As the American Revolution swept through New Jersey and the mid-Atlantic region in 1777-78, the Indian King Tavern witnessed much military and political activity. With British armed forces concentrated in the Raritan Valley region in January 1777, New Jersey’s legislature escaped south to comparative safety in Haddonfield. Meeting in the tavern for three sessions that year, the Assembly continued the struggle for independence, passing laws strengthening New Jersey’s defense, preventing exports of war materiel, and imposing martial law. At the Indian King the legislature capped a year-long transition from thinking of New Jersey as a colony to identifying it as an independent state, voting on September 20, 1777 to require all public writs and commissions to refer to the “State of New Jersey.”

After the British occupation of nearby Philadelphia in September 1777, Haddonfield exchanged hands between Crown and Rebel forces four times.

Initially constructed about 1732 as a brewery, distillery, store, and dwelling, the structure was enlarged in 1741 and again circa 1764 before becoming a three-rental dwelling and, in 1777, a tavern. Renovated many times in the 19th century, in 1903, the Indian King Tavern became New Jersey’s first State-owned historic site.

Indian King Tavern, 1901. 
Courtesy Historical Society of Haddonfield

Indian King Tavern. 
Courtesy Garry Wheeler Stone

For more information on this site and subject, visit: https://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/historic/indianking/index.html
or search the following terms:  “Indian King Tavern”  “Indian King Tavern Haddonfield”