Investigating the Battles of Connecticut Farms and Springfield: Uncovering Personal Narratives of the Revolution through Pension Records
The Battles of Connecticut Farms and Springfield occurred in June of 1780 and were the last major military confrontations in New Jersey before the War for Independence shifted to the southern theater. British and Hessian forces invaded New Jersey from Staten Island with the intent to capture Morristown, at the time General Washington’s headquarters and encampment of the Continental Army. The engagements resulted in victories for the Patriot movement. Coined “The Forgotten Victory,” the Battles of Connecticut Farms and Springfield are understudied yet significant campaigns.
Commander-in-Chief of the British forces, Sir Henry Clinton, captured Charleston in May of 1780. In his absence, he left Hessian General Wilhelm von Knyphausen in charge of the British and Hessian troops on Staten Island. Having received intelligence that Washington’s troops were “discontented” and that many wished to join the Royal Army,” Knyphausen took advantage and moved into New Jersey with 6,000 men on June 7, 1780. 1 Faced with fierce resistance from the New Jersey militia and continentals, Knyphausen recalled that the local inhabitants were “every where in Arms,” nor was there a “Spirit of Desertion amongst their Troops” as was previously represented to him. 2 When Clinton returned to Staten Island, he made another attempt on Morristown on June 28, 1780, but was unsuccessful, largely due to the defense taken up by the local militia and continentals.
Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications recapture personal accounts of local militiamen and regulars who took up arms against the British and Hessians in defense of New Jersey, and women who came face-to-face with the enemy on the home front. Pension records offer a unique lens to view military participation and uncover new stories of the Revolution told from the perspectives of veterans, people of color, and women.
Sarah Martin filed a widow’s pension application based on her husband’s military service during the War for Independence. In her application, she detailed her experience encountering the enemy at her home. Sarah recollected British officers frequently came to her home and threatened her life. They forced her to cook them eggs and ham and complained when her baby cried. Sarah further claimed that “they swore they would kill my youngest child and make me bake it for them.” A drunken officer did strike at her youngest child with his sword and caused a severe cut on Sarah’s arm. Sarah’s house was sacked up to thirty times during the war and was burnt down on the road from New Brunswick to Amboy. 3
Many other widows filed pension records and some detailed their husband’s military service such as Gabriel Sillcocks’ widow, Sarah, who recollected that her husband was out in a number of battles, specifically the Battles of Connecticut Farms and Springfield. Her husband was “out on duty at the time of the death of the Reverend Caldwell, when he was killed by the Enemy.” He also made coffins in the field hospital. 4
Veterans recalled their military participation in great detail in their pension records. John Jamison detailed his experience fighting alongside Continentals during the Battles of Connecticut Farms and Springfield. In June of 1780, he was marched directly to Springfield from Newton in Sussex County where he joined General William Maxwell and was attached to the command of Colonel Garrison. A large British force had entered New Jersey and the American Army pressed hard upon them into Elizabethtown. The army returned to Springfield where General Nathanael Greene took command of them. Afterwards, the British attempted once again to march into Springfield and there was a “sharp action” that resulted in the British retreating to Elizabethtown. Jamison recalled that the British caused a great deal of damage to Connecticut Farms and accused them of murdering Mrs. Caldwell, the Reverend Caldwell’s wife, under “aggravating circumstances.” 5
New Jersey is known as the Crossroads of the American Revolution and was the site of more battles and skirmishes than any other state. The Battles of Connecticut Farms and Springfield are significant yet understudied campaigns. The stories of the battles and its participants are compelling and invaluable, and offer a unique lens to learn about different ways citizens of New Jersey experienced the American Revolution.
About the Author
Nicole Skalenko holds a Master’s Degree in American History from Rutgers University, Camden. She specializes in military history of the American Revolution in New Jersey and eighteenth-century print culture. Nicole has contributed to a number of public history projects including the American Philosophical Society’s The Revolutionary City: A Portal to the Nation’s Founding and Kean University’s William Livingston’s World. Currently, Nicole is a Processing Assistant with the New Jersey State Archives, a Research Library Associate with Kean University’s Special Collections Research Library and Archive, and a Historical Researcher on a project Investigating the Battles of Connecticut Farms and Springfield.
Notes
1 Knyphasuen, Baron Wilhelm von, June 1780, “Reasons for Making a Move into Jersey,” Henry Clinton papers, 1736-1850, Series I: Chronological, Volume 7, Clements Library, University of Michigan.
2 Letter from Lieutenant General Knyphausen Regarding the Taking of a Rebel Post at Hopper’s Town and Movement into Jersey, Correspondence, The National Archives, Kew, CO 5/238.
3 Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 7395, for Gershom Martin, New Jersey, Case Files of Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Based on Revolutionary War Service, between ca. 1800 - ca. 1912, National Archives
4 Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 9569, for Gabriel Sillcocks, New Jersey, Case Files of Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Based on Revolutionary War Service, between ca. 1800–ca. 1912, National Archives.
5 Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31165, for John Jamison, New Jersey, Case Files of Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Based on Revolutionary War Service, between ca. 1800–ca. 1912, National Archives.
Works Cited
Knyphasuen, Baron Wilhelm von, June 1780, “Reasons for Making a Move into Jersey,” Henry Clinton papers, 1736-1850, Series I: Chronological, Volume 7, Clements Library, University of Michigan.
“Letter from Lieutenant General Knyphausen Regarding the Taking of a Rebel Post at Hopper’s Town and Movement into Jersey,” Correspondence, The National Archives, Kew, CO 5/238
“Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31165, for John Jamison,” New Jersey, Case Files of Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Based on Revolutionary War Service, between ca. 1800–ca. 1912, National Archives.
“Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 7395, for Gershom Martin,” New Jersey, Case Files of Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Based on Revolutionary War Service, between ca. 1800–ca. 1912, National Archives
“Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 9569, for Gabriel Sillcocks,” New Jersey, Case Files of Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Based on Revolutionary War Service, between ca. 1800–ca. 1912, National Archives.