Asher Holmes

Asher Holmes (February 16, 1740 – June 20, 1808)[1] was an American politician and veteran of the American Revolution.

Early life and family

He was born to Samuel and Hulda Holmes (nee. Mott). His birthplace was a plantation called the Scotchester in Pleasant Valley, Marlboro Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey. He was married to Sarah (nee. Watson) on February 21, 1771 and had four children.[2][3][4] They lived in the Pleasant Valley section of Marlboro Township in a house he called "Old Kentuck". He was a land surveyor by trade.[5]

Holmes is buried at the Holmdel Baptist Church cemetery.[6]

Military service

Overview

He served primarily in the 1st Regiment, Monmouth County Militia during the American Revolutionary War. General Lafayette, in a letter to General Washington described the militia commanded by Asher Holmes:

I found the rifleman even above their reputation, and the militia above all expectation I could have formed of them.[7]

In April 1782, Holmes was one of 14 Monmouth County patriots who signed a 5-page petition to General Washington demanding revenge for the killing of Captain Joshua Huddy by loyalists.[8] Washington ordered that a British POW equal in rank to Huddy be hanged in retaliation. This precipitated what became known as the Asgill Affair.[9]

List of commands

His list of commands was as follows:[5][7]

  • Captain, First Regiment, Monmouth County Militia
  • First Major, First Regiment, Monmouth County Militia - November 28, 1776
  • Colonel, First Regiment, Monmouth County Militia - March 27, 1778
  • Colonel, Regiment of New Jersey State Troops - October 9, 1779
  • Colonel, Battalion of NJ State Troops - June 7, 1780 - a small battalion of 262 men[10]

Battle involvement

He was noted to have been involved in the Battle of Germantown and the Battle of Monmouth, Navesink, Conushonk and Pleasant Valley engagements. He captured a frigate in Deal Lake[11] and commanded a militia to respond to the Pine Robbers attack in Pleasant Valley in 1778.[12] He was known to have made a failed attack on a British baggage train with a loss of one man on his side and four British soldiers.[13] In 1779, a raiding party 800 people strong, commanded by a Colonel Hide, raided multiple areas of Monmouth County. One skirmish was at Ganet's Hill and another at the Palmer House, both in Middletown.[14] They created skirmishes in Middletown along Kings Highway,[15] Red Bank, Tinton Falls and Shrewsbury.

It was reported that the British were met by a militia commanded by Col. Asher Holmes and Captain Burrowes and pushed back to Staten Island.[16] Using a whaleboat,[17] in 1779, he captured a British ship, the Brigantine Britannia,[18] in the Sandy Hook bay. It had just arrived from England with supplies.[19] He was also noted to have been involved with militia officer exchanges when an officer was captured.[20]

Signal fires

Under the general order of George Washington,[21] Asher Holmes was also responsible for the militia signal fires which were set up and would be lit only if the British were to invade Monmouth or Middlesex county.[22] He constructed three signal fires, two in Middletown and one on Mount Pleasant (now known as Beacon Hill) in Marlboro Township, New Jersey. Built from logs, the signal fires were 16-18 feet square at the base and 20 feet in height. They were constructed and filled with dry brush to be lit quickly, if needed.[23]

Political activities

Holmes was one of 436 signers of the document which suggested that "For every article of personal property so taken from good subjects, reprisals shall be made of loyalists."[24] In 1774, he was appointed to the Committee of Correspondence and then the Committee of Observation and inspection (a forerunner to the Continental Congress).[25] Following the Revolutionary War, he was a Justice of the Peace and then High Sheriff of Monmouth County.[24][26] He was a member of the New Jersey Legislative Council from 1786 to 1787.[27]

Buildings named after Holmes

Asher Holmes Elementary School, located in Marlboro Township, New Jersey, is named after him.

References
  1. Genealogical Service, Asbury Park Press, October 27, 1938, p. 11.
  2. Encyclopedia of New Jersey edited by Maxine N. Lurie, Marc Mappen, Rutgers University Press, 2004, p. 383.
  3. "Colonial Air Clings to Pleasant Valley", Asbury Park Press, July 11, 1943, p. 3
  4. George Crawford Beekman, Early Dutch Settlers of Monmouth County, New Jersey, 1901, Moreau Brothers, Freehold N.J., p. 79.
  5. Hiram Edmund Deats, The Jerseyman, Volumes 9-11, 1903, H.E. Deats, Publisher, p. 29.
  6. "The WPA and the Ancient Graveyards", Asbury Park Press, June 8, 1937, p. 8.
  7. The New York Times, May 3, 1896, p. 32.
  8. "A Copy of a Petition sent to Washington from the people of Monmouth County [Patriots] to revenge Huddy's murder". Records of the Colonial Office, Commonwealth and Foreign and Commonwealth Offices, Empire Marketing Board, and related bodies relating to the administration of Britain's colonies, Box: CO 5/105/027. The National Archives. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  9. "Asgill Affair". The Digital Encyclopedia of George Washington. Mount Vernon Ladies' Association. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  10. "Monmouth Man", Asbury Park Press, November 28 1948, Page 6
  11. "Old Kentuck", Asbury Park Press, September 13, 1954, p. 9.
  12. "Waterborn Minute Men of Revolution harassed British along County Creeks", Asbury Park Press, July 10, 1949, p. 3.
  13. George Crawford Beekman, Early Dutch Settlers of Monmouth County, New Jersey, 1901, Moreau Brothers, Freehold NJ, p. 80.
  14. "George Taylor War Record", Asbury Park Press, July 20, 1939, Page 19
  15. "Historic Record", Asbury Park Press, June 9, 1988, Page 38
  16. "County Inhabitants Suffered At the Hands of Tories During Revolution", Asbury Park Press, January 2, 1949, p. 4.
  17. "Bayshore Sailors Turned Pirates in Revolution", Asbury Park Press, September 17, 1996, Page 16
  18. William Nelson, Documents Relating to the Revolutionary History of the State of New Jersey, Volume IV, 1914, page 214
  19. "Ill Wind Blew in a Storm", Asbury Park Press, October 1, 1967, p. 15.
  20. Michael S. Adelberg, The American Revolution in Monmouth County: The Theatre of Spoil and Destruction, History Press, 2010.
  21. "He Sheds Light on Old Beacon", Asbury Park Press, June 3 1979, Page 160
  22. "Bicentennial Plans are Set", Keyport Weekly, May 27 1971, Page 15
  23. "Rebuilt Beacons to be Dedicated". Asbury Park Press, July 01 1976, Page 3
  24. James Taylor Holmes, The American Family of Rev. Obadiah Holmes, 1915, Columbus Ohio, p. 110.
  25. "Schools Openings Recall Patriot Feats", Asbury Park Press, September 8, 1974, p. 9.
  26. Matawan Journal, Monmouth Former Sheriffs, Page 9, July 28 1898
  27. George C. Beekman, Early Dutch Settlers of Monmouth County, 1915, reprinted in 1974.
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