Monmouth Times

#ThrowbackThursday from the #MonmouthCountyArchives Division: Revolutionary War – Craig House

The footprint of the Revolutionary War survives in Monmouth County. During the legendary Battle of Monmouth, a small farm sat on the outskirts of the battlefield, with a farmhouse on the grounds which still survives today. The Craig House, easily accessible from Route 9 South in Freehold, was home to the Craig family, local residents who were forced to respond to events unfolding during the battle. Their experience epitomizes the way local citizens persevered and survived in times of crisis.

The Craig family’s roots begin in Monmouth County in 1695 when John Craig, Sr. purchased property on what is now the northeastern portion of Monmouth Battlefield State Park. A one and a half story home was built on the property in 1746 with a two story Georgian-style addition added in 1770. During the time of the Revolution, the house was occupied by his great-grandson John Craig, Jr. (ca. 1737-1824) and his wife Ann (ca. 1738-1824). During the Battle, on June 28, 1778, John was a part of the Continental Army and Ann was at home as British forces approached. Fearing for her own and her family’s safety, she fled the house with her children and fled west. She attempted to save the family’s silverware by placing it in a kettle and lowering it into a well, but it was later discovered by British forces who occupied the house, which they are believed to have used as a temporary hospital.

Like many other Monmouth County residents affected by the war, the Craigs did not abandon their home indefinitely. After British forces fled the area, John Jr. and Ann eventually returned to the house where they continued to farm for the next forty plus years. The home eventually passed into the Cowart family, descendants of the Craigs. Sold to the State of New Jersey in 1965, and now a part of Monmouth Battlefield State Park, the house is one of three remaining farmhouses on the battlefield. It tells the story of how a Monmouth County family got swept up in a battle for a nation’s independence.                                             

Source: Source: The Monmouth County Archives' "Facing Adversity: Monmouth Responds in Times of Crisis" Catalog: https://www.monmouthcountyclerk.com/.../exhibit-catalogs.../

Original source can be found here.