Revolutionary War

A cannon ball protrudes out of the Friends Meeting House in Crosswicks.

(File photo)

The Boston area is where the fighting started during the American Revolution in 1775. The Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia 238 years ago today. But New Jersey also had its share of contributions to the fight for liberty.

Washington crossing the Delaware River for the Battle of Trenton in 1776 and the legend of Molly Pitcher taking up her husband's cannon post are stories we know well.

But here are 10 things you may not know about the American Revolution in New Jersey.

Washington's final headquarters

George Washington was headquartered in several spots throughout New Jersey, including Morristown, Hackensack, Whippany and Ho-Ho-Kus. But his final headquarters were at Rockingham, which is in Kingston. It's where he was when the Treaty of Paris was signed to end the war and where he wrote his farewell orders in October 1783.

First U.S. land purchase

The United States of America made its first land purchase in New Jersey a day after the Declaration of Independence was signed. It bought a 100-acre plot in what is Paulsboro today to be used as Fort Billingsport to block British ships from reaching Philadelphia.

Was Molly Pitcher just one woman?

Molly Pitcher may not have been just one woman. Instead she may have been a compilation of several women who performed the same deed. The story is typically assigned to Mary Ludwig Hays, who took up her husband's cannon position after he was injured during the Battle of Monmouth. But Margaret Corbin has a similar story, taking up her husband's position while defending Fort Washington.

Washington's spy

John Honeyman may be the one responsible for Washington crossing the Delaware River on Christmas night. He was a spy for Washington, living as a Tory in Trenton. He had people so convinced of his royal loyalties that he had been attacked by patriots before moving to Trenton.

The Americans orchestrated Honeyman's capture and escape so he could tell Hessian commanders morale was low in the Continental Army camp. The Hessians lowered their security just in time for the Americans' attack on Trenton.

Ditching the colony tag

While New Jersey didn't officially become a state until Dec. 18, 1787, it was 10 years earlier New Jersey decided it was no longer a colony. The legislature was meeting at Indian King Tavern in Haddonfield on Sept. 20, 1777 when it decided to change the word "colony" to "state" in all official documents.

Washington visits the Great Falls

If you've ever picnicked at the Great Falls in Paterson, you have something in common with George Washington. He and Marquis de Lafayette, Alexander Hamilton and James McHenry picnicked there on July 10, 1778 before going to the Hermitage in Ho-Ho-Kus.

Where you can see Revolution's cannon balls

Cannon balls hit many New Jersey buildings during the war. The Cannon Ball House, which now houses the Springfield Historical Society, had a cannonball embedded in its west side during the Battle of Springfield. A replica now hangs in that area. But you still can see a cannon ball embedded in the Friends Meeting House in Crosswicks. The house was hit by three cannon balls during a skirmish on June 23, 1778.

Long before there was Short Hills

The Battle of Short Hills didn't actually take place in what we know as Short Hills today. The battle took place in Middlesex and Union counties. Stewart Hartshorn didn't develop the Short Hills section of Millburn until the late 1800s.

British's hold on Sandy Hook

American troops attacked the Sandy Hook lighthouse in March 1776 in an attempt to keep it away from the British so they could not easily invade New York. But the British gained control of the peninsula and the lighthouse, and Sandy Hook remained in British control longer than any other location during the Revolutionary War.

The Battle of Springfield

The Battle of Springfield was the final large Revolutionary War battle to take place in New Jersey. Parson James Caldwell, at the Presbyterian Church, is said to have given soldiers hymnals for wadding while yelling "Give 'em Watts, boys," referring to the name of the hymnals. His wife, who was injured during the Battle of Connecticut Farms, is on the Union County Seal.