Minutes of the Provincial Congress & Council of Safety of the State of NJ, 1775-1776.
Excerpt from July 1776 shows Robert Hoops (Belvidere) being appointed as Brigade Major.
- Brigade Major to Gen. Reed (14 June 1776), but declined to act
- Named Brigade Major (2nd time) on 2 Aug 1776 to Brigade General Philemon Dickson. Served on the staff of Dickinson, NJ Militia, during the war.
- Deputy-Commissary-General (1 July 1777)
- Resigned in August 1777
Robert Hoops (1745-1818) was the eldest son of Adam & Elizabeth Hoops. He attended the University of Pennsylvania in 1758. In 1771, he married Martha Cottnam (d. 1797) of Trenton.
- Mrs. Hoops is buried in the 1st Presbyterian Church of Oxford in Hazen (Martha Hoops, age 43).
When he arrived in Mercer, he renamed it Belvidere, and obtained the property to the north of the Pequest until 1800 (Cummins, GW, History of Warren County, NJ, 1911. 113). He sold the property to the south of the Pequest to Philadelphian, Robert Morris (1734-1805), one of the Signers of the Declaration, a Continental Congressman, US Senator and a Signer of the US Constitution. He built a house on Greenwich for his (illegitimate) daughter, Mrs. Mary ("Polly") Morris Croxall (1763-1824).
Major Hoops was an active business man in Belvidere, owning a saw and grist mill. He dealt in grain, flour and produce that was shipped to Philadelphia on the Delaware River using Durham boats. In a letter to Richard Backhouse, Esq. of Durham, Hoops wrote, "The day you left me in the afternoon with seven hands I made a beginning and compleated Passage through the little foul Rift fit for a Boat to pass with 100 or 150 Bushels without touching..." (Cummins, George Wyckoff, History of Warren County, NJ, 1911. 113-114).
His brother, Major Adam Hoops, Jr. (1760-1846) served as Aide-de-Camp to General John Sullivan during the Sullivan Expedition against the Iroquois Nation in NY in 1779.
- "Hoops, Adam Major." on Revolutionary War Soldiers of Cattaraugus Co. www.paintedhills.org/CATTARAUGUS/cattrevsoldiers.html
Major Hoops lived in a pre-Revolutionary Colonial style stone house (1 Prospect St., Belvidere). Most likely, Hoops was one of several men stationed in Belvidere (Fort Reading) to protect the settlers from conflicts with local tribes.
- Fort Reading (1756) was a NJ colonial militia fort for 50 men that consisted of a 36-sq foot blockhouse with a 16-sq foot stone storehouse enclosed by a 60-ft square palisade. There are no remains of this fort that remains. The site, which is on private property, was excavated in 1995.
#RevWar #Rev250 #MajorHoops #BelvidereNJ #ShippenManor #WarrenCoNJ
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Good morning!
Whoa! Look at all this snow, am I right?
There are things we need to share that will keep our visitors safe, particularly when everything is covered in deep snow. These are all for visitor safety, which is one of our priorities.
1. During the winter, in particular, please stay off of both lower porches. All year, please refrain from walking, climbing, sitting or standing on the walls. They are old and they aren't always safe.
2. Please do not block any part of the driveway or block in anyone parked on site. There are fire lane signs along the upper and lower drives that are there due to fire code and first responder accessibility. The driveway (upper, the turn, and lower) needs to remain clear of vehicles.
- We also have a plow that comes through when it's snowing, please keep the path open for him to do his job. 🙂
3. Please be aware that there are County offices located at Shippen and staff need to be able to exit the site during the day.
4. We have gardens that are under the snow on the north, east (in front of the museum porch) and south side of the building. South side has a snow fence. Please avoid walking on and in these areas.
5. The platform stage is off-limits to all visitors year round. Currently, there is snow fence, but it may have been comprised by the snow. Do not climb onto or walk on the stage or steps.
6. This hill is crazy steep, but there's no stop at the bottom before Washington Ave. For your safety, please do not take the "long ride" down and test your skills with stopping close to the edge. There are vehicles traveling on that road and may not see you or be able to stop in time.
7. Snow and ice will be sloughing off the roof, particularly when its sunny outside. (Right now, we have a LOT of ice and snow) and it is dangerous to anyone standing down below when it sloughs off.
8. Most importantly, when you leave the site, after having hours of fun, please take all of your stuff with you-- hats, gloves, empty food/drink containers, broken pieces of sled, random items of clothing, and more. We like when you visit, but it isn't fair for the staff to clean up after you. (This is a pack-out site, which means, if you brought it, you need to take it home with you.)
