Hunterdon County NJ Archives Biographies.....Daniel BRAY, 1751 - 1819 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nj/njfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 9, 2008, 12:35 am Author: Rev. Joseph F. Folsom BRAY, Daniel, Patriot of the Revolution. Many patriots who in the long struggle did less for their country's freedom than Daniel Bray are to-day more honored and sung, although he, through many perils, gathered by night the fleet of boats by which Washington crossed the icy Delaware. Even had the battle of Trenton proved a disaster for the Americans, instead of the glorious victory it actually became, the dangerous descent of the swiftly flowing river, from the mouth of the Lehigh to Malta Island, a journey of fifty miles through long wintry nights, accomplished by Captain Bray and his compatriots, should at least give his name a place beside those of Paul Revere, Sergeant Jasper and Molly Pitcher. It has remained for history to set in proper light his service, and history has given him but a paragraph. If this brief sketch shall do no more than lead to an examination of the facts and traditions concerning this New Jersey Revolutionary soldier, it will have accomplished its immediate purpose. Afterward a just verdict will follow. Meanwhile, in the old-fashioned but well-cared-for cemetery at Rosemont are resting the remains of General Bray, marked by a well-preserved marble headstone, bearing only this too modest inscription, "Sacred to the memory of Daniel Bray, born October the 12th, A. D. 1751, and departed this life December the 5th, A. D. 1819, in the 69th year of his age." No military title is prefixed to the name of one who was a captain in the Revolution and a general of State militia afterward. No appropriate inscription to the memory of a patriot who performed heroic deeds in one war, and in the second war with Great Britain in 1812 stood in readiness with trained men to go when called. Next to him lies his wife, who died in 1840. The headstones are such as well-to-do people of the early part of the nineteenth century had placed above their graves, and were it not for the prominent part this soldier played in his country's history, no just complaint could be made about his last resting-place, but in view of what he did, it would seem that his services should be better memorialized. Before presenting some facts regarding his life, let us first see what has already been written about Daniel Bray. In the late Dr. George S. Mott's "First Century of Hunterdon County" the following passage is found: General Stirling was stationed with his troops opposite Lambertville, at Beaumonts, about three miles below New Hope. Redoubts were cast up, one on the top of the hill back of the schoolhouse at New Hope. General Washington rode up to inspect these, probably returning the same day. He ordered a stockade intrenchment to be made, and batteries to be posted. As it was important that he should have command of all the boats on the river, General Green was charged with the duty. He ordered General Ewing to send sixteen Durham boats and four flats down to McKon-keys' (Washington's crossing). These Durham boats were large and flat, pointed at each end, being used for conveying iron from Durham to Philadelphia. General Maxwell was directed to collect the boats high up the river, as there was danger of the enemy seizing them, and to place them under strong guard. This service was assigned to Captain Daniel Bray, afterward General Bray, of the New Jersey Militia, Captain Jacob Gearheart and Captain Thomas Jones, who collected all the boats on the upper waters of the Delaware and Lehigh, and brought them down to Coryell's ferry. The boats were hid behind Malta Island, just below what is known as "The Mills" on the Pennsylvania side. The island was densely wooded, so that the boats could not be seen by a reconnoitering party of the enemy, as it looked down the New Jersey heights. These boats were thus secured for the famous crossing of Christmas night. Captain Bray was a native of Kingwood, and was familiar with every boat and crossing along the river. Captain Gearheart was from Flemington. To procure these boats, to conceal their plans from the Tories who were lurking about, and who would betray them at the first opportunity, to cut out these flat boats in the darkness of those cold winter nights, to float them down amid the rocks and through the rapids, to keep them from being crushed or swamped, was a task most difficult and hazardous. But it was successfully accomplished. Cornwallis was informed of this enterprise, and sent a detachment to seize these boats, but they could not find them, or were