under a Governor
of his choosing, Robert Barclay, the colony became a refuge for the
persecuted "Friends." It was no doubt due to the peaceful measures of
William Penn in his dealings with the Indians, that this colony was
free from all troubles with them. The last loyal Governor of New
Jersey--1763--was William Franklin, a natural son of Benjamin
Franklin, and a bitter Tory.

The struggle for independence was at this time interesting and
exciting, and behind the Governor was a strong party for
reconciliation with Great Britain. Besides the Governor's instructions
against independence, the Assembly had resolved on a separate petition
to the King.

Aware of this feeling in New Jersey, Congress sent that illustrious
trio, John Dickinson, John Jay, and George Wythe, to procure a
reversal of their determination. They were courteously received on the
floor, and urged in their addresses that nothing but unity and bravery
in the Colonies would bring Great Britain to terms; that she wanted to
procure separate petitions, but that such a course would break the
union, when the Colonies would be like a rope of sand. The Assembly
yielded to their entreaties, and on the 25th of June, 1776, Governor
Franklin, who opposed the action of Congress, was deposed,[76] and
William Livingston, a true patriot, was elected Governor, and
re-elected for fourteen years.

The intense excitement of this period in New Jersey roused many women
loyal to freedom and the independence of the Colonies to persistent
action. Among these was Hannah Arnett, of Elizabethtown, whose story
was first made public one hundred years after the date of its
occurrence.[77] The latter part of the year 1776 was a period of doubt
and despondency to the patriot troops. Although the Colonies had
declared their independence several months before, the American forces
had since suffered many severe defeats, and it seemed not unlikely
that Great Britain would be victorious in her struggle with the
new-born republic. On the 30th of November, Gen. Howe had issued his
celebrated proclamation offering amnesty and protection to all who,
within sixty days, should declare themselves peaceable British
subjects, and bind themselves to neither take up arms nor encourage
others to do so.

After his victory at Fort Lee, Lord Cornwallis marched his army to New
Jersey, encamping at Elizabethtown. His presence on New Jersey soil so
soon after Gen. Howe's proclamation, and the many defeats