When we think about the American Revolution, we often picture the familiar stories of Washington, the Continental Army, and the struggle for independence. But the Revolution was also a deeply personal and complicated conflict, and New Jersey was at the heart of it. Battles and skirmishes took place across the state, while its residents faced difficult choices about loyalty, freedom, and the future of the new nation.
These stories come to life in a special way in our upcoming program on September 2 at 7pm, New Jersey’s Revolutionary Rivalry: The Untold Story of Col. Tye & Capt. Huddy featuring historian Rick Geffken.
This talk explores the extraordinary clash between Col. Tye, a runaway slave who became a formidable Loyalist fighter, and his Patriot adversary, Capt. Joshua Huddy. Their bitter conflict culminated in Huddy’s extralegal hanging, an event so shocking it sparked an international crisis. George Washington threatened to execute a British prisoner in retaliation, a move that could have derailed the Paris Peace Treaty negotiations. Ultimately, the intervention of Queen Marie Antoinette helped avert disaster, shaping the course of history in ways few realize.
Through this presentation, attendees will gain fresh insight into the complex human stories behind the Revolutionary War—stories of loyalty, courage, and moral dilemmas that went far beyond the battlefield. It’s a rare opportunity to explore how individual actions in New Jersey rippled across the globe, influencing diplomacy and the birth of a nation.
You can also explore this fascinating period through books about New Jersey and the American Revolution. Here is a selection available with your Livingston Library card.
The American Revolution in New Jersey : Where the Battlefront Meets the Home Front
This book explores the intense and prolonged Revolutionary War conflict in New Jersey and its impact on everyday residents. Through nine essays, the collection examines the tensions between Patriots and Loyalists, debates over freedom and slavery, and the ways the fighting divided communities. Together, the essays reveal how the Revolution transformed New Jersey both on the battlefield and at home.
American Revolution on the Jersey Shore by Michael S. Adelberg
Adelberg explores the often-overlooked Revolutionary War on the Jersey Shore. Local Patriots and Loyalists fought their own six-year conflict, while residents seized economic opportunities through salt-making and privateering, battled smugglers and Pine Robbers, and hunted British ships along the coast.
Colonial Taverns of New Jersey : Libations, Liberty & Revolution by Michael C. Gabriele
Gabriele explores the vital role taverns played during the American Revolution. More than places to eat and drink, they served as gathering places for Patriots and Loyalists, recruitment centers, meeting places, and even headquarters for George Washington and his troops. One Haddonfield tavern was also the site where New Jersey declared its independence from Britain.
The Enemy Harassed : Washington’s New Jersey Campaign of 1777 by Jim Stempel
Stempel brings to life a crucial but often overlooked period of the American Revolution. Following Washington’s daring victories at Trenton and Princeton, the book chronicles the fierce fighting that continued across New Jersey as American forces and local militias battled the British in a series of skirmishes and major engagements.
New Jersey Hessians : Truth and Lore in the American Revolution by Peter T. Lubrecht
Lubrecht explores the history—and myths—surrounding the German troops hired by Great Britain during the American Revolution. Thousands marched across New Jersey, leaving behind stories ranging from the headless Hessian of the Morristown Swamp to the mysterious Ramapo Mountain people. Lubrecht separates fact from fiction to reveal the real experiences of these often-misunderstood soldiers.
The Revolution on Raritan Bay by John Schneider
Raritan Bay was more than a body of water during the American Revolution–it was a front line. Its villages, farms, and ports became places where Patriots, Loyalists, and those in between clashed in a struggle that reshaped the colonies. Smugglers, privateers, and spies used its waters and inlets to move men, messages, and supplies. Families were torn apart, neighbors eyed one another with suspicion, and violent raids brought the war directly to the doorsteps of New Jersey residents. Historian and television host Schneider uncovers these overlooked stories, weaving together local accounts with the broader fight for liberty.
Revolutionary New Jersey : Forgotten Towns and Crossroads of the American Revolution by Robert A. Mayers
Mayers uncovers lesser-known battlefields, encampments, and Revolutionary War sites across more than 100 present-day New Jersey towns. Drawing on firsthand exploration and original documents, Mayers brings forgotten stories and places to life, revealing the important role New Jersey played in the fight for independence.
1778 : The Revolution in New Jersey by Michael P. Gorman
Gorman focuses on a pivotal year when the Revolutionary War began to shift in favor of the American cause. The book explores New Jersey’s critical role in the conflict, including the British evacuation of Philadelphia, the Battle of Monmouth, and the growing importance of the American-French alliance. Gorman shows how events in New Jersey helped transform the Revolution from a desperate struggle into a credible fight for independence.
State of Revolution : My Seven-and-a-Half-Year Journey Through Revolutionary War New Jersey by Al Frazza
Frazza chronicles the author’s remarkable journey to visit and photograph nearly 650 Revolutionary War sites across New Jersey. Along the way, he uncovers stories of famous figures like George Washington and Benjamin Franklin as well as ordinary residents caught in the conflict, sharing fascinating discoveries and humorous experiences from his years of exploration.
Taking Sides in Revolutionary New Jersey: Caught in the Crossfire by Maxine N. Lurie
Lurie examines the difficult choices faced by New Jersey residents during the Revolutionary War. Through the stories of Patriots, Loyalists, neutrals, refugees, prisoners, and those who changed sides, Lurie reveals the human cost of a conflict that divided families and communities and made New Jersey one of the war’s most heavily contested regions.
—Archana, Adult Services & Acquisitions Librarian