afraid to venture across the river in the face of those frowning batteries. Dr. Mott also supplies a footnote for his assertion that the boats for the famous crossing were thus secured, which refers to "Dr. Studdiford's Manuscripts," and "History of Berks County," by W. W. Davis. General W. S. Stryker, in his "Battles of Trenton and Princeton," has this to say regarding the collecting of boats: The Durham boat was the ordinary means of transporting merchandise on the Delaware river, and of even sending iron ore from Oxford Furnace, in old Sussex county, New Jersey, to the market at Philadelphia during the forty years before and after the beginning of this century. A number of these boats had been carefully collected by men employed by Colonel Humpton, of the Pennsylvania Continental Line. For the last ten days Captain Jacob Gearheart, Captain Daniel Bray and Captain Thomas Jones, all officers of the Second Regiment, Hunterdon county, New Jersey, militia, had been busily employed in gathering all the boats of every kind on the upper waters of the Delaware and Lehigh rivers, and hiding them, with those previously collected, behind the thick woods of Malta Island, close to the west bank, and at the mouth of Knowles creek, where they were entirely hidden from the Jersey shore. These boats had been kept under careful guard and were now brought down some two miles to McKonkey's ferry, the selected place for the crossing. This author appends a footnote, which reads as follows: "An affidavit of John Clifford on file in the War Department, Washington, D. C, states that he assisted Captain Bray in gathering twenty-five boats, and that the party met at Baptisttown, Hunterdon County, N. J., about three miles from the Delaware River, to make their plans for that object." Snell's "History of Hunterdon and Somerset Counties" also refers to Captain Bray's services in this enterprise, and quotes Dr. Mott's language. These passages embrace about all that history has said about this patriot, but enough has been presented to prove that he was the leading spirit in the special work of securing the boats, though others accompanied him, and bore the same rank. Tradition has considerable to say about that memorable trip up-country, detailing many incidents which can never be either proved or gainsaid, but the plain facts of the case are forever established by the affidavit of John Clifford, made in 1838, for the benefit of Mary Bray, who was at that time petitioning for a pension on the basis of her deceased husband's Revolutionary services. It is as follows: John Clifford, born January 10, 1749 (old style), states, November, 1838, that during the war he was a lieutenant of militia, and lived in the same neighborhood with Daniel Bray. The first tour of duty they performed together was when three companies were sent from Baptist-town. in Hunterdon county, to Easton, Pennsylvania, to collect all boats and water craft along the Delaware from Easton to Sherrods ferry, near Frenchtown, in order to facilitate the passage of the American army across the Delaware. The witness also said he and Bray performed another tour of duty together, meeting on the occasion at Ringoes. Lieutenant Clifford, in the company of Captain Gearheart and Daniel Bray, in command of a company then going to Elizabethtown, were completing their service. He also saw Bray in command of a company on his way to Monmouth. Before relating the tradition of the expedition for the boats, as handed down among General Bray's descendants, a brief biography of his life would be timely. Daniel Bray, according to the record in his family Bible, was born October 12, 1751, married, May 14, 1772, and died December 5, 1819. His family was of Scotch origin. His father was James Bray, who lived near Baptisttown, and who in a will recorded at Trenton in 1758, mentions a son Daniel (a minor) to whom he bequeathed land. His grandfather was Rev. John Bray, who is mentioned as serving on a jury in Middletown, Monmouth county, in the year 1684. This clergyman and his wife, Susanna, conveyed land to the Baptists at Holmdel, where a church was built, and where he preached in 1711. James Bray aided in establishing an "Old School Baptist Church" at Baptist-town, and there in all probability young Daniel Bray attended as a boy, as he afterward did as a man. It is said that he spent several years on the river as a "waterman," handling boats. This experience was valuable to him in after life. He was popular and energetic and early known as a leader in the cause of freedom. He married, on May 14, 1772, Mary Wolverton, daughter of Dennis Wolver-ton, whose house still stands, far down the lane back of