Ewing 250

Faden, William. Plan of the operations of General Washington, against the Kings troops in New Jersey, from the 26th. of December, to the 3d. January 1777. London, 1777. Map. https://www.loc.gov/item/gm71005421/

A hidden gem in Ewing's western section of town is current day Birmingham Park.  It is situated at the intersection of Bear Tavern Road/Grand Ave with Upper Ferry Road.  A historic marker indicates the significance of the site which marks a turning point in our Revolutionary history.  The marker states:

"Near this site, in the early morning hours of December 26, 1776, General George Washington divided his Continental Army of 2,400 men for a two-pronged, surprise attack on the Hessian garrison in Trenton.  One column under the command of General Nathanael Greene, approached the city from the northwest by way of Pennington Road.  The other column, led by General John Sullivan, marched down the Old River Road (Grand Avenue - Sullivan Way) and entered Trenton from the southwest.  This brilliant strategy resulted in a major military victory and became the turning point of the American Revolutionary War.  Washington's resolve to take Trenton was a triumph!"

The site is beautifully maintained by the West Trenton Garden Club.

Also at the site is a Blue Star Memorial By-way marker - a tribute to the Armed Forces of America. Dedicated by the NJ Dept. of Transportation and the West Trenton Garden Club. The Blue Star Memorial Highway program are highways, byways, and markers in the U.S. that are marked to pay tribute to the U.S. armed forces. The National Garden Clubs, Inc. started the program after WWII.

Pre-Ewing Hamlets

During the late Colonial time period and Revolutionary years, the lands that make up the current township of Ewing were composed of five hamlets.

• Greensburg > Wilburtha
  Named after the William Green family, one of Ewing's earliest settlers.
• Birmingham > Trenton Junction > West Trenton
  The small village at the junction of today's West Upper Ferry Road and Bear Tavern Road.
• Cross Keys > Ewingville
  Located at the junction of today's Pennington, Upper Ferry and Ewingville Roads and named after the Cross Keys Inn which was situated where the 7-11 stands today.
• Carleton (near the Ewing Presbyterian Church) > Ewing
  Named after Israel Carle, Captain of the Hunterdon County Militia light horse troop. His family farm was on the land on either side of Carlton Ave. He is a Revolutionary War patriot buried in the Ewing Church Cemetery.
  
• Brookville (Asylum Station area near Trenton Psychiatric Hospital)

A presentation by historian/author William (Larry) Kidder and colleague Roger Williams on October 19, 2025 titled "Just After the Crossing: Washington's Night March to Trenton."  This event kicked off the 250th Celebration of the founding of the U.S. for the Ewing, Hopewell Valley and Lawrence, New Jersey communities. Learn how the nine-mile march guided by Patriot militiamen after crossing the Delaware River became the turning point of the American Revolution to help relieve 'the times that try men's souls.

This presentation was sponsored by the Ewing Township Historic Preservation Society, the Hopewell Valley Historical Society - the Hopewell Museum, and the Lawrence Historical Society. 

Coming soon. Brief biographical descriptions of the 37+ Revolutionary War soldiers who lie here.

BACKGROUND

The initial piece of land which grew to eventually become known as the Ewing Church Cemetery was purchased and set aside as a burial ground in 1709 by local area residents. The early gathering of people worshipping there was known as the Hopewell Church. The church and cemetery are situated on a bend in Scotch Road in current day Ewing Township and it is a site rich in both history and tradition.  Hundreds of veterans lie here, from the Revolutionary War to the Vietnam War.

The oldest portion of the cemetery contains the graves of at least  37 Revolutionary War veterans. The number is not exact - some markers are missing or illegible due to the passage of time. Fortunately, around the American Bicentennial, the graves of these soldiers were additionally marked with ground markers which aid in identifying the various patriots.

There is also a Memorial that lists 37 Revolutionary War patriots, given in memory of Edward Rankin Gainsborg Sr. which was dedicated in 2004, stating "In Honor of Those Known and Unknown Soldiers of the American Revolution Who Rest in this Church Yard."

At this late date, it is extremely difficult to find all of the headstones of the patriots as many have disintegrated. The markers that were added are much more readily visible.

John Burroughs (cemetery marker) (cemetery marker)
(1754 - April 28, 1842)
Sgt in the Hunterdon County Militia*^^
Revolutionary War

Israel Carle (cemetery marker)(cemetery marker2)
Israel Carle, a local teen and horseman, was Captain of the Hunterdon County Militia light horse troop. He first joined the light horse troop (cavalry) for Middlesex County as Hunterdon did not have one; but soon climbed the ranks, becoming captain, and forming the light horse troop in Hunterdon.  His family farm was on the land on either side of Carlton Avenue. He is buried in the Ewing Church cemetery.  (1757-1822) ^^  Learn more.

