The Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution, Vol. 2 (of 2): or, Illustrations, by Pen And Pencil, of the History, Biography, Scenery, Relics, and Traditions of the War for IndependenceLossing, Benson John
History
The Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution, Vol. 2 (of 2): or, Illustrations, by Pen And Pencil, of the History, Biography, Scenery, Relics, and Traditions of the War for Independence
Lossing, Benson John
United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783
* Dr. Woodhull preached the funeral sermon on the occasion of the burial
of Captain Huddy, at Freehold, in the spring of 1782, from the piazza
of the hotel now kept by Mr. Higgins. Captain Huddy lived in the central
part of Colt's Neck, about five miles from Freehold. He was an ardent
Whig, and by his activity and courage became a terror to the Tories. In
the summer of 1780, a mu latto, named Titus, and about sixty refugees,
attacked Huddy's house, in the evening. The only inmates were Huddy and
Lueretia Emmons (afterward Mrs. Chambers), a servant girl about twenty
years of age. There were several guns in the house; these Lueretia
loaded, while Huddy fired them from different windows. Titus and some
others were wounded. They set fire to the house, when Huddy surrendered,
and the flames were extinguished. The prisoners were taken on board of
a boat near Black Point. Just as it was pushed off from the shore, Huddy
leaped into the water, and escaped under fire of some militia who were
in pursuit of the Tories. In the spring of 1782, Huddy commanded a
block-house, situated a short distance north of the bridge at the"
village of Tom's River. It was attacked by some refugees from New York,
and his ammunition giving out, Huddy was obliged to surrender. Himself
and companions were taken to New York, and afterward back to Sandy Hook,
and placed, heavily ironed, on board a guard-ship. On the 12th of April,
sixteen refugees, under Captain Lippincott, took Huddy to Gravelly
Point, on the shore at the foot of the Navesink Hills, near the
light-houses, and hung him upon a gallows made of three rails. He
met his fate with composure. Upon the barrel on which he stood for
execution, he wrote his will with an unfaltering hand. His murderers
falsely charged him with being concerned in the death of a desperate
Tory, named Philip White, which occurred while Huddy was a prisoner in
New York. To the breast of Huddy, the infamous Lippincott affixed the
following label: "We, the refugees, having long with grief beheld the
cruel murders of our brethren, and finding nothing but such measures
daily carrying into execution; we therefore determine not to suffer,
without taking vengeance for the numerous cruelties; and thus begin,
having made use of Captain Huddy as the first object to present to
your view; and further determine to hang man for man, while there is a
refugee existing. Up goes Huddy for Philip White!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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