Upcoming events.
Countdown to Independence! Ocean County 250
Join us in remembrance of the 250TH Anniversary of the American Revolution. An event featuring period music, historic readings and demos.
This program is free to the public, so please join us at the Ocean County Courthouse, Courtroom 1 Wednesday, November 20 at 11:00 AM.
Click here to download flyer
For more information, click here
Fort Lee Monument Wreath Laying
Fort Lee, originally Fort Constitution, was an American Revolutionary War fort located on the crest of the Hudson Palisades in what was then Hackensack Township, New Jersey, opposite Fort Washington at the northern end of Manhattan Island.
Color Guard:This is a state-level event.
“Traversing the Ten Crucial Days” Bus Tour
The Traversing the Ten Crucial Days Bus Tour begins at Washington Crossing, PA. From 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, you will retrace the “…times that tried men’s souls.” From the 25 December 1776 crossing of the Delaware through to the Battle of Princeton, 3 January 1777. You will learn about the military engagements between the remaining rag-tag elements of George Washington’s army against Hessian and British troops at Trenton, Princeton, and areas in between. Historical Interpreters will tell the remarkable stories of these ten days that breathed crucial new life into the expiring American Revolution. The events are discussed in the context of the local, strategically important, central Jersey towns, villages, and farms; occupied by families with diverse backgrounds; practicing varied religions, such as Quakers, Presbyterians, and Anglicans, and holding complex views on loyalty to the Revolution or the King. Hear how the terrain, weaponry, and weather influenced how the battles were fought and how they disrupted the lives of the local people. See where armies marched, fought, and struggled to survive on an otherwise peaceful landscape, while the course of human history hung in the balance.
Historical Interpreters: Tours are led by Larry Kidder, author of CROSSROADS OF THE REVOLUTION: Trenton 1774 – 1783, A PEOPLE HARASSED AND EXHAUSTED: The First Hunterdon County Militia and TEN CRUCIAL DAYS: Washington's Vision for Victory Unfolds, and Roger S. Williams; State Historian, New Jersey Society, Sons of the American Revolution, Co-Founder of TenCrucialDays.org, a member of the Society of Military History, the Company of Military Historians, and Society for Historians of the Early American Republic. Kidder and Williams are joined at each venue by the interpretive staff.
Cost: $145 per person, including bus fare, lunch, and donations to selected tour sites. Limit: 56 Guests. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to officially recognized friends’ groups of the Ten Crucial Days Campaign venues.
For more information, Click Here.
Private Tours: Click here for information about private customized tours.
Ten Crucial Days Commemorative Wreath Laying
10:45 to 11:30 Hereditary Organization Commemorative Wreath Laying at Washington Crossing
11:30 to 2:30 "First Crossing" Reenactment Washington Crossing Historic Park
“First Crossing” Reenactment of Washington Crossing the Delaware
Witness the Crossing That Saved the Revolution
Each December, thousands of people gather on the banks of the Delaware River to watch the reenactment of George Washington’s daring 1776 Christmas night river crossing. During the event, several hundred reenactors in Continental military dress listen to an inspiring speech by General Washington and then row across the river in replica Durham boats.
In addition to the crossing reenactment, special colonial-era activities and demonstrations in the Historic Village will offer a full day of family fun and learning.
TIME: 11 AM to 3 PM (actual crossing at 1 PM)
COST: $9 for adults, $5 for children ages 5-11, free for children younger than 5. Family rate (2 adults and 2 children) is $25.
Reserve your tickets https://www.washingtoncrossingpark.org/cross-with-us/
Battle of Petticoat Bridge Reenactment
The Rev War Alliance of Burlington County, in partnership with the Burlington County Commissioners, is proud to present FREE to the public a reenactment of the Revolutionary War skirmish at Petticoat Bridge. Join us for three hours of history, including original artifacts on display, lectures by historians, a living eighteenth-century encampment, and artillery demonstrations with real cannon. At 12 pm, experience a full-scale battle reenactment with members of the 2nd PA/43rd Regiment of Foot, the 42nd Royal Highlander Regiment, and the Hessian Jäger Corps.
On-site parking is free. There will be outdoor bathrooms available to the public, as well as hot food, t-shirts, original maps, and other historical memorabilia for purchase
For more information, contact The Revolutionary War Alliance of Burlington County at http://revwaralliance.org
Reenactment of Washington Crossing the Delaware
Witness the Crossing That Saved the Revolution
Each December, thousands of people gather on the banks of the Delaware River to watch the reenactment of George Washington’s daring 1776 Christmas night river crossing. During the event, several hundred reenactors in Continental military dress listen to an inspiring speech by General Washington and then row across the river in replica Durham boats.
In addition to the crossing reenactment, special colonial-era activities and demonstrations in the Historic Village will offer a full day of family fun and learning.
TIME: 11 AM to 3 PM (actual crossing at 1 PM)
COST: No charge. Donations gladly accepted.
Reserve your tickets https://www.washingtoncrossingpark.org/cross-with-us/
“Traversing the Ten Crucial Days” Bus Tour
The Traversing the Ten Crucial Days Bus Tour begins at Washington Crossing, PA. From 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, you will retrace the “…times that tried men’s souls.” From the 25 December 1776 crossing of the Delaware through to the Battle of Princeton, 3 January 1777. You will learn about the military engagements between the remaining rag-tag elements of George Washington’s army against Hessian and British troops at Trenton, Princeton, and areas in between. Historical Interpreters will tell the remarkable stories of these ten days that breathed crucial new life into the expiring American Revolution. The events are discussed in the context of the local, strategically important, central Jersey towns, villages, and farms; occupied by families with diverse backgrounds; practicing varied religions, such as Quakers, Presbyterians, and Anglicans, and holding complex views on loyalty to the Revolution or the King. Hear how the terrain, weaponry, and weather influenced how the battles were fought and how they disrupted the lives of the local people. See where armies marched, fought, and struggled to survive on an otherwise peaceful landscape, while the course of human history hung in the balance.
