I have been doing some research on my area now that the frost has come and woods walking is a possibility, although dangerous this time of year. The mild weather has allowed for pleasant and "critter free" walks.
Growing up in South Jersey, everyone knows the battle of Chestnut Neck. However, the Little Egg Massacre was the "rest of the story" that is left untold.
This article tells me that the site of the main encampment was located on the Willets Farm: http://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/28/n...-battle-to-preserve-the-memory-of-others.html
This article makes mention of the Jillson Farm and the "Tuckerton Giants": http://www.tuckertonhistoricalsociety.org/uploads/6/8/7/1/6871754/giant_menwb-__steve_dodson.pdf
The maps located in this book do little to help me understand what unfolded here: http://books.google.com/books?id=JQ...EwAA#v=onepage&q="james Willets farm"&f=false
I am guessing that "Island Road" is now "Radio Road"?
It is mentioned above that the Willets Farm is on the NJ Register of Historic Places. The Willets Farm is mentioned to be the site of the current County Club Estates Development. The remainder of the farm looks to be covered by the Atlantis Golf Course. It also mentions that the Jillson Farm it is now the site of Harbourtown Estates Development. The NJ Register of Historic Places only shows a "Jillson Farm" as being listed.
State maps indicate that the area is now partly encompassed by the Great Bay WMA. I guess I am confused in the connection between the Willets Farm and the Jillson Farm (if there is any connection at all)? Are they the same site? 1930s aerials show several farms all in close proximity to another.
Another confusing aspect is the fact that both sites seem so historically important yet both sites have been developed. 1 site seems to be an Indian Burial Ground and the other was the site of a Revolutionary War massacre. The Willets farmhouse site is located inside the neighborhood and is basically just an empty grass covered lot. You could drive right by it and never even know it is there: http://jytangledweb.org/tuckerton/landmarks/leh_sites/willets_andrews_farmhouse.html Tax maps indicate it is still owned by the Affair at LEH Society, as mentioned in an above article.
My next trip will be to see what is left of the Jillson property which I believe is a small sliver of woods at the bottom of the Harbourtown Estates Development. I have seen a small gate and access to a reservoir back there. I wonder if that will allow access to the WMA?
Growing up in South Jersey, everyone knows the battle of Chestnut Neck. However, the Little Egg Massacre was the "rest of the story" that is left untold.
This article tells me that the site of the main encampment was located on the Willets Farm: http://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/28/n...-battle-to-preserve-the-memory-of-others.html
This article makes mention of the Jillson Farm and the "Tuckerton Giants": http://www.tuckertonhistoricalsociety.org/uploads/6/8/7/1/6871754/giant_menwb-__steve_dodson.pdf
The maps located in this book do little to help me understand what unfolded here: http://books.google.com/books?id=JQ...EwAA#v=onepage&q="james Willets farm"&f=false
I am guessing that "Island Road" is now "Radio Road"?
It is mentioned above that the Willets Farm is on the NJ Register of Historic Places. The Willets Farm is mentioned to be the site of the current County Club Estates Development. The remainder of the farm looks to be covered by the Atlantis Golf Course. It also mentions that the Jillson Farm it is now the site of Harbourtown Estates Development. The NJ Register of Historic Places only shows a "Jillson Farm" as being listed.
State maps indicate that the area is now partly encompassed by the Great Bay WMA. I guess I am confused in the connection between the Willets Farm and the Jillson Farm (if there is any connection at all)? Are they the same site? 1930s aerials show several farms all in close proximity to another.
Another confusing aspect is the fact that both sites seem so historically important yet both sites have been developed. 1 site seems to be an Indian Burial Ground and the other was the site of a Revolutionary War massacre. The Willets farmhouse site is located inside the neighborhood and is basically just an empty grass covered lot. You could drive right by it and never even know it is there: http://jytangledweb.org/tuckerton/landmarks/leh_sites/willets_andrews_farmhouse.html Tax maps indicate it is still owned by the Affair at LEH Society, as mentioned in an above article.
My next trip will be to see what is left of the Jillson property which I believe is a small sliver of woods at the bottom of the Harbourtown Estates Development. I have seen a small gate and access to a reservoir back there. I wonder if that will allow access to the WMA?
