Explore Our Revolutionary War History in Bedminster
The Township of Bedminster’s Historic Jacobus Vanderveer House & Museum River Road Park, 3055 River Road, Bedminster
Saturday September 19th at 1pm
"The Real Housewives of New Jersey: Early Women & Their Kitchen Gardens" with Lesley Parness
Independent scholar, garden historian and writer, Lesley Parness will offer a lively presentation about the early American women and their kitchen gardens. In the 1700s, kitchen gardens fed, healed, and clothed Early American families. The 18th century “huswife”; skill set included “physicke, cookery, distillation, perfumery, the making of wool, hemp, flax, dayries, brewing, baking”; and, of course - gardening. Growing plants both Native American and from their homelands, these women turned their soup pots into the” melting pot”; that is America and exemplified all the best qualities of plantswomen and patriots. Pre-registration required at https://register.communitypass.net/Bedminster.
About the Presenter - Lesley Parness has worked in public gardens in America and abroad for five decades. Before she retired, Lesley was Superintendent of Horticultural Education at the Morris County Park Commission, where she oversaw education at The Frelinghuysen Arboretum, Willowwood Arboretum, and the Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center.
Colonial Taverns of NJ: Libations, Liberty & Revolution
Additional Information
It happened in a tavern. New Jersey declared its independence from the British crown on the second floor of the Indian King Tavern in Haddonfield September 20,1777, according to Michael Gabriele, author of the book “Colonial Taverns of New Jersey: Libations, Liberty & Revolution.” Members of the General Assembly met in the tavern to declare New Jersey a “state”, not a “colony” in all communications. “Those were fighting words,” said Gabriele, who was the featured speaker during the August 15 open house of the Jacobus Vanderveer House. “That one-word changed everything. It truly meant breaking all ties to England.”
New Jersey had about 400 taverns during the Revolutionary War. They were hugely important not only as a place of respite for travelers, but also as a place where Patriots could meet without arousing too much suspicion, said Gabriele. For a while, Patriots, Loyalists and British soldiers met together to debate in taverns. News of the day flowed through taverns along with the rum. As tensions grew in the 1770s, debate and tolerance gave way to suspicion, hostility and spying. Most of the taverns are gone now. The tavern in Haddonfield in now a museum, but definitely worth a visit, Gabriele said.
Learn More
For more information, please visit the www.bedminsternj.gov or www.jvhbedminster.org or contact the Bedminster Township Municipal Offices on (908) 212-7000.
What Do You Get for a Man on his 276'th Birthday?
“Now, let’s blow something up!” boomed General Henry Knox as he celebrated his 276 th
birthday July 25 by firing his brand new cannon on the grounds of the Jacobus Vanderveer House in
Bedminster. The cannon is a gift from Paul Ferreiro, Bedminster Township Engineer, to the Jacobus
Vanderveer House and the Township in recognition of its role as home to the Pluckemin Artillery
Academy developed by Henry
The cannon presentation was part of larger event including lectures by Dr. John Seidel, who described
his role as the lead archaeologist in the excavation and recovery of artifacts from the site of the artillery
school. He also spoke about the life and legacy of Henry Knox and his crucial but often underrated role
in the American Revolution. He believes the Pluckemin Cantonment truly was the original
Saturday, July 25th Dr. John Seidel & W. Barry Thomson Lec
W. Barry Thomson
On July 25th the Jacobus Vanderveer House (JVH) Commission together with The Historical Society of Somerset Hills (THSSH) are pleased to present this rare opportunity to see two noted historians join forces to celebrate General Henry Knox’s birthday and America’s 250th birthday!
Lecture 1pm
Pluckemin Cantonment
Distinguished Archaeologist and Educator Dr. John Seidel and notable author and historian W. Barry Thomson will take you back in time to the 1770’s in Pluckemin and surrounding areas as they discuss the legacy of the Pluckemin Artillery Training Academy and the Continental Army’s journey through Somerset County.
Tour and Reception at JVH Immediately following Lecture
Dr. John Seidel
Dr. John Seidel
Lecture begins at 1 pm at Bedminster Town Hall, One Miller Lane, Bedminster, followed by a house tour, reception, and a special “behind the scenes” look at the Pluckemin Cantonment with Archaeologist Dr. John Seidel at the Jacobus Vanderveer House, former home to General Henry Knox, River Road Park, Bedminster. Special guest Henry Knox
Lecture begins at 1 pm at Bedminster Town Hall, One Miller Lane, Bedminster, followed by a house tour, reception, and a special “behind the scenes” look at the Pluckemin Cantonment with Archaeologist Dr. John Seidel at the Jacobus Vanderveer House, former home to General Henry Knox, River Road Park, Bedminster. Special guest Henry Knox and a very special cannon dedication. Admission is $25 per person and pre-registration is required at https://register.communitypass.net/Bedminster.
