By Helen Kull
This year marks the 350th anniversary of the “creation” of New Jersey — that is, the claiming of the land between the Delaware and Hudson rivers for English-speaking peoples.
As you may have read recently, on June 24, 1664, James (the Duke of York, and brother to King Charles II of England) issued a royal charter, granting a piece of land in the New World to two friends: Lord John Berkeley and Sir George Carteret. They in turn split this “Nova Cesarea” or New Jersey into two sections, East and West Jersey, and placed proprietors in charge of selling and managing pieces of the rich fertile land. The rest, as they say, is history!
Hopefully some of you have already taken part in some of the NJ-350 celebrations. There was a large 350th street festival in Trenton in June, and other celebrations are scheduled throughout the state this year. I encourage you to visit www.officialnj350.com to see what’s happening when and where, and to join the festivities.
Some of you may recall that in January I challenged readers to suggest ways in which you think Ewing has specifically contributed to New Jersey’s history, within the “theme” areas of the 350th: Innovation, Diversity and Liberty.
Over next five months — through December — this column will be dedicated to sharing ways in which our Ewing has made (or makes) its “mark” on New Jersey history, in terms of innovation, diversity and liberty. I remain open to receiving any suggestions you offer, so feel free to write me at the email address at the end of this column.
One large “mark” that Ewing has made on the history of both New Jersey and the United States was its role in the Revolutionary War, and, large “markers” in Ewing attest to that fact!
So, as I explored the roadside historical marker on Carlton Ave in June, I thought I might start the 350th column series with a visit to the roadside markers in Ewing along Bear Tavern Road commemorating Washington’s March on Trenton in December of 1776.
Trenton makes much of its place in history as the location of the Battle of Trenton on Christmas Night in 1776, as well it should.
If you’ve never visited Trenton during Patriot’s Week celebrations, you should certainly put a visit (or several) on your “bucket list.” However, Ewing, or more accurately, Trenton Township as it was known at the time, was also involved in this critical event leading to our nation’s liberty.
Washington’s Continental Army, comprised of about 2,400 troops, marched from the McKonkey/Johnson Ferry site (now Washington Crossing), approximately five miles down River Road (now Bear Tavern Road) to the crossroads at Birmingham (now West Trenton). The troops then split, strategically taking two different paths for the remaining four miles into Trenton for the surprise attack on the Hessian mercenaries.
A marker commemorating the role of Bear Tavern Road in this march to victory stands just outside the crossroads in West Trenton. It reads:
“All our hopes were blasted by that unhappy affair at Trenton” –Lord George Germain, British Colonial Secretary.
BEAR TAVERN ROAD. Historic route of Continental troops to Trenton where Washington achieved his famous victory over Rahl’s Hessian brigade of the British army, December 26, 1776.
Known in colonial times as the Lower, or River Road (the existing River Road was not laid out until 1834). This village of Trenton Junction was until recent times called Birmingham.
Road constructed 1930 by Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders
Another almost identical marker stands a few miles north, on the side of Bear Tavern Road just south of the intersection with Jacobs Creek Road. It doesn’t mention Trenton Junction or Birmingham, but instead attributes the placement of the marker to Mercer Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
We will revisit Ewing’s involvement in the Revolution with a guest columnist’s contribution in November and December. But for now, it’s interesting to note Ewing’s “mark” on history and liberty as commemorated by these and other permanent roadside markers. You can virtually visit all of them by visiting the Historical Marker Database at www.hmdb.org. See if you can locate them all!
Do you have a Ewing story to tell, a memory to share, or a suggested topic? Send it to Helen at ewingthenandnow@gmail.com
The marker commemorating the role of Bear Tavern Road in the Battle of Trenton in 1776.,