Historical Interpreters: Tours are led by Larry Kidder, author of CROSSROADS OF THE REVOLUTION: Trenton 1774 – 1783, A PEOPLE HARASSED AND EXHAUSTED: The First Hunterdon County Militia and TEN CRUCIAL DAYS: Washington's Vision for Victory Unfolds, and Roger S. Williams; State Historian, New Jersey Society, Sons of the American Revolution, Co-Founder of TenCrucialDays.org, a member of the Society of Military History, the Company of Military Historians, and Society for Historians of the Early American Republic. Kidder and Williams are joined at each venue by the interpretive staff.
Cost: $145 per person, including bus fare, lunch, and donations to selected tour sites. Limit: 56 Guests. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to officially recognized friends’ groups of the Ten Crucial Days Campaign venues.
For more information, Click Here.
Private Tours: Click here for information about private customized tours.
Reenactments of the Battle of Trenton and the Battle of Assunpink Creek
Come experience our annual winter reenactment during Trenton's Patriots Week Celebration! On Saturday, December 28th, be immersed in history as you are surrounded by reenactors portraying the soldiers who fought during the Battles of Trenton, which ultimately shaped the destiny of the Revolutionary War and our nation. Follow the troops through the streets and watch as they relive the events of these fateful battles. Come back to interact with the soldiers, take tours of the oldest free-standing military barracks in North America, and visit The Quartermaster's Store. What better way to celebrate New Jersey’s revolutionary history than by celebrating this crucial Trenton victory?
Experience the excitement of the Battle of Trenton live! Following the all-night crossing and nine-mile march from McKonkey’s Ferry with a sleet storm at their backs, Washington’s little army of 2,400 men and 18 cannons arrived in Trenton around 8 AM on the morning of December 26, 1776. Generals Washington and Greene surrounded the northern part of town while General Sullivan struck the town along what is now West State Street, cutting off escape to the south over the Assunpink Creek. After a running street fight lasting little more than an hour, there were over 90 casualties and the Hessian troops surrendered.
The Battle of Trenton reenactment will begin at the Old Barracks Museum when the troops march off at 10:45 AM to the Battle of Trenton Monument at the intersection of Warren and Broad Streets. The reenactment will begin at 11 AM at the Battle of Trenton Monument and proceeds down Warren Street towards Mill Hill Park. Head back to the Old Barracks Museum for programming and a musket demonstration ($5 admission applies).
Having abandoned Trenton shortly after the battle on December 26, Washington re-crossed with a much larger army later in the week upon learning the British had not re-occupied Trenton. On the morning of January 2, 1777, he dispatched a small brigade up what is now Rt. 206 to reconnoiter toward Princeton. They were met by a very strong column of British, Hessians, and Highlanders under General Cornwallis and driven back along a bitterly contested, afternoon-long retreat into Trenton proper.
The Second Battle of Trenton (or the Battle of the Assunpink) is reenacted in Mill Hill Park at 3 PM – witness the action live!
The Old Barracks Museum is at 101 Barrack Street, Trenton, NJ. Parking for the event is free, close, and plentiful, available in the small lot next to the museum as well as the lot next to The War Memorial. There is special reduced pricing for this event. The battles are free to the public, and entrance onto the museum grounds is $5 per person (children 5 and under are free).
For more information, call 609-396-1776 or visit www.barracks.org. This event is hosted by the Old Barracks Museum and is part of Patriots Week, a week-long celebration of Trenton’s revolutionary history. Visit www.patriotsweek.com for more information on this and other events.
“Traversing the Ten Crucial Days” Bus Tour
The Traversing the Ten Crucial Days Bus Tour begins at Washington Crossing, PA. From 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, you will retrace the “…times that tried men’s souls.” From the 25 December 1776 crossing of the Delaware through to the Battle of Princeton, 3 January 1777. You will learn about the military engagements between the remaining rag-tag elements of George Washington’s army against Hessian and British troops at Trenton, Princeton, and areas in between. Historical Interpreters will tell the remarkable stories of these ten days that breathed crucial new life into the expiring American Revolution. The events are discussed in the context of the local, strategically important, central Jersey towns, villages, and farms; occupied by families with diverse backgrounds; practicing varied religions, such as Quakers, Presbyterians, and Anglicans, and holding complex views on loyalty to the Revolution or the King. Hear how the terrain, weaponry, and weather influenced how the battles were fought and how they disrupted the lives of the local people. See where armies marched, fought, and struggled to survive on an otherwise peaceful landscape, while the course of human history hung in the balance.
Historical Interpreters: Tours are led by Larry Kidder, author of CROSSROADS OF THE REVOLUTION: Trenton 1774 – 1783, A PEOPLE HARASSED AND EXHAUSTED: The First Hunterdon County Militia and TEN CRUCIAL DAYS: Washington's Vision for Victory Unfolds, and Roger S. Williams; State Historian, New Jersey Society, Sons of the American Revolution, Co-Founder of TenCrucialDays.org, a member of the Society of Military History, the Company of Military Historians, and Society for Historians of the Early American Republic. Kidder and Williams are joined at each venue by the interpretive staff.
Cost: $145 per person, including bus fare, lunch, and donations to selected tour sites. Limit: 56 Guests. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to officially recognized friends’ groups of the Ten Crucial Days Campaign venues..
For more information, Click Here
Private Tours: Click here for information about private customized tours.
