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HISTORY
OF
MONMOUTH
COUNTY.
NEW JERSEY.
ILLUSTRATED.
BY
FRANKLIN ELLIS.
COPYRIGHT.
C AGRESS
AUG 26 1805 13
CITY
PHILADELPHIA: R. T. PECK & CO. 1885.
COPYRIGHT, 1885, R. T. PECK & CO.
Printed by the 15. B. Rodgers Printing Co., Philadelphia.
PREFACE.
THE HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, here presented to its patrons for their approval, is the result of long and patient labor and research, which have been bestowed upon it with the view of producing an authentic and connected narrative of events of general importance or interest, which have occurred in the territory now comprised in the county of Monmouth, or in which its residents have been actors; confining the account as closely as practicable to the limits of the county, and to its former and present inhabitants, and referring to outside matters only so far as is necessary to show the connection of events.
To the general matter pertaining to the county, is added a history of each of its townships, embracing accounts of churches, schools, societies, and other local organizations, and also special matters intended chiefly for reference. Other portions of the work are necessarily arranged according to the subjects of which they treat. A prominent feature of the work is the mention of carly settlers. and of the families descended from them. In this connection it is proper to remark that the family names of many of the pioneers and later residents of Monmouth county have been found spelled differently, (and sometimes in as many as three or four different ways), in the county, township and church records; and for that reason it has often been found impossible to decide with any degree of certainty, on the correct orthography,-if, indeed, there is any choice as to correctness, where, as is not infrequently the case in this county, different members of the same family, spell their surname variously, each in his own way. Under such circumstances, it should not be thought strange if the writer, being wholly at a loss to know which manner of spelling to adopt, has sometimes chosen one which may be regarded as incorrect by some who bear the name. Beyond this explanation, no apology will be made, for none is thought to be necessary. It is of course impossible to produce a history which shall be absolutely perfect and complete, but every effort has been used to make this as nearly so as possible, and it is now presented, with full confidence that the verdict of its patrons will be one of approval.
To those who have courteously given their aid in the collection of the materials for the work, the historian desires to express his thanks; and among these he would mention in general, the pastors of the churches, the editors of the county newspapers, and the members of the legal and medical professions. He is also under special obligations for valuable information and other
iii
iv
PREFACE.
courtesies extended by a great number of citizens of the county, among whom were William Lloyd, Judge William P. Forman, Rev. G. C. Schenek, Ex-Governor Joel Parker, Hon. George C. Beekman, Major James S. Yard, James Steen, Asbury Fountain, Charles R. Hutchinson, Dr. Edward Taylor, Charles G. Allen, Asher Parker, Rev. Samuel Lockwood, Rev. William Reiley, Rev. E. Mead, Rev. Frank Chandler, Mrs. Achsah Hendrickson, Mrs. Theresa W. Seabrook, Dr. Robert Laird, D. C. Perrine, Judge Joseph Barclay, Gilbert Combs, Esq., William H. Vredenburgh, Esq., Edward Hartshorne, Gen. Charles Haight, William R. Maps, Peter Parker, Rufus Ogden, Judge William II. Slocum, Judge Charles A. Bennett, Capt. Joseph Hoff, Theodore Morris, Esq., Jacob C. Lawrence, Esq., D. D. Denise, Charles T. Fleming, Esq., Dr. D. McLean Forman, Jacob O. Burtt, David S. Crater, Pitman Curtis, John L. Conover, Robert Pierce, Osborn Curtis, John C. Vanderbeck.
Philadelphia, April 1st, 1885. F. E.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Location, Boundaries and Natural Features of Monmouth County .
1
CHAPTER II
Archivulogy and Paleontology .
7
CHAPTER III
The Dutch, English and Proprietary Rule in New Jersey .
10
CHAPTER IV.
The Indian Occupation.
41
CHAPTER V
Early Settlements and Land Titles .
57
CHAPTER VI.
