The Capture of Richard Stockton and John Covenhoven

In the early months of the American Revolution, Richard Stockton was among the most important men in New Jersey. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence. He came within one vote of being the first Governor of New Jersey. In late November, with the British Army marching toward his home in Princeton, Stockton accepted the invitation of his friend, John Covenhoven, to stay at Covenhoven’s home in Freehold (named “Federal Hall”). Covenhoven was Monmouth County’s most prominent delegate in the New Legislature and one of the drafters of New Jersey Constitution.

The Capture of Stockton and Covenhoven

In the middle of the night on November 30, 1776, a party of New Jersey Volunteers probably commanded by Lt. Colonel Elisha Lawrence (formerly of Upper Freehold) and guided by Chrineyonce Van Mater of Middletown, entered John Covenhoven’s house and captured Stockton and Covenhoven. The leaders were taken to Perth Amboy (now occupied by the British), loaded in irons, and transported to a common jail in New York. While confined, a well-to-do Monmouth County Loyalist showed “friendship” to Stockton and Covenhoven, presumably bringing them provisions. The Loyalist was Daniel Van Mater, brother of Chrineyonce.

A month later, James Webster, a British officer, wrote Elisha Lawrence about Stockton. Lawrence’s battalion occupied Freehold at the time. General William Howe, the British Army’s commander in chief, had pardoned Stockton after he signed a British loyalty oath. Webster spoke with Stockton who "has informed me that his horse & bridle was taken from the ferry by some people under your command." Webster instructed Lawrence that "you will restore the said horse & such effects as shall come within your department, to the said Mr Stockton, at the house of John Covenhoven in Monmouth."

After the Capture of Stockton and Covenhoven

Stockton’s capture and release caught the attention of William Smith, the Attorney General of the New York’s Loyalist government. On January 2, 1777, Smith recorded that "Mr. Stockton flew with John Covenhoven, a member of the new assembly, to Monmouth, and was there taken by the regulars. It is supposed he went there to be apprehended… for they had a fair retreat to Philadelphia."

Stockton recovered the property he left in Freehold and headed back to his home, Morven, in Princeton. As this was happening, the British quit their occupation of western New Jersey following defeat at the Battle of Princeton. Stockton was again in land held by the New Jersey Government. He was disgraced and his health was in decline. In April 1777, he attempted to recover a horse he left at Covenhoven’s house, but the horse was with Abiel Aiken across the state in Toms River; Stockton likely never recovered it. Stockton lived out his remaining years quietly in his home in Princeton; he died in 1781.

John Covenhoven also signed a British loyalty oath, presumably after Stockton, and was allowed to return home. On March 4, 1777, Covenhoven petitioned to appear before the New Jersey Assembly, a body of which he was technically still a member. His appearance is recorded in the minutes of the Assembly:

He was called in and heard respecting being taken prisoner by the Tories & carried to New York; and it appearing by Mr Covenhoven's own confessions that he had taken oaths of Allegiance to the King of Great Britain, & had given security to remain inactive during the present contest between Great Britain and the United States of America - Resolved, the Mr. Covenhoven has rendered himself unfit to take his seat in this house -- and that the seat be vacated accordingly.

A new election was ordered to fill his seat. Covenhoven did not “remain inactive” for very long. He returned to public life in 1778 as a purchasing agent for the New Jersey government. He co-founded the Monmouth County Whig Society in spring 1781, and was re-elected to the New Jersey Assembly later that year.

Chrineyonce Van Mater stayed in Monmouth County during the period of Loyalist rule in December 1776, and into January 1777. Major (soon to be Colonel) Asher Holmes led a militia posse that attempted to capture Van Mater but Van Mater’s exceptional horse riding skills allowed him to narrowly escape. Van Mater reportedly lept two fences and rode through a deep stream in order to lose his pursuers. Van Mater was captured on his return home in early 1778. In June 1778, he was tried for his role in the capture of Stockton and Covenhoven. The results were reported in the Pennsylvania Gazette:

At the court of Oyer and Terminer lately holden in the county of Monmouth, the Grand Jury found a bill of indictment against Cyrenus Van Mater for giving information to the enemy and thereby being the cause of their taking Hon. Richard Stockton, Esq., and John Covenhoven, Esq., in the month of December 1776. Van Mater put himself upon his trial, and the jury found him guilty; the court thereupon sentenced him to pay a fine of £300 and to suffer six months imprisonment.

Van Mater was jailed in the county prison beneath Monmouth Court House in Freehold. However, Van Mater was soon released by the British Army which swept into Freehold immediately prior to the Battle of Monmouth.

We hear that the enemy in their late passage through that country released Van Mater; who, after having piloted them [the British Army] through his neighborhood, went off with them to New York, leaving a large real and personal estate behind him, which we presume will be forfeited for his crimes.

Van Mater returned to Monmouth County again in 1780 and was captured again with a large quantity of counterfeit money.

Caption: Richard Stockton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was captured by Loyalists in November 1776 while staying at the home of John Covenhoven of Freehold.

Related Historic Site: Morven Museum and Gardens

Sources: Monmouth, Page in History (Freehold: Monmouth County Bicentennial Commission, 1976) p 6; Franklin Ellis, The History of Monmouth County (R.T. Peck: Philadelphia, 1885), p204; Gregory Palmer, Biographical Sketches of Loyalists of the American Revolution (Westport, Conn. and London, 1984) p 888. Rutgers University Special Collections, Loyalist Compensation Applications, D96, AO 13/19, reel 6; Library of Congress, Early American Newspaper, New Jersey Gazette, July 7, 1778, reel 1930; David Hackett Fischer, Washington's Crossing, NY: Oxford UP, 2004, p164-5; William Dwyer, The Day is ours! - November 1776 January 1777: An Inside View of The Battles of Trenton and Princeton (New York: Viking Press, 1983) p 34-5; New Jersey State Archives, Dept. of Defense, Loyalists Collection, New Jersey Volunteers, box 3,  uncataloged #2; Eric Shirber, "The King's Friends in Monmouth County," Monmouth County Historical Assoc. Newsletter, vol. 5, Jan. 1975; William Smith, Historical Memoirs of William Smith: From 26 August 1778 to 12 November 1783 (New York: Arno, 1971) p 60; The Library Company, New Jersey Votes of the Assembly, March 4, 1777, p 91-2; Daniel Van Mater to David Forman, Rutgers University Library Special Collections, Neilson Family Papers; Richard Stockton to David Forman, New Jersey State Museum, Manuscripts Collection; Franklin Ellis, The History of Monmouth County (R.T. Peck: Philadelphia, 1885), p108-11; Paul Smith, et al, Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774–1789 (Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 1970) vol. 19, p 313; Library of Congress, Early American Newspaper, New Jersey Gazette, reel 1930; Rutgers University, Special Collections, Loyalist Compensation Applications, Coll. D96, PRO AO 13/112, reel 11; Pennsylvania Gazette, July 14, 1778; Library of Congress, Early American Newspaper, New Jersey Gazette, reel 1930.