Benjamin Clark, Jr.

John Dean (cemetery marker)
CAPT UPDYCKE'S CO 2 REGT
Revolutionary War
died September 11, 1831

William Green (cemetery marker 1) (cemetery marker 2)
PVT. HUNTERDON COUNTY MILITIA
Revolutionary War
died October 30, 1815*

William B. Green (cemetery marker) (cemetery marker)
PVT. CAPTAIN MOTT'S CO. Hunterdon Militia
Revolutionary War
Born July 19, 1762 - died Jan 13, 1847*

William Richard Green (cemetery marker) (cemetery marker)
William Richard Green was the grandson of William Green I and lived on the land that is the current day Blooming Groove. He was in the Hunterdon Militia. According to historic documents and writings of the Ewing Township Historic Preservation Society, he was at the crossings of the Delaware (as verified by his wife Liz’s widow’s pension, in a statement from her brother Sergeant Burroughs.) He served as a guide/assistant during the Christmas March due to his familiarity with the land.^^
William R. Green is buried in the same row as William Green I in the Ewing Church Cemetery and has a Revolutionary marker on his grave.
PVT. CAPTAIN MOTT'S CO
Revolutionary War
born in 1756 ^^ and died January 6, 1822*

John Guild (cemetery marker 1) (cemetery marker 2)
PVT. HUNTERDON COUNTY MILITIA WAR
Revolutionary War
died March 25, 1825*

Benjamin Hendrickson (cemetery marker)
PVT. CAPT TUCKER'S CO 1 REGT
Revolutionary War
died Jan 24, 1832 

Thomas Hendrickson (cemetery marker)
PVT CAPT MOTT'S CO 1 REGT, Revolutionary War
Died July 7, 1822

Amos Howell (cemetery marker)
WAGONMASTER, QUARTERMASTER DEPOT
Revolutionary War
died February 16, 1819

Daniel Howell (cemetery marker) (cemetery marker)
CAPT. CAPTAIN MOTT'S CO 1ST REGIMENT
Revolutionary War
DIED FEBRUARY 27, 1812*

Ezekial Howell (cemetery marker) (cemetery marker)
CAPTAIN MOTT'S CO. 1ST REGISMENT, HUNTERDON++

Hezekiah Howell (cemetery marker)
HUNTERDON COUNTY MILITIA
Revolutionary War 

Israel Howell (cemetery marker)
PVT CAPTAIN MOTT'S CO 1 REGT
Revolutionary War
born Jan 14, 1758 - died April 5, 1787 

John Howell (cemetery marker)
PVT. HUNTERDON MILITIA
Revolutionary War
died June 29, 1779

John Howell (cemetery marker) (cemetery marker)
CAPTAIN TUCKER'S CO., 1ST REGIMENT HUNTERDON++

Peter Howell (cemetery marker) (cemetery marker)
CAPT. CARHART'S CO 2ND REGIMENT
died December 14, 1812*

Timothy Howell (cemetery marker)
FOUR HORSE TEAM
Revolutionary War

William Howell (cemetery marker)
PVT. CONTINENTAL LINE
Died August 17, 1812*

Benjamin Jones (cemetery marker) (cemetery marker)
PVT.

Joshua Jones (cemetery marker)
PVT. CONTINENTAL LINE
Revolutionary War
died 1817*

Ralph Lanning, Jr. (cemetery marker) (cemetery marker)
PVT. 1ST REGIMENT, HUNTERDON COUNTY MILITIA
Revolutionary War
(1759 - 1843)*

Ralph Lanning, Sr. (cemetery marker)
1ST LIEUTENANT, HUNT'S CO REGT NJ MILITIA
Revolutionary War,
(1723 - 1800)*

Benjamin Moore (cemetery marker)
PVT. CAPTAIN SCOTT'S CO 2ND REGIMENT
Revolutionary War
(1718 - 1792)

Israel Moore (cemetery marker) (cemetery marker)
PVT. CAPTAIN MOTT'S CO 1ST REGIMENT
Revolutionary War
died March 4, 1829*

Jesse Moore (cemetery marker)
PVT. CAPTAIN MOTT'S CO 1ST REGIMENT
Revolutionary War
Brother of Sackett Moore ##
(1750 - 1839)*

*Sackett Moore (cemetery marker) (cemetery marker)
PVT. CAPTAIN MOTT'S CO 1ST REGIMENT
Revolutionary War
Brother of Jesse Moore ##
died January 29, 1820*

