Cedar Bridge Tavern was a Revolutionary War engagement fought in New Jersey.
Nestled in the New Jersey Pine Barrens within Barnegat Township stands the Cedar Bridge Tavern County Historic Site, a landmark steeped in local history. The current structure, erected around 1816, actually represents the second tavern to occupy this ground, and its bar is thought to be among the oldest still standing anywhere in New Jersey. This spot holds particular significance as the setting for what is claimed to be the final skirmish of the American Revolutionary War, an engagement known as the Affair at Cedar Bridge Creek that unfolded on December 27, 1782. Recognition of the site's importance came through its listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors seeking more than just the tavern itself will find 3.5 miles of trails to explore, along with a calendar of events held throughout the year, all managed through the Ocean County Parks & Recreation Department.
Most historians point to the surrender at Yorktown and the siege that preceded it as the final large scale clash of the Revolution on American ground, yet the fighting did not truly end there. Numerous smaller skirmishes and clashes continued to flare up right until the Treaty of Paris was signed, and the very last of these unfolded along the Jersey Shore in 1782.
The date was December 27, 1782. Captains Richard Shreve and Edward Thomas, commanding troops loyal to the young republic, received word that the infamous Loyalist John Bacon had been spotted near the tavern. Acting on this intelligence, they moved against Bacon and his band of Loyalist irregulars, men who had come to be called "Refugees," at a place known as Cedar Bridge. Gunfire erupted briefly between the two sides before Bacon and his followers managed to slip away. The clash left one Patriot dead and four others wounded, while on the Loyalist side four men, Bacon among them, suffered wounds.
Preservationists surveying for the New Jersey Office of Cultural and Environmental Services concluded in 1981 that the Cedar Bridge Tavern likely dated to about 1740, having risen near a stagecoach path linking Camden with the Jersey Shore. Its wooden exterior and sweeping front porch once welcomed weary travelers who used the building as lodging, a place to eat, and a spot for drinks. In 2008, Ocean County acquired the tavern from Rudolf Koenig, its final private owner, paying $120,000 for the property. Pine trees still ring the building, which remains along an unpaved dirt road much as it always has. Official recognition came on August 7, 2013, when the site earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places. County officials have committed $2.2 million toward restoring and expanding the grounds, a project that calls for a cottage for a caretaker as well as an outdoor classroom space.
Every year, enthusiasts gather to bring the encounter at Cedar Bridge back to life, with the commemoration taking place on the first Sunday of December. Activities run from 10am until 4pm, and visitors can catch the staged battle itself at either of two showings, one at noon and another at 2pm.
This page covers Cedar Bridge Tavern. A full Aubrey report for the area pulls together this battle alongside historic sites, land records, and everything else the record holds within a few miles:
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