Reenactment & Commemoration for the Battles of Assunpink Creek and Princeton, January 2/3, 1777
9:00 to 11:00 am "Experience the Battle of Princeton" Reenactment - Princeton Battlefield, 500 Mercer St., Princeton, NJ 08540
11:30 to 12:15 am Hereditary Organization/Military Representative Commemorative Wreath Laying
The Battle of Princeton was a battle of the American Revolutionary War, fought near Princeton, New Jersey on January 3, 1777, and ending in a small victory for the Colonials. General Lord Cornwallis had left 1,400 British troops under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Mawhood in Princeton. Following a surprise attack at Trenton early in the morning of December 26, 1776, General George Washington of the Continental Army decided to attack the British in New Jersey before entering the winter quarters. On December 30, he crossed the Delaware River back into New Jersey. His troops followed on January 3, 1777. Washington advanced to Princeton by a back road, where he pushed back a smaller British force but had to retreat before Cornwallis arrived with reinforcements. The battles of Trenton and Princeton boosted the morale of the patriot cause, leading many recruits to join the Continental Army in the spring.
NJSSAR Spring Board of Managers Meeting and Luncheon
NJSSAR Luncheon at Princeton Marriott Hotel and Conference Center at Forrestal, 100 College Road East Princeton, NJ 08540 There will be a meeting of the Board of Managers at 9:00 AM. The BOM is reserved for the voting members, or guests of the NJSSAR Board of Managers including NJSSAR Chapter Presidents, Officers, or Committee Chairs.
The Reception and Luncheon are open to all members of any Lineage Organization, their families, and guests. The Reception will begin at 12:00 PM, and the meeting/luncheon will begin at 12:15 PM. For costs and meal choice, contact NJSSAR Secretary Ed Glidden, eglidden@yahoo.com, (917) 658-8838
Battle of Bound Brook Weekend
Come to Bound Brook and South Bound Brook (NJ) for a Weekend of Living History!
The festivities begin Friday evening and end Sunday late afternoon.
Click here to download the schedule of activities
The Battle of Bound Brook (April 13, 1777) was a surprise attack by British and Hessian forces against a Continental Army outpost at Bound Brook, New Jersey, during the American Revolutionary War. The British objective of capturing the entire garrison was not met, although prisoners were taken. The U.S. commander, Major General Benjamin Lincoln, left in great haste, abandoning papers and personal effects.
Late on the evening of April 12, 1777, four thousand British and Hessian troops under the command of Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis marched from the British stronghold of New Brunswick. All but one detachment reached positions surrounding the outpost before the battle began near daybreak the following day. During the battle, most of the 500-man garrison escaped by the unblocked route. U.S. reinforcements arrived in the afternoon, but not before the British plundered the outpost and began the return march to New Brunswick.
Key: Bound Brook (BB) South Bound Brook (SBB) Bridgewater (BW)
Friday
6 - 8 PM “Annual *Wine and Cheese Fundraiser with a Special Historic Unveiling! “by the Heritage Trail Association. Period music by the Enslows, food, fun, and frivolity! $50.00pp. Alcohol being served. No one under 21 admitted. At Historic Van Horne House, 941 E. Main St, Bridgewater, NJ 08807. Register via Eventbrite www.heritagetrail.org. Questions: call Cindy 310-691-9388.
Saturday
10:30 - 11:30 Re-enactment of the American Revolution Battle of April 13, 1777! The Battle Begins Re-enactment #1 Soldiers March and Fight on the Old Stone Arch Bridge and Queens Bridge to Reenact “The Battle of Bound Brook!!” Loyalist troops attack and push the Patriot Forces in a Retreat up Bolmer Avenue to the cemetery.
11:30 - 11:45 Ceremony - Old Presbyterian Graveyard next to Bound Brook Memorial Library, 402 E. High St., BB 08805. NJ Society of the Sons of the American Revolution Color Guard NJSSAR.org Special Exhibits at the SCLSNJ’s Bound Brook Branch Memorial Public Library, Open to Public Sat Saturday, 10AM-6PM
11:45 - 1 PM Lunch for Soldiers – Hamilton Street, Bound Brook – Socialize with American, British and Hessian Soldiers
12:30- 3:30 “The 5th Annual Battle & Brews Guided History Tour + Pub Crawl” 10 Hamilton St., Bound Brook, 21+. Meet in front of Brook Arts Center. Come for the Battle and stay for the Brews! Free Register required at this link.
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Battle Re-enactment #2 – British & American Battle Starting from Queen’s Bridge at Elm & Main St. in South Bound Brook to Maple St. South Bound Brook
2:30 PM - 4 PM - Soldiers return to 18th c. Soldiers Encampment ~ Historic Abraham Staats House, 17 von Steuben Lane, South Bound Brook. Grounds open to Public free. In Camp: 18th c. military life, exhibits and drills. NJ Society of the Sons of the American Revolution Cannon NJSSAR.org. Historic House Tours admittance for tour, demo & lecture. “Rug Hooking” by Hunterdon County Rug Artisans’ Guild New Jersey hcrag.com. $10pp, 18 & under Free. Tickets - Eventbrite at www.staatshouse.org or 732-369-3583. Encampment Closes to Public at 4 pm.
7 PM - 10 PM - “The Annual Publick Ball hosted by Philip Van Horne and Heritage Trail Association.” Live music by Anne & Ridley Enslow Dance Master Lazarus Turner calls the dances. $10pp. $5pp reenactors in period dress. At Historic Van Horne House, 941 E. Main St, Bridgewater, NJ 08807. Register via Eventbrite www.heritagetrail.org. Questions: call Cindy 310-691-9388.
Sunday
7:30 AM - 12 PM Breakfast Buffet at South Bound Brook Fire Company #1 Firehouse, 83 Edgewood Terrace, SBB. Free to registered re-enactors. Adults: $12; Seniors: $10; under age ten: $8; under age 5: free. www.sbbfd.com
7:30 AM - 12 PM 18th c. Soldiers Encampment ~ Historic Abraham Staats House, 17 von Steuben Lane, South Bound Brook. Grounds open to Public FREE NJSSAR Cannon/Drills/Camp life. Historic House admittance includes tours, lecture.
12:30 PM General George Washington as portrayed by Sam Davis presents “The Treacherous Spring of 1777” -$10 pp, 18 & Under FREE. Tickets for house via Eventbrite - www.staatshouse.org or 732-369-3583.
