1775
A foundational political meeting took place at Ringo’s Tavern in Ringoes, NJ. Sixty citizens met to form the Hunterdon County Committee of Correspondence, a group tasked with coordinating resistance against British policies and facilitating communication between the colonies. The meeting was chaired by John Hart, who would go on to be one of New Jersey’s five signers of the Declaration of Independence. Ringo’s Tavern remained a vital meeting place throughout the war; it was later visited by figures like Governor William Livingston and the Marquis de Lafayette.
1776
After quiet negotiations with the Continental Congress's Committee of Secrecy, a plan was established to create a covert trade route with France. This would provide the fledgling Continental Army with essential military stores and gunpowder while France remained officially neutral.
1781
Following the decisive American victory at the Battle of Cowpens on January 17, the day of January 18, 1781, was spent in a desperate race. Brigadier General Daniel Morgan wasted no time celebrating. On this day, his troops began marching north toward the Broad River to avoid being trapped by Lord Cornwallis's main army. Morgan’s forces moved quickly to secure more than 800 British prisoners—some of Cornwallis's finest light infantry—who had been captured during the battle the day before. British Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton, having narrowly escaped the battlefield, reached Cornwallis’s camp on January 18 to deliver the shocking news of his total defeat.
2026 Commemorations in New Jersey
As of today, January 18, 2026, several commemorations are underway for the 250th Anniversary (Semiquincentennial):
- The Morris County Historical Society at Acorn Hall (Morristown) is hosting open house tours today following the recent rededication of their replica Revolutionary War cannon.
- The Millburn Free Public Library (Millburn) is hosting an ongoing exhibit titled “Revolution and Remembrances” as part of the RevNJ statewide celebrations.