THE DRAWBRIDGE. 269 



bridge, the planks of which had been pulled up and the 

 draw raised. For this purpose they ripped off the planks 

 from an adjoining hay-house. Upon their approach 

 the militia rushed down with the greatest impetuosity, 

 and a small party from one of the regiments, happening 

 to be considerably advanced, caused them to retire with 

 the loss of four killed and several wounded." It would 

 appear from this that none of them came across, yet 

 years after, in regrading the public road, a few bits of 

 metal were found that seemed to indicate that an officer 

 had been buried on the north side of the creek. "Well, 

 it matters not, and patriotic Americans can only regret 

 that a great many more than four had not fallen in that 

 June skirmish. 



The Quakers about here were, almost to a man, very 

 lukewarm in the cause of independence, and very grudg- 

 ingly gave aid to the soldiers who defended the bridge. 

 They claimed to be non-combatants, and so were pas- 

 sive spectators of the stirring scenes enacted at Tren- 

 ton, Princeton, and Monmouth. Their caution prevent- 

 ed their suffering persecution, but it was far different 

 with the more outspoken Tories. One Isaac Pearson, 

 a Church of England man, was less fortunate than his 

 neighbors. He was too outspoken, and, wearing no 

 Quaker garb, was singled out as a dangerous man. 

 While at Hightstown, not far away, he was apprised 

 that soldiers were in pursuit. He rushed for his horse, 

 and just as he entered the stable was shot. 



He it was who built, some years before, a once famous 

 hostelry that stood within sight of the old bridge. 

 When the new road was laid out, about 1795, the tavern 