Early Settlements and Land Titles-(Continued)
71
CHAPTER VII.
The Provincial Revolt
85
CHAPTER VIII.
Organization and Subdivision of the County-Moumonth Civil
List
Inl
CHAPTER IX.
Monmouth County in the Revolution
115
CHAPTER X.
Monmouth County in the Revolution-(fordinner) ..
195
Monmouth County in the Revolution (continued) .
227
CHAPTER XIL.
War of 1812-15, Mexican War, Civil War of 1861-65 239
CHAPTER XIII.
The Bench aud Bat of Monmouth County
271
-
CHAPTER XIV.
The Medical Socirty, Bible Society and Agricultural Society of Mon-
mouth Count! .
319
CHAPTER XV.
Internal Improvements- Population .
369
CHAPTER XVI.
The Town and Township of Freebold . . .
384
CHAPTER XVII.
Middletown Township
. 518
CHAPTER XVIII.
Shrewsbury Township and the Town of Red Bank . .
573
CHAPTER XIX.
Upper Freehold Township
. 611
CHAPTER XX.
llowell Township
045
CHAPTER XXL.
Millstone Township
655
CHAPTER XXII.
Atlantic Township
665
CHAPTER XXIII.
Mannlapan Township
678
CHAPTER XXIV.
Raritan Township and the Town of Keyport
698
CHAPTER XXV.
Marlborough Township .
727
CHAPTER XXVI.
Ocean Township and Long Branch .
753
CHAPTER XXVII.
Wall Township
795
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Halindel Township .
812
CHAPTER XXIX.
Matawan Township
829
CHAPTER XXX
Neptune Township
852
CHAPTER XXXI.
Eatontown Township .
.
876
V
BIOGRAPHIES.
PAGF.
P/ IE.
Ackerson, II. E.
828
Du Bois, Benjamin
697
Allen, Charles G
Du Bois, Henry
697
Allen, Charles
664
En Bois, Livingston.
Allen, Edmund W
334
Edwards, Aaron.
Antonides, Charles
Ellis, Daniel H
396
Applegate, Asher T ..
350
Ely, Horatio
511
Applegate, John S
306
English, David (
320
Arrowsmith, George
261
English, James,
32€
Arrowsmith, Joseph E
332
English, Jeremiah S
326
Baird, David.
661
Fieldl, Joseph
550
Baldwin, Jana's II
335
Forman, David
321
Barclay, De Witt W.
337
Forman, David.
Bawden, John.
172
Furman, David, Sr
325
Bedle, Joseph I ..
292
Forman, Samuel.
323
Berkman, George C
Forman, Wilham.
Bennett, Charles A
200
Forman, William P.
351
Bennett, Henry
332
Grant, William H
55"
Blanvelt, C. "
৳49
Green, W. S.
780
Bray, Sidney
720
Griscom, Samnel W
570
Brown, William
828
Griggs, Benjamin.
Buchanon, N E
973
Haight, Thomas G
Cafferty, Ahel
642
Hall, James Ii ..
1H3
Casler, John P
607
lance, George
610
Chadwick, Francis
436
Hartshorne, A. C.
311
Chandler, Frank
329
Ilartshorne, R. S., Jr.
313
Conover, Arthur V
Conover, Azariah
552
Henrickson, Charles J
551
Camover, Charles A
3.72
Hendrickson, George (
Conover, Gartet B.
692
Hendricksun, S. W
Conover, John R ...
336
Hendricksou, Willian B
Hendrickson, W H
747
Conover, Robert K.
330
Herbert, Juht W.
752
Conover, Stacy P.
749 512
Conover, William V
Hildreth, D. M.
Conk, A. R.
872
Holmes, C. S ..
724
Cookr, Henry G.
341
Hulines, Daniel W
821
Cooke, Robert W
327
Holmes, Daniel
345
Cooper, T. W
782
Johnes, James
forlies, Heury
899
Holmes, Joseph H
Crawford, W. S.
