Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-03-25
The Home on the
HaCkenSaCk
A Story Of General Wash
ington's Secret Service
Nv WILLIAM T. HANCOCK
BY WILLIAM T. HANCOCK

river, in New Jersey, after weatherine
the political and atmospheric storms OF
nearly two centuries, fine specimen
Of the homesteads built by the early
Dutch settlers in America. 1t was for
ty years old when the Revolutionary
war opened, and its original owner had
then long passed away.
When it was built the country round
about 1t was infested by Indians. They
stole a son Of the owner, and so long
as he lived there he and his family
were in terror Of other depredations
A recent investigation Of historical
society has revealed an ingenious con
trivance whereby II besieged by sav
ages those who lived In the hous'
might make their escape.
When Washington was called to the
chief command Of the American armies
his first duties were at Boston. then
New York city, then New Jersey
While operating in the latter field the
old Dutch house on the HackensacE
iay between him and Manhattan Is
land on ground belonging to neither
British nor Americans. The homestead
was ut the time occupied by John Old
ershaw, an aristocratic Englishman
who had turned what means he had
into cash and emigrated to America
His family consisted Of wife and
two children. the latter having been
born In America. The mother was II
suited to the rude life Of new coun
try and lived in the hope Of some da!
returning to England. Both she and
her husband were bitter Tories. bu
their children, who had never been II
the mother country, sympathized Sc
cretly with the patriot cause. They
were young man. Edgar, aged TWEEN
ty-two. and a daughter, Anne. aged
nineteen.
One evening General Howe. com
manding Mt New York, with certain
members of his staff, rode out over the
Jersey flats between the city and the
rising ground beyond on tour Of re
connoissance and ut nightfall stopped
at the Oldershaw mansion. Too late
in the day to return to his headquar
ters, he suffered himself to he persuad
ed to remain all night. with his attend
ants. and was entertained by Mr.. Old
crshaw.
During the evening he and his hos
sat over a bottle Of port wine, and thu
general warmed by the juice OF th'
grape. became confidential rs to hi;
plans for gaining an advantage owe,
General Washington. Above the apart
uent i'm which they sat was Anne Old
crshaw's bedroom. Though the timbe
with which houses were built in thos,
days WAS far more durable than now
| 4: was rough hewn and not so CAREFUL!
| selected. In the floor OF Anne'S room
WAS knOthole. and in the woodei
| ceiling Of the room below was crack
Anne. who had gone to bed. but not t.
secp. hearing voices below. was de
sirous Of learning what the genera
might have to say to her father. 81
| she arose from her bed and, slipping VI
II warm wrapper, put her ear to thu
| hole I'm the floor. She was enabled T.
hear n plan the general was stating 4
her father for capturing Il large Amcri
| AN force then located near Trenton
| Indeed. the Britisher's reconnaissance
| was on business connected with tn
| projected exploit.
The next morning Anne related wha
| she had heard to her brother. He tool
a very different view Of the ina tie
| from that OF his sister. He was deSir
| o,,s that General Washington shoul'
he warned. but was deferred from be
| traying his fathers guest by giving tn
| information. Love Of country, howev
err triumphed over other considerations
and he determined to carry 1t to Gen
eraI Washington. whose headquarter
at the time were I'm the Ford mansion
| ut MorrStown. Letting his sister Int
the secret Of his intended move ant
telling his parents that he was goin
TO New York to see friend. he set on
Oh foot. On reaching the town he as
cended the incline west OF 1t and arrlv
ed at tavern in Orange. which wa
then stopping place for postboy
travelling between Morristown and Ht
boken. There he secured n horse. pass
ed over the heights lying west OF tn
town and In couple Of hours rode u
to Washington's headquarters. He wa
received by Colonel Alexander Hami
ton of the staff and Immediately intro
duced to the commander In chief.
i Upon receipt Of the information b
brought Washington gave orders whic
would block his enemy's game an
asked Edgar Oldershaw what he coul
10 TO reciprocate the favor he had RI
eiyed at his hands. The young mar
feeling loatil to return to his father
roof, begged the general to secure hir
commission In the army, and, his n
quest having been granted, he openl
took sides with the patriots.
1t was not long after this that Wasf
ington, being desirous Of informado
as to the enemy's forces in New Yorl
sent n young man. Lieutenant Harol
Travers, who had done some seer
work for him, to obtain 1t. Travel
> was to proceed in citizens dress
New York. learn what he could and r
turn. Before he departed the gener'
called upon Lieutenant Oldershaw
instruct Travers as to the routes b
, which he might travel. Among oth'
|. things Oldershaw told Travers that
i he needed aid and comfort to apply
8 secretly, OF course-to his sister Ann
i giving him a bit of paper on Will:
was written an introduction.
II was about a week after this tn
young man rode up to the olde
shaw mapsion and asked II he mig
beg meal. The request was not u
= usual. for taverns were not plendf
|. along the route, and hospitality Wi
:. the rule of the country. Oldersna
K asked the traveller whence he had con
r and was told that he had left Ne
d York a few hours before; that ne W
travelling OH business for Gener
Howe and was on his way to Trento
), Being left fol a few minutes alo
II with Anne Oldershaw, his expressi
changed to one Of terror, and, handil
her a slip of paper, he begged her
hide him. Anne glanced at the pap
e x,w that 1t bore an introduction frt
. hcr brother and beckoned Travers
follow her.
~ T,,o meol for the traveller had be