Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-01-10
ESCAPED.
A TALE OF THE REVOLUTION.

was originally settled by colonists from
| Holland, and although the 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
| chat 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 literally to the Con,
tinental 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 trusted
I messenger in this grapevine " postal
service, and by his skill and daring in
working through the British lines, had
| already won the name of Katie Koven-
hoven, or, as we would now say, Cool
Conover.
Early in the summer of ITS, 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 Tor 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
spared neither risk nor hardship to gel
their dispatches through.
The service was all the harder as the
sctivity 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 a trip into the pines
weary and worn. He had ridden many
long mile through the soft sands Of
the forest without daring to wait for
rest or refreshment.
Stopping at the bars and turning his
tired mare into the salt meadow, be
shouldered the saddle and carried it
to the barn.
He had an important dispatch W
him, fastened under his arm III wat,
proof cover. Worn out with ha
riding from early morning till after m
night, and with the constant strain
anxious watchfulness, he felt reliev
and thankful to get home in safety.
Sitting down on a heap OF straw,
took off his heavy riding boots, and
buttoned his shirt to remove the p
cious package, and then, in an insta
he reaction from over-exertion conqu
d him, and he dropped into id
leep.
He slept heavily until the first bea
Of daylight began to shine through
cracks in the barn. Then he was 8,
denly awakened by tremendc
humping close by him.
AS he sprang up the butt of m
ket broke through the door, and
stinctively the boy realized that
once he had been caught mapping.
1t was his way to face danger when
conld not avoid it so he sprang to
door, feeling for his package and find
it safe under his arm at the same
ment.
Six men stood outside, and in