The following concerns British Loyalist, rather than Hessians, but it may be of interest to the List: Loyalists' grave site found in Sandy Hook Published in the Asbury Park Press 07/11/05 BY CAROLE ANN LANG GUEST WRITER With much of the action of the Revolutionary War taking place in and around New York, the Sandy Hook Lighthouse was a high-priority location for both the patriots and the British. But with many warships of the main British fleet stationed in Sandy Hook Bay, the lighthouse remained under royal control throughout the war. And it was here that what has been described as "the last tragic incident" of the war occurred. It happened on an overcast New Year's Eve in 1783. The conflict was officially over, the peace treaty having been signed the previous September. A number of British warships were still anchored in Sandy Hook Bay, assigned to help evacuate British troops and Loyalists from New York City. Eleven seamen from the British ship HMS Assistance deserted, fleeing to Sandy Hook. A detachment of 14 Loyalist troops, led by 21-year-old 1st Lt. Hamilton Douglas Halyburton, began a hot pursuit. But shortly after leaving the ship, Halyburton and his men were attacked — by a howling blizzard. All those in the company perished and were eventually found frozen to death in a Sandy Hook salt marsh. The deserters were never found, never caught, but the Loyalists were buried in a common grave. Later, Lt. Halyburton's mother, the dowager Countess of Morton, had a monument erected over the resting place of her son and his comrades. But vandals destroyed the marker so completely that the grave site was lost. Fortunately, the bodies were found in 1908, when a group of workmen grading a railroad bed for the U.S. Army came upon the burial site under the sands of the peninsula. The bones were taken to Cypress Hills National Cemetery in Brooklyn, where they now truly rest in peace. Carole Ann Lang of Towson, Md., is a former longtime resident of Camden County with an interest in New Jersey history.

[continued from Part 1] I send you herewith enclosed an Account of the State and Condition of Assistance since the doleful Accident in question happened: and as soon as I shall have taken in her provisions, and Water wherewith we are supplying ourselves with from the Bridgewater and Juno Transports; I shall forthwith sail for Barbadoes, according to my last of the 28th Ultimo being at present in such a state of mind as to be scarce capable of signing my Name. I have the Honor to be Sir your most obedient Humble Servant Chs Douglas PS We learnt this Morning from the Mate of the Bridgewater, that he saw the Deserters in the Long Boat shift her Birth to a considerable distance from the place where they first put her onshore, before they made any attempt to quit her - The Seaman who went in the Barge was born in Staten Island, and some of the Gentlemen had represented, that they were well acquainted with these shores. I beg that you may be pleased to move my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to cause authenticated copies of the late Treaties of Peace with France & America as also that made with France at Paris in the Year 1762; to be transmitted to me forasmuch as the same may relate to the duties of my Station. The Bridgewater Transport has been in a dangerous situation, for want of Ground Tackle; having had only one Bower and a small Anchor left; Captn Stone* has by my order; supply'd her with a Bower Anchor; and a Bower Cable from the Hermione for which the proper receipts will be by him transmitted to the Navy Board - The Bodies of the deceased are to be to morrow interred at Sandy Hook with due Honours and every possible mark of respect 4 Jany 1784 We learn that three more Bodies, have been found, and interred by the Americans on the Jersey Shore so that now only one remains unaccounted for, whom we fear may also be numbered with the Dead. 5 Jany 1784 I have just receiv'd information that the Person above unaccounted for has been also found & buried by the Americans on the Jersey Shore Chs Douglas [names in the margin] Lieut [Honble Hamilton Douglas­-]Hallyburton** Lt [James] Champion (Marines) Mr Rt Haywood Mid Chas Gascoigne do Wm Spry Do Geo. Towers Do Geo. Faddy Do Wm Scott Do Davd Reddie Do Alex. Johnstone Do Missing Andw Hamilton Mid Robt Wood Do Wm Tomlinson Do Jno McChain Seaman ------- * Presumably Captain John Stone, RN (rank: 23 Aug 1781). Sir Charles' flag captain in June 1784 onboard Assistance.was Captain William Bentinck (rank: 15 Sep 1783). ** He was born 10 Oct 1763, the son of Solto Charles Douglas, the 14th Earl of Morton (1732-1774), and brother of the 15th Earl. He inherited certain estates at Pictur from his grandmother, nee Agnes Hallyburton, heiress of Pictur, daughter of James Hallyburton, who was the first wife of James Douglas, 13th Earl of Morton; hence the hyphenated surname. Presumably he also was some relation to Sir Charles Douglas, Bart. Normally a 20 year old Lieutenant would not be the First Lieutenant of a 4th-Rate, 50-gun ship.