827
Ilolmes, Juseph 641
Curtis, tisborn 811
Hooper, Elward.
Dayton, Alfred B.
332
Hubbard, Jarobus, Jr.
323
Dayton, William I
269
Hubbard, William H
Delow, William I. 334
Denise, David D. 318
Hulst, Peter I
Denise, Jobn S.
500
Haut, Sylvester Il.
Denise, William T
513
Kearney, James P.
327
Disbrow, Stephen M
339
Kinmonth, Hugh $ 340
Du Bois Family The.
Laird, Joseph T
vii
342
Conover, William E
Herbert, 0). 1'
Higgins, .A. A
Hull, John. 283
347
Conover. Lafayette.
Freeman, otis R.
Brown, T. S. R
Hall, John
viii
BIOGRAPHIES.
PAGE.
Lawrence, James S
454
Slocum, W. 11
8:44
Leonard, James H 571
Smith, James M. 063
Leonard, Richard A
Smith, William M. 562
Leonard, Thomas, 565
Smock, I. G.
Lewis, John P
337
Spader, William. 850
Lockwood, Samnel.
444
Sproul, Jno. S. 725
Lloyd, Grandin.
332
Statesir, Willian
466
Long, Isaac S.
343
Stillwell, Q. I 803
Longstreet, Aaron
Taylor, Edward
324
Longstreet, Jonathan
248
Taylor, James J
Longstreet, John €
824
Taylor, Michael, 708
Maps, William R
Terhune, William L
298
McClane, Sidney
501
Thomason, Thomas J
33"
McLean, A. (.
304
Thompson, Joseph C 331
Mead, Elias.
722
Thompson, Joseph 1
504
Meirs, Collen B
635
Thompson, Sidney
517
Metzgar, A. T
902
Thorne, T. W.
×47
Morford, Charles
5544
Throckmorton, Aaron A
294
Morford, George
Throckmorton, Edmund
Morford, John
329
Throckmorton, John B
326
Murphy, Holmes W
308
Throckmorton, Joseph A
600
Neafie, Johu
462
Throckmorton, Tylee W
GOS
Nevins, Henry M
313
Travers, Frank K.
345
Nevins, James S
286;
Truax, Anthony
784
Newell, William D
340, 644
Valentine, C. H.
791
Patterson, Charles #
326
Van Derveer, Garret D
753
Patterson, James H ..
348
Van Derveer, D. I
740
Parker, Charles,
105
Van Dorn, D. P
751
Parker, Henry W.
510
Van Mater, Joseph I
826
Parker, Joel
288
Vredenburgh, Peter
286
Paul, Mifflin. 77G
Vredenburgh, Peter, Jr.
252
Perkins, Henry
640
Vought, John.
315
Perrine, David C.
497
Wall, Garret It
280
Perrino, John R.
693
Walling, Alfred, Ir.
304
Perrine, Lewis ..
107
Walling, George W.
700
Pulhemus, Daniel
334
Ward, William V.
501
Randolph, Joseph F
282
West, Edmond. 893
GOG
Ripley, J. S. 874
White, Henry S
315
Robbins, Chilion.
303
Williams, Edmund T
609
Buberts, Thomas ..
500
Williams, T. T.
Rne, Jacob B.
417
Willis, John V. N
7.49
Ryall, Daniel B
281
Wilson, William V
553
Ryall, Philip ..
305
Wikoff, Henry. 515
Schauek, Daniel S 199
Woodhull, Gilbert S
325
Schenck, Family The 672
Woodhull, John T.
325
Schenck, Danicl P'.
Woolley, Eden 770
Schenck, G. C.
674
Woolley, Edwin 792
Schenck, Tunis V
511
Woolley, T. R
Srabrook, IL. 11 721
Yard, James S 456
Slocum, John
780
Yard, Joseph A 244
Reynolds, William G.
