Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area
Johnson Ferry House: Washington Crossing State Park Battle of Monmouth Reenactment Hancock House Revolutionary War Officers
 
 
 
Crossroads of the American Revolution Guide - Delaware River

Greenwich Historic District
Greenwich Township 08323
Visit the Greenwich Historic District website

Tea Burning Monument - Greenwich Hisotric DistrictFounded in the 1680s, this little river port preserves the character of an 18th century village. The Tea Burning Monument, (Ye Greate Street), was erected in 1908 to commemorate Cumberland County's early patriotic fervor. Following the December 1773 destruction of tea in Boston Harbor, a merchant decided to try sending his cargo up the Delaware River for overland delivery to Philadelphia. When the brig Greyhound discharged its cargo at Greenwich, the tea was hidden in the cellar of a house in front of the market grounds. On Thursday, November 22, 1774, some 40 men disguised as Indians removed the tea chests, piled them in an adjoining field and burned the whole. Among the tea burners were two future governors of New Jersey, Richard Howell and Joseph Bloomfield.

Nearby is Cumberland County Historical Society's Gibbon House Museum [960 Ye Greate Street; Open April through December, Tuesday through Saturday noon to 4 p.m. and Sunday 2 to 5 p.m.; (856) 455-4055]. The 1730 dwelling, its barn and an adjacent doctor's office exhibit furnishings and tools of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Potter's Tavern [51 West Broad Street, Bridgeton 08302; Limited hours; (856) 455-4055] This small, pre-1767 clapboard building was a popular meeting place just before the Revolution, due to its proximity to the Cumberland County Courthouse. Tavern keeper Matthew Potter risked being charged with treason for allowing the young lawyers who frequented his place to post The Plain Dealer, a "wall sheet," or early newspaper. Their sheet appeared weekly between Christmas Day 1775 and March 1776. Among those who wrote articles were the same two future governors of New Jersey, Bloomfield and Howell, who had been active in the Greenwich tea burning. "e building has been restored and furnished as an 18th century tavern.


Back to the Delaware River




Nation Park Service             NJ Tourism

Division of Parks & Forestry
Crossroads of the American Revolution Association

PO Box 1364
Princeton, NJ 08542
Tel 609-633-2060
The Crossroads of the American Revolution National & State Heritage Area is managed by the Crossroads of the American Revolution Association (XRDS), a 501(c)3 non-profit.
 

Designed & Developed by: Robert Rosetta; AboutNewJersey.com


Copyrighted © 2010 Crossroads of the American Revolution Association.
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part of material
presented on this web site without written permission is prohibited.