It listed a NJ Historic Plaque at 431 Casrson Ave, just across from the Coast Guard Station in Atlantic City:
Fort Clark, built in 1777, to protect ships anchored in Clam Creek during the Revolution.
The American Privateer "Northwind" was burned near the spot. Nov. 17, 1779.
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I have asked around the Atlantic City and Atlantic County Historic Community and not found any information about this fort or the Northwind.
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This is what I have found in an excert from the Atlantic County Historical Society Magazine, Vol 1, # 3 October 1950:
Letter from John Cox and Elijah Clark to the President of the Council of Safety:
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Correspondence from NJ History list adds the following information.
Susan,
Confirmation of referenced letter from Elijah Clark and John Cox to Council of Safety is transcribed below from "Minutes of the Council of Safety of the State of New Jersey" Jersey City (1872) pp.76.
Saturday July 5, 1777
[Newtown, Sussex County]
"A Memorial from Elijah Clark, Richard Wescott, & John Cox was read, Setting forth that the Enemy's ships of War entered little Egg harbor, Inlet, and seized two brigs lying at the Fox-barrows, just within the Inlet & carried them off, with a considerable quantity of Stock &c, and praying that little Egg Harbor may be fortified &c, and that this Board would issue the necessary orders for that purpose.
Agreed unanimously, That this Board is not competent to decide upon the subject-matter of the said Memorial; and therefore that it be referred to the Legislature."
A cursory review of published 1777 Legislature's minutes failed to turn-up anything further.
John Fabiano
Allentown, NJ
_____________________________________________· Found Chestnut Neck referenced here also -cllick link to Google Book page
· A nest of rebel pirates
Franklin W. Kemp - 1966 - 181 pages Clark resigned his commission as lieutenant colonel in the 2nd Regiment, Gloucester County Militia on November 6, 1777, finding it incompatible with being a member of the New Jersey Assembly where he served between 1777 and 1778. ... |
Alicia
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On Fri, Jan 14, 2011 at 4:25 PM, Susan Ditmire - NJ History <writnnj@comcast.net> wrote:
Thanks Alicia!
The creek near the Coast Guard Station, where the sign was located is called Clam Creek. It is right on the island across from Absecon.
Chestnut Neck where I would expect to find a sign, if it is that fort is at the peninsula where Nacote Creek enters the Great Bay about 10 miles North of Clam Creek.
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Maybe there's a connection to the Coast Guard.. due to their like named ship: http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/Northwind1945.asp
Alicia
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From: Bob Craig [mailto:Bob.Craig@dep.state.nj.us]
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2011 10:12 AM
To: writnnj@comcast.net
Subject: NJ historical markers before 1963
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2011 10:12 AM
To: writnnj@comcast.net
Subject: NJ historical markers before 1963
Susan,
The Historic Preservation Office maintains files on the 2 generations of historical markers that were produced for the State of New Jersey. The first was the group of markers installed between 1931 and 1942 by the NJ Highway Department for the NJ Commission on Historic Sites. That Commission was a direct institutional ancestor of the present Historic Preservation Office. 141 roadside markers were installed, and lists of the markers were issued in 1939 and 1949. Curiously, the Fort Clark marker does not seem to appear in those lists.
The second group of markers were the NJ Tercentenary series markers, most of which were installed between 1963 and 1965, with a few installed as late as the 1970s. The Historic Preservation Office has an extensive but incomplete set of information about these markers. HPO retained photocopies of these documents and transferred the originals to the State Archives.
Bob Craig
Historic Preservation Office
(609) 984-0541
Bob is taking one more look to confirm his findings. He will look not just in Atlantic County, but Ocean County, which is just across the bay from Chestnut Neck.
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I appreciate all the help and information... The NJ History List is really great!!
Susan
Chestnut Neck seems to be slightly NW of Atlantic City according to Gogle maps. Could it be it was to indicate the fort in relationship to the ocean?
Do you know who placed or authorized the marker? Normally there has to be backup data.
The privateer eludes any searches.. except as the name of a 19th century Coast Guard vessel.
Hmmm..
Richard Westcott Tavern owner at Chestnut Neck, the mini Tortuga of the Jersey Shore.
What was the town back then, where the marker is now, called back in 1779?
Llove to try and see what I can flush out.. since I live near the icebox of NJ in its NW corner. For me it's like doing a jigsaw puzzle.
Alicia
Forks of Little Egg Harbor, June 12, 1777Sir: - We this morning received information from Capt. Bradley at the Foxborough, that on the 10th instant, about six o'clock in the evening, a brig appeared off Little Egg Harbor Inlet, and made a signal for a Pilot. Joseph Sowey, with his brother and two boys, went off to conduct her into port, and were taken and carried off. Immediately on taking them on board the brig proceeded to the mouth of Great Egg Harbor Inlet, where she again threw out a signal for a pilot; on which Mr. Golder went off with his boat, and on approaching near enough finding she was a vessel of force, he immediately put about, and pushed for the shore, the enemy's boat pursuing, with only two men showing themselves. On coming within 100 yards, a number of men showed themselves and fired on Golder and crew, who with some difficulty gained the shore, but were obliged to quit their boat, which fell into the hands of the enemy. As Sowey is one of our best pilots, we doubt not that he will be made use of by the enemy to bring in their tenders, and pilot them up the bay and river, which may be productive of most fatal consequences, the inhabitants being in most helpless condition, and having a great number of cattle and other property that must immediately fall into the hands of the pirates, unless some spirited steps are immediately taken to prevent it. We have presumed to take from Capt. Shaler, eight or ten pieces of cannon, belonging to a sloop of his lately cast away on the coast, which we have this day ordered to the Foxboroughs, under his direction, with orders immediately to throw up a battery to defend the Inlet, and to annony the enemy as much as possible should they attempt an entrance. There are now at Foxboroughs a guard of about 20 men, and Col. Clark will immediately order down as many more, to assist in doing the necessary work. Powder and provisions will be immediately wanted. Shot can be procured here. We doubt not the Council will think it expedient to lose no time giving the necessay directions for effecting what they think ought to be done on this alarming occasion.
We are, with great respect your most ob't and h'e ser'ts.
(signed) John Cox
Elijah Clark
Notes:
John Cox was at one time owner of Batsto iron works, His home was Bloomsbury Farm, now a part of Trenton. He was prominent in all state affairs.
Foxborough (Foxburrows) was a name for a section of Chestnut Neck.
So my question is: was the sign in Atlantic City at the wrong location??
Does anyone know of a way for me to find the list of Historic Markers that were posted before 1963?
I am working on the story of all the events of Chestnut Neck area, but I had never heard of a Fort Clark or anything else located on Absecon Island. I do know that there were salt works in the area, so that was a legitimate target.
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