The eastern or tavern side of the Hancock House is reported to have been built in 1728 with the western side reportedly built by the 1st William & Sarah Hancock in 1734. Note the initials & Date on the West wall. This 270 ( as of 2004) year old house is both historically and architecturally significant.

Role in the Revolution    

The winter of 1777-78 had been particularly harsh on both the Colonial Troops at Valley Forge and the British. Both forces had sent detachments to lower New Jersey to obtain provisions and supplies. British soldiers as well as Washington's troops in Valley Forge needed forage for their livestock plus meat and grain for the troops. In February of 1778, General Washington sent "Mad" Anthony Wayne (and perhaps 500 men) to Salem County.Wayne successfully gathered cattle & forage, slipped by the enemy and delivered the much needed supplies to Valley Forge. The incensed British military then launched troops to Salem County.

 

The British were under orders to break up the small bands of resistance fighters in the area. Under the command of Col. Chas. Mawhood, the British force was 1200-1500 men. Local Tories informed Col. Mawhood of a colonial militia numbering approx. 300 men, entrenched on the South side of Alloways Creek. While the Colonists were determined to Prevent the Bitish from gaining access to to their provisions, Col. Mawhood was just as determined to obtain them but also to "chastise" the rebels.

 

On March 19th, 1778 The British nearly succeeded in wiping out the militia at the Skirmish at Quniton's Bridge, but were turned back by the arrival of the Cumberland Militia with two cannons. The Colonial militia also prevented the British from advancing by successfully destroying the bridge at Quinton.

 

Col. Mawhood, was more determined than ever to defeat the militia, chose the community around Hancock's Bridge as his next target. Major John G. Simcoe was dispatched 2 days after the Quintons Bridge incident with a force of 300 men and orders to "spare no one" On the night of March 20th Simcoe's troop began their mission-- they intended to quietly surround  the Judge William Hancock House. where a small militia including Judge William Hancock (a British subject appoint as the Justice of the Peace for the County of Salem) were gathered. The small milia was gathered at the house for the purpose of protecting John Hancock's Bridge, one of three bridges that crossed Alloway Creek.

 

Simcoe's troops entered the house simultaneously from the front and back and in the darkenss of the night quickly bayonneted all occupants. The surprise attack left the quiet countryside pierced with the cries of men as they were "bludgeined and bayoneted"

 

Dawn brought with it the reality of what had occured in the morning hours. Judge Hancock was found mortally wounded in his house. His house and the tavern were left in a state of chaotic dissaray -- Simcoe's men had accomplished their deadly objective.

Swedish Cabin
Also on the grounds of Hancock House is an example of an early Swedish cabin, who were the early settlers of Southern New Jersey. This single-room cabin is a rare remaining example of hand-hewn, white cedar plank construction and reflects a traditional Swedish cabin. This cabin, with it's glazed windows, is more elaborate than those typically constructed in the seventeenth-century.

Known as stugas, which translates to "room inside," these cabins were built in small clusters or stood alone, depending on the size of the farm. Swedish settlers established small communities throughout Salem, clearing only enough land to farm.

This cabin was rebuilt in 1931 using lumber that is over 400 years old. It was salvagaed from teh property of John J Tyler in Salem. The cabin's constuction follows the traditional techniques of the seventeenth-century, with four-inch think side planks, dovetailed corners, a fireplace and wooden pins instead of nails.