John Bacon (Loyalist)

John Bacon (died April 3, 1783), known as "Bloody John", was one of the most notorious Tory sympathizing Pine Robbers, a leader of men who hid out in the Pine Barrens of south central New Jersey and preyed upon (robbed and murdered) Patriots largely toward the end of the American Revolutionary War.

Early life

John Bacon's origins are not fully known. He first appeared in documents in 1775 as a shingler in Monmouth County required to appear in court for unpaid debts.[1]

Family

John Bacon was married and had two sons, who resided in Pemberton, New Jersey.[2]

American Revolutionary War

John Bacon functioned essentially, as a Loyalist guerrilla resister. He and his band of marauders were involved in the Manahawkin Skirmish, the Long Beach Island Massacre, and the skirmish known as the Battle of Cedar Ridge in New Jersey, which was the last armed conflict of the war. Bacon's subsequent death after this engagement is often characterized as the last casualty of the American Revolutionary War.

John Bacon allegedly served, at one point, in the Patriot militia and not long after he switched sides back to the British Loyalist side. Bacon insisted upon being called "Captain".

Board of Associated Loyalists and Loyalist gang, the "Refugees"

John Bacon allegedly became a member of the Board of Associated Loyalists. Chartered by King George III and headed up by the British Royal Governor of the New Jersey Colony, William Franklin, son of Benjamin Franklin, the organization's purpose was to conduct raids to seize supplies, from the Patriots, and to allow its members to enjoy the spoils of their plunder. Regardless of his actual credentials with this group, Bacon fulfilled that organization's mission, by raiding Patriot homes, including members of the Monmouth Militia, ground transport, and ships.

Skirmish at Manahawkin

The Skirmish at Manahawkin took place on December 30 & 31, 1781. Local militiamen had hear rumors that Bacon and his men, now known as the "Refugees", were soon to arrive in town to raid the citizens. The local militia met on the 30th at Capital Reuben Randolph's home to plan the town's defense. On the morning of December 31st Bacon and his men, totaling between 30 and 40, arrived from the direction of Barnegat Township. Before the militiamen were fully organized, Bacon and his men opened fire, killing Lines Pangbon and wounding Sylvester Tilton.[3][4]

Long Beach Island Massacre

On October 25, 1782, Bacon and his men, conspiring with a Loyalist working with Patriots who were offloading cargo from a cutter stranded on Barnegat Shoals, murdered 19 men in their sleep, including Patriot militia Captain Andrew Steelman. This attack, after formal hostilities between the United States and Great Britain had paused, was considered so atrocious that Governor William Livingston put a bounty of fifty pounds on Bacon's head.[5][6]

Affair of Cedar Bridge

The Affair of Cedar Bridge was the last conflict of the American Revolutionary War. In December 1782 Captain Richard Shreve, with Patriot forces from Burlington, came upon Bacon and his men. Bacon and his men fired upon Shreve and the Patriots as they approached Cedar Bridge, wounding him and three others. Bacon and his men escaped, although several of his men were captured.[7]

Final Confrontation and Death

On March 31, 1783, Bacon was finally tracked down by Patriot forces on Long Beach Island where he was spotted scavenging a shipwreck. A search party of six men, led by Captain John Stewart, were sent out to find Bacon, who was found at the Rose Tavern. Stewart found Bacon and wrestled him to the ground before Bacon could grab his musket. Stewart stabbed Bacon with his bayonet and later shot him, causing his death. Bacon's body was ceremoniously brought to Jacobstown, where Patriots were preparing a burial in the middle of the road, when Bacon's brother arrived begging for a proper burial. Bacon's body was taken by his family to a cemetery in Arneytown.[8]

Descendants

Mike Thompson, the Pulitzer Prize winning political cartoonist of the Detroit Free Press, is a descendant of Bacon.[9]

References

  1. ↑ Fowler, David J. Egregious Villains, Wood Rangers, and London Traders: The Pine Robber Phenomenon in New Jersey During the Revolutionary War New Brunswick, New Jersey. Rutgers University Press, 1987, pages 235-292
  2. ↑ Salter, Edward. A history of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, embracing a genealogical record of earliest settlers in Monmouth and Ocean counties and their descendants. The Indians: their language, manners, and customs. Important historical events Bayonne, 1890, page 422
  3. ↑ Salter, Edward. Centennial History of Ocean County. Toms River, NJ, 1878, page 24
  4. ↑ REVOLUTIONARY WAR SITES IN MANAHAWKIN, NEW JERSEY. Revolutionary War New Jersey http://www.revolutionarywarnewjersey.com/new_jersey_revolutionary_war_sites/towns/manahawkin_nj_revolutionary_war_sites.htm. Accessed May 14, 2016
  5. ↑ The Long Beach Island Massacre 25 October 1782. The American War of Independence - at Sea. http://www.awiatsea.com/incidents/1782-10-25%20The%20Long%20Beach%20Island%20Massacre.html. Accessed May 14, 2016.
  6. ↑ Donnelly, Mark and Diehl, Daniel. Pirates of New Jersey: Plunder and High Adventure on the Garden State Coastline 2010, page 79
  7. ↑ Donnelly & Diehl, page 80.
  8. ↑ Ruset, Ben. The Refugee John Bacon. NJPineBarrens http://www.njpinebarrens.com/the-refugee-john-bacon/. Accessed May 14, 2016
  9. ↑ Thompson, Michael. The Inappropriate Pride of Confederate Flag Wavers Detroit Free Press August 17, 2015. http://www.freep.com/story/opinion/columnists/mike-thompson/2015/08/17/confederate-flag-southern-heritage/31434423/ Accessed May 14, 2016

External links

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