Things were looking up for the American forces under General George Washington in January of 1777. The patriot army had won the First Battle of Trenton, avoided defeat at the Second Battle of Trenton, and defeated British forces at the Battle of Princeton. Things were also looking up for the New Jersey Militia in the South Brunswick area at this time. Robert Nixon, who did not hail from South Brunswick, became one of our local heroes during 1777. It all started for him when the local men in the Light-Horse Troop of Militia, Third Regiment, Middlesex County, elected Robert Nixon as their Captain. He served with distinction in this capacity until advancing in rank later in the year. While he was Captain, he led his men against loyalist foragers. There may have been a number of British soldiers in this band of foragers, but that is not for certain. Nixon and his men were successful in repelling this foe in what became known as the "Cranberry Skirmish," even though the action took place just south of Cross Roads (lka: Dayton) on March 12, 1777. This confrontation and rout of enemy forces took place along Georges Road near where Route 130 is today. The Light-Horse Troop then chased after the foragers in order to discourage them from returning to the area. Captain Nixon lived in Hide's Town (aka: Hight's Town), which is known today as Hightstown. He owned over two-hundred acres of land there. He was a tanner by trade, but he may also have tried his hand at running a tavern. Robert Nixon was a strong, gruff man, well-suited to lead lead local militia men. He was as much respected by them as he was feared. His story is told in Ed. Belding's THE CAPTAIN'S RULE, which is available at the Reference Desk of the South Brunswick Public Library.
