Ceil
Leedom
Tributes to South Brunswick
Guest Column
Ceil
Leedom
Tributes to South Brunswick’s Colonial past begin this week
South Brunswick will celebrate its role in the American Revolution as part of the "Road to Monmouth" commemoration. A series of events along both Washington’s route from Lambertville and the British evacuation from Philadelphia to New York through New Jersey will commemorate the 225th anniversary of the Battle of Monmouth.
Washington’s army marched through South Brunswick several times. One was June 25, 1778, when nearly 10,000 Continental soldiers marched into Kingston in late morning on their way to the Battle of Monmouth, which took place three days later. They ate and rested here, marching to Longbridge Farm now Monmouth Junction in the evening. Here George and the troops rested again, leaving early the next morning on their way to the meet the British.
A two-day re-enactment will take place at the battlefield on June 28 and 29. For more information see the Web site http://www.roadtomonmouth.com.
Like soldiers today, young people volunteered to served their country during the Revolutionary War. Information is being gathered about our local Revolutionary War soldiers. If you know of or have any information on these men, please call the number at the end of this letter. I have been working with a preliminary list of these soldiers created by William Baker in the 1970s.
South Brunswick will participate in this commemoration several ways. To learn more about our wartime history, three talks will be held at the South Brunswick Public Library. On April 29, Rich Walling, president of the Friends of Monmouth Battlefield, and Charlie Dieterich of Kingston will describe the Continental soldiers’ route across New Jersey and through South Brunswick as well as give an overview of the Battle of Monmouth.
On May 14, Dawn Fairchild will discuss military clothing, especially George Washington’s uniform that she has researched and constructed. On June 4, Bill Schleicher will present a slide show and discuss the role of New Jersey’s militias in the Revolutionary War. In June displays on South Brunswick in the American Revolution will be at the library and the municipal building.
South Brunswick’s Colonial past will be a feature of the South Brunswick Arts Commission’s "Crafts: Yesterday and Today" at the Wetherill House in Dayton during June. Kingston plans a weekend museum display on its place in the Revolutionary in late June. On June 25 in Kingston at Rockingham a Colonial tea will be re-enacted, and in the afternoon activities including children’s Colonial activities will be available at Reichler Park. On the morning of June 26 at the Wetherill House in Dayton, a breakfast with George Washington will end this series of Colonial life events.
On the day of June 25, re-enactors portraying George Washington, his LifeGuard on horseback, and about 20 other re-enactors will be in Kingston and at Reichler Park. Beginning at Rockingham and proceeding to the Kingston Presbyterian Cemetery for a veterans’ tribute, a full day of activities are planned. N.J. Secretary of State Regena Thomas is expected to be at Reichler Park in the afternoon.
Kingston’s unique position in two counties and two townships means that Franklin Township is also a participant in this commemoration. Public announcements will be made on exact time and place.
If you have information on South Brunswick’s Colonial past or for additional information, please call me at (732) 329-6417.
Ceil Leedom is the historian for South Brunswick Township