322
White, Isaac P.
PAGE.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
I'AGE
PAGE
Ackerson, H. E
661
Forman, William P
Allen, Charles
607
Allen, Charles G
898
Antonides, Charles
350
Green, W. S ..
570
Applegate, Jolın S
GG2
Baird, David
179
Bawden, John.
292
llance, George.
312
Beekman, George ('.
297
Bennett, Charles .
1
Hendrickson, George C'
743
$50
llendrickson, S. W
810
Brown, T. S. R.
829
Hendrickson, William B.
568
Brown, Williams
874
Herbert, John W
79.1
Cafferty, Abel.
000
Casler, Jobn P
IFohnes, Daniel.
Chadwick, Francis
43G
('handler, Frank
583
Holines, Josepb.
825
Conover, Arthur V
353
Ilvoper, Edward.
335
l'onover, Garret B
749
Hull, Jobn.
Conover. Lafayette.
336
llalst, Peter D.
347
Conover, Stacy P
513
Kinmonth, Hugh &
468
Conover, William V
873
Conk, A. R.
312
Cuuke, Henry G
328
Couke, Rubert W.
782
Leonard, Thomas.
145
Corlies, Henry
$27
Crawford, W. S.
812
Curtis, Osborn,
369
Demise, David D
Longstreet, Jolin S.
1
Denise, William T
340
Maps, William R
Disbrow, Stephen M
Met'lane, Sidney
Du Bois, Benjamin,
695
Mead, Elias.
0:40
Iln Bois, Livingston
783
Metzgar, A. T.
Edwards, Aaron
4×9
Ellis, Daniel HF.
40-
Ely, Iloratio ..
551
Morford, Charles.
1x
555
Field, Joseph
Grant, William H. 560
757
Applegate, Asher T
307
Griggs, Benj.
Griscom, Samuel W
Hall, James D
GIO
Bedle, Joseph D.
300 . Hartshorne, A. C.
552
Bennett, Henry
Bray, Sidney
720
Buchanon, N. E
Hildreth, D. M
Holmes, C. S.
721
Holmes, Daniel W
612
Christ Church, Shrewsbury
330
Hohes, Joseph H
572
Conover, Azariah
694
Ilubbard, William II
281
Conover, Robert R
749
Ilunt, Sylvester H
316
Conover, Willian: E
559
Laird, Joseph T
465
Lawrence, James S
571
Leonard, James II
557
Leonard, Richard 1
565
Cooper, T. W.
80g
Lock wood, Samuel.
3.11
Long, Isaac S.
Longstreet, Aaron ..
298
Longstreet, Jonathan
Denise, John S
511
Map of Monmouth County
Du Bois, Henry.
Meirs, Collen B
90}
Mommonth Battle Monument.
397
Monmonth County Court-House.
323
82%
Forman, Samuel.
351
Freeman, Otis R
Hendrickson, Charles JJ
502
Hendrickson, W. H.
726
x
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE.
Morford, George.
569 Tennent Church
G85
Murphy, Holmes W 309
Tennent Parsonage.
Neafie, John
462
Thomasoo, Thomas J 338
Nevins, Henry M
314
Thompson, Joseph I
564
Parker, Charles
106
Thompson, Joseph C. 331
Parker, Henry W
510
Thompson, Sidney
518
Parker, Joel
288
Thorne, T. W.
8.1.8
Patterson, James H.
3.59
Throckmorton, Edmund
608
Paul, Mittlin
Throckmorton Joseph .1 60
Perkins, Henry
Throckmorton, Tylee W 609
Perrine, David C
198
Truax, Anthony 785
Perrine, Jolın R
Valentine, C. H
791
Ripley, J. S
Van Derveer, G. D.
Roberts, Thomas
566
Van Derveer, D. I
747
Rue, Jacob B
Van Dorn, D. P
752
Ryall, Daniel B.
