Hancock House (Lower Alloways Creek Township, New Jersey)

The Hancock House is a historic structure in the Hancock's Bridge section of Lower Alloways Creek Township, New Jersey. It was the site of the 1778 Hancock's Bridge massacre. The site is on the National Register of Historic Places.

History

Built in 1734 for Judge William and Sarah Hancock, the house features a blue glazed brick pattern, which gives the year of construction, 1734, and the initials of the couple for whom is was built, 'W S' for William and Sarah. William died in 1762, and passed the house to his son William, also a judge.

Massacre

Loyalist troops from John Graves Simcoe's Queen's Rangers, frustrated by rebel resistance, crossed Alloway Creek in the early morning of March 21, 1778. They entered the house and surprised members of the local militia stationed there; between 20 and 30 people were killed. Simcoe's orders were to "spare no one"; unknown to the attackers, Hancock had returned home, and was among the slain.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Salem County, New Jersey
• List of the oldest buildings in New Jersey

References

External links

• - official site

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