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Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

A bald eagle. The scales of justice. A farmer and his plow.

They're the typical symbols found on governmental seals that hang in meeting chambers, can be found on letterhead, or are emblazoned on the back of business cards.

But in Union County, they chose to go with something different — a grisly murder scene of the first woman killed in the Revolutionary War in New Jersey— who was shot in her home while protecting her family.

That very woman — or maybe her husband— is said to haunt the grounds where she lived, now known as the Caldwell Parsonage in Union Township.

Here's the story of Hannah Caldwell, whose death has been memorialized in Union County's seal.

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Courtesy Union Twp. Historical Society

Hannah Caldwell

“She was of so sweet a temper, so prudent, benevolent, and soft in her manners, that I verily believe she had not upon earth one personal enemy.”

That’s what her husband, the Rev. James Caldwell, said of his wife more than two centuries ago.

The pair married on March 14, 1763 and had nine children. Hannah was described as being medium height with a fair complexion, auburn hair and dark gray eyes.

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Courtesy Union Twp. Historical Society

Rev. James Caldwell

Reverend James Caldwell, the "Fighting Parson" of the American Revolution, was one of the most notable chaplains during the war, according to the Revolutionary War New Jersey website.

He was born in Virginia in April 1734. He graduated in 1759 from the College of New Jersey, now known as Princeton University. After graduating, he was ordained a minister and later became the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethtown.

When the war broke out, the Rev. Caldwell joined the Patriot Army and became chaplain of the New Jersey line.

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The First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethtown (now Elizabeth), where Rev. Caldwell served as pastor, is shown on a postcard that predates 1899.

Courtesy Westfield Historical Society

First Presbyterian Church of Elizabeth

In early 1780, his church and home were burned down by Loyalists. He moved his wife and nine children to the parsonage, a home for the clergy members at Connecticut Farms in what is now known as Union Township.

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Detail of the Union County Seal

The murder

On that fateful Wednesday, June 7, 1780, British troops passed through Connecticut Farms heading to Morristown in hopes of destroying Gen. George Washington's camp where Rev. Caldwell was stationed.

The New Jersey militia were informed of their approach.

Caldwell wanted his wife, Hannah, to prepare to leave the parsonage with the children to accompany him to safety in Springfield, but she felt that she would not be harmed.

The Patriots fought back for several hours, firing from open doorways and windows but the British sent reinforcements and drove the Americans out of the town.

Hannah went to the back bedroom after her husband left, taking her four-year-old-son Elias, eight-month-old daughter, Maria, the infant’s nurse, Catherine Benward, and the young housekeeper Abigail Lennington. Hannah chose that room because she thought it to be the safest with only one window.

Lennington described what happened. A stocky soldier wearing a red coat left the road, then crossed diagonally to reach the house. Elias was constantly peering out the window at the British soldiers passing by. Lennington had been instructed to keep the boy away from the window, but she could not. So Hannah moved to pull him to safety at the precise moment the soldier approached and fired his musket. Seconds later, Hannah lay dead on her bed.

The Patriots were outraged by her murder and wanted revenge. They knew Rev. Caldwell was hated by the British for his fiery patriotic sermons and recruiting efforts and some colonists believed his wife was targeted for assassination.

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The painting by John Ward Dunsmore captioned "Battle of Springfield, New Jersey" depicts Caldwell handing out Watts' hymn books during battle.

"Battle of Springfield, New Jersey"

Rev. James Caldwell at Battle of Springfield, "Give 'em Watts, Boys!".

Two weeks later, the Rev. Caldwell found himself fighting British troops during the Battle of Springfield on June 23, 1780. While fighting, the Continentals ran low on paper wadding that was used to pack the power and ball in the musket.

Caldwell ran into the church, gathered hymnbooks published by English clergyman Isaac Watts and shouted "Give 'em Watts, boys!" as the soldiers tore up the pages to make wadding.

The painting by John Ward Dunsmore captioned "Battle of Springfield, New Jersey" depicts this historical moment. The original painting now hangs in Fraunces Tavern, in New York City, and a copy hangs in the Springfield Municipal Court.

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The original parsonage dates back to 1730. The Caldwell family moved to the parsonage after their home and church were burned by the British.

Courtesy Union Twp. Historical Society

The Rev. Caldwell's murder

The following autumn, on Nov. 24, 1781, the Rev. Caldwell met the same fate as his wife.

He was shot and killed by James Morgan, an American soldier standing guard at the port of Elizabethtown, when Caldwell refused to have a package inspected. Morgan was arrested, put on trial and found guilty of the murder.

James Caldwell’s spirit is also believed to haunt the parsonage. Both Rev. Caldwell and Hannah's remains now lay in the First Presbyterian Church cemetery in Elizabeth.

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A plaque on Caldwell Avenue in Union near the Caldwell Parsonage house honors Hannah.

Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

A plaque in her honor

The death of Hannah Caldwell sparked widespread anger with Patriots and she became another symbol of the fight for independence.

"Some people don't like the idea of a murder being the symbol of our county," president of the Union Township Historical Society Barbara La Mort said. "Other people are proud of the fact that it's unique and commemorates a significant historic event. Hannah was a courageous woman who stood her ground, knowing the enemy was approaching."

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Star-Ledger File Photo

Different versions of the seal

On July 6, 1933 the Board of Chosen Freeholders voted on the current version of the seal. According to historic documentation, Hannah was dressed in white signifying peace and sincerity and the British soldier in red with gun leveled at her.

Below the soldier are the numerals 1857 indicating the year Union County separated from Essex County.

In 2002, Union County freeholder Angel Estrada wanted to restore an old 8-foot replica of the seal that once hung in the Union County courthouse in Elizabeth. At the time, it was being stored in the Union County garage.

Unlike the current and original version, this does not show Hannah's son standing at the door.

According to Union County spokesman Sebastian D'Elia, the 8-foot replica was destroyed during a fire at the garage in August 2017.

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Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Caldwell Parsonage today

The Caldwell Parsonage was constructed in 1782 upon the foundation of the original 1730 parsonage, which was burned by the British and Hessians the day Hannah was killed.

The parsonage is now maintained by the small Union Township Historical Society and is on the National and State Registers of Historic Places. Tours of the museum are available by appointment. They also hold special events during the year.

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Paranormal investigators Barry Ruggiero, left, and his brother John Ruggiero search for signs of energy in Hannah's room at the Caldwell Parsonage House in Union during an investigation in 2014.

Star-Ledger File Photo

The hauntings

Considering the parsonage's past history, some believe it's haunted. The question is: Whose ghost is it? Hannah or James?

A tenant who lives in an apartment attached to the parsonage said she sometimes hears inexplicable noises coming from the other side of the dwelling, but they are not threatening sounds.

Over the years, there have been several ghost hunting events at the parsonage. New Jersey Paranormal held an event on Oct. 20, which was sold out.

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Members of New Jersey Paranormal, a paranormal research and investigation group, gathered evidence at the Caldwell Parsonage House on Saturday, May 17, 2014. The group conducted an on going investigation into the paranormal activity at the house and its relation to the Rev. James Caldwell and his wife, Hannah Caldwell.

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Patti Sapone may be reached at psapone@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Instagram @psapo, Twitter @psapone. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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