Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-04-13


cover and preserve all the facts, traditions
and relics of that interesting and important
event.
A Williamstown member of this society
thinks that he has found hero of that
affair at Fort Mercer, October 22d, 1777,
who up to this time has not been accorded
his proper place in that notable victory Of
Patriotic American Colonial Soldiers over
several times their number Of British and
Hessian enemies.
To reach the climax of the story shall
endeavor to give a sketch of the life and
work of the famous Jonas Cattell, and to
relate the story of his important part in the
battle of Red Bank, hoping thus to set in
motion forces that shall open a path to his
yet unmarked grave where trust before
many years Pilgrims thereto will behold a
monument suitable to tue memory Of this
heroic revolutionary character.
JONAS cATTELL IN HISTORY.
In that rare old work by Isaac Mickle,
"reminiscences Of Old Gloucester,n 1S45,
Page 63, we read: There were many dis
tinguished men connected with the Glou-
cester Fox Hunting Club, but none is more
deserving immortality than Jonas Cattell.
For twenty years this worthy fellow was
the grand guide and whipper-in to the
hunters, always at his post, whether with
the setting out of the company, leading off,
at fault, or at the death.
While all the rest rode, he travelled on
foot with his gun and tomahawk, and was
always on hand for any emergency, before
half the riders came in sight. His physical
strength and activity were almost incred-
ible. When about fifty years of age he ran
foot race from Mt. Holly to Woodbury.
with an Indian runner of great celebrity,
and came off victor. About the same time
he won in wager by going on foot from
Woodbury. to Cape Island, delivering let
ter, and returning in the same manner with
an answer on the day following. He ac-
complisbed this extraordinary feat with ease
and was willing to repeat it the same week,
on the same terms.
The sketch that we haye of Jonas Cattell
upon our blackboard to-day was copied
from an old cut on the same page of
s'AIickles "reminiscences. " Mr.. Mickle adds
/ in foot note, 'In 1880, when Mr.. Clay
drew the likeness of Cattell, from which the
above cut is roughly copied. he was engag-
ed in fishing at Clark's fishery. We saw
him at the meeting held in Woodbury., in
March last. to demonstrate against the set
ting off of Camden County. He is still
alive and hearty, and is very fond of telling
stories of his hunting days and anecdotes of
the leading men in the Gloucester Club
He does not know how old he is, but thinks
he isnot far from ninety The author of
the memoir from which we have drawn
most of the facts in this text says he was
enlisted by the club IN 1896, but does not
give his age at that time.
'sBarber's New Jersey Historical Collect
ions, 2 published in 1s45, says, pages 214,
215, Among the most valuable members
of the Club was Jonas Cattell. This extra
ordinary hunter was over six feet in height
and atheltic Although always on foot be
appeared altogether tireless when the riders
and horses were jaded.
PERSONAL TRADITIONS OF JONAS cATTELL
One of the earliest memories of my child
hood is that of hearing my mother tell this
story of Jonas Cattell: He was wonder
full hunter who kept up with the dogs, and
would get most of the game. He had good
dogs himself, and knowing the woods the
best places for game, and Just when to 60,
his neighbors were glad to have him as their
guide, although envious of his skill.
'Once, however, his fellow-huntsmen
made up plot to steal jonas dogs and get
away without him to go on a deer hunt up
toward Coles Mill, east Of Squankum, agree
ing to start at midnight.
But in some way old Jonas got wind
Of it, and outwitted them. He started
afoot, dogs along, two hours earlier than
they; and when his neghbors arrived at
Hospitality Mill, about sunrise, Jonas had
deer killed and hung up
Forty years later the writer, when col
lecsing material for local history, had an
interview with Mrs. Joshua Tomliu, former
Miss Millicent Steelman, who was born at
Hospitality Mill, 1924, and now April, 1905,
lives in Glassboro.
She remembered the incident, saw the
deer that hung up in the mill, scarcely a
dozen yards from her childhood home, her
father, William SteeIman, being the sawyer
there. She recollects, also, some members
Of the belated party, including Thomas w.
Hurff, and Henry Firth, both long since
deceased.