Hancock House (Lower Alloways Creek Township, New Jersey) facts for kids
|
Hancock House
|
|
Hancock House, in 2010
|
|
 Location in Salem County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 3 Front St., Lower Alloways Creek Township, New Jersey |
|---|---|
| Area | 2.5 acres (1.0 ha) |
| Built | 1734 |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000393 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | December 18, 1970 |
The Hancock House is a very old and important building in New Jersey. It is located in a place called Hancock's Bridge, which is part of Lower Alloways Creek Township in Salem County. This house is famous because of a significant event that happened there during the American Revolutionary War in 1778. Today, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, meaning it is a special historical site.
Contents
History of the Hancock House
The Hancock House was built in 1734. It was made for Judge William Hancock Sr. and his wife, Sarah. The house is built with a special brick pattern called Flemish bond. This pattern uses bricks of different colors.
You can even see the year the house was built, 1734, in the brickwork. The initials of William and Sarah, W S, are also part of the design. William Hancock Sr. passed away in 1762. He left the house to his son, William Hancock Jr., who was also a judge.
The American Revolutionary War and the House
The Hancock House played a role in the American Revolutionary War. This war was fought between the American colonies and Great Britain. It was a fight for America's independence.
In March 1778, British forces were active in the area. On March 18, British troops led by Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Mawhood raided a nearby town called Salem. A few days later, on March 21, another British group planned a surprise attack.
The Surprise Attack
Major John Graves Simcoe led about 300 British soldiers. These soldiers were from the 27th Regiment of Foot and the Queen's Rangers. They marched through a marsh and crossed Alloway Creek to reach the Hancock House.
Around 5:00 AM, they entered the house. Inside, between 7 and 30 American militiamen were sleeping. The British soldiers surprised them. Some militiamen were killed, and others were captured.
Mistaken Identity
The British soldiers were very determined during the attack. They believed that Judge William Hancock Jr., the owner of the house, was away. However, he was actually at home. The American forces had taken over his house for their use.
Sadly, Judge William Hancock Jr. was badly hurt during the attack. He was a Loyalist, meaning he supported the British side. This was a tragic mistake by the British troops. All the remaining American soldiers in the house were taken prisoner.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Salem County, New Jersey
- List of the oldest buildings in New Jersey
External links
- The Story of the Hancock House
Hancock House
