We are proud when we read in Nell’s “Colored Patriots of the Revolution” that Oliver Cromwell enlisted in a company commanded by Capt. Lowrey, attached to the Second New Jersey Regiment, under command of Col. Israel Shreve. He was at the Battles of Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Monmouth and Yorktown. He was with the army at the retreat of the Delaware on the memorable crossing of December, 1776, and relates the story of the battles of the succeeding days with enthusiasm. He gives the details of the march from Trenton to Princeton, and told with much humor “that they knocked the British about lively at Princeton.” His discharge (says Dr. McCune Smith) at the end of the war, was in Washington’s own handwriting. He was very proud of it and often spoke of it. He received an annual pension of $96 until his death, January 24th, 1853, aged 100 years. Had he been white, every newspaper in the land would have been eloquent in his praise.
Henry Hill was also in the battle of Princeton. He was buried with the honors of war in 1833.
Caesar Trent was well known here in 1804. Peter Polite, as Mr. Peter Scudder was called, accumulated some property and owned and conducted a confectionery on Nassau street, says Hageman. He died in 1848.
Anthony Simmons was highly esteemed. He was the leading caterer and his place of business was next to Princeton Bank. His will disposed of half a dozen properties and devised to the Witherspoon Presbyterian Church all the property at the corner of Green and Witherspoon streets, worth now about $7000, and gave a legacy of $500 to Princeton University.
Joseph Ten Eyck, a Princetonian, was a celebrated caterer in New York city. He had a summer home at 256 Nassau street. He died about 15 years ago, leaving an estate of $100,000. The largest legacy to Tuskegee Institute, from a colored person, was $38,000, from Mrs. Mary Hood Shaw, his adopted daughter. Virtually his money.
Gilbert Scudder, Sr., operated a barber shop on Nassau street, and rated professors among his patrons.
Mrs. Catharine Scudder, his widow, is still an active, energetic woman, owning several properties. She is full of happy reminiscences, and is one of the oldest members of the Presbyterian Church. She brought with her, when a bride, the first piano owned by a colored family in Princeton. Her daughter is a musician and elocutionist. Her sons are well-settled in business. Eugene conducts a second-hand clothing house on Baker street. Walter is a practicing physician in Philadelphia.
Elias Hart owned and conducted a restaurant on Witherspoon street. His widow still owns and occupies the property.
Samuel Onque and his brother owned a farm opposite.
Mr. Hoagland purchased a lot from it on which he built his home. His widow was a great worker in the Presbyterian Church.