BEESLEYS POINT — It was the shot heard ’round the world, echoed in such backwater places as Golden’s Point, that set colonists on a collision course with their British masters in 1775, sparking the Revolutionary War.
Legend holds that local sisters Rebecca Stillwell Willetts and Sarah Stillwell played their part in the revolution when they repelled an attack at what is now Beesleys Point by firing a cannon at approaching longboats filled with soldiers intent on pillaging the village’s stores.
Upper Township celebrated the folklore about the heroines’ courageous act March 26 by presenting the Spirit of Stillwell Sisters Awards to 15 women leaders from the community.
According to legend, Stillwell Willetts spotted a British sloop in Great Egg Harbor Bay off Golden’s Point (now Beesleys Point). She and her sister raced to the cannon on the beach. They were alone since their father was away buying supplies and Capt. James Willetts was off defending Philadelphia.
“Rebecca fired a round of cannon grapeshot towards the long boat and the British returned to their sloop and left the bay, its settlers and their homes unscathed,” a marker at the site reads.
A group of re-enactors from the First Battalion of New Jersey Volunteers, outfitted in appropriate colonial garb — civilians, militia members and the dreaded Redcoats — gathered on the beach and in longboats to act out the scene.
A marker at the site honors the sisters. The New Jersey Women’s Heritage Trail uses historic places to lead a journey throughout the state, telling the story of some of the Garden State’s famous women. Marker #59 is next to the boat ramp off Harbor Road at the park and is named Foxborough Hill at Beesleys Point Bridge.
After the performance, the crowd walked the short distance to the colonial era Tuckahoe Inn, where the Upper Township Stillwell Sisters Organization honored Michelle Barbieri, Danielle Borcky, Agnes Bross, Kate Curry, Suze DiPietro, Michelle Drewnowski, Sallie Godfrey, Brooke Handley, Kristy Leo, Mary Lyons, Kathryn Martino, Rosie McCoy, Kathy Nichols, Debra Tower and Dana Wilson.
Deputy Mayor Kim Hayes, who helped organize the event with the help of another group of women leaders, said the idea was sparked by an article in the Upper Township Sentinel that noted she became the first woman in a leadership role on Township Committee.
“Once that became public knowledge, I started getting all kinds of outreach from the community — not just congratulations but how excited they were to see a woman in leadership — and I started thinking there are women in leadership all over Upper Township. Women in Upper Township are doing great things every day and we’re not really recognizing that and obviously the community is looking for that,” Hayes said. “That started the wheels turning and I started reaching out to some other women in the community. When you get the women in Upper Township all in agreement and going in the same direction, big things happen — from start to finish, this entire thing happened in about six weeks, and it couldn’t have happened without all the women on the event committee.”
Ralph Cooper, a board member of the Historic Preservation Society of Upper Township, said the legend is part of the local folklore.
“Having an event like this that publicizes aspects of historical significance is important,” he said.
“I thought it was a fantastic event and goes right to the heart of what Upper Township is all about,” Mayor Jay Newman said. This is where history begins in Cape May County. The weather was gorgeous, we’re at a colonial era inn.”
The honorees
The Upper Township Stillwell Sisters Organization, formed to host the awards ceremony honoring local women in leadership roles, accepted nominations from the community and celebrated the efforts of 15 women live in, work in or own a business in the township.
— Michelle Barbieri: Longtime president of the Upper Township Board of Education.
— Danielle Borcky: Staple in the recreation programs throughout the township.
— Agnes Bross: Retired educator who helped introduce thousands of children to Christianity as religious education director at St. Maximillian Kolbe Parish.
— Kate Curry: Closet director for Sister Jean’s Pantry in Atlantic City who created an avenue for township residents to help those with the greatest needs.
— Suze DiPietro: Accomplished author, musician and athlete who participates extensively in the community through writing, playing music for community events and coaching rowing through the Under the Bridge Rowing club.
— Michelle Drewnowski: Teacher at Upper Township Elementary School who mentors current and former students and is active in recreation.
— Sallie Godfrey: Her family-owned Godfrey Funeral Home is a third-generation women-owned business. The business supports the local volunteer fire companies, rescue squads and sports teams.
— Brooke Handley: A member of the Upper Township Beach Patrol for seven years, she has participated in numerous rescues and helps teach the next generation of lifeguards by serving as an instructor for the mascots and junior guards. She coordinated a major cleanup on the Tuckahoe River involving many members of the community in spring 2022 and serves as the river administrator for the Great Egg Harbor River Council.
— Kristy Leo: An influencer/blogger, she has more than 114,000 followers on Facebook through Poshmark Closet, which allows her to sell items that are either new or lightly used at a fraction of what it normally would cost. All proceeds are donated to a charity in need at the end of the year.
— Mary Lyons: Former educator who has volunteered countless hours in crisis response along with her service dog Ezekiel. She is the former EMS chaplain and provided support to first responders after traumatic calls.
— Kathryn Martino: As the owner of Feathered Nest Gifts & Garden Accents in Seaville, Martino provides an opportunity to as many local crafters/artists as possible, giving local women a place to showcase their handiwork that they otherwise might not have had.
— Rosie McCoy: Owner of The Maple Tree Gift Shop and Bloom Studio at Cedar Square Shopping Center in Seaville. She chose the location specifically to help bring some life back into this previously thriving shopping center. Bloom Studio provides a site for local crafters to teach the community methods from folk arts to fine arts. Following the death of her husband, a State Police trooper who died after responding to the 9/11 attacks in Manhattan, she spend two years lobbying the Legislature for bill S3208, which passed into law in 2021 and provides accidental death benefits to the surviving families of troopers who died from illness following their efforts at the World Trade Center.
— Kathy Nichols: Former township resident, teacher and talented artist who has donated her talents to many organizations over the years.
— Debra Tower: The Tower family has been a staple in the township for decades. Even after the untimely passing of her husband, Tom, she continues to serve the community through volunteerism and donations to those most in need.
— Dana Wilson: Owner of Yes She Can!, she raises money for local women with breast cancer and for local families affected by childhood cancer. She became certified to assist mastectomy patients and hosts support groups at her store for breast cancer patients and survivors. Wilson donates hundreds of bras each year to underprivileged teens who are in need and teaches Bra Fit 101 to teen girls, encouraging them on their journey to having a positive self body image, regardless of body shape or size.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
