This Day in History: July 1

July 1, 1779 - Captain Richard Skinner was killed by a sniper, one of a small group of British and locals who came over from Staten Island and surprised Skinner and others who were holding a 'Public Safety Committee' meeting at the Crossroads Tavern, also called the Six Roads Tavern, about one mile south of Rahway between Rahway and Woodbridge, on what was then called King's Highway (now St. Georges Avenue). The site now faces the Penn. railroad. The group of about four British soldiers and four "refugees' succeeded in killing Skinner, the commanding officer of a troop of light horse. One other person was killed and thirteen taken as prisoners. [More]