Soldiers Drills on the grounds of the Abraham Staats House. Watch the American and British Soldiers as they perform military maneuvers of the American Revolution.
General George Washington Presents “The Treacherous Spring of 1777” - $10 per person, 18 & Under FREE. Share the audience with reenactors! Historic House Tours admittance includes tour and lecture. Register www.staatshouse.org or 732-369-3583.
Battle Re-enactment #3 on the grounds of the Abraham Staats House. Watch the American and British soldiers as they perform military maneuvers of the American Revolution.
Battle, Encampment and House Closes to Public at 4 pm.
The Battle of Bound Brook Living History Weekend is made possible by funds from the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and New Jersey Historical Commission and the Borough of South BoundBrook and Borough of Bound Brook.
The Friends of Abraham Staats House, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has received grant support made possible by funds from the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and New Jersey Historical Commission and the Borough of SouthBound Brook.
Color Guard details, contact Frank McGonigle frank.mcgonigle@comcast.net * 908-561-0669
The Skirmish at Haddonfield’s Indian King Tavern
A battle between the Continentals and Redcoats at 2pm. Events all day include: Breakfast with the Troops, Martialing the kids, History Faire, Pirates, Pony rides, Learn sword fighting, Pillory for malcontents, Battle of the Brews, Yelling contest, Caricature and silhouette artists, Artisans at the Indian King Tavern Museum, Colonial dancing, and more. Military units: 1st New Jersey Redcoats, 2nd Pennsylvania Continentals, Washington Crossing Fife & Drum, and Queens Rangers on horseback. The Daughters of the American Revolution usually have a table at The Haddon Fortnightly.
For more information go to http://www.indiankingfriends.org
Contact: Philip Zoebisch pszoebisch@gmail.com
NJSSAR Battle of Monmouth Luncheon
NJSSAR Battle of Monmouth at Battleship New Jersey, 62 Battleship Place, Camden, NJ 08103
Join Compatriots to hear all the news, speakers, and upcoming events. Break bread while we commemorate the actions of June 6, 1778, Battle of Monmouth.
Princeton Battlefield Society - Mercer Oak Award
Presentation to the 2025 Recipient TK
Today, a new-generation Mercer Oak grows at the battlefield as a symbol of the pivotal victory won by American soldiers on January 3 1777. The victory at Princeton ended the “ten crucial days” of 1776-77, during which the dynamics of the American Revolution were fundamentally altered in favor of independence.
Past Mercer Oak Award recipients include Jerry Hurwitz (2017), past president of the Princeton Battlefield Society, Raoul Momo (2018) of the Terra Momo Restaurant Group, Peter J. Travers (2019) of Chase Field LLC, Mark & Rachel Herr (2021), Mark Herr Communications and Princeton history advocates, Roger S. Williams (2022), public historian and historical interpreter, and The Sons of the Revolution of New Jersey (2023), Liza and Skye Morehouse (2024).
The funds raised at this year’s Mercer Oak Award Reception will fund the new Battle of Princeton exhibit in the Thomas Clarke House Museum in the Park. Friends and associates of the Sons of the Revolution, as well as members, donors, and friends of the Princeton Battlefield Society, are invited to join our recognition in any of the following ways:
Attend the dinner (tickets are $100 per attendee).
Place an ad or congratulatory message in the Mercer Oak Award program.
Send a donation for inclusion in the Mercer Oak Award program.
Contribute a gift to be used in the Silent Auction.
The Princeton Battlefield Society is the official friends organization for the Princeton Battlefield State Park. The Society organizes historical/educational events at the Park including Young Patriot’s Day (September), Experience the Battle of Princeton (December), battlefield tours, Park Clean Up Day (April), and commemorative events during various national holidays. Educational initiatives include Eyewitness of the American Revolution, battlefield signage, informational materials and exhibits, and preservation/protection programs. For more information see our website – www.pbs1777.org.
Battle of Monmouth Reenactment and SAR Commemorative Wreath Laying
Monmouth Battlefield will commemorate the Battle of Monmouth. This event features reenactments, soldier camps, talks, and historical presentations in the camps and the Visitor Center. There will also be children’s infantry and cannon drills.
The NJSSAR Color Guard will have a Commemorative Wreath Laying Ceremony. For more information, visit the Friends of Monmouth Battlefield at this link. Contact: Jay Hershey
Julian.hershey@verizon.net (908) 301-016
Battle of Springfield Commemorative Wreath Laying
Battle of Springfield by John Ward Dunsmore (1908)
Proprietary House in Perth Amboy to witness the Arrest of Governor William Franklin
You are invited to the Proprietary House in Perth Amboy to witness the Arrest of Governor William Franklin. There will be two performances, one at 1 pm and another at 3:30 pm. In between, Ed Glidden will lead a musket-firing demonstration. This is a fun event that involves history and some theatrics. The royal governor’s mansion, known today as the Proprietary House in Perth Amboy, each year stages a reenactment of the 1776 Arrest of Royal Governor William Franklin with the help of the NJSSAR Color Guard and others. The Proprietary House was the home of the last royal governor of New Jersey, William Franklin.
Website: www.theproprietaryhouse.org
Color Guard Muster: Arrive 10:30. Free Parking at. the Proprietary House Parking Lot. Rehearsal 11, followed by provided lunch. Performance 1pm. Muskets 3pm. Second performance, 3:30.
Battle of the Short Hills - Commemorative Wreath Event
The Battle of The Short Hills was a conflict between a Continental Army force commanded by Brigadier General William Alexander and an opposing British force commanded by Lieutenant General William Howe. This large battle took place on June 26, 1777, over an extended area that included parts of Plainfield, Scotch Plains, Edison, and Woodbridge. The retreating British troops sacked parts of Scotch Plans and Westfield the following day. Wikipedia
Color Guard Muster: NJSSAR State Society event. Muster 9:30 pm. Parking TD Bank, 2064 Oak Tree Road, 08820
Contact: Jay Hershey Julian.hershey@verizon.net
“Let Freedom Ring” Independence Day in Perth Amboy
Join the Color Guard of the New Jersey Society, Sons of the American Revolution at City Hall Circle for the Annual Liberty Bell Ringing and Wreath Laying Commemorations at City Hall Circle. Speeches and colonial music from New Jersey Fife & Drum Corps.
