A Historical Collections of the State of New Jersey, Containing a General Collection of the Most Interesting Facts, Traditions, Biographical Sketche Revised edition John W. Barber

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1844 Excerpt: ... enough to oppose even the small marauding parties that were daily plundering for the British camp. Nearly the whole of the active population had left their homes, some with the army under Washington, and some to a place of safety. Pennington was occupied by the British troops, and the inhabitants who remained, being aged, were peaceable, and lay at the mercy of these plunderers. Col. Houghton being at that time at home, word was brought to him by night, that the neighborhood of Moore's Mill had been visited by the enemy, and that they would probably be out the next day. Early next morning, Col. H. collected a few of his neighbors, and placed himself on the point of a neighboring mountain which overlooked the surrounding country;--presently he saw the party, who entered a house near by where Col. H. and bis men were stationed, after stacking their guns on the outside. The Colonel and his men now rushed from their hiding-place, seized first the arms and then their owners--a Hessian "sergeant, and twelve men, whom they found regaling themselves in the cellar with Metheglin. Col. H. remained in the field during the war, after which he was a member of the Legislature from Hunterdon co. He was a member of the first Baptist church, and died at an advanced age about the year 1795. Wilson P. Hunt, Esq., the hero of Irving's Astoria, was born in this township. He was born in the house now standing on the property of Benjamin S. Hill, and served his time in the store of his uncle, Abraham Hunt of Trenton. His adventurous and enterprising spirit brought him to the notice of John Jacob Astor of New York, who planned an enterprise across the Rocky mountains. The command of this expedition was intrusted to Mr. Hunt, who with his party reached the Pacific after much ...