December 13, 1776, stands as the most electrifying day in Basking Ridge’s history, when the sleepy colonial crossroads suddenly became the center of the Revolution. At dawn, the infamous capture of General Charles Lee sent shockwaves through Washington’s struggling army and the entire young nation. British dragoons thundered down the roads, militia scrambled in confusion, and a single moment on a frosty Basking Ridge morning changed the trajectory of the war. It was the day our town became the stage for one of the Revolution’s boldest and most consequential twists.
Because Basking Ridge is home to the Mr. Local History nonprofit, this moment is more than a passing footnote; it is the heartbeat of a story we are uniquely positioned to tell. What happened here on that cold December morning is now unfolding in a series of posts that explore the people involved, the landscape that shaped their decisions, and the far-reaching impact of this single event on American history. By grounding the narrative in the place where it actually happened, we can bring readers closer to the tension, the personalities, and the significance of a turning point that helped alter the fate of the Revolution.
In Retrospect…
Lee’s Capture in Basking Ridge was a Blessing
Charles Lee’s capture on December 13, 1776 at Widow Whites Tavern in Basking Ridge removed a major internal obstacle at a critical moment. Lee commanded roughly 3000 men on paper, but once he was taken prisoner John Sullivan quickly pulled together about 2000 effectives and marched them directly to Washington without delay.
Those men arrived just in time to rebuild Washington’s collapsing army and help enable the Delaware crossing, which involved about 2400 troops in the main strike. While Lee sat in British captivity convinced the war was lost, his former men helped deliver the victory at Trenton. In the end, what happened at Widow Whites Tavern in Basking Ridge did not weaken the American cause. It helped save it.
Mr. Local History Widow White’s Research Series
Insights: General Charles Lee’s Capture at Widow White’s Tavern in Basking Ridge & Washington’s Delaware Crossing Impact
Views: 944 December 13, 1776, stands as the most electrifying day in Basking Ridge’s history, when the sleepy colonial crossroads suddenly became the center of the Revolution. At dawn, the… Read More »Insights: General Charles Lee’s Capture at Widow White’s Tavern…
December 13, 1776 – Basking Ridge , New Jersey Altered American History
Views: 8,615 The world might have had a different look if it weren’t for this day’s event.December 13, 1776 in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Basking Ridge, New Jersey’s most famous… Read More »December 13, 1776 – Basking Ridge , New Jersey…
New Jersey Rev War Series Mr. Local History Project
Views: 10,286 New Jersey is known as the “Cockpit of the American Revolution” for a reason – because it was. More battles, more encampments, more strategies took place in New… Read More »New Jersey Rev War Series Mr. Local History Project
Widow White – Mary Jarvis Whitaker Brown White
Views: 1,006 This is a story about a widow, a General, and a War for Independence. For over a decade, I’ve been researching the story behind the 1776 capture of… Read More »Widow White – Mary Jarvis Whitaker Brown White
Widow White’s Tavern in Basking Ridge was More Than a Grog Stop
Views: 27,118 Basking Ridge, New Jersey’s Most Famous Incident Yes, this historic event made the series, so look for it. The episode covering that timeframe is Episode 3: “The Times… Read More »Widow White’s Tavern in Basking Ridge was More Than…
Three Historic Moments That Changed Basking Ridge & America
Views: 11,805 On the internet, we’ve created the #3LOCALHISTORYEVENTCHALLENGE, where you share your town’s three most historic events. As the historian for Bernards Township, representing Bernards Towns#hip and its four… Read More »Three Historic Moments That Changed Basking Ridge & America
Widow White’s Tavern 7th Wooden Historic Village Keepsake
Views: 6,176 Be part of the Widow White’s Tavern limited edition run. Mr Local History is proud to announce the release of the 7th in the collectible series, the infamous… Read More »Widow White’s Tavern 7th Wooden Historic Village Keepsake
John Morton – General Washington’s Rebel Banker Stashed in Basking Ridge
Views: 6,796 John Morton was a Colonel in the Continental Army. Still, he relinquished his commission in 1761 to become a highly successful merchant, specializing in the trade of flax… Read More »John Morton – General Washington’s Rebel Banker Stashed in…
What Happened to Mary White and Widow White’s Tavern – Research Notepad
Views: 27,192 Below are the original research notes as I had spent years researching contradicting information on the Widow White’s Tavern in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Often I like to… Read More »What Happened to Mary White and Widow White’s Tavern…
