Perth Amboy Ferry Slip Museum, Program

British Barracks in New Jersey

The Perth Amboy Ferry Slip Museum (maritime) will be holding another in its monthly Sunday Series of lecture/reception programs.

Sunday, April 3, 2011 at 2 PM at the museum at 300 Front Street, Perth Amboy on beautiful Raritan Bay (foot of Smith Street).

Richard Patterson, distinguished Executive Director of the Old Barracks Museum at Trenton, will be speaking about the importance of the British Barracks in New Jersey and the largest of which was in Perth Amboy.

Patterson will show us rare images of the Perth Amboy Barracks that quartered regiments of the “46^th of foot” and the “47^th of foot,” the latter leaving to participate in the Battles of Bunker Hill and Saratoga. During the winter of 1776-1777 Perth Amboy was a garrison town filled with Scotch Highlanders, Hessians and British soldiers. Of the five British Barracks built in New Jersey, the one in Perth Amboy was the largest. Completed in 1759, it was the largest building in Perth Amboy and could quarter 300 men.

The Old Barracks at Trenton is the only French and Indian War Barracks still standing in the USA. Nearly 20,000 school children and thousands more people from all over the world visit the Old Barracks every year. It is one of the most visited historic sites in New Jersey. Imagine if Perth Amboy, a Colonial Capital of New Jersey, still had its barracks as a visitor attraction!

But we can still tell of the city’s distinguished historical role in the foundations of our republic and this we will continue to do at our museum!

The requested donation is $5.00 and dessert and coffee will be served.

Please join us for another informative and enjoyable afternoon on Raritan Bay!

Submitted by Donald J. Peck, Program Chair