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|A Journal--which has never been published, but of which a few copies
were printed for private circulation many years since--kept during the
Revolutionary war for the amusement of a sister, by Margaret Morris, of
Burlington, New Jersey, presents a picture of the daily alarms to which
a private family was liable, and of the persecution to which obnoxious
individuals were subjected. The writer was a patriot in principle and
feeling, but sympathized with the distresses she witnessed on both
sides. She had, however, no liking for warbeing a member of the Society
of Friends. Her maiden name was Hill. Her father, Richard Hill, had been
engaged in the wine trade, and lived long with his family on the island
of Madeira; her brother, Henry, accumulated a large fortune in the same
business, and died of the yellow fever in Philadelphia. Margaret
was eminently pious, and cheerful through many years of illness and
suffering. In this character she is best remembered by her grandchildren
and connections, among whom she was greatly beloved and venerated for
her example of Christian benevolence and humble reliance on Providence
in every trial. She was left a widow early in life, and died at the age
of seventy-nine, at Burlington, in 1816. The sister for whom the journal
was written was Milcah Martha Moore, the wife of Dr. Charles Moore, of
Philadelphia.
The following extracts are from the "Journal." December 16th, 1776:
"About noon this day, a very terrible account of thousands coming into
town, and now actually to be seen off Gallows Hill--my incautious son
caught up the spy-glass, and was running towards the mill to look at
them. I told him it would be liable to misconstruction, but he prevailed
on me to allow him to gratify his curiosity. He went, but returned much
dissatisfied, for no troops could he see. As he came back, poor Dick
took the glass, and resting it against a tree, took a view of the fleet.
Both were observed by the people on board, who suspected it was an
enemy who was watching their motions. They manned a boat and sent her on
shore.
"A loud knocking at my door brought me to it. I was a little fluttered,
and kept locking and unlocking that I might get my ruffled face a little
composed. At last I opened it, and half a dozen men, all armed, demanded
the key of the empty house. I asked what they wanted there; they
replied--'To search for a d----d tory who had been spying at them from
the mill.
"The name of a tory, so near my own door, seriously alarmed me; for
a poor refugee, dignified by that name, had claimed the shelter of my
roof, and was at that very time concealed, like a thief in an augerhole.
I rang the bell violently--the signal agreed upon if they came to
search; and when I thought he had crept into the hole, I put on a very
simple look and exclaimed--'Bless me! I hope you are not Hessians!'
"'Do we look like Hessians?' asked one rudely.
"'Indeed, I don't know.'
"'Did you never see a Hessian?'
"'No--never in my life; but they are men; and you are men; and may
be Hessians for aught I know! But I'll go with you into Colonel Cox's
house; though indeed it was my son at the mill; he is but a boy, and
meant no harm; he wanted to see the troops.'
"So I marched at the head of them, opened the door, and searched every
place; but we could not find the tory. Strange where he could be! We
returned--they greatly disappointed; I pleased to think my house was
not suspected. The Captain, a smart little fellow named Shippen, said
he wished they could see the spy-glass. So Dick produced it, and very
civilly desired his acceptance of it; which I was sorry for, as I often
amused myself looking through it.
"They left us and searched James Verree's and the two next houses; but
no tory could they find. This transaction reached the town, and Colonel
Cox was very angry and ordered the men on board. In the evening I went
to town with my refugee, and placed him in other lodgings. I was told
to-day of a design to seize upon a young man in town, as he was esteemed
a tory. I thought a hint would be kindly received; and as I came back,
called upon a friend of his, and told him. Next day he was out of reach
of the gondolas."
"Dec. 17th. More news! great news! very great news! (J. V.'s). The
British troops actually at Mount Holly! guards of militia placed at
London and York bridges--gondola-men in arms patrolling the street, and
diligent search making for fire-arms, ammunition, and tories--another
attempt last night to enter into R. Smith's house. Early this morning,
J. V. sent in, to beg I would let my son go a few miles out of town on
some business for him. I consented, not knowing of the formidable doings
up town; when I heard of it I felt a mother's pangs for her son all the
day; but when night came, and he did not appear, I made no doubt of his
being taken by the Hessians. A friend made my mind easy, by telling me
he had passed through the town where the dreadful Hessians were said to
be 'playing the very mischief,' (J. V. again); it is certain there were
numbers of them at Mount Holly, but they behaved very civilly to the
people, excepting only a few persons who were actually in rebellion, as
they termed it, whose goods, etc., they injured.
"This evening every gondola-man sent on board with strict orders not to
set a foot on the Jersey shore again--so far, so good."
"Dec. 27th. This evening about three thousand of the Pennsylvania
militia and other troops landed in the Neck, and marched into town with
artillery, baggage, etc., and are quartered on the inhabitants.
"An officer spent the evening with us, and appeared to be in high
spirits, and talked of engaging the English as a very trifling
affair--nothing so easy as to drive them over the North River, etc.; not
considering that there is a God of battle as well as a God of peace,
who may have given them the late advantage, in order to draw them out to
meet the chastisement that is reserved for them."
"Dec. 29th. This morning the soldiers at the next house prepared to
depart; and as they passed my door, they stopped to bless and thank me
for the food I sent them. I received it not as my due, but as belonging
to my Master, who had reached a morsel to them by my hand."