In 1777, the New Jersey Assembly and Council of Safety, fleeing from the British, met in session at the Indian King Tavern in Haddonfield. It was during this time that the Assembly declared that New Jersey was no longer a “Colony," but was now the State of New Jersey. In addition, the Great Seal of the State of New Jersey was adopted by the legislature while at the Indian King Tavern. Additionally, both British and American forces were encamped at Haddonfield during the war, and additional troops marched through here during various campaigns. During 1778, the British army passed down King's Highway, while retreating from its defeat in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. General Lafayette, General Morgan, General Greene, General Wayne, and the Polish Count Pulaski are said to be among the leaders of the American Revolutionary War who stayed in Haddonfield during the war. At various times leaders of the British military, Sir Henry Clinton, Lord Cornwallis, and the Hessian Commander, Colonel von Donop, also passed through the village. In 1904, the Indian King Tavern became the first historic site purchased by the State of New Jersey. The Indian King Tavern in Haddonfield is also known for the crucial role it played in the battle for Fort Mercer during the American Revolutionary War. In 1777, the Hessians and British were camped in the area and used the basement of the Tavern as a jail cell for those arrested after curfew. Eighteen year old Jonas Cattell was one of those held in the basement. He overheard the officers planning an attack on Fort Mercer while he was confined. Upon his release, Jonas ran the ten miles over back roads to Fort Mercer, warning the outnumbered American Militia to plan and win the battle when the Hessians and British later attacked. Many of the sites from the period of the revolution still exist in Haddonfield, New Jersey and can be visited today.
Indian King Tavern Plaque
Haddonfield Chapter, NSDAR, Patriots, M-Z
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