the Kingwood Methodist Church. They drove to Ringoes for the ceremony. The bride was twenty-two years of age, having been born November 2, 1750, and the groom twenty-one. Soon after the wedding they settled on a tract of timber land west of the King's Highway, in Kingwood, where they both lived till death. The children of this union were: Elizabeth, born January 24, 1775, married Edward Rittenhouse, December 18, 1791; Delilah, born February 1, 1777, married Jonathan Rittenhouse, July 10, 1796; John, born May 25, 1779, died January 29, 1818; Jonathan, born June 25, 1781, married Elizabeth Kuhl, February 14, 1805; Hannah, born April 28, 1783, married Jonathan Blackwell, October 25, 1801; James, born August 2, 1785, died March 16, 1786; Susannah, born December 6, 1786, married Israel Batemen, May 20, 1820; Andrew, born December 12, 1789, married Sarah, daughter of Elisha Rittenhouse (date unknown); Sydney, born December 15, 1791, died June 2, 1803; Wilson, born December 21, 1793, married Mary West, daughter of Thomas, December 4, 1816; Daniel, born July 20, 1795, married Elizabeth Kirk, of Philadelphia, February 1, 1827; Garner, born December 15, 1797, died January 15, 1798; and Mary, born October 10, 1801, died April 25. 1812. Their first home was built of logs, and from his log house as lieutenant and captain the young husband went forth on his monthly tours in the cause of freedom, being sometimes under the command of superior officers of the Second Regiment of Hunterdon County, and at others under the command of officers of the Continental regulars. In the petition for a pension before mentioned his widow stated that, with it, she was filing three commissions granted to her husband during the war, one as second lieutenant, another as first lieutenant, and a third as captain, the last signed by Governor William Livingston. She said that "he served all his regular monthly tours, from the commencement of the war to its termination, hired no substitute, nor missed a tour when his turn came." She stated that through age and infirmities she was unable to specify the particular services, but she thought that he was in a tour at Princeton in the beginning of winter, just before the birth of her child, which was in February, 1777, and that he was about three months at the camp at Paramus, without returning home, and as captain during the time. As the daughter of Dennis Wolverton, of Kingwood, she was married, May 14, 1772, to Daniel Bray, by Rev. Mr. Fraser, of the Church of England, who at that time resided in Ringoes, township of Amwell, Hunterdon county. These tours were apparently the regularly recurring expeditions of the New Jersey militia, to reconnoitre, to attack outlying posts of the enemy, to join in battle with the Continentals, or to do special military work as occasions demanded. It appears that various officers and companies took turns in going out, and in the interims of their service, they attended to their farms or other vocations. Perhaps the cause was never in as much peril as it appeared to be at dark periods, for behind the visible regular army were always the reserves of State militia, ready at critical junctures to fill up the gaps, while meanwhile sustaining at home the resources of the country. When Daniel Bray left home for his monthly tours, his slave, Joseph, attended to the farm and stock, and protected the family. Joseph and his wife, Phillis, lived to a great age. In a corner of the old "Rittenhouse" Cemetery, now Rosemont, is a stone inscribed, "in memory of Joseph, a faithful colored servant of Daniel Bray, Sr." It is said that General Bray never allowed the colored people in his service to be called slaves—they were always servants. He gave them an opportunity for religious and educational improvement. He built this particular couple a cabin a hundred yards south of his own house, and it was still standing up to recent times, though now a pear tree and a well are all that remain to indicate the spot. The ire of the general was once aroused by a rough practical joke played on the old negro, long after the war. Some dull wags wrote a cruel message on his wall with phosphorus, telling him he would be lost, and the shock laid him down in bed. There are sworn affidavits on file at Washington showing that Captain Bray was in service at Paramus, Passaic, Woodbridge, Passaic Falls, Springfield, Monmouth (where he fought in the battle), Byers Mill (where he helped capture about ninety wagons with plunder), Eliz-abethtown Point (as lieutenant, before the Declaration was signed), New Brunswick, Quibbletown and Germantown. Two of the affidavits refer to his being a captain in the battle of Monmouth. It