Color Guard Muster: 11:30 at Liberty Bell Park, Market Square, City Hall, 260 High St.,
Rebels & Redcoats Auto Show
This unique show features American, French, British, and German cars representing the four countries involved in the Revolutionary War. Classic show-condition cars from model years 1998 and earlier are welcome in this class. There will also be an open class for cars of any make, model, and year. These prizes will be determined by peer judging.
All proceeds from this event will benefit the non-profit Friends of Washington Crossing Park’s historical and educational programming.
https://www.washingtoncrossingpark.org/event/rebels-and-redcoats-car-show-2023/
National Society, Sons of the American Revolution 135th Congress
135th Congress for the National Society, Sons of the American Revolution.
Members only. For more informaton visit the 135th Congress website at this link https://ctssar.wixsite.com/ctcongress2025
2023 Atlantic Middle States Conference
Join your compatriots and connect with history! Conveniently located in historic York, PA the Atlantic Middle States Conference will feature excellent accommodations, amenities, and a tour of some local landmark sites. The area offers fine dining, unique shopping, historic sites, and activities. Enjoy the fellowship, the food & drink, the history, and the fun!
For more information and updates go to: https://www.amssar.org/conferences
March to Yorktown Day
This event celebrates the anniversary of the day Continental and French troops marched through Westfield, NJ, on Aug. 29, 1781, on their way to Yorktown, Va., where they would fight, lay siege to and force the surrender of Cornwallis. Thousands of troops led by Gens. Washington and Rochambeau crossed New Jersey on their way to Yorktown that August, and several columns passed through Westfield including the 1st Rhode Island, with many African American soldiers.
This event’s chief sponsor is Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route-NJ, but the NJSSAR and West Fields Chapter and Westfield DAR all play important supporting roles. In some years there has been a parade at midday, in others an all day encampment in Mindowaskin Park.
For more information, contact: Jay Hershey
The Battle of Brooklyn Commemoration
Join the Sons of the American Revolution for the commemorative events on the Battle of Brooklyn.
The Battle of Long Island, also known as the Battle of Brooklyn and the Battle of Brooklyn Heights, was an action of the American Revolutionary War fought on August 26, 1776, at the western edge of Long Island in present-day Brooklyn, New York. The British defeated the Americans and gained access to the strategically important Port of New York, which they held for the rest of the war. It was the first major battle to take place after the United States declared its independence on July 4, and in troop deployment and combat, it was the largest battle of the war.
After defeating the British in the siege of Boston on March 17, commander-in-chief George Washington relocated the Continental Army to defend the port city of New York, located at the southern end of Manhattan Island. Washington understood that the city's harbor would provide an excellent base for the Royal Navy, so he established defenses there and waited for the British to attack. In July, the British, under the command of General William Howe, landed a few miles across the harbor on the sparsely populated Staten Island, where they were reinforced by a fleet of ships in Lower New York Bay over the next month and a half, bringing their total force to 32,000 troops. Washington knew the difficulty in holding the city with the British fleet in control of the entrance to the harbor at the Narrows and accordingly moved the bulk of his forces to Manhattan, believing that it would be the first target.
On August 21, the British landed on the shores of Gravesend Bay in southwest Kings County, across the Narrows from Staten Island and more than a dozen miles south of the established East River crossings to Manhattan. After five days of waiting, the British attacked the American defenses on the Guan Heights. Unknown to the Americans, however, Howe had brought his main army around their rear and attacked their flank soon after. The Americans panicked, resulting in twenty percent losses through casualties and capture, although a stand by 400 Maryland and Delaware troops prevented greater losses. The remainder of the army retreated to the main defenses on Brooklyn Heights. The British dug in for a siege, but on the night of August 29–30, Washington evacuated the entire army to Manhattan without the loss of supplies or a single life. The Continental Army was driven out of Manhattan entirely after several more defeats and was forced to retreat through New Jersey to Pennsylvania.
Battle of Couch's Bridge
On September 3, 1777, at Cooch's Bridge, the first battle of the Philadelphia Campaign and the only battle fought on Delaware soil during the Revolutionary War. At least two-dozen Continental soldiers were killed during that battle and are believed to be buried in forgotten, unmarked graves somewhere on the battlefield.
The Delaware Societies of the Sons and the Daughters of the American Revolution requests your presence to honor and remember the soldiers who fell at the Battle of Cooch’s Bridge. Also participating will be the Pencader Heritage Area Association, Friends of Cooch's Bridge Historic Site, Delaware Division of Historic and Cultural Affairs, 1st Delaware Regiment, and member of the Friends of the Washington Rochambeau Trail.
Color Guard Muster: Compatriots wearing continental uniforms would be greatly appreciated. Please register at the following link: Battle of Cooch's Bridge Memorial Service. Memorial service honoring the fallen Continental & militia soldiers who bravely fought in the only American Revolutionary War battle in Delaware. Contact: Peter Moller, Cooch’s Bridge Battlefield DESSAR Coordinator and NJSSAR Trustee, hobokenpete@gmail.com
Princeton Battlefield Society, Cadawalader Lecture Series
Inaugural Cadwalader Lectures Series featuring Richard Brookhiser, author of "Glorious Lessons: John Trumbull, Painter of the American Revolution."
