The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-27
FAIL OF 4 GIANT CHESTNUT.
On It Pagan, Chief OF the Jcrscy Pine
Robhers. swung q Century Ago.

hobhers, swung q Century Ago.
FREEHOLD, III, Dec. 26.-The historic Pagan
tree. n colossal chestnut on tho Dutch Lane
road. about a quarter OF q mile from the town
limits, has been cut down. From the giant
chestnut the body OF Jacob Pagan. one of tho
chiefs OF the notorious Pine Robbers. who was
shot in eastern Monmouth during the Revolu-
ton. was hung as n warning to eviidoers.
The stump of the tree measured twenty-eiGht
feet in circumference The interior OF the
trunk had decayed until there was formed n
cavity large enough to admit the body of q man.
In Il some boys recently kindled q fire and killed
tho old tree, and nccessitated its being cut down.
For all the years OF this century the chestnut
had been n prolific bearer of nuts. which. how
ever, grew only on the limbs OF one side Of the
tree. The barren side of 1t was said to be that
from which Jacob Fagan's body was suspended.
Near this tree, 1t is said. was located the eallows
where thirteen of Fagan's fellow rufians met
their death ut various times previous to tho
killing of Pagan. Past 1t q division of the Brit
ish army fed when on It's retreat after the battle
OF Monmouth. and In Its shade died young
Lieut.. the Hon. Harry Courtayne, who was
wounded In that engagement.
The Pine Robbers fiourished during the Revo-
lutionary war and terrOrized all this section Of
New Jersey. They were generally Americans.
chiefly Tories. The county was sparsely settled
ana primitive forests covered tnls section. which
could be traversed only by circuitous saddle
paths. Hence 1t was chosen by refugees and
Tories as an asylum. From their retreats hero
they conducted marauding expeditions against
patriots. When hard pursued the Pine Robbers
would hide In caves burrowed in the sides of
sand hills in the most remote recosses OF the
forest. the entrances to which would be con-
cealed with brush and Wild vines. Such a cave,
supposed to have been used by these robbers.
was discovered not long ago near the old Our
House tavern on the road from Farmingdale to
this place. A long time ago another cave was
found in the Hominy Hills near Colts Neck.
The bandits Of the pines ranged over a wide ex-
tent OF territory. having regular stations at
various points In the forest. From the facility
with which they moved about and eluded tho
armed posses that sought their capture. It is
believed that thew were aided and abetted by
tho Tories and English sympathiZers.
These robbers instituted a reign of terror.
Whole families of defcnceless Americans were
murdered. houses and barns were plundered
and burned. and crops or cattle were destroyed
or stolen. Ultimately 1t became unsafe to 60
unarmed and farmers carried their muskets to
the fields and even to the place Of worship on
Sundays. Those victims OF the Pine Robbers
who were not murdered were carried to the
British prison ships In New York Bay and there
confined rs prisoners of war. Finally the
United States set a price upon tho heads OF the
outlaws. and like Wild beasts they were hunted
to their lairs and slain until. at tho end of the
war. they had been totally eradirated.
BY reason OF his deeds of violence ana blood
shed Jacob Pagan was the most notorious Of all
these robbers. One Monday late In September.
house OF Major Dennis. on the south bank OF
the Manasgpan River. about four miles below
Howell NILS, E %hs e Was .hs concealed some plum
cans. Pagan was accom- panied by an old nc
complete, Bill Burke, and by a new member OF
his band named Henry Smith. The latter was n
Jealous adherent, Of the Revolutionary cause.
who had Joined Pagan and Burke for the sole
purpo.e OF bctrayina them into the hands OF the
law. When near Major Dennis's Smith per-
s sp%nGr in Tne tho Two b F%f,an' Willie r. remain hs vent T"nt
forward to rsconno'tre, A. the house he
tpon being informed Of their danger tho
danghter, Amelia. who afterward became Mrs:
money in a bedtlck. and. with her little brother.
sought concealment in a nearby swamp, from
house, where Mrs. Dennis remained alone.
Scarcely had 4 mclia left It than the two robbers
finding much Of valve. In disappointment at
their failure, one robher proposed numbering
Wars Mars, a RenG:f led 9e out t' and Gtb Senn odS'f to e Io "na SO se6 Shs
tree. BY hard struggling she freed herself and
escaped. Then. catching sight of Amelia. Pagan
the robbers fed. ." ""'" Inv"
On the following day Major Dennis removed
his family under u strong military guard TO a
trived soon to In form Major Dennis OF another
raid planned on his house by Pagan and Burke.
along the bride path and killed both humans.
The bodies were buried where they foil, but tho
Favan's body. and. after Wrapping IT In tarred
cloth, hung II in chains from the chestnut tree
near this place. There 1t swung to and fro
until bpzzards tore tho flesh from the bones,
which fell piece by piece TO the ground. Then
the skull was placed against the tree with a pipe