281
Van Mater, Joseph I
Ryall, Philip J.
306
Vredenburgh, Peter
286
Schaock, Daniel S
499
Vredenburgh, Peter, Jr.
252
Schenk, Daniel F
826
Ward, William V
Schenck, G. C.
676
Walling, Alfred, Jr.
305
Schenck, Tunis V
51.5
Walling, George W
709
Seabrook, 11. II.
721
West, Elmond
Slocum, John
781
White, Isaac 1'
Slocum, W. II
895
Wikoff, Henry
51G
Smith, James M.
663
Williams, Edmund T
Smith, William M.
563
Williams, T. T.
896
Smock, I. G ..
676
Willis, John V. N
1.91)
Wilson, William V
5544
Sproul, Jno. S
725
Woolley, Eden
771
Statesir, Willianı
466
Woolley, Edwin
792
Stillwell, 0. 1
823
Woolley, T. R.
780
Taylor, James J
677
Vard, James S. 456
Taylor Michael
708
Yard, Joseph A
24.5
Spader, William 851
PAGE
LINE MAP OF
COUNTY
Sou Amboy
MONMOUTH CO
STATE OF NEW JERSEY Engraved Expressly for this Work.
N.
DIV.
AMBOY
FREEHOLD
Tracy'S
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Battle Gror Black's Mills P.O
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CRO
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Crosswicks
Davis Sta
BURLINGTO
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HARITAN BAY
Pant Confort.
Fort Sandy Hook Light House Sandy Hook P.O
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Cliffwood Sta
Port
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78
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Asbury Park P.O.
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Hopeville
Ocean Beach PO
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Allair P.O
Squankum Sta
New Bedford PO
Lower
SfmaukumPO
Bethel Southard P.O
VHla
Sta
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Alanasquan Villacej
Sta
Metedeconk
River
Vainasquan, Ilet
River
Point Pleasant City FP.0
AIch
West Pour Pleasant PO%
Mineral Lulie je Bay Head PO
Sta
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PT PLEASANT
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Chpamc PO
Senbright PO.8. Sta
L on Moor Sta
RLBOROUGH
Hillsdale
Holdet PO*
Hallle Silves, 4.P.O
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Monmouth Bruch Sta Moumonth Beach South Sta
Br
Monmouth Beach P.(
Atlanticville now Vorth Long Branch Sta
Marlborough
Edinburg
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Ell Est Eret. Sta &PO
Yellow®
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Shark River
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Dutch NEPTUNA SharkDo River River
anasquan
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Metederon l
Brielle
PO
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SOUTHN RR
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NEW JERSEY
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New Monmouth
Ledare drille P.Q.
MYNEW YORK RED
1
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Port
Red Bank P.O
Parkervalle,
JSHREWSBURY
THEHOS ON
Big
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NEW JERSEY SOUTHERN R.R
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East Pl
SANDY HOOK
heyfort
HISTORY
OF
MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
CHAPTER I.
LOCATION, BOUNDARIES AND NATURAL FEA- TURES OF MONMOUTHI COUNTY.
MONMOUTH is the most northern of the sea- coast counties of New Jersey, its eastern border being the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, and its northern boundary being formed by Sandy Hook Bay and Raritan Bay. From the north- west corner of the county, on Raritan Bay, the boundary of Monmouth runs in a direction nearly southwest, adjoining the counties of Middlesex and Mercer. On the south, Mon- mouth is bounded by Ocean County, which was erected from the southern part of the original territory of Monmouth in 1850.