The complicated life and legacy of John Trumbull, whose paintings portrayed both the struggle and the principles that distinguished America’s founding moment
“Nuanced, engaging and incisive.”—Stephen Brumwell, Wall Street Journal
“Succinct, both scholarly and direct. . . . Wonderful art history.”—Brian T. Allen, National Review
John Trumbull (1756–1843) experienced the American Revolution firsthand—he served as aid to George Washington and Horatio Gates, was shot at, and was jailed as a spy. He made it his mission to record the war, giving visual form to what most citizens of the new United States thought: that they had brought into the world a great and unprecedented political experiment. His purpose, he wrote, was “to preserve and diffuse the memory of the noblest series of actions which have ever presented themselves in the history of man.” Although Trumbull’s contemporaries viewed him as a painter, Trumbull considered himself a historian.
Richard Brookhiser tells Trumbull’s story of acclaim and recognition, complicated by provincialism, war, a messy personal life, and, ultimately, changing fashion. He shows how the artist’s fifty-year project embodied the meaning of American exceptionalism and played a key role in defining the new country's values. Trumbull depicted the story of self-rule in the modern world—a story as important and as contested today as it was 250 years ago.
Click here to download the flyer
NJDAR at Valley Forge Washington Memorial Chapel
The Washington Memorial Chapel is both a national memorial dedicated to General George Washington and an active Episcopal parish in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. The church was inspired by a sermon preached by Anglican minister Reverend Dr. W. Herbert Burk, founder and first rector of the parish. Milton B. Medary designed the building.It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 1, 2017, and is undergoing an active restoration campaign. The National Patriots Bell Tower was a later addition to the Chapel and houses its carillon. The 102 ft (31 m) tower was built entirely with funds raised by members of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) over a period of more than a decade. Construction began in 1941 but was suspended due to World War II and restarted in 1949. The bell tower was completed and dedicated in 1953.
The Justice Bell (Women's Liberty Bell) is on permanent display in the bell tower chamber. It was forged in 1915 as a nearly identical replica of the Liberty Bell and became an instrumental symbol of the Women's Suffrage movement. In 1920, after touring many parts of the country to promote the passing of the 19th Amendment, the bell was stored on the grounds of Valley Forge National Park before being permanently moved to the bell tower chamber in 1943.
The bell tower contains a traditional carillon with a keyboard of 58 bells. The first 14 bells (from the Meneely Bell Foundry) were installed in a temporary wooden tower in 1926, and the number of bells expanded over the course of three decades. Fifty-six bells were installed in the bell tower in 1953 and expanded to 58 bells in 1963 with two bells from the Fonderie Paccard in France.
A resident carillonneur plays the bell tower regularly. Formal and informal concerts are held throughout the year and are open to the public.
NJSSAR Fall Board of Managers Meeting and Luncheon
NJSSAR Luncheon at Princeton Marriott Hotel and Conference Center at Forrestal, 100 College Road East Princeton, NJ 08540 There will be a meeting of the Board of Managers at 9:00 AM. The BOM is reserved for the voting members, or guests of the NJSSAR Board of Managers including NJSSAR Chapter Presidents, Officers, or Committee Chairs.
The Reception and Luncheon are open to all members of any Lineage Organization, their families, and guests. The Reception will begin at 12:00 PM, and the meeting/luncheon will begin at 12:15 PM. For costs and meal choice, contact NJSSAR Secretary Ed Glidden, eglidden@yahoo.com, (917) 658-8838
All Barracks Eve!
Join us for an evening of spooky seasonal fun at All Barracks Eve!
On Friday, October 25th, enjoy cider and donuts around a bonfire while listening to chilling tales told by historically outfitted storytellers. Festivities begin at 5 p.m. and will include living history demonstrations and kids' activities. Spooky stories will begin at 6 p.m.
Admission is $10 per person, and children 5 and under are free. Tickets will be available for purchase on-site the evening of the event. All proceeds from this event will help support our mission of preservation and education. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Battle of Red Bank Commemoration
Join in the commemoration of the 1777 assault on Fort Mercer of the grounds surrounding the original fort in Red Bank Battle Field Park, National Park, NJ. The anniversary of this important Philadelphia Campaign attack should be an especially interesting and action-filled event. At this event, guests can tour the Whitall House. Constructed in 1748 for James and Ann Whitall, this house was designed in the Georgian style and became the centerpiece of their 400-acre plantation on the banks of the Delaware River. During the American Revolution, the house was adjacent to Fort Mercer, the site of a colonists’ victory over the Hessians. Following the battle, the house was used as a hospital. Acquired by the county in 1904, the house and grounds are interpreted as Red Bank Battlefield Park and are open to the public on a daily basis for recreation.
Click here for more information about the Battle of Red Bank and the Whitall House.
NATIONAL COLOR GUARD EVENT:
The Memorial service for the 14 Continental Soldiers killed as a result of the Battle of Red bank will start at 1 PM and include the following highlights:
Special Memorial Service for the 14 Rhode Island soldiers for the 1st and 2nd Rhode Island Regiment. We hope to include a representative from the 1st or 2nd RI Regiment and the Hessian Unit.
Jen Janofsky, Curator/Director of Red Bank Battlefield, is scheduled to speak
Honored during the ceremony will be recognition of the Hessian Soldiers who gave their lives that day. A speaker will overview the recent archaeological dig at the North end of the park, unveiling bone fragments from over 17 Hessians. Specific identification of the fragments is still being conducted. This is the largest find of Hessian soldier remains from the Revolutionary War.
Legacy Marker/Heritage Flag Ceremony is planned to be conducted after the Memorial Service
Contact: Tim Ogline, SJCSAR President, Larry Nelson, SJCSAR Secretary
Color Guard: F&D? Arrive 1215. Events starts 1-1:15, Legacy follows; Reenactment 2:15
Attending: Ogline, Nelson, McGill, Williams, Serfass, Davis,
Old Barracks Lectures: Catherine Kerrison “Jefferson’s Daughters”
Lectures will begin at 6pm at the Old Barracks Museum, followed by a Q&A and book signing. Admission is free. Light refreshments will be available. Copies of these titles will be available for purchase in-store or at www.barracks.org. All proceeds go towards supporting the Old Barracks Museum and its mission.
