This year is a huge anniversary for all of us in New Jersey but particularly here in Union County. In 1664 King Charles II granted land in what is now the state of New Jersey to Lords Berkeley and Carteret. The capital of that new colony was named Elizabethtown after Lady Carteret. This was the beginning of our state and eventually the county seat we know as Elizabeth! During the War for American Independence, three major battles were fought right here in our own backyards- the final incursion began in Elizabethtown in January, 1780, and led to the decisive Battles of Connecticut Farms and especially Springfield in June of that year. Those confrontations marked the end of War for Independence in the northern colonies as the British realized victory was not possible here.
On Saturday Oct 18 and Sunday Oct 19 all three of these events will be commemorated by re-enactments at the sites of all three engagements. Here in Springfield we will see the forces of the Brigade of the American Revolution, representing both Crown and American forces, in a narrated re-enactment of the Battle of Springfield on Meisel Field at 10:30 AM on Saturday, Oct.18. Approximately 200 combatants will participate. After the event and lunch at St. James, the forces will be bussed to Union for the Battle of Connecticut Farms (during which Hannah Caldwell, the wife of Fighting Parson James Caldwell, was killed, the event shown on the county seal). Following such an exhausting day, the Brigade will return to their encampment at Liberty Hall to prepare for the march through Elizabethtown and the burning of the First Presbyterian Church on Sunday morning.
The weekend of Oct 18 and 19th is also Four Centuries in a Weekend and the Historic Cannon Ball House will be open from 1 Pm until 5 on Saturday and noon to 4 on Sunday for tours. To complete the fun and excitement of the event, visitors are invited to stroll from the Battlefield at Meisel Park to the Township's Fall Festival from 11 to 6 along Mountain Avenue. A really full weekend here in Springfield!
For information, please visit the website for the 350th at GoElizabeth NJ | Elizabethtown 350th or, for Springfield events, call 973 376 4784.