Elizabethtown Point

During the American Revolution, Elizabethtown Point was East Jersey’s lifeline, and its greatest danger. This waterfront crossing connected directly to British-occupied Staten Island and Manhattan, making it a vital artery for raids, prisoner exchanges, and intelligence operations. In 1776, Colonel Elias Dayton and his men captured a British supply ship here, preventing arms and ammunition from reaching Boston and turning those supplies to the rebel cause. The seized vessel sat at the end of 1st Street for over a month, a symbol of defiance and resourcefulness.

On January 25, 1780, British and Loyalist troops crossed here to launch a devastating raid that burned parts of Elizabeth, destroyed the First Presbyterian Church, and set in motion the chain of events leading to the murder of Reverend James Caldwell’s wife, Hannah, at Connecticut Farms on June 7. British forces would again cross at the Point ahead of both the Battle of Connecticut Farms and the climactic Battle of Springfield on June 23, 1780.

Elizabethtown's Revolutionary story ended with additional tragedy when a sentinel assassinated Reverend Caldwell on November 24, 1781, while he accompanied a young woman known for aiding American prisoners. Before his death, Caldwell had served in the state legislature as one of New Jersey’s early senators and fiercely attacked Loyalist networks extending from New York into New Jersey. 

The Elizabeth Town Point waterfront park includes a compact network of pedestrian walking paths integrated into the marina and shoreline park grounds. The primary waterfront path extends approximately 0.5 miles in total walking distance, depending on the route taken within the park perimeter. The trail surface is primarily paved asphalt and concrete, providing a smooth and stable walking surface. Interpretive signage related to the site's Revolutionary War history is forthcoming.