October 17th: Catherine Kerrison “Jefferson’s Daughters”
Thomas Jefferson had three daughters: Martha and Maria by his wife, Martha Wayles Jefferson, and Harriet by his slave Sally Hemings. Although the three women shared a father, the similarities end there. Martha and Maria received a fine convent school education while they lived with their father during his diplomatic posting in Paris. Once they returned home, however, the sisters found their options limited by the laws and customs of early America. Harriet Hemings followed a different path. She escaped slavery—apparently with the assistance of Jefferson himself. Leaving Monticello behind, she boarded a coach and set off for a decidedly uncertain future.
National SAR 25oth Commemoration of the First Continental Congress
National SAR 25oth Commemoration of the First Continental Congress
The Historian General cordially invites Compatriots and their families to participate in the SAR 250th Commemoration of the First Continental Congress, held on Saturday, October 12th, in Philadelphia, PA. The final schedule of events to be held from 10 am-8 pm. You can attend one or all of the following events. Transportation is in your own vehicle, or via carpooling.
10 am Tour of Charles Thomson’s Home “Harriton House” 500 Harriton Road, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
1-2 pm Charles Thomson Grave Marking Secretary of the Continental Congress Laurel Hill Cemetery East, 3822 Ridge Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19132
4-5 pm Carpenters’ Hall, SAR 250th Ceremony 320 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
5-6 pm Carpenters’ Hall Private Tour
6-8 pm SAR Dinner, Glory Beer Bar & Kitchen 126 Chestnut St, Philadelphia 19106
Register for each event at this link https://forms.gle/skejvxLRQe5Jbqhs8
If you want to stay overnight, a hotel room block rate is $229 per night from Oct 11-13 (Friday and Saturday nights). You may register for the hotel at the following link: Sons of American Revolution. Reservations may also be made by calling 1-877-999-3223, Monday through Friday, 9:00-5:00 p.m., and referring to the “Sons of the American Revolution.” The reservation deadline for the hotel is Wednesday, September 18th. Reserve your room today for the 250th Commemoration of the First Continental Congress. The SAR event hotel is the Wyndham Philadelphia Historic District, located at 400 Arch Street, Philadelphia.
Hosted by the Pennsylvania SAR and the Philadelphia Continental Chapter
Old Barracks Lectures
Lectures will begin at 6pm at the Old Barracks Museum, followed by a Q&A and book signing. Admission is free. Light refreshments will be available. Copies of these titles will be available for purchase in-store or at www.barracks.org. All proceeds go towards supporting the Old Barracks Museum and its mission.
October 10th: Michael C Harris “Germantown"
Today, Germantown is a busy neighborhood in Philadelphia. On October 4, 1777, it was a small village on the outskirts of the colonial capital whose surrounding fields and streets witnessed one of the largest battles of the American Revolution. The bloody battle represented George Washington’s attempt to recapture Philadelphia, but has long been overshadowed by better-known events like Brandywine, Saratoga, and Valley Forge.
Washington Crossing Historic Park Lecture Series
"The Whiskey Rebellion: A Distilled History of an American Crisis" with Brady Crytzer
This is a hybrid event. Visitors may attend in-person in the Visitor Center Auditorium or virtually on Zoom. Registration required. Log-in information provided at registration.
Join historian Brady Crytzer as he discusses his book The Whiskey Rebellion: A Distilled History of an American Crisis.
In March 1791 Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton shocked the western frontier when he proposed a tax on whiskey to balance America’s national debt. The law, known as the “Whiskey Act,” disproportionately penalized farmers in the backcountry, while offering favorable tax incentives designed to protect larger distillers. Settlers in Western Pennsylvania bristled at its passage and demanded that the law be revoked or rewritten to correct its perceived the injustices. As the months passed people grew restless with the inadequacy of the government’s response and they soon turned to more violent means of political expression. In response President George Washington raised one of the largest forces he ever commanded to suppress the rebellion. No major battle ever occurred, but weeks of arrests, illegal detentions, and civil rights violations rocked the west. The event polarized the nation.
Click Here to Register
Battle of Chestnut Neck Memorial Service
Commemoration and memorial service for the 1778 Battle of Chestnut Neck. For more information about the battle, click here. This annual National SAR Color Guard event is hosted by the Somers Chapter. All are welcome.
SAR Fall Leadership
Louisville, Kentucky, Committee meetings, camaraderie, awards, and fun! Details will be posted on SAR.org
Springfield Community Day featuring Skirmish at Petticoat Bridge
Celebrating our Agricultural Heritage and our Revolutionary War Heritage Featuring a Commemoration of the Battle of Petticoat Bridge and Iron Works Hill.
Springfield Township Community Day 2024 “Celebrating Our Agricultural Heritage and Revolutionary War History” will be held on Saturday, September 28th, 12-4 pm at Veterans Park (directly behind the Springfield Township Municipal Building) 2159 Jacksonville-Jobstown Rd, Jobstown, NJ 08041. Event parking and attendance is free.
FEATURES INCLUDE:
An outdoor stage will feature our live bluegrass and folk music bands and a great line-up of food vendors!
Participation of local Farms, Non-profits, and Arts & Crafts vendors
For Local and Regional Non-profit Organizations: We provide event space for your tables and displays, but you must bring your tables and chairs; canopies are recommended. Please confirm your attendance by emailing info@springfieldtownshipnj.org. Any fundraising sales, membership recruiting, display of educational materials, or demonstrations showing crafts or skills are encouraged! Set up display or demonstration tables by noon. We encourage any dress related to the event theme.For Arts and Crafts Vendors: Any event-themed items are a plus! Crafted Home and Farm Country and History – We provide event space, and we welcome area artists and crafters; however, there is a preregistration with a space fee of $30. Please check the township website for event updates. For the Vendor Registration Form and payment details, go to: www.springfieldtownshipnj.org/community-events/community-day/
For any additional event or vendor information, see the events website above, or please email: info@springfieldtownshipnj.org
The New Jersey Society of the Sons of the American Revolution will display Revolutionary War armament, including weapons used during the Revolution.
