By Mary Ann Bourbeau
SHREWSBURY – America will celebrate its 250th birthday July 4, 2026, the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Monmouth County, the site of the crucial Revolutionary War Battle of Monmouth, played a major part in the quest for independence.
Jonathan Mercantini, Ph.D., acting associate provost for special projects and professor of history at Kean University, will present a talk at the Eastern Branch of the Monmouth County Public Library about New Jersey’s role in the Revolution. He is a member of the New Jersey Historical Commission and a trustee of the New Jersey Council for the Humanities. As a kid growing up in Northern Virginia, he soaked in all the local history regarding America’s beginnings.
“I started reading books and loved it, and quite honestly, I never got away from it,” Mercantini said in an interview before the presentation. “Virginia has a rich history, just as New Jersey does.”
New Jersey’s strategic location between the new American capital in Philadelphia and the British headquarters in New York meant it was truly a crossroads of the American Revolution.
It was the site of the battles of Trenton and Princeton, which set the British on a path of defense rather than offense. New Jersey had more military engagements than any other state, and it’s where George Washington spent more than one-quarter of his time as commander in chief.
Because of its diverse people and uncertain future, it was also the site of fierce ideological battles based on political, economic and cultural divisions.
Mercantini’s presentation will broadly cover the revolution in New Jersey, along with some events that are relevant to the local community. That includes the Battle of Monmouth, which was fought in Freehold near where the Monmouth County Courthouse now stands. This battle demonstrated the Continental Army’s ability to stand toe-to-toe with the British Army as an equal.
“The Battle of Monmouth was the largest battle that occurred in New Jersey,” he said. “It was a major turning point in the war, solidifying Washington as the leader of the Continental Army. On the battlefield, the Battle of Monmouth is effectively a draw, but it was the first battle in which Washington’s Continental Army fights British regulars and is able to hold against them. The Americans hold the battlefield at the end of the day, and the British continue across the state to Sandy Hook and then back to New York City.”
During presentations, Mercantini discusses the Declaration of Independence and the ideas and legacies of that document. He also relates stories about the role of women in the war, including Molly Pitcher (“mostly myth with a little reality mixed in”). These brave women served as lookouts and raised the alarm when they saw British troops advancing, enabling the militia to respond. He touches on lesser-known historical details, such as the story of Titus Cornelius. Also known as Colonel Tye, he was a slave in Colts Neck and escaped his master to fight with the Black Brigade against American forces.
“Some of the lesser-known stories are fascinating because sometimes the facts are even wilder than fiction,” said Mercantini. “History is a great way to understand the present. You can’t understand where we are unless you understand how we got here. Commemorating the 250th marks a key moment for understanding the values of our country, and I’m excited to play a small role in sharing these ideas.”
The Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners established the MonmouthNJ 250 Committee to coordinate observances and celebrations for America’s 250th and to explore Monmouth County’s significance to the American Revolution.
MonmouthNJ 250 has a traveling exhibit on the Revolution. Information can be found at monmouthnj250.org/traveling-exhibit. The website contains numerous panels, each telling a different story about life in Monmouth County during and after the Revolutionary War. There is also an art competition, student essay contest, student poetry contest and a bicentennial photo-sharing page.
“That roadshow is very cool,” said Mercantini. “There’s also a documentary on Monmouth County specifically, and the Revolution in New Jersey more broadly. Monmouth has been one of the leading counties with regard to commemorating the 250th.”
The Monmouth County Library Eastern Branch is located at 1001 Route 35, Shrewsbury. Mercantini’s presentation will be held from 7 to 8 p.m., April 10. Registration is required to guarantee seating for this program. For more information, call 866-941-8188.
The article originally appeared in the April 10 – 16, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
