Franklin Township was very much a part of Revolutionary War history and the scene of many raiding parties along Route 27, then known as the King's Highway. Two British generals, Cornwallis and DeHeister, tried to lure General George Washington and his Continental Army into battle on the plains of Middlebush and East Millstone. Washington, however, kept his troops at Chimney Rock, just north of Franklin, until the British withdrew. Several of the prosperous Middlebush farms were destroyed by the British soldiers during their retreat. In 1777, near the mill on the Millstone River at Weston, the Continental Army and local militia engaged and successfully drove off a British foraging party of about 600 troops, sent out of New Brunswick by General Cornwallis. On November 2, 1783, Washington composed his farewell address to the army while staying at Rockingham near Rocky Hill.
franklin township was very much a part of revolutionary war history and the scene of many raiding parties along route 27 then known as the king's highway two british generals cornwallis and deheister tried to lure general george washington and his continental army into battle on the plains of middlebush and east millstone washington however kept his troops at chimney rock just north of franklin until the british withdrew several of the prosperous middlebush farms were destroyed by the british soldiers during their retreat in 1777 near the mill on the millstone river at weston the continental army and local militia engaged and successfully drove off a british foraging party of about 600 troops sent out of new brunswick by general cornwallis on november 2 1783 washington composed his farewell address to the army while staying at rockingham near rocky hill