The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-08-09
Another Revolutionary Landmark Gone.

From the Lambertville, N. j.. Re
cord, Dec. 81, 1898.
A week or two since, to make way
for improvements, was cut down
the old historic chestnut tree known as
1.-THE Washington Tree" which had
stood for $50 years upon the Paxson
estate, few feet to the north of the
old York road. in New Hope borough.
This grand old tree measured % feet
in circumference, and though many of
its limbs were dead, reached out far
upon either side, making grateful
shade in the long summer days from
the noontide sun. Had it ears, eyes
and tongue, much could it have told
of Revolutionary days, for before it,
on many occasions, passed the CONT
mental army in full array, as they en-
tered into and were driven from New
Jersey. Nearly every foot of this part
of Bucks county is full of interest to
the student and lover of Revolutionary
lore, for the whole section abOunds
in historic incident connected with
colonial and revolutionary days. New
Hope, at the time of the Revolution
ary war was known as "Coryell's
Ferry and from CoryelPs Ferry are
dated many letters from Washington
and other of his prominent generals.
During the war troops were .quartered
here upon various occasions, and at the
time of the battle of Trenton, in 1915,
this whole district of country was
held by the continental forces New
Hope itself at this period was in a
state of armed defense under General
William Alexander-more commonly
known as Lord Sterling threw
up strong redoubt on top of the hill,
across the pond in southwesterly di-
rectien from 1.-The Old Parry Man
sion'' and part of that estate. Lord
Sterling also had another redOubt
thrown upon the sold York Road, at
the corner of Bridge and Ferry streets
opposite where "The OldWashington
Tree stood. These, together with
stockade entertainments and batteries
placed Just above and below the ferry
landing, on the river bank, north and
south of the Old York road. constitut-
ed the defenses of New Hope in 1776
from what General Washington evil
IDENTIFY anticipated-an advance move
ment of portion OF the British army
at that time. The old hip-roof house,
recently taken down land which was
Immediately opposite the long avenue
leading into the Paxon estate), was
known as "The Old Fort, % and is said
to have been used as Lord Sterling s
headquarters while his soldiers were
stationed at New Hope. Here Wash
ington met his Generals Greene and
Alexander (Lord Sterling) and here,
it is also said, under 'The Old Wash
ington Tree they first planned the
battle of Trenton. Washington had
his own headquarters few miles be-
low New Hope ("Coryell's Ferry J, at
the Keith homestead, and doubtless on
many an occasion halted under this
ancient tree to confer with General
Sterling, whose earthworks were here
and up the hillside beyond. On
Christmas, 1776, DR.. Charles Todd, OF
New Hope then a young lad J, watched
at the intersection of the Old York
road apd the Trenton river road, where
"The Old Parry Mansion stands, wit
| messed the continental troops march
around the corner into the Trenton
road and down it with hurrying steps
| to a point below, on the Delaware
| river, now known as Washington
Crossing" where, crossing over that
| night in boats, they, early on the
morning of December 26th, advanced
upon the city of Trenton and fought
and won that famous engagement
which has passed into history as the
Battle of Trenton Many of the boats
used at Washington crossing had beer
collected at New Hope and kept secret.
ed behind Malta Island, and whence
they were foated by night to the for.
mer place and used for transportation
of the army. Lord CORVALLIS was
informed that boats were being col.
! lected at New Hope "Coryell't
Ferry and sent troops to what il
now Lambertville, New Jersey, on the
opposite side of the Delaware river,
to seize them. but the soldiers were
apparently afraid to cross over in the
/ face of the frowning batteries which