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The Freeman's Journal, Or, New Hampshire Gazette
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
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Account of British and Hessian troops' desolation in New Jersey, December 1776: killings, ravishments, plundering of homes like Samuel Stout's (£2000 loss), capture of women, ruining settlements and families amid Revolutionary War.
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Bucks County, (Pennsylvania) December 14, 1776.
THE PROGRESS of the British and Hessian Troops through NEW JERSEY, has been attended with such scenes of Desolation and Outrage, as would disgrace the most barbarous Nations. Among innumerable other Instances the following are authenticated in such a Manner as leaves no Doubt of their Truth:
William Smith of Smith's Farm, near Woodbridge, hearing the Cries of his Daughter rushed into the Room, and found a Hessian Officer attempting to ravish her; in an Agony of Rage and Resentment he instantly killed him; but the Officer's Party soon came upon him, and he now lays mortally wounded at his ruined, plundered Dwelling.
On Monday Morning they entered the House of Samuel Stout, Esq; in Hopewell, where they destroyed his Deeds, Papers, Furniture and Effects of every Kind except what they plundered: they took every Horse away, left his House and Farm in Ruin, injuring him to the Value of £2000 in less than three Hours. Old Mr. Phillips, his Neighbour, they pillaged in the same Manner, and then cruelly beat him.
On Wednesday last three Women came down to the Jersey Shore in great Distress, a Party of the American Army went & brought them off, when it appeared that they had been all very much abused, and the youngest of them a Girl about 15, had been ravished that Morning by a British Officer.
A Number of young Women in Hopewell, to the Amount of 16, flying from this ravaging and cruel Enemy, took Refuge on the Mountain near Ralph Hart's, but Information being given of their Retreat, they were soon brought down into the British Camp, where they have been kept ever since.
The fine Settlements of Maidenhead and Hopewell, are entirely broke up; no Age, nor Sex has been spared; the Houses are stripped of every Article of Furniture, and what is not portable, is entirely destroyed: the Stock of Cattle and Sheep are drove off; every Article of Clothing and House Linnen seized and carried away; scarce a Soldier in the Army but what has a Horse loaded with Plunder: Hundreds of Families are reduced from Comfort and Affluence, to Poverty and Ruin, left at this inclement Season to wander through the Woods without House or Clothing. If these Scenes of Desolation, Ruin and Distress, do not rouse and animate every Man of Spirit to revenge their much injured Countrymen and Countrywomen, all Virtue, Honour and Courage must have left this Country, and we deserve all that we shall meet with, as there can be no Doubt the same Scene will be acted in this Province upon our own Property, and our beloved Wives and Daughters.
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Location
New Jersey (Woodbridge, Hopewell, Maidenhead, Jersey Shore)
Event Date
December 1776
Story Details
British and Hessian troops ravage New Jersey, committing atrocities including attempted ravishment by a Hessian officer killed by William Smith, who was mortally wounded; destruction of Samuel Stout's property worth £2000 and beating of neighbor Phillips; ravishment of a 15-year-old girl; capture of 16 young women; widespread plundering and ruin of settlements, leaving families destitute.