The surface of the county exhibits almost every variety of contour, from hilly (as in the northeastern, northern and western parts) to nearly level (as in the southeastern part, ex- tending far back from the ocean shore). The boldest elevations are the Navesink Highlands, on which stand the Navesink light-houses. These are the first lands seen by mariners coming from the ocean into the harbor of New York, and are between three and four hundred feet in height above sea-level. From these High- lands, a series of hills (some of which are nearly as lofty as those of Navesink) extend across to the west side of the county, and along that side to its southwestern extremity, where (for the reason that the elevations are less ab-
rupt, though about as high as in the northeast- ern part) the country may more properly be de- scribed as one of high rolling uplands. Extend- ing southwardly from the northwest part of the county is a range of hills and high lands, ter- minating at Hominy Hill, which is a little south and east of the centre of the county. Here the elevations disappear, marking the beginning of the "Pines " region, which is a vast area of barren land, nearly level, and ex- tending in one direction nearly to the sca- shore, and southwardly across the boundary, into Ocean County.
At various points in the elevated parts of the county are isolated and distinctly defined hills rising prominently above the high lands sur- rounding them. The heights of a number of these-as also of several other points in the county-above mean tide, are here given, viz. : Telegraph Hill (Holmdel township), 336 feet ; Beacon Hill (Marlboro' township), 372 feet; Sugar Loaf Hill (Atlantic township), 199 feet ; Crawford's Hill (east of Holmdel and Keyport road), 392 feet ; North Hill at Monmouth battle-ground, 159 feet; South Hill at battle- ground, 152 feet ; Disbrow's IFill (Millstone township, near Middlesex County line), 281 feet ; Pine Hill (Millstone township), 295 feet ; Garrett's, or Pigeon Hill, 208 feet ; Red Hill, 205 feet ; Perrine's Hill, 165 feet ; Brisbane's Hill (AAtlantic township), 141 feet; North Hill (Red Bank,) 178 feet ; South Hill ( Red Bank), 168 feet ; Main Street of Freehold, at court-
1
2
HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
honse, 173 feet ; street at Holmdel, 100 feet ; street at Middletown, 127 feet; Colt's Neck, 92 feet ; Tinton Falls (road), 73 feet ; Marl- boro' village (street), 170 fect ; Englishtown, 70 feet ; Matawan (street), 70 feet ; Keyport (street), 30 fect ; Tennent Church, 127 feet.
The two principal streams of Monmouth are the Navesink (often called the North Shrews- bury) River and the South Shrewsbury River, both of which are in the northeastern part of the county and flow in that general direction to within a short distance of the ocean ; then, turning northward in a course parallel to the beach, their united waters flow in a single stream, past the foot of the Navesink High- lands, into the Bay of Sandy Hook.
The headwaters of the Navesink, or North Shrewsbury, River take their rise in the cen- tral and northwestern parts of the county. Hop Brook from the northwest, and Big Brook, Yellow Brook and Hockhockson Brook from the west and southwest, with a number of smaller brooks and creeks from the same directions, unite their waters to form Swim- ming River, which is the principal tributary of the Navesink, or, more properly, is the upper and narrower part of the main stream. Be- low the month of Swimming River the Nave- sink becomes a broad and lake-like sheet of navigable water, with attractive shores streteh- ing away to the northeast, where the lofty High- lands stand like sentinels guarding its outlet.
The South Shrewsbury River is, in its gen- eral appearance and features, similar to the Navesink, though a much shorter stream. The tides of the bay ebb and flow in this, as in the Navesink ; and the South Shrewsbury, like the other stream, is so much broadened as to ap- pear more like a lagoon than a river, except in its lower part, just above its junetion with the Navesink. It has a number of short pond- like tributaries, or arms, among which are Lit- tle Silver, Town Neck, and Parker's Creeks on the northern side, and Blackberry Creek, Long Branch Brook and Pleasure Bay on the south. There are a number of marsh-islands in the river, and a large proportion of its shores (more particularly the southern) are of marsh-land. The length of the river to its junction with the
Navesink is about six miles, and its average width about one and a half miles.
