Many people in New Jersey sided with the Tories and loyalist who supported the King; however Salem County residents decidedly sided with the Whig cause during American Revolutionary war times. The Whigs, also called Patriots and Rebels rebelled against British control. The leaders of the Whig party met in 1776 and declared the United States of America an independent nation.
During the 1700’s a large population of English Quakers who opposed violence inhabited Salem County, yet they supported the cause of the patriots. In March of 1778 Sir General William Howe ordered 1500 British troops to forage for food and horses in South Jersey. They met with considerable resistance from Salem County patriots and were turned back at the Battle of Quinton’s Bridge. The importance of this battle was it stopped the British from gaining access to the fertile fields of Salem and Cumberland counties.
The British retaliated against the Salem County militia by ordering a group of approximately 300 troops to invade the area and “spare no one – put everyone to death.” Following these orders General Charles Manwood arrived at the Hancock House at approximately 5am on March 21, 1778 where he knew the local militia was stationed, his troops bayoneted everyone inside, killing 10 and wounding 5.