The staff appreciated your consideration and understanding.
Thank you.
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Today in History: 23 Jan 1782
Deborah Sampson (1760-1827), tried to enlist first as "Timothy Thayer", for which she was unsuccessful, discovered and fined. The second time she attempted to enlist as "Robert Shurtliff", she was successful.
Her first attempt was noted in a journal by Abner Weston, a corporal in the Massachusetts militia. He described Deborah Sampson, who was dressed in men's clothing while attempting to enlist in the army as an "uncommon affair." She was discovered to be a female and fines. This is the only known surviving document referencing Deborah Sampson's first enlistment.
Journal entry: www.amrevmuseum.org/virtualexhibits/when-women-lost-the-vote-a-revolutionary-story/pages/abner-we...
It is estimated that about 3% of the camp populations were comprised of female soldiers & female camp followers. As of now, Deborah is the only known woman to have served as a man in American militia/army during the Revolution. The likelihood of other women doing so is likely as hundreds (if not thousands) of women served as men during the Civil War.
Oftentimes, women followed their husbands, brothers, fathers and other male relatives into war and unofficially served as camp followers, laundresses, cooks, etc. Nursing was primarily a male occupation as it wasn't seen as proper for a woman to see a man injured or in any state of undress unless they were married.
Other women contributed to the war effort:
Abigail Adams (1744-1818), wife of MA delegate John Adams (1735-1826), famously corresponded with her husband in her "Remember the Ladies" correspondences in which she wrote, "...I long to hear that you have declared an independancy—and by the way in the new Code of Laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make I desire you would Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favourable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. If perticuliar care and attention is not paid to the Laidies we are determined to foment a Rebelion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation."
Letter (31 March 1776-- Abigail to John): founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/04-01-02-0241
"Molly Pitchers," a nickname given to women that carried water to the cannons during battle. There are two famous Mollies:
1. Mary Ludwig Hays (1754-1832): She was born on 13 Oct 1754 in either Philadelphia, PA or in NJ. Her parents were German immigrants and they lived a modest life. She married a barber named William Hays (1751-1786) in her earlier 20s. During the War, William enlisted in the 4th PA Artillery and served Capt. Francis Proctor's company during the Revolution. She was referred to as a 22 year old illiterate pregnant woman who smoked, chewed tobacco and swore up a blue streak. She was a hard worker while the artillery company was under fire and was respected by the men. During the Battle of Monmouth (28 June 1778), she was running water to the thirsty soldiers (50 died of thirst and dehydration) from a nearby spring. When her husband was wounded, she took his place at the cannon and continued firing on the British. According to legend, George Washington asked about this courageous woman and promoted her to a non-commissioned officer, and she was nicknamed, "Sergeant Molly." William died in 1786 from his battle wounds, leaving a large amount of land to his wife. She then married John McCauley in 1793, another veteran of the war. Supposedly, he spent her inheritance and disappeared around 1807, leaving her destitute. For the remainder of her life, Mary worked as a domestic in Carlisle, PA. She was awarded a pension of $40/year in 1822 by the PA State Legislature. She died 10 years later and buried in the Carlisle Old Graveyard under the name "Molly McCauley". Her son, Sgt. John L. Hays (1775-1856) served in the War of 1812.
www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/mary-ludwig-hays
Find a Grave: www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/mary-ludwig-hays
2. Margaret Cochran Corbin (1751-1800): She was born in Franklin Co., PA on 12 Nov 1751 and was orphaned by age 5 after her father was killed in an Indian raide and her mother captured and never returned. An uncle adopted and raised Margaret and her brother. At age 21 (1772), she married John Corbin, who enlisted in the PA military in 1775. She followed her husband into war, earning money for doing the men's cooking and laundry. She also helped tend to the sick and wounded (unofficially, of course). On 16 Nov 1776, she dressed as a man and joined her husband on the battlefield during the Battle of Fort Washington, Manhattan Island, NY. She helped load the cannon and when her husband was killed during the fighting, she took over the cannon. Other soldiers referred to her as "Captain Molly" and her "steady aim and sure-shot." Margaret was wounded in action-- hit by enemy fire that nearly severed her left arm and severely wounded her jaw and left breast. Due to this injury, she lost the use of her arm for the remainder of her life. When the British won the battle, Margaret was captured along with a number of soldiers-- they were paroled and released to the care of Revolutionary hospitals. She was left destitute following her injury and when she recovered, she joined the Invalid Regiment at West Point where she helped the wounded until she was formally discharged in 1783. On 6 July 1779, the Continental Congress recognized Margaret for her service and awarded her with a lifelong pension (half of what the men would receive) and was the first woman to receive it. Congress gave her a few dresses to replaced those ruined during the war. In 1782, she married a wounded soldier, but he died a year later. She died near West Point before she turned 50 years old. Her remains were removed in 1926 from an obscure grave along the Hudson River (possibly on JP Morgan's summer estate) to West Point Military Academy and was buried with full honors.
