Local militiamen led by Captain Joshua Huddy defended the village of Toms River against loyalist attacks, marauders, and pine robbers from a block house. On March 24, 1782, a British force of 80 men invaded Toms River, burned the forts, and left the village in ashes. The incident led to the cessation of peace negotiations in Paris and eventually gave Toms River distinction as a historic site of the American Revolution.