Toms River Blockhouse Fight
Toms River was a prominent Patriot privateer center during the Revolutionary War. Cranberry Inlet (open from 1750-1812) provided direct access to coastal shipping lanes and it was the first safe harbor south of Middletown. After Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown in 1781, tensions grew on the shore, Loyalists retaliated locally and contraband networks expanded. Numerous pleas were made to Gov. Livingston and General Washington for protection and stability.
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18th c. Blockhouse - Image courtesy of Clipart etc
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On February 1782 Joshua Huddy, a Captain in the NJ militia, was sent to Toms River to command the defense of the village, the salt warehouses, and reinforce Monmouth County against Loyalist attack. Huddy had already survived an attack and attempted capture by Col. Tye and his brigade. The snapping point occurred March 16th, when Patriot privateers sailing out of Toms River captured a boat filled with contraband belonging to Loyalist privateer William Dillon. Dillon approached the Associated Board of Loyalists demanding retribution and an expedition against Toms River was arranged.
On the evening of March 23rd , the ship Arrogant, eighty men and three whaleboats entered the inlet and prepared for a dawn attack on Toms River. A band of forty local loyalists joined the expedition. The Patriots were alerted, but quickly overwhelmed. Nine died defending Toms River. The blockhouse, tavern, blacksmith shop, salt warehouses and all but two homes were burned down. Capt. Huddy escaped but was captured later that day and taken prisoner on the Arrogant. After being held in prison for two weeks, Captain Joshua Huddy was taken to Highlands and illegally hung by representatives of the Associated Board of Loyalists.
The incident created an international stir involving the King of Great Britain, the King of France and the new government of the United States. Negotiations on the Treaty of Paris stopped. George Washington prepared to hang a prisoner-of-war in retribution. After several months, the prisoner was released at the request of the King of France. Toms River was rebuilt, but the inlet closed during a storm in 1812.
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