Quite as interesting as the inventories of property left by will are some old records in the State Library, New Jersey, called a "Record of the Damages done by the British and their adherents to the Inhabitants of Middlesex Co., New Jersey." This contains the inventories made by six hundred and fifty persons who suffered from the depredations of the plundering Hessians and the English soldiery. The lists extend over the years from 1776 to 1782 inclusive, but the worst mischief was done in the time from December, 1776, to June, 1777. There were eighteen hundred horses taken, and these form a single item. That the settlers were good livers the following inventory of one patriot shows. He lost—
—"4 hogsheads of cider, ½ pipe of madeira, 10 gallons brandy, 7 gallons Jamaica brandy, ½ barrel cherry Rum, barrel Porter."
The inventory does not state his business, but we trust from appearances that he kept a "public."
Another list reads:
"Three cupboards of Dutch make as good as new, also three large Bibles 1 Dutch and 2 English."
David Harriott, of Middlesex County, was completely stripped by the enemy. Among many items were—
"a set of Homespun curtains wove with damask flowers, one ditto of white in large damask flowers, and one ditto of double dimons."
Napkins, quilts, bedspreads, and sheets, as well as large-flowered damask table-cloths and linen covers testify to the industry of the women of the family. The good wife lost her long gowns and short gowns, her "shifts of 500 linen," handkerchiefs of gauze, lawn, and linen, aprons of new flowered lawn, fine linen and homespun, 3 caps of cambric and lawn, all new, and even two bibs for a child. They took all of David's clothes and his silver teaspoons and buckles, smashed his windows and doors, broke down his partitions, drove off his cattle, and did not leave him so much as "a bed, a piggin, a trammel, or a gridiron."
Jacob Hyer was another sufferer. His house must have been one of considerable size and well furnished. There are many items, among them—