Bergen County’s Loyalist Divide | Jersey News

George Washington once called Bergen County enemy territory—not just metaphorically, but because it was a loyalist stronghold where even the Revolutionary War tore families apart. In 1776, he barred his troops from stopping in Hackensack to prevent a breakout of imprisoned loyalist governor William Franklin. Bergen’s prosperity tied to New York made its residents more inclined to support Britain, and when the war came, the county sent more men to fight the British than for Washington. Not a single militiaman showed up to defend it. Even prominent families were split—like Colonel Theunis Dey, a patriot who hosted Washington, whose daughter married a British commander. After the war, loyalists faced confiscation of 134 properties in Bergen alone—the most in New Jersey—and many were banished or fled, reshaping the county’s demographics and economy. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/05f0b64554da41ef