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Originally published in 1939
Some of this information may no longer be current and in that case is presented for historical interest only.
Edited by GET NJ, COPYRIGHT 2003
JOCKEY HOLLOW, NW. on Washington St. from Park Pl. to Western Ave.; W. to jockey Hollow Rd., 2.5 m. (road well marked), extends along the early roads between New Vernon, Mendham and Morristown. A large amount of work has been done by the Civilian Conservation Corps in re-creating typical log huts and other units of the Continentals' camp grounds of 1779-80 and 1780-81. From old maps and war records the locations of trails and roadways have been charted. Signs guide visitors to sites occupied by various brigades, to a reconstructed hospital hut and to other points of interest. Lead bullets flattened by human teeth have been found on the camp site. Soldiers who had been caught stealing food from nearby farms customarily chewed on a bullet as the lash was laid on their bare backs as many as l00 times or more.
It was here that the grave mutiny of some 2,000 veteran troops of the Pennsylvania Line occurred on Jan. 1, 1781. Poorly fed and clothed, unpaid for twelve months, convinced that the recruiting officers had deceived them on the terms of enlistment, and angered because new recruits were being offered the handsome bounty of three half joes ($26.43), the men seized six field-pieces and prepared to march to Philadelphia for collective bargaining with Congress. In a brief skirmish the mutineers killed one officer, and several men were wounded before the leaders forced a dissenting minority to join them. General Wayne attempted to intervene, but the popular commander was warned that he would be put to death if he fired his pistols. He was assured that the men would willingly take his orders if the British should attack. With two colonels, Wayne accompanied the men as far as Princeton, where a form of arbitration was agreed upon that released most of the men from service. Meanwhile, Sir Henry Clinton had sent two emissaries to the revolters, offering a handsome sum if the men would lay down their arms. No less angered by this reflection on their Revolutionary loyalty than by their grievances against Congress, the mutineers turned over the British agents to Wayne, who promptly executed them. A small granite block under a great oak marks the GRAVE OF CAPTAIN ADAM BETTIN, who resisted the revolt.
THE JOCKEY HOLLOW WILD FLOWER TRAIL (entrance L. from jockey Hollow Rd., 0.1 m. SW of junction with Camp Rd. and opposite parking area) is a loop of 1.3 m. through meadows, swamp and wooded hillsides bordering Primrose Brook. Along the footpath are native flora. Bridges and other structures 'are few and simply designed.
THE WICK HOUSE (open 9-5 daily), NE. corner Mendham-New Vernon Rd. and Jockey Hollow Rd., was built in 1746 by settlers from Long Island. Its long sweeping roof line, single chimney, and low eaves are clearly the heritage of Southold and Southampton. Characteristic also is the use of hand-hewn shingle siding on the front of the house and clapboarding on the other three sides.
Capt. Henry Wick of the Colonial cavalry lived here, but it was his daughter who made history for the farmhouse. One winter day, so the story goes, Miss Temperance Wick was returning on horseback after summoning a physician for her mother. Colonial troopers tried to commandeer her favorite white horse. "Oh, surely," Tempe is said to have remonstrated, "you will let me ride him home first!" With that she brought down her whip on the horse's flanks and he took the hill at a gallop. At the farmhouse, the girl led the horse through the kitchen and into her bedroom. The soldiers came, searched the barn and nearby woods, and left. Another version is that Tempe rode her horse straight into the house without stopping to dismount. Conceding the liberal dimensions of Colonial door-frames and the delicate proportions of Miss Wick, the question remains: Who opened the door -- Tempe, or the horse?
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