Crosswicks Friends (Quaker) Meeting House
Crosswicks Friends Meeting House
15 Front St.
Map / Directions to Crosswicks Friends Meeting House
The Crosswicks Friends (Quaker) Meeting House was built in 1773. It was the third meeting house built at this location. The first was built of logs in 1693. [1]
On December 29, 1776, about 2,100 American Troops under General John Cadwalader stayed in and around this Meeting House. About 1 a.m. on January 2, 1777, Cadwalader received a letter from General George Washington, delivered by Dr. Benjamin Rush. The letter contained orders to march to Trenton to join other American forces there. Cadwalader rose from bed and put his troops on march towards Trenton, where they arrived at about 7 a.m.. Later that day, the Second Battle of Trenton was fought. [2]
In June 23, 1778, five days before the Battle of Monmouth, there was a skirmish here. During the fighting, the house was hit by three cannonballs. One of these hit the brick wall, leaving an imprint. This cannonball was saved and later mortared into the wall at the site of the imprint, as seen in the photo on the left. [3]
There is a plaque in front of the Meeting House with information about the history of the building, including its Revolutionary War use. It describes the difficult experience of the Quakers, with their pacifist beliefs, living in an area affected by fighting. The sign states, "During the Revolutionary War, the meetinghouse was occupied at various times by both Colonial and British forces, though meetings for worship were still held. Use as a wartime barracks was a challenge to the Quakers, as it was in such contradiction to [Quaker] peace testimony." [4]
