The story of the American Revolution was played out in miniature in what was to become Irvington. Joseph Camp's son, Caleb, was a stalwart patriot. A member of the Provincial Congress, he served as a member of the General Assembly after independence was declared member of the Council of Safety for 11 years and Speaker of the Assembly. His neighbor and sometime business partner, Samuel Hayes, earned his laurels during eight years as a major in the Essex County Militia. More than 40 men from West Farms and vicinity served the America cause in the fight for independence.

Village life began to return to normal soon after the British were driven from New Jersey. In 1807 the "Great Courthouse Election" was held in Essex County to decide whether the County Seat would be moved from Newark to Day's Hill, a site bounded by today's Springfield, Florence and Elmwood Avenues. The election, which resulted in a victory for Newark, was later set aside by the State Legislature as "wicked and corrupt."