NJ, USA
British Occupation of Princeton
December 7, 1776
British forces occupied Princeton in early December 1776 as part of their advance across New Jersey. Cornwallis established a garrison in the town, and troops were quartered in Nassau Hall and private homes. The occupation was harsh — soldiers looted property, destroyed fences for firewood, and commandeered livestock.
The College of New Jersey suspended operations, and its library and scientific equipment suffered significant damage. The occupation lasted until January 3, 1777, when Washington's attack drove the British out. The experience of occupation — shared by many New Jersey towns during the winter of 1776-77 — pushed previously neutral residents toward the patriot cause.
People Involved
British officer commanding the 17th Regiment of Foot at Princeton. Mawhood led a bayonet charge that killed General Mercer and scattered his brigade before Washington arrived with reinforcements and drove the British from the field.
President of the College of New Jersey (Princeton) and the only active college president to sign the Declaration of Independence. Witherspoon trained a generation of American leaders including James Madison and helped shape the intellectual foundations of the Republic.
Princeton-area Quaker farmer whose property became part of the battlefield on January 3, 1777. The Olden farmstead, caught between the two armies, represents the civilian cost of battles fought in farming communities.