Perryville in Hunterdon County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
David Reynolds Tavern/Joseph Van Syckel Residence
-- 1763 --
Joseph Van Syckel
-- 1839 --
Union Township Historic Site
Location. 40° 39.037′ N, 74° 58.24′ W. Marker is in Perryville, New Jersey, in Hunterdon County. Marker is on Charlestown Road (County Route 635) near Van Sickel Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Willingboro NJ 08046, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Van Syckles Tavern (within shouting distance of this marker); Joseph Turner House (approx. 0.7 miles away); Perryville Tavern (approx. 1.2 miles away); Bethlehem Baptist Church (approx. 1.4 miles away); Union Township World War II Memorial (approx. 1.7 miles away); Bog Meadows (approx. 1.9 miles away); Tower Hill Farm (approx. 1.9 miles away); Swayze Mine (approx. 2 miles away).
1. David Reynolds
David Reynolds opened his tavern in 1763. It was close to the Union Forge so the workers would have a place to eat and sleep. There had been no public meeting place before David opened his tavern.
After the British Parliament passed the Stamp Act of 1765, which meant that the colonists would have to pay more taxes, the farmers in Bethlehem Township formed the "Sons of Liberty." Meetings were held at David Reynolds’ tavern. Citizens were angry and plans were made to do away with the dreaded Stamp Act.
David Reynolds was angrier than most. He came to America because he couldn’t find work in England. Now he could see that England was planning on taxing the American colonists even more.
He was so angry that he started to counterfeit money. His counterfeit press was on the third floor of his tavern, hidden in the side of the chimney where no one could see it. He had windows facing the road so that he could see anyone coming up the road.
Even with his secrecy he was found out. One day he was printing money, when he turned around to see British soldiers standing there. They had put burlap on their horses' hooves and sneaked up the back way. Reynolds never even heard them coming.
The soldiers took him off and hanged him that very day. In those days counterfeiting meant death!
David Reynolds’ stone tavern stands today on the corner of Charlestown Road and Norton Road in Bethlehem Township. Union Forge, if it were still standing, would be under Spruce Run Reservoir.
— Submitted May 22, 2009.
2. Union Furnace
Allen and Turners, Union Furnace(Spruce Run Furnace) is now located underneath Spruce Run reservior. Remnants are still located on NJ Park property. Union Forge (South Branch Forge) is located in High Bridge NJ. Together all a part of Union Iron Works.
— Submitted August 19, 2012, by William Honachefsky Jr of High Bridge/Clinton Twp, New Jersey.
Categories. • Colonial Era • Notable Buildings •
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on May 18, 2009, by Alan Edelson of Union Twsp., New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,577 times since then and 22 times this year. Last updated on May 22, 2009, by Alan Edelson of Union Twsp., New Jersey. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 18, 2009, by Alan Edelson of Union Twsp., New Jersey. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.