USA > New Jersey > Somerset County > History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 137
USA > New Jersey > Hunterdon County > History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 137
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Neither the names of the first settlers nor the date of the earliest settlement on the Vauquellen tract (purchased Nov. 19, 1681) are known. On the other Indian purchase of the same date, none of the orig- inal grantees, or of the persons to whom the subdivi- sions were allotted, became actual residents, except Lord Neill Campbell, who was a brother of the Duke of Argyle.
" He was appointed Deputy Governor by the proprietors of East New Jersey for two years on the Ith of June, 1685, and reached the province in the onsning October. Ilis residence wus on his plantation on the banks ef the Raritan ; the property is now owned by George McBride. Ile had sent sixty-five servants to settle on it previous to his coming. He must have arrived in September. On the 5th of October his commission WILA rend, and on the 18th his council onmed."
But his stay was very short. On the 10th of De- vember he appointed Anthony Hamilton to fill his official place, and soon after sailed for Scotland, whence he never returned.
Says Dr. Messler,-
" It will be seen by adverting to the names of the original owners of land by Indian purchases along the Raritan that they appear to have beon nearly all Scotchmen, and that none of them really became per- manent resisionts. The explanation is this. The principal and most active proprietors of East New Jersey were inhabitants of Scotland, and their efforts to induce emigration and settlementa npon their Innde were made in their native country. As the effect of this, Amboy was fixed upon ns n alte for a town, and was namod Now l'erth, and from thonce settle- ments of people from Scotland and England spread out northwest and west as far as Scotch Plains, Plainfield, and Bound Brook, and single familles even farther. From this immigration the churches of Bound Brook, Hasking Ridge, and Inmington proceeded. It was an Jutinx euming almost entirely direct from Scotland, and the first pastors of those churches wero all native Scotchmen,-Scotch Presbyterians of the Knox, Rutherford, and Erskino stamp. Besides this, there were several familles of German origin and of the Lutheran Church who settled about Pluckamin. . ..
" From 1624, when the Dutch began to colonize at first," nutil 1681, May Ith, when the first land titlet is dated, a period of tifty-seven years, no one seems to have seen or heet attracted by the beauty and fertility of this wide spreadling valley, or ventured to endenvor to reclaim it from its wild, untrodden wilderness stato. Ito primitivo inhabitante even had deserted it almost entirely and gone towards the sen-shore, nitracted by the nbundant food, and only bird and beast claimed it as their home. But the time came when a different stato of things began to exist. The titles for the fertile lands had been secured, and settlers came to ovenpy them. Some of these linve been already mentioned, and wo find that from 1681 to 1699 there had arrived from Long Island the following
In the neighborhood ef Raritan Bay.
t In the territory of Somerset County.
henda of families, mostly of Dutch extraction : Coors Vroom, Michael Hanson, Andrew Allyn, Michael Van Veghten, Dirk Middaglı, Frederick Garretsoo, John Wortman, Peter Van Nest, Jeronemun Van Nest, Jacob Sebring, Isaac Budine, Edward Drinkwater, James Tunison, Cornelius Tunison, Pieter Dumont, Maurice Maurison, Johannes Dameld, John Itoclefson, Hendrick Rynierson, Thomas Possoll, Cornelius Powelson, Jan Ilans Cooverden, Folkeril Hendrik Harris, Josias Merlet, Andrew Anderson, Elton Nyssen, William Olden, William Clausen, Lawrenco Opdyko, William Monersen, Reuben Junsen, Gabriel Leberstein, Folkerd Hendricksen.
