During the British occupation of New Brunswick and Perth Amboy in the first half of 1777, British foraging parties often went to farms throughout this area and took food, supplies, tools, and animal feed against the owners' will without payment, paying or promising to pay only loyalists. The British often met armed resistance from local organized militia, resulting in casualties on both sides. The largest of these skirmishes occurred on February 8 and was sometimes called the Battle of Quibbletown. Other skirmishes in this area occurred on February 20, March 8, and April 4. Because of these constant raids, the British had little or no sympathizers left when they evacuated New Jersey at the end of June.