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Dover Township Countdown to History. A History Lesson of Township Events from 225 Years Ago. 225 years ago, a series of events occurred in Dover Township that changed the course of history.
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Dover Township Countdown to History A History Lesson of Township Events from 225 Years Ago
225 years ago, a series of events occurred in Dover Township that changed the course of history. The Revolutionary War had ended. The British had surrendered, but in the tiny colonial town of Toms River the greatest battle had yet to come…
On March 24, 1782, a group of British soldiers burned the village and captured its defender Captain Joshua Huddy. The British wanted to destroy the valuable salt works in Toms River. They were upset that they lost the war, and they knew the importance of the salt works. Fun Fact: Did you know that the salt works were located at Shelter Cove ? Do you know why salt was so important? The Blockhouse did not happen by accident…
December 1, 1780 – Cranberry Inlet between present day Ortley Beach and Seaside Heights Lt. Joshua Studson and local patriots and militiamen were involved in a coastal skirmish with notorious Pine Robber John Bacon. Joshua Studson lived with his wife in Toms River. He was very patriotic and very upset about the privateering that was happening in Toms River. He wanted to stop the privateers, who were commanded by John Bacon and capture their profits.
February 5, 1781 – Village of Toms River Captain John Nice, his infantry, and two cannons were sent to Toms River to defend the Pennsylvania Salt Works at Shelter Cove. Prior to 1781, salt works along the Jersey coast had been attacked, including one in 1778 in Little Egg Harbor which was successful.
April 1, 1781 – Village of Toms River The Coates Salt Works, located about a half mile west of the Barnegat Bay, was destroyed by British loyalists. Fun Facts: Did you know that the Coates Salt Works was built by a man known only as Mr. Coates? It cost six hundred pounds of Continental money.
July 1781 Joseph Mulliner, a well known Tory spy, was captured. He was known as “South Jersey’s Robin Hood,” an outlaw and “the terror of the county.” He was always pilfering along the river. He was declared an enemy and hung. He later was reburied at Batsto in a secret grave. Fun Fact: There are famous glassworks at Batsto Village. Has anybody ever visited Batsto Village?
December 18, 1781 Captain Joshua Huddy was sent to command the 363 citizen soldiers of Dover Township who were volunteering to defend the Blockhouse.
March 16, 1782 William Dillon, a loyalist privateerwho lived on Dillon’s Island (now Island Heights), preyed on ships at sea. His ship was filled with contraband, and on his return trip he was caught by the Toms River militia. He wanted revenge, and he contacted Loyalists to support his cause.
March 16 cont… William Franklin, the head of the Loyalists, was also seeking revenge and wanted to restart the Revolutionary War which had ended six months earlier. Fun Fact: Did you know William Franklin was Benjamin Franklin’s son? William was arrested during the Revolutionary War by the colonists and was released as a Prisoner of War. Fun Fact: Did you know William Franklin signed the Royal Charter establishing Dover Township in 1767?
March 20-24, 1782The Blockhouse Battle begins! 80 British men sailed from New York Harbor to the Jersey Coast in three armed whaleboats. Upon reaching Cranberry Inlet, they were joined by forty renegades and Pine Robbers. They marched to the Village of Toms River where the attacked the Blockhouse. English whaleboat
March 20-24, 1782 cont… Captain Huddy was alerted that the British were coming by Garret Irons. Captain Huddy and his defenders were outnumbered almost five to one. They were quickly overwhelmed and defeated. Much of Toms River, along with the Salt warehouses, were burned. Captain Huddy was captured and later hung without a trial. Fun Fact: Do you know where Irons Street is located in Toms River? Do you know why it is called Irons Street? Fun Fact: Have you ever heard of Huddy Park? Did you know that Huddy Park used to be a swamp? The land was purchased in 1903 and it was the first municipal park in Dover Township.
Interesting Images Blockhouse plaque The Blockhouse The Blockhouse Wooden Cannon
