At 05:32 PM 2/23/2005, you wrote: >Hi Marfy, do you have any information that could answer this request? >Regards, Bill Hartman This is a thorny issue that I struggled with a few years ago. First, I want to address the issue of the name Headquarters. It is my belief that the name of the hamlet has nothing to do the George Washington, but rather with the tavern, known in the 18th century as the White Hall Tavern, which was located on one corner of the intersection of today's Headquarters. John Opdycke's farm was across the road and the mill & store that he ran for many years was on another corner. The White Hall Tavern was used as a recruiting station for the Amwell militia, and I believe that the hamlet took on the name Headquarters because it served as a headquarters for the militia. The only basis for the story of Washington's visit with John Opdycke is the story told by his granddaughter, Elizabeth Arnwine Carrell, daughter of Elizabeth Opdycke Arnwine, as reported in the Opdycke Genealogy. I checked with Frank Gizzard, Associate Editor of the Papers of George Washington, to see if there is any mention of Washington's stopping in Amwell either in December 1776 or in July 1777 or in 1780 on the way to Monmouth. He found nothing. Another tantalizing and questionable source is Jonathan M. Hoppock, who wrote a few articles back in the early 1900's. One of the articles described the march of the Continental Army through today's Delaware Township, and its encampment in three different locations, one of them being Headquarters. Once again, I have been unable to locate any documentation of this event. What is most aggravating is that Hoppock wrote that his grandfather was a great patriot and had many papers pertaining to the time of the Revolution, but that the papers have been burned. Considering how many people would like to find some tangible proof of Washington's visit to Headquarters, it is discouraging to realize that no one has yet succeeded. But I hope you all keep looking. Regards, Marfy Goodspeed >----- Original Message ----- >From: <mailto:sweetsue63@sbcglobal.net>Susan Pena >To: <mailto:NJHUNTER-L@rootsweb.com>NJHUNTER-L@rootsweb.com >Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2005 3:17 PM >Subject: [NJHUNTER] John Opdyke Inquiry > >I am trying to find a document that states that George Washington actually >did make John Opdyke's home in Headquarters, NJ his "headquarters" for a >few days during the Rev. War. I need something like a diary page, a >document, a letter mentioning this, a map, a deed -- something associated >with the house, etc. that states this. > >I have checked in the book, "The Op Dyck Genealogy" written by Charles >Wilson Opdyke and I have that information. > >I belong to DAR and John Opdyke has now been removed from the DAR Patriot >Index because they say the story is "heresy" and there is no proof that >this actually happened. They will not be admitting anyone to DAR on this >line until some form of proof that is not "oral tradition" is issued. I >have a pending Supplemental that could be verified if I could find this >additional piece. I have already submitted the book listed above and they >will not accept it. Furthermore, all those now belonging to DAR under >John Opdyke will remain in the organization but no more will be allowed to >join, as it stands right now until this proof is found. John Opdyke is my >grandfather through his daughter, Elizabeth Opdycke Arnwine and her >daughter Elizabeth Arnwine Carroll (Daniel Carroll, husband). This would >have been a new child on the line, which I was most excited about. > >Please, if you know of somewhere to look or find this info, I would >appreciate knowing where to get it or I will pay you for a copy of what >you have and the postage to mail it, if there is such a document or piece >of evidence. > >Please contact me at: ><mailto:sweetsue63@sbcglobal.net>sweetsue63@sbcglobal.net > >Thanks >Susan Shuler Pena > > >==== NJHUNTER Mailing List ==== >This mail list is archived at: ><http://newsarch.rootsweb.com/th/index/NJHUNTER>http://newsarch.rootsweb.com/th/index/NJHUNTER > >============================== >Census images 1901, 1891, 1881 and 1871, plus so much more. >Ancestry.com's United Kingdom & Ireland Collection. Learn more: ><http://www.ancestry.com/s13968/rd.ashx>http://www.ancestry.com/s13968/rd.ashx