is evident that he was very active as a soldier, and frequently away from home. After the war he settled down to hard work, clearing and improving his large farm. Old people have related to a grandson of the general's, who is still living, how passing by the farm they used to see the stalwart veteran in the fields, and hear from him always a cheery greeting. He built the house which still stands at Kingwood about the year 1800, and also the substantial stone barn, which is as solid as a fort. The old blacksmith shop where he had his horses shod still remains, though long since abandoned. At Prallsville, a well preserved old stone store, where he obtained his supplies, is still standing. General Bray was of striking appearance, and dignified in his bearing, so much so that when he with his wife, before the marriage of his son, Wilson Bray, came down the lane dressed in blue coat and trousers and buff vest, his prospective daughter-in-law, Mary West, from an upper window, according to her own confession, fell to trembling, and became very nervous. Mrs. Susan Sargent, a granddaughter, once thus described his appearance as being "A very large man, not very tall, but powerfully built, with a rather prominent nose and generous ears." She remembered seeing him "only in his military suit, with his epaulets and brass buttons on his coat, kneebuckles, with sash and sword at his side, and with his high-topped boots and spurs, and his large military coat thrown back over his shoulder, with his cocked hat set on his beautitul [sic] white hair, he was a magnificent looking man." He wore a seal on his watch fob. The epaulets here spoken of were for years owned by Miss Elizabeth K. Bray, a granddaughter, together with his captain's epaulets, his flint and his Masonic emblems. He was an officer of Unity Lodge in 1788, and the first lodge of Hunterdon county is said to have met in his house. No painting of General Bray has yet been brought to light, though there is one of his wife in the possession of a descendant. An eye witness related to Stacy B. Bray this incident in his grandfather's life. When the militia was training at Ringoes, about 1812, with special zeal in view of the war, then threatening with Great Britain, General Bray, as commander, was driving about on his fine military horse directing operations. He noticed that Captain John Lambert was about to touch off the cannon, and said: "Don't shoot yet, my horse is a little treacherous." He then spurred his steed, but almost immediately the salute was fired, and with a rear the startled animal threw the rider past his head, to which, fortunately, the general clung, and landed on his feet in front. He drew his sword and said, with great heat: "What do you mean by disobeying orders in that way?" But Captain Lambert dryly replied: "If we are going to have war, your horse had better get used to the smell of gun-powder." The tradition, or, better, the traditional details, of the gathering of the boats were related by the late Stacy B. Bray, never before having appeared in print to his knowledge. The story, according to the narrator, has been related before many a fireplace in the old days, and among the families of the Murfits, the Boyds, the Merricks, the Parrys, the Hoaglands, the Brays and others on both sides of the river. "Tradition," says Mr. Bray in this connection, "may or may not be true. When, however, tradition, is based on historical data and sworn testimony, it is accepted." The story in brief is as follows; After a council of war held in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, which is identified with the- one held at the Merrick House, west of New Hope, about December 20, a trooper was sent across the ferry operated by Abram and John Coryell, located where Lambertville is now situated, with a letter to Daniel Bray, Kingwood. It had been finally decided to make an attack on Trenton, and when one of the council had expressed a doubt as to the probability of securing enough boats Washington had said: "Leave that to me." Then he said he knew a young fellow up in Kingwood named Daniel Bray, one of his trusted officers, who had never failed in any duty given him to do, and that he lived near the river and knew every ford and ferryboat from Coryells to Easton. He would bring all the craft needed in good time. It must be remembered that the boats used in the crossing from Trenton to Pennsylvania on December 8 were all down stream below Trenton Falls and were to be used for simultaneous crossings at Bordentown and Trenton, while Washington would cross at McKonkey's ferry, eight miles above Trenton. It would have been impossible to get the boats up