Winter 1780: Secrets of a Loyalist Spy in Paramus

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Paramus NJ, History isn’t just found in textbooks; sometimes, it’s hidden in the frantic, handwritten notes of a spy. In February 1780, Bergen County was locked in the “coldest winter in human memory.” As residents today brave the New Jersey chill, imagine a time when the stakes weren’t just about clearing the driveway—they were about the survival of a burgeoning nation.

The “Intelligence” from the Coldest Winter

Newly surfaced records from the Bergen County Historical Society offer a chilling look at military life in Paramus, NJ. On February 1, 1780, a Loyalist spy—whose name remains a mystery in the British Public Records—filed a detailed report from New York City.

The goal? To find a weakness in General George Washington’s defenses.

Spies, Rumors, and “Fleeced” Allies

The intelligence report paints a picture of a Continental Army stretched to its breaking point. According to the spy’s dispatch:

• The Paramus Outpost: While Washington claimed 300 men were stationed at the Paramus outpost, Loyalist scouts reported the number was actually less than 200.

• Desperate Supplies: The commanding officer at Paramus reportedly wrote to “Mr. Washington” (as the British referred to him), warning that without immediate supplies, his troops would be unable to “subsist there longer.”

• The French Connection: The report takes a jab at the Franco-American alliance, claiming that French sailors in Connecticut were being “fleeced without mercy” by their new American allies.

Strategic Patrols in Hackensack

The report details the movements of a 24-man party that marched from Paramus to Hackensack, patrolling as far as Barbados Neck. While the British watched from their stronghold in New York, Washington’s army remained hunkered down in their “old quarters” near Morris County, battling starvation and the brutal elements.

“The Rebell Detachment… still remain at Paramus… they are Short of 200 [men].” — Loyalist Intelligence Report, Feb 1, 1780.

Why This History Matters Today

The Bergen County Historical Society continues to bridge the gap between the 18th century and the present. These primary sources, pulled from the Great Britain Public Record Office, remind us that the ground we walk on in Paramus and River Edge was once the frontline of a global power struggle.

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Visit the Sites of the Revolution

Want to see where history happened? The Bergen County Historical Society hosts regular events at Historic New Bridge Landing, just miles from the site of these 1780 patrols.

• Learn More: Explore the BCHS Archives

• Visit: Check out the Steuben House in River Edge to see where the Revolution lived.

 

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