Alley Family with ancestors: Penn, Van Riper, :Information about Joseph Headley
Joseph Headley (b. 1718)
Notes for Joseph Headley:
Joseph Headley, b about 1718, d Oct 1785. It is not known whom he married. He was a farmer and lived at first in Headleytown on land inherited from his father Samuel Headley Sr. evidently where Joseph B. Headley now lives. He later purchased and removed to the property in Headleytown known as Vaux Hall, of which he was the first Headley owner of record. It is also probable that he erected the house on this property and gave it the name it has since borne. Vaux Hall is located about two miles from the village of Union, and is near the Wyoming and Maplewood stations on the Delaware and Lackawanna Railroad. It was quite a large Colonial residence. It had a frontage of at least 50 feet which faced to the south. Had a large wide hall through it, with rooms on both sides. It had very large fire places with fixtures for large heavy iron kettles. On the second floor was a loom for carpet weaving which was destroyed about 1870. The house was pierced by many bullet holes, said to have been made by the British during the Revolutionary war. At this time, and perhaps earlier, it was used as a tavern. The same dwelling was afterwards owned and occupied by Cary Headley. Timothy Headley, Wickliff Headley, until about seven years ago. About 1870 the old dwelling was torn down and a more modern one erected on the site.
During the war of the Revolution there were fought the battles of Conn. Farms and Springfield partly on Headley property, and in which John Thompson Headley, Cary Headley, and others of the Headley family fought against the foe. On the 6th of June, 1780, Gen. Mathews was sent with 5,000 men from Staten Island, with orders to penetrate New Jersey and attack Washington at Morristown.
The next day the British took possession of Elizabethtown and began their march toward Springfield, intending to defeat the Continentals there and proceed on to Morristown. The route taken was along the Galloping Hill Road, which led through Connecticut
Farms, (now the village of Union). Here the militia offering resistance, the enemy opened fire, defeated the handful of men, and applying the torch to the few buildings in the village, they continued on their way toward Springfield. Warning of the enemy's approach was given, and at Springfield the British met a detachment of men from Washington's camp at Morristown. A sharp skirmish ensued, in which the British were driven back to the coast.
For two weeks after their repulse at Springfield the enemy hovered around in the vicinity of Elizabeth Town, afraid to attack the continentals with the force at their command. On June 22, Clinton came up from the south with additional troops, and another move against Washington was planned. It was decided to draw the Americans into a general engagement and capture the stores at Morristown. Feigning an expedition to the Hudson Highlands, Clinton deceived Washington who marched away in that direction with a considerable body of men. General Green was left to guard Springfield and the country west and north of the village.
When Washington was well on his way Knyphausen marched along the Galloping Hill Road with 5000 infantry, twenty pieces of artillery and 800 cavalry, and on the 23d attacked General Green at Springfield. The battle waged all day. At one time it seemed as though the British would win. They succeeded in forcing a passage across the bridge spanning the Rahway river there, but at last the continentals repulsed them and sent them scurrying back along the road up which they had marched so confidently that morning. So great was their confusion that they ran until they reached the coast. The British lost 300 men, while the American loss was
Farms, (now the village of Union). Here the militia offering resistance, the enemy opened fire, defeated the handful of men, and applying the torch to the few buildings in the village, they continued on their way toward Springfield. Warning of the enemy's approach was given, and at Springfield the British met a detachment of men from Washington's camp at Morristown. A sharp skirmish ensued, in which the British were driven back to the coast.
For two weeks after their repulse at Springfield the enemy hovered around in the vicinity of Elizabeth Town, afraid to attack the continentals with the force at their command. On June 22, Clinton came up from the south with additional troops, and another move against Washington was planned. It was decided to draw the Americans into a general engagement and capture the stores at Morristown. Feigning an expedition to the Hudson Highlands, Clinton deceived Washington who marched away in that direction with a considerable body of men. General Green was left to guard Springfield and the country west and north of the village.
When Washington was well on his way Knyphausen marched along the Galloping Hill Road with 5000 infantry, twenty pieces of artillery and 800 cavalry, and on the 23d attacked General Green at Springfield. The battle waged all day. At one time it seemed as though the British would win. They succeeded in forcing a passage across the bridge spanning the Rahway river there, but at last the continentals repulsed them and sent them scurrying back along the road up which they had marched so confidently that morning. So great was their confusion that they ran until they reached the coast. The British lost 300 men, while the American loss was
Children of Joseph Headley are:
- +John Thompson Headley, b. 1751, Conn. Farms, d. February 04, 1828.
- Elizabeth, b. Abt. 1749.
- Mary.