Make History Come Alive at JVH
Join the Knox Brigade!
Whether you want to dress in period garb, become a docent or just want to help us tell the story of our history. Join the Knox Brigade.
Contact us by signing in below.
What Heat? Crowds Celebrate America’s Birthday at Picnic and Pops Despite Soaring Temperatures
BEDMINSTER, NJ — It was July 4, 1776. A rider on horseback delivered a copy of the Declaration of Independence to the leaders of Bedminster Township and the Borough of Peapack and Gladstone. Standing on the front porch of the Jacobus Vanderveer House (JVH), one of the few Revolutionary War houses still standing, Mayor Larry Jacobs and Mayor Mark Corigliano read the Declaration, noting in particular the courage it took to sign such a revolutionary document at a time when it could cost you your life and livelihood.
Many visitors added their own signatures to copies of the Declaration with quills, which would have been used at the time. The house was open for tours and included reenactors in colonial costume. Betsy Ross talked about the first flag and Outwaters Militia talked about Captain John Outwater and the exploits of his Bergen County Militia Regiment. Outside the house, there were vendors selling food and drink accompanied by the patriotic sounds of the 25-piece John Luckenbill Pops Band. The Field of Honor, filled with flags purchased or donated by people wanting to pay tribute to someone special and those who served their country, was a beautiful and moving backdrop to the event attended by over 300 people.
For more information, please visit the www.bedminsternj.gov or www.jvhbedminster.org or contact the Bedminster Township Municipal Offices on (908) 212-7000.
Saturday August 15th: Colonial Taverns of New Jersey, Libations, Liberty and Revolution--1pm
Join Author Michael Gabriele as he reveals the crucial role played by taverns in 18th-century revolutionary America. His book, “Colonial Taverns of NJ: Libations, Liberty & Revolution” explores taverns as the seedbeds of the Revolution, the internet of the time, where people met, debated new ideas and, in many cases, joined militias to take up arms. Gabriele takes a deeper look at the significance of these local establishments and how in between brew and conversation, American history was shaped.
About the Author: A lifelong Garden State resident, Gabriele is a 1975 graduate of Montclair State University and has worked as a journalist, freelance writer and author for more than forty years. Gabriele is a member of the board of trustees for the New Jersey Folk Festival at Rutgers University, a member of the executive boards for the Allied Artists of America, New York, the Nutley Historical Society, the Theater League of Clifton, and serves on the advisory board of the Clifton Arts Center.
Pre-registration required at https://register.communitypass.net/Bedminster.
House Tours 12 - 4pm
Light Refreshments
Lecturer Reveals Real Purpose of the Declaration of Independence
BEDMINSTER, NJ — The Township of Bedminster’s Jacobus Vanderveer House (JVH)
continued its open house and speaker series June 20 with Lecturer Joel Farkas, who
shared fresh insights into the true meaning of our country’s foundational document.
What was the real purpose of the Declaration of Independence, what did “the pursuit of
happiness” mean and how did the Founding Fathers get the word out without the
internet? Farkas explored these and other questions.
“The real purpose of the Declaration was to explain to European monarchs what just
happened,” Farkas said. The target audience was Europe, because the Founding
Fathers wanted to explain their reasons for severing ties with England and that the
decision had not been taken lightly. “A decent respect for the opinions of mankind” is a
quote from the document highlighted by Farkas. The Founding Fathers knew that once
they passed the resolution declaring independence it meant war, because King George
III would never agree. Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” declared the King a “tyrant.”
That was “powerful stuff back then. Common Sense changed the thinking,” Farkas said.
Most are familiar with the phrase “unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness” from the Declaration. But what did “happiness” mean to
the Founding Fathers? To Thomas Jefferson, who wrote the Declaration, happiness
meant virtue and rising above one’s own self-interest, said Farkas, who added “leading
a virtuous life and doing good in the world” was the real meaning of happiness in the
Declaration.
With the British advancing in the summer of 1776, it was considered too dangerous to
publicize all the names of the 56 signers of the original Declaration. John Dunlap, a
printer in Philadelphia, printed 100 to 200 copies of the original Declaration with only
John Hancock’s name printed on it. These copies, known as the Dunlap Broadside,
were sent to colonial assemblies and legislatures, George Washington and the
army, and the European monarchies.