" At North and South Branch, Andreas Ten Eyck, Abraham Dubois, John Pussell, Josins Claesen, Jan Hendrickson, Daniel Sebring, Coonrad Ten Eyck, Derick Van Veghten, Alexander McDowel, Jan Van Sieklen, Benjamin Bart, Jacob Stoll, Tennis Van Middlesworth, George Hall, Al- bert Louw, Willlam Rosa, Paulus Bulner, Lucns Schermerhorn, Pieter Van Nest, Emanuel Van Etten, Johanes Grauw, John Emeus, Coert Jan- BUD, Georgo Dildine, Julin Reading, Garret Van Vleet, William Brown, John Cook, Hendrick Roesenboom, Frans Waldron, Godfried Peters, David Busum, David Subair, Abram Broca, Jacob Raynierse, Garret Smock. In the vicinity of New Brunswick were Adrian Bennet, Aert Artsen, Roelif Sebring, Johnnes Folkerson, Hendrick Hries, Ruelif Voor- hees, Lawrens Willimse, Roolif Novius, Jan Van Voorhees, Jacob Onko, Johannes Stoothoff, Jules Fonteyo, Jacobms Buys, Thomas Anten, Thomas Davidts, William Klassen, Johannes Coovert, Hendrick Bries, Andrias Wortman, Bernardus Knetor, Christopher Van Arsdalen, Jacob Corse, Cornelius Suydam, Joris Andersen, Martin Vanderhoeve, Johnnes Met- gelner, Samuel Montfort, Jon Aten, William Mooro, Nicklas Hason.
" At Three-Mile Run, Hendrick Bries, Itoelf Lucas, Jun Voorhees, Aert Aertsen, Isaac Van Dyke, Johanes Folkersen, Jau Aeten, Laurens Willimsc, Itoelif Nevius, Charles Fonteyn, Hans Stoothuff, Thomas Bouwman, Derck Volkerse, Garret Bolmer, Jan Lavor, Simon Wickoff, l'iotor Iloff, Garret Dorland, Andries Bout, Jan Broca, James Fonteyn, Adrian Mollenar, Jacob Rapleyen, Joris Hael, Jan Laeten, William Lumbers, Peter Kinne, Hendrick Traphagen, Luyens Schermerhorn, Juns Van Middlesworth, Johannes Fisher, Jeremias Field, Luycas Wee- sole, Jacob Koersen, Nicholas Hayman, Cornelius Jan Onwegen, William Harrise, Andrens Ten Eyck, William Dey, Mannel Van Allen, Abram Elemeteren, Johannes Seigeler, Jnurien Remer.
" We are not able to indicate specifically or certainly the place of resl- dence of each of these families. The Sebrings and Harrises lived in the vicinity of Bonnd Brook, Pieter Dumont on the south side of the Rari- tan, Powelsons near Pluckamin. All of them evidently did not remalo permanently or leave descendants. The names of others continne to occur in the rocorde for many years, but some of them have at last passod nwny. All of them, wo judge, were religions men, and nided in the for- mution of the Raritan Church, then a church in the wilderness, Most of them are known to have immigrated to Somerset from Long Island, and among them there are several names which indiente a Huguenot origin. Somerset County has hal, In fact, a large infusion of this noble blood, and among the family traditions, in many instances, linger Inter- eating rominiscences of the night of St. Bartholomew, at the time when they fled from France to Hollund, leaving their all behind and never looking back, rescning only their lives, their children, and their allver from the deadly spoiler."
The Dutch settlers were generally persons of deep religious feeling, Ironest and conscientious, and, nd- ding to these qualities those of industry and frugnlity, they generally became prosperous. The style of their bnillings they doubtless brought with them from Holland, their Fatherland. They were built with one story, with low ceiling, with nothing more than the heavy and thick boards that constituted the upper floor laid on monstrous broad and heavy beams, ou which they stored their grain, it being used as n granary and for the spinning of wool ; sometimes parts of it would be divided into sleeping-apartments. Their fireplaces were usually very large, extending generally without jambs, and sufficient to accommo- date n whole family with a comfortable seat around the fire. The chimneys were so large as to admit of having their meat hung up and smoked within them,
562
SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
which was their usual practice. When jambs were added, they were often set around with earthen glazed tiles imported from Holland, ornamented with Scripture scenes, which furnished the children and others with amusement and instruction.
