196 EARLY HISTORY OF CAPE MAY COUNTY. 



and his son John Taylor reconveyed it for about £9, to buy his 

 wife Margery a calico gown, for which he was derided for his 

 simplicity." 



In the contest of our forefathers for independence, nothing praise- 

 worthy can be said of the other counties of the State, that would 

 not apply to Cape May. She was ever ready to meet the demands 

 made upon her by the Legislature and the necessities of the times 

 whether that demand was for money or men. Being exposed, in 

 having a lengthened water frontier, to the attacks and incursions 

 of the enemy, it was necessary to keep in readiness a flotilla of 

 boats and privateers, which were owned, manned, and armed by the 

 people, and were successful in defending the coast against the 

 British as well as refugees. Many prizes and prisoners were taken, 

 which stand announced in the papers of the day as credible to the 

 parties concerned.* Acts of valor and daring might be related of 

 this band of boatmen, which would not discredit the name of a 

 Somers, or brush a laurel from the brow of their compatriots in 

 arms. The women were formed into committees, for the purpose 

 of preparing clothing for the army ; and acts of chivalry and forti- 

 tude were performed by them, which were equally worthy of their 

 fa:me and the cause they served. To record a single deserving 

 act, would do injustice to a part ; and to give a place to all who 

 signalized themselves, would swell this sketch beyond its prescribed 

 limits. 



Of those who served in a civil capacity, no one perhaps deserved 

 better of his country than Jesse Hand. He was a member of the 

 Provincial Congress of 1775 and 1776, which, on the 21st of June, 

 in the latter year, at Burlington, resolved a new State govern- 

 ment should be formed. He was likewise a member of Council 

 in '79, '80, '82 and '83. He was selected by the county in con- 

 junction with Jacob Eldridge and Matthew Whillden, to meet the 

 convention at Trenton, on the second Tuesday of December, 1787, 



* Collins' Gazette, State Library. 



