Brownville in Old Bridge in Middlesex County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Signal Hill
Photographed by Don Morfe, April 6, 2016
1. Signal Hill Marker
In 1779, a system of 23 alarm posts was established throughout the State. These alerted local militia to assemble at predetermined locations. In Old Bridge, a hill west of Higgins Road was used as one of these signal posts. The exact nature of the signal system is unknown. It is believed this particular elevated site was used to send signals to the Patriots regarding enemy troops moving from Raritan Bay toward Cranberry (now known as Cranbury). In fact, generations of local families have referred to this site as Signal Hill. You will note that one can see Raritan Bay and Staten Island in an unobstructed view from this hill.
It is said that his system of signal posts was so efficient that when the British Fleet headed out of Raritan Bay, on its way to Philadelphia, the alarm had been received by Philadelphia before the Fleets arrival.
This Historic Marker is a gift to the people of Old Bridge from the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, 2009.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical year for this entry is 1779.
Location. 40° 24.117′ N, 74° 17.251′ W. Marker is in Old Bridge, New Jersey, in Middlesex County. It is in Brownville. It is on Higgins Road, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 157 Higgins Rd, Matawan NJ 07747, United States of America. Touch for directions.
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Regionally, this marker is in New Jersey’s Central Jersey, in Greater Princeton, and in the New York City Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Cedar Grove School (approx. one mile away); Brown Family Homestead (approx. 1.3 miles away); Methodist Episcopal Churchyard (approx. 1.6 miles away); Baptist Churchyard (approx. 1.7 miles away); Head Of Navigation (approx. 2 miles away); Mt. Pleasant Cemetery (approx. 2.6 miles away); The Hawkins House (approx. 2.8 miles away); Philip Morin Freneau (approx. 2.9 miles away).
More about this marker. This marker was moved to the another location on Higgins Road. Google Maps shows this location as 242 Higgins Road but its near 177 Higgins Rd on the opposite side of the road.
Photographed by Richard Pucciarelli, October 21, 2024
2. Signal Hill Marker
Photographed by Don Morfe, April 6, 2016
3. Signal Hill Marker in its prior environs
Credits. This page was last revised on October 27, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 14, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,405 times since then and 89 times this year. Last updated on October 21, 2024, by Richard Pucciarelli of Matawan, New Jersey. Photos: 1. submitted on April 14, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 2. submitted on October 21, 2024, by Richard Pucciarelli of Matawan, New Jersey. 3. submitted on April 14, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
