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CROSSROADS GAZETTE
Your resource for all things Revolutionary New Jersey!
March 2018
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The stirrings of spring begin in March... as the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area comes to life. Discover the stories of the women who lived here during the Revolution, visit the 240th anniversary of the Hancock's Bridge Massacre, celebrate St. Patrick's Day where Washington proclaimed it a holiday, plan to attend our annual meeting, and more.
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New Jersey's Revolutionary Women faced homefront challenges
They may not have signed up for military service, but the lives of New Jersey women changed forever as Revolution swept through their communities. Their husbands, sons and brothers gone to war, women were left to manage their households and protect family and farm. They and their families faced the possibility of looting, occupation and worse until the troops left. Due to the customs of the times, their own political beliefs meant less under the law than their husbands' did, and they sometimes suffered the consequences.
Every woman's situation was unique, and our Revolutionary Neighbors were no different.
Charity Britton's tavern was in the thick of the battles of Trenton in December 1776, and
Mary Creighton Stratton watched as her family's tavern was plundered by the British.
Elizabeth King Horton found herself widowed at age 28 after her doctor husband died while treating smallpox-infected Continental soldiers. Other Patriots like
Jane Demarest lost their homes because their husbands fought as Loyalists for the British Crown.
Visit our
website during Women's History Month to meet these and other Revolutionary Neighbors and their wartime experience in New Jersey.
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Hold the date! Crossroads Annual Meeting to be held March 21 in Trenton
Learn more about Crossroads' achievements in 2017 and our plans for 2018 at our annual meeting on March 21 at 1:00 p.m. at Thomas Edison State University, 101 W. State Street, Trenton, NJ. Get an update on Revolutionary New Jersey and network with other history and heritage enthusiasts!
We're planning an informative session, including guest speaker Larry Kidder, author of
Crossroads of the Revolution: Trenton 1774-1783
plus more surprises.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Please RSVP on our website
here.
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Hancock's Bridge reenactment to mark 240th anniversary
A small Salem County community was gripped by battle and tragedy 240 years ago this month following an invasion by British troops foraging for food for their compatriots in Philadelphia. The local militia was able to fend off the invaders at the March 18, 1778 Battle of Quinton's Bridge, but three days later, the British returned to attack Patriot forces at the home of Judge William Hancock in what became known as the Hancock's Bridge Massacre.
Militia troops return this year on March 24 and 25 as Hancock House hosts a 240th anniversary commemoration of the battle and massacre. "Meet" Judge Hancock, visit a military encampment, tour the Quinton's Bridge battle site and more. Visit our
events page
for more information.
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St. Patrick's Day's Revolutionary Link
Many don't realize it, but the wearing of the green has a revolutionary connection to the Green ... the Morristown Green, that is! General George Washington proclaimed March 17, 1780 a holiday for his weary troops during the second encampment at Morristown.
Washington himself may not have been Irish, but he recognized the morale boosting value of the day to his troops. Historians estimate that one in four Continental soldiers was Irish by birth or ancestry. Some say that the Morristown celebration was the first official St. Patrick's Day commemoration held in the United States.
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Maple Syrup: A Revolutionary New Jersey treat!
Who doesn't love a stack of pancakes dripping with authentic maple syrup? This tasty treat has been harvested in America for centuries as a sweetener, and here in New Jersey, it's said that Lenape natives shared the practice with early English and Dutch settlers.
A growing number of New Jersey parks and historic sites are hosting events in March to show you just how maple sap makes its way from tree trunk to bottle!
Visit these sites to track this popular breakfast treat from sugarbush (a series of trees tapped for sap) through to harvesting and boiling down to syrup.
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Heritage Partner program grows; Trades and Crafts conference in May
More than 200 Revolutionary War-related historic sites, historical societies and heritage organizations in New Jersey benefit from their membership as Crossroads Heritage Partners. Marketing support for events and tours, information about potential grants, and networking opportunities with other organizations throughout the state are just some of the advantages of membership.
Volunteers and staffers from Heritage Partner groups are also eligible to participate in training and professional development sessions, including our May 2018 Art of Period Trades and Crafts conference, cosponsored by the Middlesex County Office of Arts and History. Shoemaking, penmanship, knitting and more will be covered, along with the process of making sure your historic site is in compliance with regulations for live demonstrations. Watch for more details, available soon!
Could your organization benefit from affiliating with Crossroads? Contact our Program Manager, Kate Knowles-Brindle by
e-mail or by phone at 609-341-3246 for more information, or visit our Heritage Partner membership
webpage to join us today!
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Get Revolutionary at this month's Heritage Partner events
Shake off the winter blahs at these events at our partners in the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area. Visit our
website
and
Facebook page
for even more activities through the month.
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Open Hearth Cooking Demonstration at the Abraham Staats House in South Bound Brook
March 10 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Tour the home that served as headquarters to General von Steuben during the Middlebrook encampment and watch as cooks work at the hearth.
More information.
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Open House and Tours at Garretson Forge and Farm in Fair Lawn
March
11 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Travel back to Revolutionary times at a Dutch Colonial farmstead where six generations of one family lived and worked.
More information
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Colonial Crafts: Cross Stitch at Whitall House/Red Bank Battlefield in National Park
March 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
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Visit Sites Claiming to be Molly Pitcher's Well at Monmouth Battlefield State Park in Manalapan
March 25 at 1:30 p.m.
Drive to the heart of the battlefield to see several spots reported to be where Molly fetched water for the troops as they fought.
More information
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Clean-up Day at Princeton Battlefield State Park in Princeton
March 31 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Help remove invasive brush from park paths and learn more about the pivotal January 1777 battle. First 60 volunteers to register will get a free t-shirt!
Registration and more information
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Board of Trustees
Thomas H. Kean, Honorary Chair ● Patrick Murray, Chair ● Laura Szwak, Vice Chair - Governance ● Brian Levine, Vice Chair-Finance● John Hardiman, Vice Chair - Development ●
Dale Florio ● Seth Hahn ●
Ira Jersey
● Linda Kellner ● Sally Lane ● Chris Paladino ● Patrick Ryan ● Milly Silva
Crossroads Staff
Janice Selinger, Executive Director ● Tanika Jones, Office Administrator ● Kate Knowles-Brindle, Program Manager ● Sue Kaufmann, Communications and Social Media Coordinator
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