Revolutionary War

Elizabeth Covenhoven's Testimony in the New Jersey Gazette

The Wednesday August 12, 1778 edition of the New Jersey Gazette contains an extraordinary story of the suffering of one individual at the hands of the British.  Her name was Elizabeth Covenhoven, and her story is told through transcribed court testimony in the Newspaper.  

Elizabeth Covenhoven Article

Mrs. Elizabeth Covenhoven was 74 years old in 1778.  She owned a farm in Freehold, New Jersey.  On June 26, 1778, General Sir Henry Clinton of the British army claimed her house as his headquarters. (The Battle of Monmouth would take place two days later on June 28th.)  The General "...promised on his honour that everything she had should be protected and nothing injured."  The image of this text comes from the transcribed article in volume 2 of "Documents relating to the Revolutionary history of New Jersey, Newspaper Extracts" p.343.  This series, Extracts from American Newspapers Relating to New Jersey, covering 1704-1782, is part of the State Library's Genealogy Collection (A 974.9 N5.2).  You can find volumes of the series digitized online.  Click the image to go to the digitized volume 2!

Horses and Cattle

Mrs. Covenhoven noticed a soldier leading her horses away.  She protested to an Aid on the General's staff that "...she could not spare them...", but they were still taken away. She was promised they would be returned.  They never were.  Next, she noticed her cattle, including her milk cows were being driven off.  (Mrs. Covenhoven protested especially for the milk cows because "...they [the Covenhoven family] must go without milk themselves if their cows were taken away...").  Again she went to an Aid to complain.  However, before anyone could order the soldiers to return the cattle, they were all killed or driven off.

Here, you damned old rebel, with one foot in the grave!

After the loss of her horse and cattle, Mrs. Covenhoven was pressured by General Sir Henry Clinton and his Aids to remove valuable furniture and goods from hiding and place them in the house for safekeeping.  A wagon under guard was sent with a "Negro wench" to fetch the goods.  When they returned, Mrs. Covenhoven was denied access to the wagon.  By the next morning, everything of value was gone.  Mrs. Covenhoven applied to Sir Henry directly to take the remainder of items, which were "...scattered on the ground...".  An Aid escorted her to the guards watching over the remaining items and left her to pick them up, saying "...here you damned old rebel, with one foot in the grave, take them."

Sleeping on a door in the milk room and losses

Mrs. Covenhoven's bed for two nights was a cellar door in her milk room.  She was not even given a coverlet!  When the British left her farm, "...her house was stripped of her beds, bedding, the cloaths of her whole family, and every thing of value."  The farm had been similarly deprived.  Mrs. Covenhoven said that only a single officer who took fifty pounds of her butter offered payment.

William Covenhoven's Will

Although this was an ordeal for Elizabeth, the family was wealthy and able to recover from the looting of their farm while it was used as Sir Henry Clinton's headquarters.  Her husband, William, died in early 1790 (his will was probated in March) and left a very detailed will, giving bequests to numerous children and grandchildren.  Elizabeth is not mentioned in the will, which indicates that she pre-deceased her husband.  The couple had six sons named in the will, William, Joseph, Benjamin, David, Albert, and Isaac.  They also had four daughters named in the will, Mary, Hendricka, Ellinor, and Elizabeth.  There are also numerous grandchildren, some mentioned by name.  The bequests given are in the form of money (sometimes hundreds of pounds, British currency), land, and goods.  These bequests indicate that between 1778 and William's death in 1790, they were able to recoup their losses and resume their comfortable life.  The abstract of William's will is published in Calendar of New Jersey Wills, volume VII 1786-1790, pages 55-56.  This work is in the State Library's Genealogy Collection (A974.9 N5.2) and is also digitized (click on the image).

Covenhoven to Conover

Imagine my shock when I could not find Elizabeth's story represented in a few notable Monmouth County histories!  In both "This Old Monmouth of Ours" by William Stockton Hornor (A974.946 H816) and "History of Monmouth County, New Jersey" by Franklin Ellis (A974.946 E47), it is mentioned that Sir Henry Clinton used an area farm as headquarters.  Both connect the farm to William Conover and his family.   Who was this?  When I checked the Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey Index by Kenn Stryker Rodda (A974.9 G323), I found my answer.  Conover is the anglicized form of Covenhoven.  I also learned this old Dutch name has many spelling variations.  The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey index is a fantastic resource for spelling variations if you are having difficulties locating your ancestor!

Historic Houses of New Jersey tells Elizabeth's Story

I found a book in our collection that confirmed through details of Elizabeth's story that more modern authors referred to the family as "Conover", rather than Covenhoven.  In his book Historic Houses of New Jersey (J728 M657), author Weymer Jay Mills relates the same details shared in Elizabeth's testimony.  In addition, the author tells us that a neighbor of the Conovers, Dr. Thomas Henderson wrote an article for the New Jersey State Gazette "...shortly after the Revolution..." describing Elizabeth's suffering at the hands of the British.  This book is part of our Jerseyana Collection and has been digitized.  Click on the image to learn more about the Hankinson Mansion.

I hope you enjoyed learning more about a New Jersey resident during the Revolutionary War and how you can use the State Library's Genealogy Collection and other collections, to learn more about your ancestor's life during this time period!