Terror in the Valley: The British Occupy Hopewell Valley in 1776

Dec 1776: Pennington was under siege. Learn how locals helped save the Revolution, plus see a live British soldier history demo! Terror in the Valley: The British Occupy Hopewell Valley in 1776 Wednesday, November 18, 2026 @ 7 PM Pennington Presbyterian Church, 13 South Main Street, Pennington, NJ You can also view from home: YouTube Live Link coming soon! Local historian Larry Kidder reveals how British soldiers interrupted normal life in the town and vicinity of Pennington during the important month of December 1776. In November and most of December, the Revolution teetered on the verge of collapse while the local people experienced many plundering incidents, rapes, and other British atrocities. That frightening situation changed toward the end of the month when Pennington residents and their friends throughout Hopewell Township helped American forces turn the tide, force the British to retreat from New Jersey, and save the Revolution. As part of the program, Asher Lurie, kitted out as a member of the British Army in the late fall/winter of 1776, will explain who these British soldiers were, the world they came from, and the evolving doctrine of the British Army from the close of the French and Indian War to the beginning of the American Revolution. This event is co-sponsored by the Pennington Public Library, the Hopewell Valley Historical Society and The Hopewell Museum. About Our Presenters: Larry Kidder is a long-time member of the Hopewell Valley Historical Society and is currently a board member and past-president. He also volunteered at Howell Living History Farm for over 35 years, as a historical researcher, interpreter, and draft-horse teamster. He taught secondary school history, first in Ewing and then at the Hun School of Princeton, for 40 years. Over the past 15+ years he has written and published multiple books and given numerous talks on the history of Howell Farm and Revolutionary War events in the area of today’s Mercer County and southern Hunterdon County. Asher Lurie has been the Executive Director of the Hopewell Museum since January 2024. He has a BA in History and an AA in Political Science from Rutgers University. Before joining the Hopewell Museum, he spent 13 years at the Old Barracks Museum, starting as an intern and becoming Chief of Historical Interpretation. Beyond his museum work, Mr. Lurie is active with other nonprofits, including the Princeton Battlefield Society, of which he is a former board member. He has spoken at professional conferences, and often lectures on Colonial America, the British First Empire, and the American Revolution.