Wanderings
By: Ken Weingartner
ALLENTOWN — Those who consider the borough and its environs quaint and quiet, where nothing exciting ever happens, should take a trip back in time.
Some 225 years ago, the area surrounding Allentown was a hotbed of excitement. The region was a key location during the American Revolution and home to numerous heroes and heroines in the Battle for Independence.
Recent discoveries made by the Allentown-Upper Freehold Historical Society have generated excitement among members. Among the highlights, discussed at a meeting Monday night in the public library: the fact that Molly Pitcher probably was from Allentown.
John Fabiano, the society’s president, and borough resident Ann Garrison have spent countless hours pouring over historical records from the time period to determine if Molly Pitcher was from the area. In the course of their research, they have uncovered numerous other gems about the history of the region.
“The Upper Freehold area is so rich,” Mr. Fabiano said. “But it seems like no one has done the homework yet.”
Molly Pitcher’s identity commonly is presented as Mary Ludwig Hays. However, many historians now believe her true identity was Mary Hannah, sometimes spelled Hanna.
Mr. Fabiano and Ms. Garrison first came across Molly Pitcher’s ties to the area in a speech given by the Rev. George Swain of the Allentown Presbyterian Church on June 20, 1876. The speech, which identifies Hannah as Molly Pitcher, was part of the borough’s centennial celebration.
“We thought, ‘What’s this about Molly Pitcher,’” Mr. Fabiano said. “We had that, but we didn’t know if it was true or not.”
Tax records and other accounts reveal the Hannah family lived in Allentown, somewhere across the street from the Presbyterian Church on High Street. The will of John Hannah makes reference to a daughter, Mary.
She married John Cavanna, sometimes spelled Cavana, who was a soldier in the Continental Army. His name is on a casualty list from 1778, which means he could have been killed in the Battle of Monmouth in June of that year.
In addition, Hannah moved to Carlisle, Pa., to work for a doctor. Molly Pitcher’s grave is located in Carlisle, and some researchers from Cumberland County, Pa., said recently that the best evidence indicates Hannah was Molly Pitcher.
There also is documentation that Hannah arrived from Carlisle and visited her family in Allentown during the spring of 1778, possibly on her way to the Battle of Monmouth.
At the battle, Molly Pitcher earned her nickname by bringing pitchers of cool water to soldiers. According to the legend, Molly Pitcher stepped forward to man the cannon after her husband was killed in the line of duty.
Although the historical society has yet to definitively prove Hannah was Molly Pitcher, and from Allentown, members are encouraged by the research. Making the task difficult is the fact that names often are spelled a variety of ways and that history is filled with inaccuracies and half-truths.
“There’s still a lot to be done,” Mr. Fabiano said. “It’s not like we’ve hit any roadblocks. I think it’s incumbent upon us to at least attempt to prove Molly Pitcher was from Allentown.
“It’s amazing that there is so much history from the time period,” he said. “It’s like someone reaching out from the past.”
Ms. Garrison agreed, saying “These people start to come alive.”
Other local women played key roles in the American Revolution. Upper Freehold’s Jane Waglum Jackson, better known as Jinnie Jackson, led George Washington’s troops to the Battle of Princeton.
“A woman guided the Continental Army on that march beset with so many perils and difficulties,” it is written in “The Life of General Hugh Mercer.”
“A woman! Her loyalty, her devotion, her sacrifice and her suffering for the cause of the Colony have given and shall ever give her all honor, praise and gratitude.”
Mr. Fabiano said he was “flabbergasted” to discover Molly Pitcher and Jinnie Jackson both were from the Allentown area.
“When you start doing research, there are different branches you can follow,” he said. “We took every branch we could find.”
Another heroine, this one a young girl named Polly Wyckoff, also resided in Upper Freehold. Legend has it that Polly was 6 years old and visiting friends when she warned Continental forces of British troops climbing the Palisades to begin the invasion of New Jersey in 1776.
“Three Revolutionary War heroines from our area,” Mr. Fabiano said with a grin. “All that’s left is to write the book.”
In addition, Ms. Garrison discovered the Allentown area was a key location for the storage of Continental Army supplies and served to host flank positions in the battles of Princeton, Trenton and Monmouth. The region also was home to numerous officers in the Continental Army.
Mr. Fabiano hopes the historical society’s discoveries and ongoing research generate interest among area residents, especial young people.
“We need to regenerate interest in the historical society,” Mr. Fabiano said. “We’re all getting along in years. These stories need to be kept in the hearts and minds of residents. There is so much to be proud of here.”