Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-03-01
The Home on the
HaCkenSaCk
A Story of General Wash.
ington's Secret Service
By WILLIAM T. HANCOCK
By WILLIAM T. HANCOCK

1nefP Stlil StdliuS w 'ht th"e"S"'"N"
river. In New Jersey. after weatherng
the political and atmospheric storms Of
nenriy two centuries. a line specimen
OF the honicsteads built by the early
Dutch settlers in America II was for
Is years old when the Revolutionary
war opened. and It's original owner had
then long passed away.
When II was built the country round
about il was infested by Indians. They
stole son OF the owner and so long
as he lived there he and his family
were In terror OF other depredatlons.
A recent investigation OF historical
society has revealed an ingenious con-
trivance whereby II besieged by saw.
ages those who lived IN the house
might make their escape.
When Washington was called to the
chief command of the American armies
his first duties were ut Boston. then
New York city, then New Jersey
While operating In the latter field the
old Dutch house on the Hackensack
lay between him and Manhattan Is
land on ground belonging 10 neither
British nor Americans The homestead
was ut the time occupied by John Old
ershaw. an aristocntic 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 III
suited 10 the rude life Of new coun-
try and lived In the hope Of some day
returning 10 England. Both she and
her husband were bitter Tories. but
their children. who had never been In
the mother country. sympathized Sc
crctly with the patriot cause. They
were young man. Edgar. aged TWEEN.
ty-two ana daughter Anne. aged
nineteen.
One evening General Howe. com
manding at New York. with certain
members OF his stan. rode out over the
Jersey fats between the city and The
rising ground beyond on a tour Of re
connoissance and at nlghtfall stopped
al the Oldershaw mansion. Too intc
In the day TO return To his headqnar
tiers. he suffered himself 20 be persu;id
ed To remain all night. with hts attend
ants, and was entertained by Mr. old
ershaw
During the evening he aud his host
sat over n bottle of port wine. and the
general. warmed by the juice Of the
grape. became confidential rs To his
plans for gaining m advantage over
General Washington. Above the apart
ershaw's bedroom. Though the timber
with which houses were built IN those
days was far more durable than nov
II was rough hewn and not 30 carefully
selected In the floor OF Anne's room
was knothoe. and IN the wooden
ceiling of the room below was a crack
Anne. who had gone to bed. but not t.
sleep. hearing voices below. was de
sirous Of learning what the genera
might have 10 say 10 her father. 81
she arose from her bed and. slipping Oh
a warm wrapper, put her ear 10 the
hole In the floor She was enabled /,
hear plan the general was stating I,
her father for capturing large Amcri
can force then located near Trenton
/ Indeed. the Britisher's reconnaissance,
was Oh business connected with III,
projected exploit
The next morning Anne related whiil
she had heard 10 her brother He tnan
a very different view of the mniicr
from that of his sister He was dc~lr
aus that General Washington Shoul,
be warned but was deferred from hr
trayiug his fathers guest by giving fh'
information Love of country. huwcs
er. lriunphed over other considerations
and he determined 10 carry II To Gen
cra Washington. whose headquarior.
az the time we're In the Ford mansion
at MorriSiown Letting his sister int,
the secret Of his intended move and
telling his parents that he was going
to New York 10 see a friend. he set oul
on foot ON reaching the town he as
cended the incline west of IL aud arriv
ed ~ tavern In Orange. which WAS
then - stopping place for posiboys
travelling between Morristown and lilo
boken There lac secured horse. ln's~
eel over the heights lying west OF ia,
town and in a couple Of hours rode ~
TO Washingion's headquarters lie was
received by Colonel Alexander Hamil
ton % the stan aud Immediately intro
duced % the commander IN chief
Upon receipt OF the information h,
brought Washington gave orders which
would block his enemy's game and
asked Edgar Oldershaw what he could
do 20 reciprocate the favor he had re-
eeived n his hands The young man
feeling loath TO return To his father
roof begged the general to secure him
commission in the army. and his re
quest having been granted. he openly
took sides with the patriots
II was not long after this thu; Wash
ington. being DESTROYS Of information
rs TO the enemy's forces IN New York
sent young man. Lieutenant Harold
Travers. who had done some secret
= ii. .l.s o fIfts.s