Shark River enters the ocean about five and one-half miles north of the southern boundary of the county. It is formed chiefly by the ocean tides and contains but a small proportion of fresh water. The head-stream of Shark River, coming down from the northwest to a point about three miles from the ocean, widens ont into what is called Shark River Pond, which is more than a mile in width at the broadest part, but at its lower end abruptly contracts into the narrow ontlet through which the tide-warers pass to and from the sea.
The Manasquan River enters the ocean at the southeast corner of Monmouth County, and for several miles above its mouth forms the boundary between this and Ocean County. Its head-streams take their rise in the western part of the county, south and southwest of the county scat. The principal one of these is Squan Brook (it being, in fact, the main stream), which flows in a general sontlieasterly dircetion to the county line, and thenee along the bound- ary (as mentioned) to the sea. The lower part of this stream widens out, like Shark River, into a lagoon or pond, which, at a short distance from the sea, narrows into a channel called Manasquan Inlet, which is the mouth of the river.
The north branch of Metedeconk River flows about sixteen miles through the extreme south - ern part of Monmouth, then passes south into Ocean County and joins the main river, which afterwards enters the north end of Barnegat Bay.
Through the southwest corner of the county a number of small streams flow westwardly into the Delaware or its tributaries. The principal of these are Crosswieks Creek, which enters the Delaware at Bordentown ; Doctor's Creek, which is a tributary of Crosswicks; and two forks of Assanpink Creek, which joins the Del- aware at Trenton. To the north and east of these streams several others flow northwest across the Monmouth County border into Mer- cer and Middlesex, where their waters find their way into the Millstone River, and through it to the Raritan. These small streams are Rocky
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LOCATION, BOUNDARIES AND NATURAL FEATURES.
Brook, Millstone Creek and some others of less size. Beyond these, to the northeast, are the Manlapan and Matchaponix Creeks and Deep Run, all of which flow northwest from Mon- mouth into Middlesex County, where they enter the South River. In the extreme north- west part of Monmouth is Matawan Creek, which flows northeastwardly into Raritan Bay. From this point eastward to the Nave- sink Highlands are Lupatcong, Chingaroras, Thorn's and Wakake Creeks, all running northward into Raritan Bay ; and Pew's and Compton's Creeks and many other small streams, all flowing in nearly the same direction into Shoal Harbor and Sandy Hook Bay.
The streams of this region (southeastern New Jersey), says Professor George H. Cook, "unlike those of the northern part of the State, have no apparent connection with the geological struc- ture of the country. They are simply channels worn in the surface of the ground, following the lines of most rapid descent to tide-water."
With the exception of a small area in its southeastern corner, the county of Monmouth is all of what is known to geologists as the Cretaceous Formation, which includes the plas- tie clays and the several veins or beds of marl. The name Cretaceous, says Professor Cook,1 was given to this formation in England, on account of the white chalk which is there a conspicuous member of it. The name is retained among geologists even when the chalk is wanting, as is the ease in this country. The mineral sub- stance, green sand, is found in rock of many ages, but nowhere else so abundantly as in the Cretaceous rocks of Europe and of the United States.
The organic remains of the formation are very abundant, and furnish satisfactory evidence upon the question of geological age. In the lowest part of the plastic clays, at Fisher's brick- vard, near Woods' Landing, on the Raritan, there is a bed of sand and sandy clay, which is full of impressions of leaves, twigs, cones, etc.,
beautifully preserved. Among these are leaves resembling those of the willow, sweet gum, mag- nolia, poplar and many other broad-leaved plants, which are considered by geologists as indicating a period not earlier than the Creta- ceous. The bones of enormous crocodiles and other saurians are found in immense numbers in the clay marls and in the beds of green sand ; they are usually found scattered, a single one in a place, but sometimes almost a whole skele- ton is found together. They have been col- lected in many places. The Academy of Natural Sciences at Philadelphia has probably the best collection of theni. There are many in the Museum of Rutgers College, and public and private collections in all parts of the country contain specimens. These saurians have not been found in any age in such numbers since the Cretaceous.
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