William S. Moore (cemetery marker)
PVT. CAPTAIN TUCKER'S CO 1ST REGIMENT
Revolutionary War
died February 3, 1823

Richard Palmer (cemetery marker)
TEAMSTER CAPTAIN DURROW'S TEAM BRIGADE
Revolutionary War
died June 1, 1808*

Joseph H. Purdy (cemetery marker)

Andrew Reeder (cemetery marker 1) (cemetery marker 2)
LT. CAPTAIN MOTT'S CO. TRPS
WAGONMASTER HUNTERDON COUNTY MILITIA*
Revolutionary War
Born April 17, 1755 died April 14, 1824

Isaac Reeder (cemetery marker)
WAGONMASTER HUNTERDON COUNTY MILITIA
Revolutionary War
died September 25, 1874

John Reeder (cemetery marker)
PVT. PHILLIPS REGT NJ MILITIA
Revolutionary War

Stephan Rose (cemetery marker)
CONTINENTAL LINE

Amos Scudder (cemetery marker)
ENSIGN CAPT MOTT'S CO 1 REGT
Revolutionary War
died August 11, 1824

Joseph Tindall (cemetery marker 1) (cemetery marker 2)
SGT. CAPTAIN MOTT'S CO 1ST REGIMENT
Revolutionary War
died June 13, 1812

SOURCES

Revolutionary War New Jersey: the Ultimate field Guide to New Jersey's Revolutionary War Historic sites! from section on Ewing Church Cemetery. (denoted with an asterisk)

Crossroads of the American Revolution: People

Ewing Then and Now: remembering veterans of the Revolutionary War by Helen Kull.  May 1, 2018; Updated Jan 11, 2022 (denoted with a double caret ^^)

Official Register of the Officers and Men of New Jersey in the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783 by William S. Stryker, Adjutant General. Printed by authority of the Legislature. Trenton, N.J. Wm. T. Nicholson & Co. Printers. 1872. Transcribed at https://www.americanwars.org/new-jersey-revolutionary-war.htm (denoted with a ++) Patriots identified using the Stryker text which consisted of little more than names and units, are not necessarily those in the cemetery because they lack sufficient documentation.

Find A Grave Contributor submitted grave photos, memorials, GPS locations, biographies and more.  Memorials generally include birth, death and burial information.   Its currently owned by Ancestry.com and its scope is international. (denoted with a ##)

Ewing Church Cemetery markers (photos taken August 2025)

What's in a name?

It's helpful to look at a map for a better understanding of George Washington's plan of attacks at Trenton. Current day maps won't do, of course, because there have been numerous name changes from road names of the time to the road names that we know today.  Bear Tavern Road, River Road...  Listed below are a few of the pertinent roads with changes if applicable.

• Bear Tavern Rd. | Grand Ave. | Sullivan Way (Rte. 579) ← ← Old River Road | Lower or River Road
• Scotch Rd. (Rte. 611) | Parkway Ave. (Rte. 634) ← ← Scotch Road
• Pennington Rd. (Rte. 31) ← ← Upper or Pennington Road
• West Upper Ferry Rd. (Rte, 634) ← ← Upper Ferry Road, Scotch Road
• Lower Ferry Rd. (Rte. 643) ← ← The Old Ferry Road | The Lower Ferry Road

Source: Falzini, Mark W., One Square Mile: a History of Trenton Junction, New Jersey. Bloomington, IN: iUniverse, 2017. page 153.

All across the country, communities are planning notable and stirring ways to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence of the United States. In New Jersey we are fortunate to live in one of the original colonies that fought for our independence. All around our state, communities and organizations are planning celebrations of New Jersey's unique contributions to the Revolution. We too can celebrate the significant role areas in current day Ewing Township played in that fight.

Stay informed and learn how our community will commemorate the historic events from our past.

RevolutionNJ.org

New Jersey Historical Commission

Crossroads of the American Revolution

American Association for State and Local History

The 250th Anniversary Program Handbook

1776 by David McCullough (link to item in Mercer County Library collection)
The story of the first year of the fight for our nation's independence

Ewing Then and Now by Helen A. Kull, former president of the Ewing Township Historic Preservation Society
A not-to-be-missed monthly column in the Ewing Community News, a publication that is sent to every home in the township, with a focus on local history, places, organizations, and programs in Ewing Township.
Look forward learning more about our local history during revolutionary times as she devotes more columns to showingcase the role Ewing, Trenton, and other neighboring communities played during these historic moments.