Images(2)

Monmouth Court House in 1778

Periodca. 1878

MediumGraphite drawing with wash shading on cream colored paper with ink inscriptions

Dimensions6 × 9.4 in. (15.2 × 23.9 cm)

InscribedInscribed center in ink, "Monmouth Court House in 1778." Inscribed lower left in ink, "sided with shingles / rounded at the ends."

ClassificationsLandscapes & Still Life

Credit LineGift of Mrs. J. Amory Haskell, 1939

Object number1274

DescriptionDepiction of a three story, shingled structure with a three bay facade, two bay gable end, and gambrel roof with flaring eaves. The building also features a divided paneled front entrance, end chimneys, a small cupola in the center of the ridge line, and round butt shingles. Trees and other undergrowth appear to the right of the structure, as well as behind it on the left. A vertical board fence extends from its left rear corner.
Curatorial RemarksThis drawing is by the same hand as accession number 1275 depicting Old Tennent Parsonage. Each of the drawings bears a remarkable similarity to illustrations of the same titles published with the article "The Battle of Monmouth Court-House" by Benson J. Lossing that appeared in Harper's New Monthly Magazine for June 1878 (vol. 57, no 337, pages 32 and 40). This article appeared in conjunction with the centennial celebrations of the Battle of Monmouth. The question remains whether the drawings were copies after the illustrations, or whether they were the original sketches on which the illustrations were based.NotesThe Battle of Monmouth is often referred to as the Battle of Monmouth Court House. In 1778, Monmouth Court House was a small agricultural village comprised of about thirty dwellings, a blacksmith shop, two taverns, some shops, and two schoolhouses. Aside from the local church, the most prominent building in the hamlet was the court house on Main Street––a three-story wood structure with shingled sides, almost square, that was surmounted by a gambrel roof with a small cupola. Erected in 1731, this was the second court house (the first one, which opened in 1715, was destroyed by fire in 1727). After the battle, the courthouse served as a refuge for the sick and wounded. In 1809, the second Monmouth Court House was moved to a lot off South Street following construction of a new court house immediately behind it. The old structure then served as a private residence, printing office, and finally a barn. Portions of the building were reportedly still standing as of 1885. The artists who created this selection of renderings of the 1731 court house would have relied on print sources, including this illustration in Benson J. Lossing’s article, “The Battle of Monmouth Court-House” (Harper’s New Monthly Magazine 57 [June 1878]), published in celebration of the centennial of the battle. Lossing said that while visiting Freehold, he met “Mr. J. S. Denise, an old citizen, now over eighty years of age, who seemed to have a vivid recollection of the old court-house, and from his description was enabled to make the drawing . . . It is believed to be very nearly, if not quite, correct.” The foundations of the 1731 court house remain in place under the plaza in front of the Monmouth County Hall of Records (the former court house), having been exposed some years ago during construction of the plaza. The artist who executed this drawing of the 18th century Monmouth County court house in Freehold had a keen eye for architectural detail. As the inscription indicates, he took a special interest in the fact that the structure was covered in shingles with rounded butt edges. There were no known stone buildings in the village of Monmouth Courthouse at the time of the Battle of Monmouth.

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