War of 1812 Had Essex Girding for Invasion-- Part 1

From the September 2012 New Jersey Hills "War of 1812 had Essex residents girding for invasion."

Dr. Beverly Crifasi, vice president and historian of the Historical Society of West Caldwell said: "In 1812, the possibilities of British troops landing on the Jersey Shore or New York Harbor were realistic and a definite cause for concern."

This war was less than 30 years after the American Revolution and many adults had been in that war.

In 1812, New Jersey was an agricultural region with a population of around 250,000. The population of Caldwell was about 1500 and the state's largest cities were Newark and Elizabethtown where there were ports as well as industry and manufacturing. The neighboring cities of Philadelphia and New York were even larger.

More to Come. --Brock-Perry