www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/margaret-cochran-corbin
Find-A-Grave: www.findagrave.com/memorial/231/margaret-corbin
#Rev250 #DeborahSampson #AbigailAdams #MaryLudwigHays #MargaretCochranCorbin #WomenintheRevolution #ShippenManor
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Warren County Arts, Corp. has notified me that the art reception for the Quilt Show that was scheduled for this Sunday (1/25) has been rescheduled due to the impending storm to February 8th.
It will be located at the Oxford Municipal Galley, 11 Green St., Oxford, NJ 07863
www.WCARTS.org
#wcarts #OxfordNJ
Warren County ARTs | Warren County NJ.
www.wcarts.org
Warren County ARTs is a non-profit organization based in Oxford, New Jersey. A mixed group of artists welcoming artists and art appreciators of all persuasions to join us each month for programs and e...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
#Rev250 The Davenport Letters
Two brothers, James and Isaac Davenport, from Dorchester, MA, were soldiers during the Revolutionary War. There are a series of letters-- the first two written by Isaac (who was killed in NJ in 1778) and the remaining by his brother, James.
There are 17 surviving letters (1778 to 1783), which have been in the Davenport family for generations. In the mid-19th c., they were transcribed into a ledger by James Davenport's nephew, John. The letters are currently in the possession of John Davenport's descendant, Anne Hayden.
Sgt. Isaac Howe Davenport (1754-1778) served in Gen. Washington's Commander-in-Chief's Guard and a part of the 3rd Reg't of Continental Dragoons. (He is also listed as having served in a few other regiments/companies). He fought at the battle of Brandywine (11 Sept 1777), Germantown (4 Oct 1777), Monmouth (28 June 1778), and killed at a skirmish at Tappen, NY (28 Sept 1778). It was determined that he was killed in the "Baylor Massacre" in NJ in 1778 (not far from Tappen, NY). In 1967, the remains of Isaac and 5 other soldiers were found hastily buried in a tanning vat. They were bayoneted to death by British forces while they slept in barns and other buildings. In one account, his remains were reburied in Dorchester North Burying Ground, while another says his final resting place was located near the discovery of the remains in NJ. Isaac was 22 when he was killed.
- When the pit was excavated, one of the skeletons was of a "robust adult male who was fully dressed when he was buried. Scholars believe that the silver buttons and silver neckstock buckle-- hallmarked by a Boston silversmith whose shop would have been a convenient place to visit from Dorchester-- found with this skeleton suggest it was that of Isaac Davenport." (#MuseumoftheAmericanRevolution)
Find a Grave: www.findagrave.com/memorial/236064023/isaac_howe-davenport
To read more: www.dorchesteratheneum.org/project/isaac-howe-davenport-1856-1778/
Baylor Massacre (Bergen Co.): www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/old-tappan
"Skirmish Near Tappen" (Moore, Frank, Diary of the American Revolution, Vol. II, 1859): historycarper.com/1778/10/03/skirmish-near-tappan/
Sgt. James Davenport (1759-1824) enlisted in the militia (1776) and the Continental Army's 8th MA Regiment (1777), where he served for the remainder of the war. He fought at the Battle of Saratoga, spent the winter at Valley Forge with the main Continental Army, the Battle of Monmouth, and saw active service in New York. He was later transferred to the 8th MA as a sergeant in 1781. He was discharged in 1783 at age 23. He married Esther Mellish (1765-1834) and they had 5 children. He is buried alongside his wife in Dorchester North Burying Ground in Dorchester, MA.
Find a Grave: www.findagrave.com/memorial/184765190/james-davenport
To read more: www.amrevmuseum.org/virtualexhibits/the-davenport-letters/pages/meet-james-davenport
To read the 17 Davenport Letters: www.amrevmuseum.org/virtualexhibits/the-davenport-letters
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