Arrive at 11:30 for posting the colors. Afterwards, please mingle.
2. Parking and admission are free. Veterans Park is directly behind the Springfield Township Municipal Building, 2159 Jacksonville-Jobstown Road, Jobstown, NJ 08041.
3. Events include live bluegrass and folk music, Tractor Parade, Old Time Agricultural Equipment, Local Farm Market, Speakers, Crafts, Field Day, food and produce vendors and more. Bring a table and chairs.
If you have questions, contact Jim Howard
Springfield Veterans Park, 2159 Jacksonville-Jobstown Road, Jobstown, N.J.
South Jersey Chapter
Lafayette Bicentennial Commemoration
Grand Welcome Reception
Afternoon: New Jersey Statehouse 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm FREE
Reenactment of the speech and Lafayette’s response in the Assembly Chambers in the historic New Jersey Statehouse.
Official Welcome of Lafayette to New Jersey by state dignitaries
New Jersey Statehouse
125 W State St
Trenton, NJ 08608
Evening: Historic Trenton Masonic Temple @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Tickets $45 available at https://friendsoflafayette.wildapricot.org/event-5830290/Registration
Grand Welcome Reception for Lafayette, with live period music and welcomes by New Jersey dignitaries
Historic Trenton Masonic Temple
100 Barrack Street
Trenton, NJ 08608
Period dress optional
Buy your tickets at the friendsoflafayette.orghttps://friendsoflafayette.wildapricot.org/event-5830290/Registration
$45/cash bar
Contact: Brad Fay bradford.fay@gmail.com
Lafayette Bicentennial Commemoration
Help Welcome the Marquis de Lafayette to Princeton and Trenton!
200 Years Later – On the same date in 1824, Trenton fêted our French Founding Father during his Grand Farewell Tour of America, where he was received by crowds in every city. Part of a 13-month national commemoration organized by the American Friends of Lafayette Learn more at: Lafayette200.org
Sean Wilentz
Wednesday Sept 25
PRINCETON
· 10 AM Nassau Presbyterian Church 61 Nassau Street, Princeton 08540
* Welcome reenactor Michael Halbert and hear a free public lecture on the significance of Lafayette’s Grand Farewell Tour of 1824
* Lafayette and the Politics of Division” Lecture by Princeton University Professor Sean Wilentz, 200 years ago, President Monroe invited “America’s favorite fighting Frenchman” to visit amid a polarizing election. Learn about the larger historical context
TRENTON
· 3 – 4 PM New Jersey State House, Official Ceremony with Elected Officials
· 4 – 5 PM Old Barracks Museum Interpretation
· 6 – 8 PM Grand Welcome Reception, Historic Trenton Masonic Temple, 100 Barrack 08608. Enjoy live period music, toasts, and reenactors. $45/cash bar Period dress optional Buy your tickets at friendsoflafayette.wildapricot.org/event-5830290
Contact: Brad Fay bradford.fay@gmail.com
Lafayette Bicentennial Commemoration (Copy)
Film: "Lafayette: The Lost Hero"
Evening: Princeton Public Library, Community Room 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm FREE
Showing of PBS documentary film Lafayette: The Lost Hero
· This documentary explores the life of Marquis Gilbert de Lafayette and evaluates his role in the establishment of America's democracy.
· As part of the Princeton region's contribution to the "Lafayette in America 1824/25 Bicentennial," the library is screening the PBS documentary "Lafayette: The Lost Hero." https://www.thedocumentarygroup.com/lafayette
· The film will be introduced by Paul Larson, the chair of the New Jersey Lafayette Bicentennial Committee, and Anne de Broca-Hoppenot, Honorary French Consul of Princeton and New Jersey, who will greet the audience with remarks on the special bond between France and America and read a prepared statement by David Bell, Sidney and Ruth Lapidus Professor History at Princeton University.
https://princetonlibrary.libnet.info/event/11394736
Special Lafayette Book Display at the Princeton Public Library
Princeton Public Library
65 Witherspoon Street
Princeton, NJ 08542
Parking available in Spring Street Garage (24 Spring Street) next to Library.
Lafayette Bicentennial Commemoration
Bicentennial of the Farewell Tour for the Marquis de Lafayette
Reception. Details to follow.
Sponsored by the Westfield Chapter, New Jersey Daughters of the American Revolution
Contact: Julie Diddell Juliediddell@yahoo.com
Grave Marking Ceremony for Revolutionary War Soldier, Silus Watters (1751-1820)
The Jockey Hollow Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution is holding a grave-marking ceremony at the final resting place of Silus Watters on Sunday, September 22, 2024 at 3:00 P.M. (directions are listed below). This event is open to the public.
Silus Watters was given his famous dog-head sword by Princeton Militia Captain James Moore (a hero of the Revolutionary War Battle of Princeton). This sword is now on display at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia.
John Lawrence Brasher, Ph.D., a direct ancestor of Silus Watters, will be in attendance and has written a book “Bright Liberty’s Forgotten Sword and the Battle of Princeton“
This event is being held at the Pleasant Grove (formerly Presbyterian) Cemetery in Washington Township atop Schooley’s Mountain. The original gravestone is still there, but the inscription is gone.
Cranbury Inn & Tavern and Tidbits Colonial Party
Enjoy a signature drink, hot & cold hors d’oeuvres, dessert, tea/coffee, colonial music, reenactors & a bit of Cranbury History. Join the Cranbury Historical & Preservation Society for a kickoff celebration of the upcoming 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution! Huzzah!
Tickets are $60 and available at www.cranburyhistory.org, Happiness is Homemade, Crow & Teapot, Studio 43 and the Elizabeth M. Wagner History Center, 6 Main St. on Thursdays, 10am-1pm