DuelLogo


Presented by

The Township of
Weehawken

Richard F. Turner,
Mayor

and the

Township Council

James J. Terlizzi
Deputy Mayor
Councilman at Large

Carmela Silvestri Ehret
First Ward

Rosemary J. Lavagnino
Second Ward

Robert J. Sosa
Third Ward


www.weehawken-nj.us



The
Weehawken
Historical Commission

www.weehawkenhistory.org




Other Duels in Weehawken
1798-1845



While the Hamilton-Burr Duel is the best known duel fought in Weehawken, there were at least 18 'affairs of honor' settled in Weehawken between 1799 and 1845. Many more duels may have taken place in Weehawken without being recorded in the history books. Weehawken was a popular duelling spot because the State of New York outlawed duelling and the federal government made the practice illegal in 1839. Even so, duelling continued in New Jersey until at least 1845. Some of the post 1804 duels took place within sight of the monument erected by the St. Andrew's Society commemorating Hamilton's death. However, by 1821, souvenir hunters had destroyed the monument bit by bit.

This list was prepared by Weehawken Historical Commission member Willie Demontreux.

Anyone with further information on these or other duels fought in Weehawken is encouraged to contact the Historical Commission at info@weehawkenhistory.org.





Duel # 1:
1798 - Unknown date
Brockhoist Livingston versus James Jones
  • Livingston was a Republican and Jones a Federalist
  • According to Affairs of Honor by Joanne Freeman (page 172) -- When Republican Brockholst Livingston insulted Federalist James Jones, Jones responded by first caning Livingston and then trying to "wring his nose" -- so serious an affront that it prompted a discussion about precisely how much of Livingston's nose had been grabbed.
  • Jones was killed


Duel # 2:
Monday, September 2nd, 1799 - Sunset
Aaron Burr versus John B Church
  • The seconds were Judge Burke (Burr) and Mr. Hammond (Church)
  • 1 exchange
  • No one was hurt... Church shot off Burr's coat button
  • Church was Alexander Hamilton's brother-in-law
  • The same pistols would be used in the Hamilton-Burr duel in 1804.


Duel # 3:
Sunday, November 22nd, 1801 - Noon
George Eacker versus Richard Price
  • Eacker was a follower of Burr and Price a friend of Philip Hamilton
  • The seconds were Mr. Lawrence (Eacker) and James Lynch (Price)
  • 4 exchanges
  • No one was hurt... it was agreed that if no one was hit after 4 exchanges, the parties would shake hands
  • Hands were shaken, no blood spilled.


Duel # 4:
Monday, November 23rd, 1801 - 3:00 PM
George Eacker versus Philip Hamilton
  • Eacker was a follower of Burr and Philip Hamilton the son of Alexander Hamilton
  • The seconds were Mr. Cooper (Eacker) and David Jones (Hamilton)
  • 1 exchange
  • Eacker shoots Hamilton in the right side; Hamilton dies on November 24th
  • Hamilton is killed in the same way and with the same pistols as his father will be in 1804


Duel # 5:
Friday, December 25th, 1801
Augustus Smith versus Archibald M. Cock
  • The seconds were John Langstaff and Oliver Waldron
  • 1 exchange
  • Mr. Cock receives a slight wound to his face


Duel # 6:
Friday, December 25th, 1801
John Langstaff versus Oliver Waldron
  • The seconds were Augustus Smith and Archibald Cock
  • 2 exchanges
  • After the second exchange, the matter was amicably settled.


Duel # 7:
Saturday, July 30th, 1802 - after 5:00 PM
Dewitt Clinton versus John Swartout
  • Clinton, a US Senator from New York was a Hamiltonian and Swartout a Burr supporter
  • The seconds were Richard Riker (Clinton) and William Stephen Smith (Swartout)
  • 5 exchanges
  • Swartout was shot twice in the leg.
  • The duel should have ended after Swartout was first wounded, but he did not announce the hit.


Duel # 8:
Monday, November 21st, 1803
Richard Riker versus Robert Swartout
  • 1 exchanges
  • Riker was shot in the right leg.
  • Both participants indicted for duelling


Duel # 9:
Wednsday, July 11th, 1804 - 7:00 AM
Aaron Burr versus Alexander Hamilton
  • The seconds were William P Van Ness (Burr) and Nathaniel Pendleton (Hamilton)
  • 1 exchange
  • Hamilton is hit in the side and dies the next day


Duel # 10:
Saturday, July 8th, 1815 - 7:00 PM
Isaac Gouverneur versus William Maxwell
  • The seconds were George Watts and a Mr. Worthington
  • Unknown number of exchanges
  • Governeur dies.


Duel # 11:
Sunday, May 12th, 1816
Benjamin Price versus Major Green
  • Price was the uncle of Richard Price (of Duel #2)
  • 1 exchange
  • Price is shot in the head and dies.


Duel # 12:
Monday, October 19th, 1818 - Noon
Commodore Oliver H. Perry versus Captain John Heath
  • Perry's second was Commodore Stephen Decatur, Heath's second was Lieutenant Desha
  • 1 exchange
  • Heath fired and missed, Perry declined to return fire. Honor was satisfied with no blood shed.


Duel # 13:
Wednsday, November 28th, 1827 - 5:40 AM
William G. Graham versus Barton
  • The seconds were Lewis Asbury and William F Mcleod
  • 1 or 2 exchanges
  • Graham is shot in the side and dies.


Duel # 14:
Monday, October 19th, 1835 - 10:00 AM
Henry Aitken (or Aitkin) versus Thomas Sherman
  • No exchanges
  • Before honor could be satisfied, a constable arrests both parties and takes them to the Hackensack Jail.


Duel # 15:
Date unknown - circa 1830s
Leggett versus Blake
  • Leggett was an author who dueled with Blake, a theater manager for unknown reasons.
  • No blood was shed in this duel.


Duel # 16:
Tuesday, May 16th, 1837 - in the afternoon
'A Guatemalan' versus 'A Frenchman'
  • This duel was over a woman's affections.
  • The Frenchman was 'slightly wounded.'


Duel # 17:
Date unknown
Bird versus Unknown
  • All that is known about this duel is that Bird died after being shot through the heart.


Duel # 18:
September 28th, 1845
Unknown versus Unknown
  • In this final recorded duel at Weehawken, the seconds loaded the pistols with cork, preventing any bloodshed.