1776
One of the most significant political events of the early revolution occurred on this day in Perth Amboy. Armed militiamen arrested Governor William Franklin (son of Benjamin Franklin) at the Proprietary House. Franklin had remained staunchly loyal to King George III even as the provincial assembly shifted toward independence. At first, Franklin was allowed to remain under house arrest before eventually being sent to prison in Connecticut as a "virulent enemy" to the cause.
1780
During the brutal winter at the Morristown encampment, General Washington had reached a breaking point. Following a multi-day blizzard, supply roads were blocked, and the troops had been without meat or bread for days. Washington wrote to the magistrates of New Jersey describing the army's condition as the "most distressing" since the war began. He appealed for emergency supplies to prevent the army from disintegrating.
1781
The mutiny over back pay and enlistment terms that had occurred in Morristown was resolved with a negotiated settlement. About half the men were discharged, while others received furloughs and bonuses for reenlisting.