Colonel William McDonald: High Sheriff of Somerset County

 

There is a wealth of highly specific history regarding Colonel William McDonald (c. 1705–1799). He was a foundational figure in Somerset County, New Jersey, and his land literally hosted the Continental Army during a turning point of the war.

Before and during the early part of the Revolution, William McDonald was a major civic leader. He served as the High Sheriff of Somerset County. This was a vital position that managed county administrative affairs, property transfers, and legal enforcement during a period when local government was fracturing between British loyalists and American patriots.

⛺ The Pluckemin Artillery Cantonment (1778–1779)

Colonel McDonald owned a large estate and mill in the village of Pluckemin (Bedminster Township, Somerset County). His land became a crucial military site:

• On December 7, 1778, General Henry Knox—George Washington’s Chief of Artillery—marched the Continental Army's artillery brigade through Pluckemin and camped directly in the fields of Colonel William McDonald. 
• The site became known as the Pluckemin Artillery Cantonment. It served as the winter encampment for the artillery and is historic for hosting America's first formal military academy (a precursor to West Point), where Knox trained officers in engineering and artillery tactics.
• While his fields were lined with cannons and tents, McDonald's nearby mill (Chambers Brook/McDonald's Mill) was an important piece of local infrastructure used to grind grain for the surrounding communities and military forces. 

⚔️ Two Generations of Somerset Militia

Having both Colonel William McDonald and his son, Major Richard McDonald, in the same county created a powerful, multi-generational patriot anchor. While Major Richard was actively commanding troops in the field with the 1st Battalion of the Somerset Militia, Colonel William utilized his status, resources, and land to secure the home front, manage local logistics, and support the Continental Army's winter encampments during the critical Middlebrook and Pluckemin cantonments.

He lived to be nearly 94 years old, witnessing the entire birth, struggle, and stabilization of the young United States before passing away in February 1799.