The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-04-17
American commander, and IL Is an

Amefscan commanders, and IL ID an
opsn question whether the troop move
ments ut Mount Holly did not have
much 10 do with bringing about the
victory ct Trenton. Grifin's attack
on the Hessians at Mount Holly oaus-
ed q force under the commander-in-
chief Won Donop, larger than that
under Col. Rail at Trenton, TO be
brought down from Bordsntown and
kept at Mount Holly several days. Had
these troops remained ut Bordsntown
they could have been sent az reinforce
msnts against Washington when he
attacked at Trenton. and might have
changed the result of that battle
Lossing's Field Book Of the Revolu-
ton, vol. 2. page POI
The iron works from which the hill
took its name were located at the east
end OF the Pine street bridge. The site
was purchased about 1870 by Mahlon
Stacy and others. 1t was destroyed by
the British in their march from PhiIa-
delphia to New York before the battle
Of Monmouth in 1778. Cannon, cannon
balls and camp kettles were made there
for the American army, and 1t is stated
that five tons Of metal were used in
the manufacture of the latter articles.
During Mr.. Coxe's ownership he petit
TONED the legislature to have fifty men
exempted from military service and
stationed here, with three officers, 80
that he could carry on the works.
The present ST. Andrews graveyard
forms the south and west part OF the
old iron works hill. Excavations made
for monuments have uncovered two
rife pits, one containing the remains
of two men, lying crosswise. One body
was found in the other. Cannon and
muskst balls have been found in many
parts of the town.
The Hessian commander, Count Won
Donop, was mortally wounded the
next year, In an attack on the fort at
Red Bank. He was brave but i'm.
petuous officer, and the latter quality
was probably responsible for his with
drawing the forces from Bordentown to
pursue Griffin's troops. He spoke little
or no English, and while in Mount
Holly Rev. Jonathan O'Dell, Of the
Episcopal church. acted as interpreter.
both speaking French. Mr.. O'DeIl
was later suspected of giving aid to the
enemy. He was arrested by order of
the Provincial Congress, and signed a
parole August /. TIT.
The following petition OF a Mount
Holly citizen, addressed to Congress,
gives good idea OF the close watch
kept on those suspected of British SYM
pathies. 1t In quoted from the Penn
sylvania archives.
State Prison, 10th JAM, 1777.
To the Honorable the Committee of
Congress:
The petition of Daniel Bancroft hum
bly, showeth:
That your petitioner was about four
weeks ago taken by party Of the Hes
slams, & detained several hours, &
could not be liberated but by signing q
declaration mot to take up arms, &C.,
in the present war" That to prevent
himself & property from insult & plum
der, he was obliged to take protection
from the enemy, they being now on
their march toward Mount Holly, in
the Jerseys, where your petitioner was
an inhabitant. That few days later,
hearing that the army commanded by
Gen. Griffen was expected at Mount
Holly, & they designed to apprehend
every person who had taken a protec-
ton from the enemy. he, with the per-
son that gave him this information,
went to the Black Horse, then in pos
session Of the enemy. Several hours
after, hearing from traveller that our
army was not likely to be at Mount
Holly, he was returning home & was
taken by the out centres, & sent to
this place.
Your petitioner requests he may have
a speedy opportunity of answering to
whatever may be alleged against him,
& restored to his liberty, or suffered to
go out on parole, as shall be judged
most proper, as he has no doubt of
making 1t appear he liz of disposition
not inimical to the liberties OF America.
Daniel Bancroft.
Gen. Stryker's pamphlet on the
loyalists of New Jersey, states that
after his release Bancroft became
more ardent Tory than before.