Their style of building corresponded well with their habits, which were simple, unaffected, and econom- ical, contributing materially to their independence and solid comfort. They brought their children up to habits of industry. Almost every son was taught some mechanical art, and every daughter was re- quired to become well acquainted with all knowledge necessary to housekeeping. The farmers burnt their own lime, tanned their own leather, often made their own shoes and boots, did much of their own car- pentering, wheelwrighting, etc. The spinning- and woolen-wheels were set in motion in proper season, and all materials for clothing the family, white as well as colored, were manufactured at home. No female was considered a suitable candidate for matri- mony who could not show some stores of domestic linen and other evidences of industry and economy. So economical were the females of their time that they frequently took their spinning-wheels with them when they went to spend a social afternoon with a neighbor. They often helped the men in the field in times of planting, harvesting, and in other busy seasons. Such a thing as a carpet was not known. The floors of their houses were scrubbed and scoured and kept as white as their tables, which were used without cloths. Their floors were sanded with sand brought from the beach for that purpose and put in regular heaps on the floor, and, becoming dry, it would be swept with the broom in waves or so as to represent other beautiful figures. When the first im- ported carpet was introduced is not now known, but the first rag carpet was made a short time previous to 1800. It was woven by Adrien Hageman for the widow of George Martense. Frugality, industry, and economy characterized all their actions. They lived chiefly within themselves, and knew but little of the dangers and diseases incident to luxury and indo- lence.
The following are the names of persons who pur- chased land of the proprietors or their heirs, with dates and number of aeres, and, in some cases, its lo- cation. They are taken from Schedule No. 3 (and accompany the map of Indian titles and land grants) in the Elizabethtown Bill of Chancery, published by James Parker, of New York, in 1747. The lot- numbers below given correspond with those upon the accompanying map of the Indian purchases and sub- divisions of land tracts in Somerset County, north of the Raritan River:
Number.
Acres.
3. John Palmer, Sept. 25, 1683. 877
4. Thomas Codrington, Sept. 25, 1683. 877
5. John Royce, Sept. 25, 1683. 877
6. Jolin White, Sept. 25, 1083 .. 877
7. Graham, Winder & Co., Sept. 28, 1683 1904
8. Proprietors. Reserved and sold to Thomas Rudyard, Sept. 1170 25, IG83.
Number.
Acres.
