The Newtown bee., 1879-01-14
ESCAPED.
A TALE OF THE REVOLUTION.

New Jersey, as we'll as New York, was originally settled by colonists from Holland, and although tue English at one time got possession of the territory, the Dutch regained it and held it, under the name of Achter Kol, until 1873.
 Among the early emigrants from Holland was family by the name of Kovenhoven, who took up lands in what is now Monmouth county, near the present village of Eatontown. Their descendants, under the anglicized name of Conover, live in the same regions to this day. In 1777-78 this family had farm on the ocean shore, probably within the present limits of Long Branch. At that time the men folks were all away with the Continental army, under Gen. Washington.
 The family left at home consisted of the mother, daughter of eighteen or twenty years, son of sixteen years, and another of ten. These contrived to support themselves on the farm, and also to contribute hberally to the Con slnental cause.
 Notwithstanding the defenceless con. dition of the place, with the enemy in possession of the country, the Koven- hoven homestead was an important post in line of secret communication kept up between the parties of New York and the East, and their friends beyond , the Delaware.
 \ The elder of the Kovenhoven boys, though only growing lad, was a trusted messenger in this grapevine postal service, and by his skill and daring in working through the British lines, had already won the name of Kslte Koven- hoven, or, as we would now say, Cool Uonover.
 Early in the summer of 1778, when Gen. Clinton was preparing to aban- don the line of the Delaware and fall back on the Hudson river, a body of Hessian troops was sent through the Jerseys to open the way to Sandy Hook, where the army was to embark for New York.
 The Hessians harried the country to some extent, foraging as they advanced, and making special efforts to break up the secret postal service known to be maintained in spite of their utmost vigilance.
 The line was kept running at that time, as may readily be supposed, with redoubled activity, and the messengers
 
 their dispatches through.
 The service was all the harder as the activity of the enemy forced them to seek roundabout ways, and travel long distances. The route was turned down through the pines. an unbroken will derness, extending, at that time, nearly across the South Jerseys.
 One night in June young Conover re. turned home from trip into the pines weary and worn. He had ridden many long mile through the soft sands cl the forest without daring to wait foi rest or refreshment.
 Stopping at the bars and turning his tired mare into the salt meadow, he shouldered the saddle and carried it up to the barn.
 He had an important dispatch witt him, fastened under his arm in water proof cover. Worn ont with harc riding from early morning till after mid night, and with the constant strain o anxious watchfulness, he felt relieved and thankful to get home in safety.
 Sitting down on a heap of straw, ht took off his heavy riding boots, and un buttoned his shirt to remove the ore cious package, and then, in an instant
 
 ed him, and he dropped into dee, sleep.
 He slept heavily until the first beam of daylight began to shine through tn, cracks in the barn. Then he was sud denly awakened by tremendous humping close by him.
 As he sprang up the butt of mus ket broke through the door, and in stinctively the boy realized that fo once he had been caught mapping.
 It was his way to face danger when h could not avoid it so he sprang to tn door, feeling for his package and findinl it safe under his arm at the. same mo ment.
 Six men stood outside, and in tn dim morning light he recognized ther as detail from a detachment of Hes sians whom he had been lodging all tn $ previous afternoon.
 They addressed him roughly, and on of them. in broken English, commando hin to find forage for their horses d Und. yunker, !" he added, rouse de hsure and eet right away breakfast.
 1Sho boy brought out hay and graf i0 okundsuce for the horses, and the I1d fhe way to the house. His siste X S1SS vns already astir, and immediate < 7~ mprehe hendipg the situation, she ~ :, .x 1ropa ring good bxeakfas' < < A@ TT 1.'u1t on@ fr1ss or hesitation. z E. ~ ncoi possod oh quietly, tho i'm | l llSx In: tho book ground ae nxuc z x the (Foopere ehoWin