberies and vehicle thefts are two of the 10 most common crimes committed around the holidays. It's no wonder. We're rushed, preoccupied and often let our guard down. Thieves can be smart – we need to be smarter. While at the mall ... • Shop with friends, if possible. Don't wear expensive jewelry or restrictive clothes or shoes. Take only the credit cards and cash you'll need. • Purchase only what you can safely carry. Combine small packages into larger bags for easier handling. Don't block your field of vision and keep a hand free to open your car. • Avoid revolving doors because, with good timing, a thief can easily grab your bag and get away before you get through the door. • Stay away from darkened hallways and empty wings – including restrooms that may be located there, especially near closing time. • Save your expensive purchases until the end so you can go straight home. While in your car ... • Make a note of where you park and park close to the entrance when possible. Otherwise, park in a well-lit area near a busy roadway. • Stay away from large vehicles; thieves use these as cover. • Lock your doors and windows, close your sunroof and take your keys! • Secure valuables in your trunk or locked glove compartment. • If you need to unload some packages before you finish shopping, move your car to a new spot to throw off anyone who may be watching. • When shopping alone and leaving the mall, walk with another group of shoppers if you can when returning to your car. • Look around your car and in the back seat before entering. • More precious than any purchase is our children. Never leave children alone in the car no matter how quick you think you'll be. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children tells us 100,000 children are abducted each year, many from stores and shopping centers. Don't take the chance. Please be safe and have a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Happy, Healthy New Year! – 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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