In January 1777, after Washington’s surprise victories at Trenton and Princeton,
Congress ordered a second authenticated printing of the document in Baltimore,
including the names of all the signers. The printer was Mary Katharine Goddard, and
these copies were known as the Goddard Broadside. It was very unusual to have a
woman publisher at that time. Copies were sent to all the states.
Joel Farkas, retired United States Army Officer, historian, lecturer, and collector of
original historical autographs, served as a National Park Service volunteer docent at
Washington’s Headquarters in Morristown, NJ. He has lectured at Rutgers University,
Fairleigh Dickinson University, libraries, historical societies, and various Daughter’s of
The American Revolution (DAR) chapters and Sons of The American Revolution (SAR)
chapters. Farkas has also served as the keynote speaker at the prestigious Society of
the Cincinnati, the New Jersey Society of Mayflower Descendants, and the Society of
Colonial Wars. He can be reached at joelfarkas@aol.com. His website is:
http://www.revolutionarywarlectures.com/
JVH will continue its open house and speaker series in July and August. The next
program will be a presentation on the Pluckemin Artillery Cantonment July 25. You can
register for that event at https://register.communitypass.net/Bedminster
For more information, please visit the www.bedminsternj.gov or www.jvhbedminster.org
or contact the Bedminster Township Municipal Offices on (908) 212-7000.
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Saturday June 20th 1pm Learn About the Declaration of Independence: America's Birth Certificate
Historian Joel Farkas explores the history leading up to the writing of the declaration, from the Magna Carta , the French and Indian War to July of 1776.
Pre-Registration is required at https://register.communitypass.net/Bedminster
Field of Honor Opens--Get Your Flag
The Township of Bedminster’s Jacobus
Vanderveer House (JVH) Commission is hosting
the 10th annual Field of Honor® at River Road
Park to celebrate our great nation, pay tribute
to the service men and women who have
preserved our freedom, and honor loved ones.
Over 200 3’ x 5’ American flags will be available
for adoption and displayed in the north field of
River Road Park in Bedminster beginning Sunday,
June 14th (Flag Day) through Tuesday, July 14th.
Flags can be purchased for $40 at the
Bedminster Municipal Building located at One
Miller Lane, Bedminster or $45 online at
Home - Township of Bedminster .
Each flag will be identified with your personal
sentiment. Flags may be picked up on
Wednesday, July 15 beginning at 4 pm or check
the box on the sponsor form to donate your flag
back to the Jacobus Vanderveer House.
Join us on Saturday, July 4th, from 12 noon to 3
pm at the Jacobus Vanderveer House as we
celebrate the Field of Honor® and America’s
250th Anniversary for a festive and family-
friendly picnic celebration that brings neighbors
together to honor this historic occasion. Enjoy
the patriotic sounds of John Luckenhill’s 20-piece
pops band, participate in historic games, and
meet historical reenactors. Food and adult
beverages will be available for purchase. Pro-
ceeds will support Jacobus Vanderveer House &
Museum.
Upcoming Events at JVH
Upcoming Events
4 July 26---America 250 at JVH--Noon to 3pm
18 July 26--Somerset Co History on the Green
25 July 26--Pluckemin Cantonment Lecture
15 August 26-New Jersey Taverns/Revolution
Upcoming Events
Join us for upcoming events, from community gatherings to special sales. We can't wait to see you there.
Sunday Supper Club
Every Sunday
Evenings in the Park
First Friday of the Month
Morning Brews & Views
Every Saturday
JVH as a Classroom of Living History
What daily life was like for the Vanderveers.
Some Of General Knox's Brigade Tell the Story of the Pluckemin Cantonment
The sound of Musket Fire!
How Henry Knox Saved the American Revolution
Speaker Paul Muir Headlined JVH Open House
Bedminster, NJ—Henry Knox, a humble bookseller from Boston, was the unsung hero of the all-important Battle of Trenton in December 1776, according to Paul Muir, who spoke at the Jacobus Vanderveer House (JVH) April 18. Muir, who is
a JVH Commissioner and Mayor of Bethlehem
Videos That Explain JVH
JVH is Located in Bedminster's River Road Park
Directions
From I-287 take Exit 22 (or 22B) Stay in right lane on Route 202/206 North and take River Road jug handle that crosses 202/206 and enters onto River Road (jug handle located at first light and before AT&T entrance). River Road Park entrance is immediately on the right.