Category: New Jersey History

  • February 8, 1775

    Cover art for February 8, 1775: Portrait of Colonel John Cox in 1793 by Charles Willson Peale

    (Forgive us the jokey headline–sometimes it’s late at night when we post this stuff and we get punchy.)

    Over the course of a single year—and beginning with this day in 1775—John Cox experienced what any reasonable person would call a “meteoric rise” in his personal and professional fortunes. He started out adjudicating British laws in the Colonies, but moved quickly into assisting with the Colonial resistance effort and subsequently to assisting with the actual war. He did this both materially (as a Quartermaster) and passively (allowing his land to be used by Patriot troops).

    He died in 1793, at the age of 60, and even this week he’s probably still more productive than most of us.

  • 250 and Counting: February 3, 1775

    Cover art for February 3, 1775: "The Death of General Mercer at the Battle of Princeton, January 3,1777" by John  Trumbull

    Hugh Mercer is one of those people who was terribly important to the cause of Liberty during the American Revolution, yet his story goes untold largely because he died early in the effort.

    But if Mercer hadn’t come to America because he was on the losing side of a battle in Scotland, he wouldn’t have become a doctor in Pennsylvania.

    And he wouldn’t have joined up in the French and Indian War.

    And if he hadn’t been wounded, then he wouldn’t have been rescued, transferred and promoted to Major.

    And if he hadn’t been transferred, he wouldn’t have met George Washington.

    And Washington wouldn’t have gotten the idea to invade Trenton, New Jersey at Christmastime 1776.

    And Mercer wouldn’t have been killed the following month. Which is bad, but…

    If Mercer hasn’t sacrificed himself so publicly, Washington’s troops wouldn’t have been inspired to re-enlist and continue the fight.

    Also, the county surrounding Trenton, New Jersey would have a name other than “Mercer County,” so there’s that.