During the American Revolutionary War, Huddy supported the Patriot cause and served in the New Jersey Militia along with captaining the privateer ship The Black Snake.

[4] His troubles continued into adulthood; he was tried and convicted several times for crimes including assault and theft and repeatedly had financial difficulties.

[4] In October 1777, he allegedly took part in the execution of Loyalist Stephen Edwards, who was dragged from his home in Shrewsbury, New Jersey before being hanged from an oak tree.

[4] Colonel Tye leading a small group of African Americans and Queen's Rangers on a night raid of Colts Neck one month later, capturing Huddy in his house.

[4] On February 1, 1782, Huddy was given command of the blockhouse, a small fort at the village of Toms River that was built to protect the local salt works.

[12] The salt was needed to cure meat destined for American troops, and the Toms River was an important launch point for Patriot privateers.

[14] He was then taken from British custody by a band of Loyalists headed by Captain Richard Lippincott, ostensibly to make a prisoner exchange.

The executioners left a note pinned to Huddy's body:[15][16] We the Refugees having with Grief Long beheld the cruel murders of our Brethren & findg nothing but Such measures Daily carrying into Execution.

"[18] The next morning, Patriots found Huddy's body hanging from the gallows, cut it down, and took it to Freehold, where they buried him at Old Tennent Church.

[13] Both Washington and General Henry Clinton condemned the hanging, and the British forbade the Board of Loyalists from removing any additional prisoners.

To avert independent reprisals by the New Jersey militia, Washington agreed to the proposition to select a British prisoner of war for retaliatory execution.

[14] Executing Asgill would have violated the terms of the surrender and created a black eye for the rebellious colonials who were intent upon establishing an independent nation.

The court-martial acquitted and freed Lippincott, finding that he had acted on orders from a civil officer, since the Crown still considered William Franklin as officially New Jersey's royal governor.

[20] Washington turned to an old associate, General Benjamin Lincoln, formerly the second in command of the Continental Army and the acting Secretary of War of the Americans.

The mother of the condemned British captain appealed directly for help to French King Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette.