New Jersey’s position as the state with the highest number of Revolutionary War battles had a strong impact on the community.
Many residents were divided politically.
Some remained loyalists, others supported the patriot cause, and many tried to avoid involvement altogether.
Look at the Battles and Skirmishes in the American Revolution map below. We’ve linked documents to illustrate the financial, political, and cultural effects of the war on New Jerseyans.
Revolutionary Struggle: War and Civilian Conflict in New Jersey
The map has been overlaid with materials from the various Revolutionary War-era collections at the New Jersey State Archives, including Damage Claims (SLE00003), Council of Safety Minutes (SZSAF001), Forfeited Estates (SDEA1006), and others. These documents provide additional insight into the many ways the conflict shaped life in New Jersey.
Amwell
Evidence against Amwell Torries (Robart Barns). February 5, 1777: For drinking to the King's health, success to General Howe and damnation to General Washington and the Congress and all their proceedings, Barns was called before the Council on March 19, 1777
Sussex County
Haddonfield
Burlington
Morris County
The map was originally created by David C. Munn in 1941 and was later revised by D. Stanton Hammond in 1965. It was published for the bicentennial in 1976 by the Bureau of Geology and Topography in the Department of Environmental Protection.
The documents shared in the map above are a result of a series of Revolutionary War era laws designed to confiscate the property of Loyalists. These were New Jersey residents who remained loyal to the British Crown and wanted New Jersey to remain under British governance.
Timeline of Events
The persecution of Loyalists began in 1776 and continued past the end of the Revolutionary War. See the timeline below for a brief overview.
An Act to Punish Traitors and Disaffected Persons Passes
Any New Jersey resident who obeys the British is a traitor.
Council of Safety Forms
This body was formed to counter Loyalists threats in New Jersey.
Act of Free and General Pardon passes
The act restored rights to Loyalists who would take an Oath of Allegiance.
Two Forfeited Estates Laws pass
The April law allows leasing of Loyalist Property. The December law allows sale of the seized property. The State raises over 1 million pounds British currency to sustain itself through these sales.
Estimated Damages Law passes
Appraised damages to civilian property by military forces during the Revolutionary War. Many appraisals date from 1786, and the assessed damages went unpaid.
Revolutionary War ends
Fighting ends, however laws against Loyalists remain in effect.
Sales of Confiscated Property Resume
These temporarily halted in June of 1781. They continue intermittently for several more years.
An Act to Punish Traitors and Disaffected
Obeying the King of Great Britain now makes you guilty of High Treason.
Based upon the severity of treasonous acts, the men and women found guilty could be charged with paying fines, jail time, or even put to death.
Forms of Guilt:
- Speaking Seditious Words
- Crossing Enemy Lines
- Rioting
- Unlawful Gathering
Council of Safety
In March 1777, the Council of Safety was created to counter the loyalist threat to the new state government.
The Council’s main task was “to expedite” state laws by interviewing suspected loyalists, administering oaths of allegiance, and confining persons believed to be dangerous to the government.
The Council was intended to last for six months. However, the legislature revised or renewed its charter five times, ultimately prolonging its existence for a year and a half.
The State Archives has the full collection of Council of Safety Minutes online.
An Act of Free and General Pardon
Suspected Loyalists took two oaths, the first renouncing loyalty to the King of Great Britain, and the second professing loyalty to the government of the State.
Though many took the oath, a large number of loyalists refused and their threat to the state’s security persisted.
Loyalists’ Forfeited Estates
The state began to confiscate loyalists’ estates, seeking to drive those who remained into exile, and to prevent those who had already left from ever returning.
On April 18, 1778 an act was passed for leasing loyalists’ real estate and forfeiting their personal property. Finally, on December 11, 1778, the legislature authorized the complete confiscation of all loyalist property.
The legislature temporarily stopped property sales in June 1781, but resumed them in December 1783 after the end of the Revolutionary War.
The forfeited estates laws affected anyone who had aided the enemy between April 1775 and October 1776, and had still not taken an oath of allegiance to the state.
The sale of confiscated property raised £1,350,000 for the state.
The entire collection of Forfeited Estates is online at the State Archives’ website.
Damage Claims
In order to enable the state legislature to devise a means for relief of New Jersey citizens who had suffered personal damages during the Revolutionary War, the Council and General Assembly passed an act on December 20, 1781 to procure an estimate of damages done in the state by the British troops or their adherents, by the Continental Army, or by the militia of New Jersey or of neighboring states.
The act authorized appraisers in each county to make inventories for each damage claim, and required them to file these inventories with the legislature at their first sitting after each annual election.
An amendment to the act, dated December 27, stipulated that the appraisers were to meet beginning in August 1782. However, the inventories date as late as 1786.
Claim filers did not receive any of the inventoried damages.
The State Archives has the full collection of Damage Claims viewable on their website.
Questions for Discussion
- What do these documents tell us about the lived experience during the Revolutionary War?
- Would you think it’s more important to protect your belongings or your freedom?
- How would you feel if your right to free speech wasn’t protected?
- Would you turn in your neighbor for being a Loyalist or Patriot? Why or why not?
Share your thoughts with us on New Jersey history.
In Partnership
An Online Exhibition from the NJ State Library, in partnership with the New Jersey State Archives.