stream under the circumstances, hence others must be brought down from above. The trooper proceeded six miles north from Coryells to Kingwood, where at midnight he aroused Captain Bray, who, after ordering his horse saddled, returned with the orderly to Coryell's ferry, where, it is alleged, Washington met him. It is said that John Coryell ferried Washington over, and that he introduced his brother Abram to the general at the "Ferry Hotel," and that Washington was provided with an upper room, where he gave the young captain his instructions with regard to the boats. He told him to secure every boat on the Delaware from the Lehigh river down, and expressed his confidence in him. Bray said he would try, and then started off in the night to find his helpers. He first rode to the home of Captain David Jones, four miles inland, and from there to Flemington, where he roused up Captain Gearheart. They were informed of the project and requested to pick out men for it. They met at Ringoes, and then finally at Baptisttown. They went northward in three section of companies, breaking up into small groups as though on a hunting expedition, carrying flint-locks, dressed in linsey suits, and wearing rabbit and 'coon skin caps. They kept inland, not approaching the river till near the Lehigh. From thence downward they cut out by night the boats of every ferry, the Durham boats, and all other craft suitable for transporting the army. It was a perilous undertaking, as every one who has come down the Delaware rifts at night knows. Rocks and shoals must be avoided, the treacherous rapids must be descended carefully, with the river running from six to eight miles an hour. When there is added the cold wintry night, with exposure to biting winds, on a dark and icy river, the danger is intensified. But it was successfully accomplished. According to the affidavit, Captain Bray's company brought twenty-five boats. These were hidden behind Malta Island (once near the present Lambertville, but since washed away by the river), which with its dense timber shielded them from observation. When they were wanted that Christmas eve they were floated down eight miles (not two, as General Stryker says,) to McKonkey's, where they did memorable and effective service in transporting to victory the troops of Washington. The boats played a very prominent part in the attack on Trenton. For all time Washington crossing the Delaware will be one of the most dramatic incidents of the great struggle. Art has fixed it upon canvas, history has dwelt upon it. But few eyes beheld that little band of men risking life and health through the long nights. bringing the boats to Washington. The office of the Adjutant-General of New Jersey contains the following record of Daniel Bray, who has been celebrated in song and story for securing the boats on the Delaware river in 1776 for the use of Washington: Daniel Bray was commissioned second lieutenant, Company of Foot, Second Regiment, Hunterdon county, New Jersey Militia, Colonel Joseph Beavers, August 31, 1775; lieutenant, Captain Gearheart's company, Second Regiment, Hunterdon County, New Jersey Militia, Colonel Joseph Beavers; first lieutenant, Captain Gro-wendyke's company (Second Company, King-wood) of Foot, Second Regiment, Hunterdon county. New Jersey Militia, Colonel Joseph Beavers, June 30, 1776. In command of his company detailed to collect boats and other river craft on upper Delaware river, for General George Washington's army on their retreat through New Jersey from New-York, fall of 1776. He was at battles of Millstone, New Jersey, February, 1777; Germantown, Pennsylvania, October 4, 1777, and Monmouth, New Jersey, June 28, 1778; captain of Fourth Regiment, Hunterdon county, New Jersey Mililia, Colonel John Taylor, October, 1778; captain Second Regiment, Hunterdon County (New Jersey) Militia, Colonel Joseph Beavers, June 30, 1779; captain Sixth Company (Kingwood), Second Regiment. Hunterdon County (New Jersey) Militia, April 12, 1780; captain company of New Jersey State Troops; served to the close of the Revolution. In 1903 Joseph F. Folsom wrote "The Ballad of Daniel Bray," which has been frequently reprinted. It may be seen in "Patriotic Poems of New Jersey," compiled by W. C. Armstrong, and in "Historic Trenton" by Louise Hewitt. J. F. F. Additional Comments: Extracted from: MEMORIAL CYCLOPEDIA OF NEW JERSEY UNDER THE EDITORIAL SUPERVISION OF MARY DEPUE OGDEN VOLUME III MEMORIAL HISTORY COMPANY NEWARK, NEW JERSEY 1917 This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/njfiles/ File size: 23.6 Kb This file is located at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nj/hunterdon/bios/bray-d.txt