Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-03-04
Governor Parker, of New Jersey.

The Centennial Association of Monmouth
county, N. j., met at Freehold on the evening
of the I'D day of February, to receive the rcyo.
lutionary relics gathered from various parts Of
the county to be exhibited at the Centennial
celebration. This association is under the i'm
10 ediste supervision of Mrs. e1-GoV Parker,
one OF the most estimsble and patriotic lsiie, in
New jersey. Aided by her worthy husband,
she has gathered rare and valuable assortment
of antiquities, After the contributions had Ill
been handed in, Gov Parker made the address
of welcome substantially as follows
The Cover opened his address by stating
the object of the entertainment and tea party 10
be 10 raise funds to aid in b,ilding and furnish
ing New Jersey Headquarters now building
on the Centennial grounds at Philadelphis. A
home for Jerseymen and JerseyWomen during
the six months Of the exhibition. He commend
Ell it as worthy object and stated that similar
entertainments had been held in our principal
cities and towns for the same ohject, and hoped
we could say that the New Jersey Headquarters
had been built BY voluntary contributions and
not cut of the State treasury.
he speaker then stated that New Jersey WAS
settled by Europeans more than 200 years ago,
and that this section Of the State was among the
first where government WAS organized. At first
there was whist was callel the provincial gov
eminent under the Proprictors, but IN 1902 the
Propretors surrendered TO the crown of Crest
Britain the right OF government and after that
our ancestors were under the dominion of that
nation, until tho American revolution, sitter
which repub lean form OF government was es-
tabli:hed wherein the people are TIE rulers.
The Governor next stated briefly the causes
which produced the war Of the Revolution, and
traced the progress: OF the American arms up to
the Declaration of Independence of the Colo.
MES. He then spoke of the various tiles to
est blish that Declaration until he came TO the
battle OF Monmouth, which battle commenced
near the spot where his audience were then AS
sem bled. That battle was one of the mos i'm
portsnt of the war, inasHluch IS the best Of the
British troops were engaged and had to retreat
in the night bet, re the Americans. he gave
the route of the British troops under Sir Henry
Clinton with Knyphausen and Lord CORVALLIS
from Philadelphia through Haddonfeid Mt.
Holly and Allent wn, until they reached FREE
hold, on the 9th of June, ITS, over 2oOoJ
Green, Wayne, Knox, NJ ryan. Dickins IN, For
man and other Generals with about ~ OJO men,
crossed the Delaware above Trenton, and
marching through Hopewe!l, Princeton and
Craubury. arrived near Englishtown on the
night of the 9th of June. On tn next day, At
SUNRISE the battle opened near the Court House
and continued until dark.
| The sreaker gave succinct account of the
| battlu and mentioned the various incidents
| which will ever mark it as memorable in histo-
~. TIE retreat of Lee-his meeting with
| WashingLun-the de tn of ionckton-the bray
cry OF the Irish heroine, Molly Pitcher, were
| commented upon.
The Governor then alluded to the relics of
the battle ground which had been collected and
we've then in the room-the chair in which
Washington rested himself on the 29:h OF Juae,
and in which he wrote the General order to the
American Army thanking them for the victory
which chair had been in pc, session OF the fam
! lily oil Sh.ritf David Forman ever since. He also
alluded to the various other reflects in the rO m.
He said that thu headquarters Of Gen. Wash
ington wni o in Freehold on the 18th anu Both
of June was in the old house in rear OF where
Dr.. Freeman's office now stands and the head
quarters Of Sir Henry Clinton the 9th ol
June was in the house still standing, which for
merry belonged to Joseph Murphy, and lately
u VIM. B. Sutphin On the morning of the
18th tho British burned no less than ten dwell
ling houses in the vicinity of Freehold, The To-,
cality Of each of which is known ard WAS stated
! by the Governor.