The Jacobus Vanderveer House is the last surviving building in Bedminster associated with the Vanderveer's, a family prominent in Bedminster Township history from its earliest settlement through the mid 19th century. This Cache is placed with permission of the Friends of The Jacobus Vanderveer house and Heritage Trail Association.
The Vanderveer house served as headquarters for General Henry Knox during the winter of 1778-79, when the Continental Army artillery was located in the village of Pluckemin during the Revolutionary War's Second Middlebrook Encampment.
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The house is the only known building still standing that was associated with the Pluckemin Artillery Cantonment. The artillery park and military academy is considered to be the first installation in America to train officers in engineering and artillery and predates the United States Military Academy at West Point (est.1802) by twenty four years.
”General Knox"
The Jacobus Vanderveer house was used as the headquarters of General Henry Knox, the Chief of the Continental Army Artillery, from December 7, 1778 - June 3, 1779, during the second Middlebrook Encampment. Knox was joined at the house by his wife Lucy and their two-year-old daughter. During their stay here, another daughter, Julia, was born to the Knoxes. Sadly, Julia died in infancy; she is also buried in the Bedminster Reformed Church Cemetery.
”Pluckemin Artillery Cantonment"
While the main portion of about 8,000 soldiers was encamped about seven miles away at Middlebrook, about 1,000 soldiers of the Artillery Corps under General Knox, were encamped in the village of Pluckemin. During that time, Knox supervised the construction of the Pluckemin Artillery Cantonment, which was located about two miles south-east of the Jacobus Vanderveer House, at the base of the Second Watchung Mountain, near where The Hills Complex is currently located.
This cache is one of "The American Revolution Geo~Trail" caches throughout New Jersey. These program geocaches are hidden at historic locations which have a connection to important New Jersey's American Revolutionary War history. To participate in the optional Geo-Trail, after you find the geocache, locate the secret code and record it into your passport which you will print from the Geo~Trail website. Information at njpatriots.org
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The Northern New Jersey Cachers, NNJC is about promoting a quality caching experience in New Jersey. For information on The Northern New Jersey Cachers group you can visit: www.nnjc.org.
nnjc.org & metrogathering.org, & njpatriots.org