Explore Local Rahway and Union County Revolutionary War History this 4th of July

A City With Stories Underground

Walk through Rahway Cemetery on a quiet afternoon and you're standing in the middle of American history. Abraham Clark—one of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence—is buried there. So are more than 50 Revolutionary War veterans. Most people walking past the headstones have no idea who they're looking at.

The city's name itself has a story. Long before it was Rahway, this place was called Spanktown. And during the Revolutionary War era, Spanktown was ground zero for fighting, recruiting, and the movement of armies through New Jersey.

Next door to the cemetery sits the Terrill Tavern—a building that still stands and still carries the weight of its past. American soldiers came there to enlist. British generals came there to plan. George Washington passed through. So did the Marquis de Lafayette. British commanders Cornwallis and Howe ate and drank in that same building. It's one thing to read about the Revolutionary War in a textbook. It's another to stand in front of a tavern and know that some of the most important figures of that era walked through the same doors.

Rahway saw Revolutionary War fighting multiple times in 1777—battles and skirmishes that shaped the outcome of the war. And when it was all over, when Washington became President, he passed through Rahway again on his way to his first inauguration. A town that had been scorched by war celebrated its survival.

Your Doorstep History

If you're curious about this past, Union County Life readers don't need to travel far. Revolutionary War New Jersey dot com is a resource that historian Al Frazza spent nearly a decade building. Between 2009 and 2017, he researched and photographed more than 650 Revolutionary War sites across all 21 New Jersey counties.

Rahway is just the start. Across Union County, there are 45 additional historic sites scattered through 12 municipalities—all within easy driving distance. Battle of Connecticut Farms happened in Union. The Battle of Springfield left its mark on the city. The Battle of the Short Hills played out across the Scotch Plains area. Historic cemeteries, preserved houses, monuments, roadside markers—they're everywhere once you know where to look.

Frazza turned his research into a book, too: State of Revolution: My Seven-And-A-Half-Year Journey Through Revolutionary War New Jersey. You can find it on Amazon or at AlFrazza.com.

For a rainy Saturday or a family outing that doesn't require tickets or reservations, RevolutionaryWarNewJersey.com is the place to start. Your town's history is closer than you think.

FAQ

Q: What Revolutionary War sites can I actually visit in Rahway?
Start at Rahway Cemetery, where Declaration signer Abraham Clark is buried alongside more than 50 Revolutionary War veterans. The Terrill Tavern, next door, is believed to have been visited by George Washington, Lafayette, and British generals. Both are accessible to the public.

Q: Is there a map or guide to all these sites?
Yes. RevolutionaryWarNewJersey.com documents more than 650 Revolutionary War sites across New Jersey, including detailed entries for 45 sites across 12 Union County municipalities. Each entry includes photographs, historical context, and location information.

Q: What major battles happened in Union County during the Revolutionary War?
Three significant engagements: the Battle of Connecticut Farms (in what is now Union), the Battle of Springfield, and the Battle of the Short Hills (in the Scotch Plains area).

Q: Who created this Revolutionary War website?
Historian Al Frazza researched and photographed more than 650 sites over nearly eight years (2009–2017). He also wrote a book about the experience: State of Revolution: My Seven-And-A-Half-Year Journey Through Revolutionary War New Jersey, available on Amazon and at AlFrazza.com.