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Originally published in 1939
Some of this information may no longer be current and in that case is presented for historical interest only.
Edited by GET NJ, COPYRIGHT 2003
COLT'S NECK, 9.2 miles (125 alt.), was originally named Caul's Neck
for an early settler. The one-street village under great trees amid wide pastures is more than 200 years old. It became a famous breeding place for
race horses, and a story persists that a colt of the renowned race horse,
Old Fashioned, fell and broke its neck here.
COLT'S NECK INN, a few hundred feet R. of the highway at the crossroads at 9.2 miles, was built in 1717. George Washington is said to have
stayed here at one time; Clinton's army marched past it after the Battle of
Monmouth. The inn is an attractive, white-shingled public house, with a
long, low stoop lined with flower boxes. It is the field headquarters of the
Rumson Hunt Club founded by Peter Collier. Permission is granted to the
hunters to ride over the surrounding farms during the hunt season, for
which the club gives a big race meet and hunt supper to all the farmers
every fall. Many of the Colt's Neck farms are luxurious estates.
One-time proprietor of the inn was Capt. Joshua Huddy, vigorous
patriot who was executed by Tories. Huddy's house, which stood a few
rods back from the highway, was once attacked by Colonel Tye and some
60 followers. The "colonel" was Titus, a mulatto slave who had escaped
from his master in Shrewsbury and joined the Tories. Huddy and a young
Negro servant girl, only occupants of the house, put up a strong defense
for hours. When the attackers set fire to the house Huddy surrendered
The girl escaped. Crossing Shrewsbury River with his captors Huddy
jumped overboard and won freedom. Colonial militia pursued the raiders
and killed six; Tye died later of a wound.
South of Colt's Neck is an area of fine white sand and stunted pines.
During the Revolution this region afforded shelter to several bands of
outlaws, known as the Pine Robbers, led by British sympathizers. They
lived in caves burrowed in the sand hills and hidden with brush.
The thin topsoil has closed this land to farming. There are stunted
pines on both sides of State 34 and far ahead. The borders of the road
are being planted with laurel.
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