Manalapan Township in Monmouth County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Battlefield Archaeology
The Battle of Monmouth – 28 June 1778
Where Was Molly Hays during the Battle of Monmouth?
Documents and Archaeology provides clues.
During the Battle, Commander-in-Chief George Washington watched approvingly as Captain Francis Proctor’s artillery company cannonaded the British. Joseph Plumb Martin noted that it was a 4-pounder “which kept up a constant fire upon the enemy.”
Later, one of Washington’s subordinates, Major-General Lord Stirling, described how the British “Infantry appeared also in the Rear of Sutfin’s, some of them advanced to the front of the Orchard, these we drove back with Grape and Canister Shot.”
Battlefield archaeologists have established the precise location of the orchard. It is marked by a concentration of lead canister shot and 2-ounce iron grape shot.
You are standing at the probable location of Molly Hays’cannon. Four pieces of 2-ounce grape shot found here appear to be the remains of a cartridge broken by Proctor’s gun crew.
Erected by State of New Jersey.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Events • War, US Revolutionary.
Location. 40° 16.859′ N, 74° 19.012′ W. Marker is in Manalapan Township , New Jersey, in Monmouth County. Marker can be reached from Freehold Road (County Route 522), on the left when traveling east. Marker is located in Monmouth Battlefield State Park, along a hiking train in the northern section of the park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Englishtown NJ 07726, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Mary “Molly” Hays (here, next to this marker); An Inspiring Commander in Chief (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Great Cannonade (about 400 feet away); Perrine Hill Spring (about 500 feet away); Molly Hays McCauley (about 500 feet away); Perrine Hill Front Line (about 500 feet away); Washington Resumes the Offensive (approx. 0.2 miles away); Highlanders Decline Combat (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manalapan Township.
More about this marker. The left side of the marker contains a “Distribution map of 2-ounce iron grape shot [on the Monmouth Battlefield].”
The right of the marker contains three photographs of different phases that “Battlefield archaeology requires.” They have captions of:
Patience - BRAVO* members search the Sufin orchard site.
Precision - Locating an artifact with computerized, laser transit.
Painstaking Analysis - Studying artifact patterns with a mapping program.
* Bravo is the Battlefield Restoration, Archaeology, and Volunteer Organization.
Also see . . .
1. The Battle of Monmouth. New Jersey during the Revolution. (Submitted on July 8, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
2. The Battle of Monmouth, 1778. A British perspective of the Battle of Monmouth on BritishBattles.com. (Submitted on July 8, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 8, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,776 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 8, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.