Moorestown's Rich Revolutionary War History

It’s no secret Moorestown has a rich history, but did you know our quaint little town was once a crash pad for British and Hessian soldiers? Or that a famous general in the Continental Army spent a night at the Smith-Cadbury Mansion (before it was )? And that maybe—just maybe—Mr. “I Cannot Tell A Lie” also spent an evening here (but probably not)?

As we celebrate American Independence today (), let’s take a moment to look back at Moorestown’s part in Revolutionary history:

• During their retreat from Philadelphia in 1778, British and Hessian (German soldiers hired by the British Empire) soldiers briefly made camp in Moorestown, making life miserable for some of its residents during their stay. According to James Purdy in his book Moorestown, Old & New: A Local Sketch, the retreat of the army “brought sore tribulations to the people here and hereabouts … They pillaged right and left, wantonly destroyed property they had no desire to possess, ‘confiscated’ all the livestock they could lay hands on, and in various ways made themselves a grand nuisance.” (Maybe we should feel lucky our biggest problem today is .)

• Though the majority of the enemy soldiers encamped at the site of the old Friends Meeting House (by the cemetery on Main Street, across from the ), according to Moorestown Historical Society vice president Stephanie Herz, a number of them also crashed at a handful of unlucky Moorestown residences, most notably the “Hessian House” near the corner of Main and Schooley streets. A plaque on the house, which still stands, reads “Hessian House,” commemorating their memorable (and surely unwelcome) stay. Herz said Hessian General von Knyphausen and his retinue also took up temporary residence at the Smith Mansion, now the Smith-Cadbury Mansion, i.e. Historical Society HQ. 

• Moorestonians with enough advance warning of the British/Hessian arrival did what they could to get their livestock and valuable property out of sight. According to Purdy, one industrious farmer named “Middleton,” who lived on a plot on Central Avenue, west of Chester Avenue, narrowly avoided having his property plundered. “When he heard of the approaching visitation he dug a hole in the ground near his house, and hurriedly deposited therein his silver and such other belongings as he wished to save. He had just finished filling up the hole when the red coats appeared in sight down the road.” Worried the British would notice the fresh earth from his hole-digging and get suspicious, Middleton scattered shelled corn on the “buried treasure” and called the pigs and chickens to the spot. The Brits were none the wiser.

• Though the dates are somewhat fuzzy, Moorestown was also host to a more friendly visitor during the Revolution in the form of General Lafayette, of the Continental Army, who stayed a night (some time before the British/Hessian visit) at the Smith Mansion. According to Purdy’s retelling, Lafayette was on his way through New Jersey to join General Washington and was entertained as “an honored guest” at the Smith abode.

• Another persistent rumor (at least according to Purdy at the time he wrote his book—back in 1886) was that Washington himself had passed a night in Mo’town. Various accounts put him at the Smith Mansion, an “old house on Main Street below Church Road,” and a handful of other homes. But due to the multitude of conflicting accounts, and the dearth of substantive evidence to back up such claims, Purdy concludes it’s highly unlikely President Numero Uno ever stayed in Moorestown.

Know any other interesting Moorestown stories from the days of the American Revolution? Share them with us in the comments.