Sussex County Committee of Safety meeting during the Revolutionary War. (AI rendered on data from Bill Truran, who endorses it as historically representative)
During this prelude to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, we examine people who were patriots in our Sussex County.
A very important part of our nation’s success in winning our freedom was the role of the Committees of Safety.
The Sussex County Committee of Safety was active during the American Revolution and before (circa 1774-76) as part of the network of local committees formed throughout the colonies to enforce the Continental Association, a boycott of British goods; coordinate militia activity; and manage local governance in the absence of royal authority.
Other very important matters that they attended to included corresponding with the New Jersey Provincial Congress and handling local security and loyalty issues.
A Sussex County Committee of Safety roster for 1775-76 appears in the “Minutes of the Provincial Congress and the Council of Safety of the State of New Jersey,” which also preserves the county committee returns.
According to those records, the Sussex County Committee of Safety elected in late 1775 included most of the men described below.
Also, at the time of the Revolutionary War, Warren County was part of Sussex County.
Here are the men who were the backbone of our county from the mid- 1700s:
• Mark Thomson of Marksboro. Colonel in the Sussex militia; later a delegate to Continental Congress. Known for organizing local defenses and provisioning troops. Later a brigadier general in the New Jersy militia.
• Maj. Moses DeWitt of Wantage. Prominent in militia; active in provisioning, oversaw militia drills and supply distribution; respected for his logistical skill on the frontier.
• Abraham Van Campen of Minisink. Prominent frontier leader, active in militia and local governance, coordinated with neighboring counties on defense against Loyalist and Native incursions.
• Peter Decker of Montague. Militia captain and community figure in the northern county
• Benjamin Depue of Walpack. Committee member, associated with the Minisink militia as officer, commanded local militia company; active in patrolling Delaware River crossings. Local administration oversaw provisioning and recruitment in the Delaware Valley settlements.
• Thomas Anderson of Hardwick. Early patriot leader in the county, served as justice of the peace; involved in enforcing Continental Association resolutions.
• Robert Ogden of Sparta/Newton. Lawyer, member of Provincial Congress.
• John Gustin of Walpack. Militia officer and committee participant. Participated in militia actions along the frontier; known for vigilance against Loyalist activity.
• Elias Van Bunschooten of Wantage. Dutch Reformed clergyman; patriot supporter.
• John Pettit of Hardyston. Committee member and justice of the peace, handled legal matters for the committee and mediated local disputes during the war.
• Robert Ogden of Hardyston. Influential lawyer and politician; also served in the Provincial Congress representing Sussex County.
• Samuel Tuthill. County political organizer.
• Henry Johnson. Patriot veteran.
• Jacob Hendershot of southern Sussex County.
• Col. John Seward of Hardyston. Later commander, 2nd Sussex County Militia Regiment.
• Benjamin Barton. Merchant and militia officer (this family had some stress between patriots and Loyalists).
James P. Snell, in 1881, published a book, “History of Sussex and Warren Counties.” The book shows the first meeting, as a part of the United Colonies, with the following people: William Maxwell, Benjamin McCullough and James Stuart of Greenwich; Edward Demont, Samuel Hazlet and William Debman of Mansfield; John Lowry, John McMurtry and William White of Oxford; Abraham Besherrer, Nathaniel Drake and Andrew Waggoner of Knolton; Casper Shafer of Hardwick; Archibald Stewart, Robert Price, John Stoll, Thomas Anderson, Jacob McCullum, Phillip Dodderer and Jacob Stoll of Newton; Jacob DeWitt and Joseph Harker of Wantage; Abraham Van Campen, Daniel Depue Jr, Moses Van Campen, Joseph Montague, Emanuel Hover, John C. Symmes and Joseph Rosenkrans of Walpack: Samuel Westbrook, Abraham Brokaw and Henry Hover of Sandyston; and Henry W. Cortright and John Cortright of Montague. William Maxwell of Greenwich was chosen chairman and Thomas Anderson of Newton as clerk.
According to Snell’s book, the first meeting was at the Sussex County Courthouse on Aug. 10 and 11, 1775.
Bill Truran, Sussex County’s historian, may be contacted at billt1425@gmail.com He is the author of “American Decision: Mohawk on the Delaware.”