On this day 250 years ago, 300 militiamen from Essex County, New Jersey under the command of Capt. John Blanchard raided Staten Island, New York to stop raids by British ships.
Source: https://www.westjerseyhistory.org/books/battlesmunn/partfive.shtml;
In the early hours of this day 250 years ago, according to one source, British General Donald MacDonald led the 1600 men of Royal Highland Emigrant Regiment on a night march north to cross the Cape Fear River and circle around the 1100 men of Col. James Moore’s 1st North Carolina Continental Regiment who were blocking the direct route south to Wilmington. Col. Moore then sent 200 Continentals to reinforce North Carolina Militia who were assembling to block the Highland Regiment’s march to Wilmington.
Another source asserts that MacDonald and Moore exchanged surrender demands on the 19th and MacDonald marched north on the 20th. But the historical record is clear that MacDonald’s Highland Regiment outflanked Moore’s blocking force to continue their march to Wilmington.
Sources: https://www.nps.gov/mocr/learn/historyculture/timeline-of-the-moores-creek-bridge-campaign.htm; https://amrevnc.com/moores-campsite/
On this day 250 years ago in Caroline County, Virginia, Captain Samuel Hawes organized the 9th Company of the 2nd Virginia Regiment with men from Caroline County.
Source: https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/2nd_Virginia_Regiment_(Revolutionary_War)
Samuel Hawes is the brother of my 4th great grandfather Isaac Hawes Jr. My ancestor was of age to serve in the Virginia Militia during the War and presumably did or at least I hope he followed his brother’s lead and served.
On This Day In The Revolution 
4 responses to “On this day 250 years ago in the Revolution — February 19, 1776”
Staten Islanders were so enraged at the New Jersey Militia’s appearance on the Island, they began to harass and threaten the soldiers with death. COL Nathaniel Heard had had enough. He arrested four prominent Loyalists: Richard Connor, Isaac Decker, Abraham Harris and Minah Burger and sent them to Elizabethtown, NJ, to await trial. All four were eventually acquitted. https://revolutionarywarstatenisland.com/2019/10/29/cattle-and-kidnappers-staten-island-in-the-spring-of-1776/
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Sad that we don’t have a record of your ancestor’s war service. I looked through my records but found nothing.
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Hi Ron, As you know it is “our” ancestor’s war service we are looking for. He presumably served in the Essex County Militia as almost all non-clergy men of his age were required to do, but in contrast to some Virginia counties, almost no militia rosters from Essex County have survived to today. So we should just assume that Isaac Hawes was in the Militia. His family was certainly Patriot and not Loyalist, although many families split their loyalties.
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Yes, of course. I knew it was “our” ancestor. I took the liberty of not drawing attention to myself since it’s your blog. I’m very proud of the fact we’re close cousins and so grateful for your knowledge of American history (which I love).
Speaking of split loyalties, I’ve corresponded for nearly 30 years with a “Vincent Family” from New York (not related to us) some of whose family members fled to Canada. Sheridan Vincent, one of their researchers, indicated that it was interesting to find them still there and prospering.
Thanks to genetic research, we’ve discovered a related family of “Vinsons” from N.C. who are also prospering. Since our line also changed the surname spelling decades prior to the revolution, it makes me wonder how many “Vinson” relatives served.
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