NJHUNTER-L Archives

Archiver > NJHUNTER > 2003-11 > 1069785138


From: "Mr.Carl Haskins" <>
Subject: [NJHUNTER] Slack Ferryman Mystery Solved! Please Read!
Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2003 10:32:18 -0800 (PST)


Hello fellow listers,

Sometime ago I posted a request on 3 lists (SLACK,
NJHUNTER, PABUCKS) for info on a Slack or Slacks that
were involved with a ferry crossing on the Delaware.
There were many wonderful responses and much insight
was gleaned. As it turns out, there were several
Slacks involved. This is a brief accounting of the
Slack involvement with the ferry.

On December 25, 1776, a General named George
Washington elected to cross the Delaware River so as
to engage British forces at what was to be called the
"Battle of Trenton." There were at least 2 craft
(probably more) used in this crossing and all were
probably rather homely flat raft-like boats rather
than the sleek pointed prow viking-esque boats
depicted in that 'famous' painting. According to the
National Park Service and local historical documents a
fellow named James Henry Slack, son of Abraham and
Elizabeth Stuyvesant (?), helped pole/row Washington's
boat across the river.
James Henry Slack lived in the Newtown area of Bucks
County, Pennsylvania. He went on to fight alongside
Washington at Trenton and other battles.
But wait! There's more!
It turns out that James Henry's uncle, James Slack
(son of Cornelius Hendricksen and Johanna Van DeWater
Slecht), leased and ran the Johnson's Ferry and Tavern
on that fateful night. Washington and his men were
known to have stayed/camped at the Inn after crossing
the river. Slack also leased much land north and south
of the ferry landing including the area where
Washington re crossed the river.
In the annual reenactment of the crossing that takes
place at the Johnson's Ferry Historical Site in New
Jersey the senior ranger portrays James Slack!
James' son Richard also petitioned to run the tavern
and presumably the ferry in 1779.
The Slack family ran the ferry until 1786 when Abraham
Harvey took over operations.
My 5th Great Grandfather was John Slack, James Slack's
brother who lived 'next door' to Abraham Slack, James
Henry Slack's father, in Lower Makefield, Bucks
County, Pennsylvania. John Slack took oath of
allegiance in May of 1777.
My guess is that during the 20 or so years that the
ferry was in Slack hands most all of the clan on both
sides of the river ran and /or used the boats.
There were many other names associated with
Washington's Crossing including: Johnson; Mershon;
Margerum; Green; Lansing; Burroughs; did I mention
Johnson?; Throckmartin; etc.
These and others were players in this wonderful story
of our nations founding.

Oh, by the way...Abraham Harvey who eventually took
control of the ferry away from the Slack families was
later tried as a loyalist for aiding escaped British
prisoners.

Thanks for indulging me,

Carl


__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Protect your identity with Yahoo! Mail AddressGuard
http://antispam.yahoo.com/whatsnewfree

This thread: