American Revolution
Historic Revolutionary War Travel Pass Issued: "... to His Excellency Gen. Washington's Camp" at Valley Forge!
February 18, 1778-Dated Revolutionary War Period, Manuscript Document Signed by Jared Seaton, Justice of the Peace, Very Fine.
February 18, 1778-Dated Revolutionary War Period, Manuscript Document, 8" x 5.25", 1 page, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Being a Pass for Safe Passage to General George Washington's "Camp" (Valley Forge, Pennsylvania). Tape repairs to back at fold lines, minor edge chips. Between the dates December 19, 1777 to June 19, 1778, General George Washington's Camp was located at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania where he made his headquarters in the historic Isaac Potts House. This historic Manuscript Document dated February 18, 1778 reads, in full:



"State of New Jersey, Hunterdon County --- Permit the bearer hereof William Cornal an inhabitant of the said County of Hunterdon to pass from thence to His Excellency Gen. Washington's Camp (with Peter Shelly, who has enlisted in the Continental Army during the present War,) and back again to the place of his Abode Unmolested, he Behaving as Becometh. February 18,1778 - (Signed) Jared Seaton, one of the Judges Assigned to keep the Peace for the said County of Hunterdon".



Hunterdon County is a county located in the western section of the State of New Jersey. It is a distance of about 67.9 miles to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania which traveling today would take about 1 hour & 30 minutes via I-276 West, and somewhat longer in 1778.
This pass was found in the Holcombe House in Lambertville, NJ. General Washington used this house as a temporary headquarters during this time, from June 21 to 23, 1778.



Lambertville is on the Delaware River, just 8 miles north of Washington's Crossing, NJ. This pass has been in a family for 6 generations! The Holcombe House is located at 260 North Main Street, a.k.a. NJ State Route 29, Coryell's Ferry (now Lambertville), New Jersey.



From July 29 to 31, 1777, British General Howe and his 15,000 soldiers sailed from New York City. George Washington moved his Continental Congress Army to Lambertville, New Jersey to be able to counter Howe, either North or South, depending on Howe's intended destination. General Howe sailed into the Chesapeake Bay landing at Head of Elk, and began a march toward Philadelphia. - Holcombe is paid 5.10 for 22 suppers and 22 breakfasts.



General George Washington Returns to Holcombe House:



June 21 " Washington crosses to the New Jersey side of the Delaware River, but most of the Continental Army was camped on the west side at New Hope, Pennsylvania and they crossed the following day.



June 22 " Expenses paid to Mr. Holcombe " 10.17.6.