"Pine Robbers" were loosely organized criminal gangs and
marauders who were
British sympathizers and
Loyalists during the
American Revolutionary War and used the
Pine Barrens of
New Jersey to wreak havoc in the area. The pine barrens created densely forested terrain where concealment of
guerrilla and criminal activities could easily be carried out.
Guerrilla and criminal activities
While the
Tories, who had received their land from
King George III, were amiable neighbors during the day and enemies of the
Patriots by night, the pine robbers were disgruntled British sailors who had jumped ship. They banded together with local outlaws to burn and
loot
Loot may refer to:
Film
*''Loot'' (1919 film), a film by William C. Dowlan
* ''Loot'' (1970 film), a British film by Silvio Narizzano
* ''Loot'' (2008 film), a documentary
* ''Loot'' (2011 film), an Indian film
* ''Loot'' (2012 film), a Nepali fil ...
throughout the New Jersey Pine Barrens. The pine robbers were commonly known to commit crimes against Patriots and, sometimes, Loyalists.
Fagan Gang
One of the most infamous pine robber gangs was the
Fagan Gang
Fagan or Phagan is also a Norman-Irish surname, derived from the Latin word 'paganus' meaning ‘rural’ or ‘rustic’. Variants of the name Fagan include Fegan and Fagen. It was brought to Ireland during the Anglo-Norman invasion in the twelfth ...
led by Loyalist leader Jacob Fagan and his associate Lewis Fenton.
John Bacon and the "Refugees"
John Bacon was one of the more notorious Loyalist leaders of the pine robbers. In December 1782, Bacon and his gang, the "Refugees" were involved in the Battle of Cedar Bridge, where a surprise attack by Captain Edward Thomas of the Mansfield Militia and Captain Richard Shreeve of the Burlington County Light Horse forced Bacon to quickly build a makeshift
barricade
Barricade (from the French ''barrique'' - 'barrel') is any object or structure that creates a barrier or obstacle to control, block passage or force the flow of traffic in the desired direction. Adopted as a military term, a barricade denot ...
at Cedar Bridge. The Patriot forces charged the Refugees, but Bacon and three gang members escaped.
On April 3, 1783, John Bacon was surrounded by the Patriot militia from
Burlington, New Jersey
Burlington is a city in Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is a suburb of Philadelphia. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 9,743.
Burlington was first incorporated on October 24, 1693, and was r ...
, while drinking in a local tavern. With no chance of escape, he was
bayonet
A bayonet (from French ) is a knife, dagger, sword, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit on the end of the muzzle of a rifle, musket or similar firearm, allowing it to be used as a spear-like weapon.Brayley, Martin, ''Bayonets: An Illustr ...
ed and shot to death.
See also
*
De Lancey's Brigade
*
Doan Gang
*
Harpe brothers
*
New Jersey Volunteers
References
*Ward, Harry M; ''Between the Lines: Banditti of the American Revolution''; Santa Barbara, California; Praeger; (2002).
External links
''The Refugee John Bacon (Loyalist leader of the Pine Robbers)''''Egg Harbor City to Pleasant Mills''
Loyalist military units in the American Revolution
Pine Barrens (New Jersey)
New Jersey in the American Revolution
American outlaws
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