10. Peter Sonmans, Oct. 9, 1685, at Green Brook. 2500
12. John Campbell, Nov 9, 1685 1874
13. John Dobie, Nov. 9, 1685. 375
14. John Drummond, Nov. 9, 1685. 1000
15. Andrew Hamilton, Nov. 9, 1685 .. 700
22. Andrew Hamilton, April 25, 1687, on Holland's Brook
23. Andrew Hamilton, Oct. . 3, 1687 ...
250-
26. John Robinson, May 1, 1686, on north side of Vanquillen.
660 32. Thomas Codrington, April 20, 1G88, in rear of his land ... 1000
34. J. and G. Alexander, June 15, 16SG, at Blne Hills, 462
35. Robert Fullerton, June 4, 1686, at Blue Hills.
300
37. Hendrick Corson, June 10, 1688, junction of North and South Branches
500
38. James Cole, Sr., April 23, 168S ..
125
39. Sir Ev. Cameron, south side of Bound Brook 1300
43. William Ackman. 400
44. Archibald Riddle, joios Ackman 300
48. Lord Neill Campbell, Jan. 9, 1685, on North Branch and Raritao ..
1650
49. William Dockwra, May 20, 1690, ou south side of the Pas- saic River .. 3000
50. Samuel Winder, in rear of Graham, Winder & Co. 500
51. Margaret Winder, May 20, 1690, daughter of T. Rudyard .. 1000 53. John Johnston, May 20, 1690, west side of North Branch .. 400 55. Lord Neill Campbell, May 24, 1690, on North Brauch ....... 1000 56. Sir Ev. Cameron, May 24, 1690, at Blue Hills. 2000
57. Sir John Dalrymple, Feb. 17, 1692, on N. Branch at Riddle's 500
58. Ann Wert, Aug. 14, 1693, on North Branch at Dalrymple's 912
59. Campbell & Blackwood, Ang. 4, 1693, on North Branch ..... 3900
60. Wmn. Pinborn, March 3, 1697, joyning Lord Neill Campbell 500 61. Jobn Johnston, ou North Branch, joyning his own land ... 100
62. Johnston & Willocks, June 6, 1701
3150
63. George Willocks, June 7, 1701, against Margaret Winder .. 60 64. Dr. John Johnston, joining Lord Neill Campbell on North Branch.
......
65. Michael Haddon, west side of North Branch, 46626
66. George Willocks, west side of North Branch
67. Miles Foster, west side of North Branch .. 4662%
G8. Thomas Gordon, North Branch, at Peter Van Neste ...
500
69. Campbell & Black wood, two tracts.
7600
71. Elisha Parker, in the Blew Hills, between them joins Adam Hude's.
469
72. Elisha Parker, between the same, a mile west of John Johnston's honse.
250
73. Elisha Parker, betweca Ist and 2d mountain, joining his other tract.
80
74. Adam Hude, joining Parker's, Ist above tract.
4G9
75. Adam IInde, joining Parker's, 2d tract .. 250
76. John Campbell, 120 chains up from Passaic River on Dead River.
200
77. Judiah Higgins, on Bound Brook and Rohobous Brook, Piscataway
500
82. William Penn, 1717, on Dend River and Passaic. 7500
85. Joha Pittiager, joining Penn's Land. 200
88. McDowell & Pittinger, May 1, 1721, on Penpack 132
90. John Hamilton, March 25, 1727, between 1st & 2d mountain 500 93. Alexander McDowell, on Dan'l Shoemaker's, formerly Pittinger's, on Penn's Land. 50
94. James Alexaoder, Feb. 12, 1727, hegiu at N. E. corner of Sir Ev. Cameron ..
II834
96. John Parker, Feb. 12, 1727, begin at Hollinshead & Ham- ilton
165 147
98. R. S. Honper, May 16, 1726.
99. James Alexander, Sept. 17, 1741, cast side of North Branch of Dend River ...
100. George Ricarick, March 28, 1728, between Dead River and Penn Brook .. 18413
4
102. Alexander McDowell, Sept. 10, 1728, N. W. cor. of M. Vegh- ton's, on Raritan (Lot 3, John Palmer)
1423/ 132g
103. Daniel Hollinshend, June 18, 1727, on Dead River.
104. Daniel Hollinshead, March 25, 1727, between Ist & 2nd mountain.
393 833% 159
10G. Jolin Parker, Sept. 29, 1730, of Harrison's Purchase ...
107. David Cossart, May 23, 1729, on Sir Ev. Cameron's 2000 acres 100 108. Ephraim Dunhams, March 1, 1730, joining Penn's Brook und 20 chains on Passaic River ..
100
109. John Parker, Nov. 4, 1729, between Ist & 2d mountain, on Dead River, at Moses Ayer's Place.
98-10
110. Dr. Win. Beekman, on Dunstar's and Tieppell's. 200
111. John P'nrker, July 10, 1731, between 1st & 2d mountain, in Harrison's Nock.
100
112. John Parker, in the mountains by Judinh Higgin's Salt Pond ..
II3. James Alexander, Jan. 12, 1727, N. W. cor. of Lockiell's 2000 acres on Bound Brook ..
114. James Alexander, Jan. 12, 1727, behind Sooman's, 11834 .... 115. Elisha Snilley, March 17, 1736, B]ne Ilills, on Stony Brook 117. Nathaniel Rolph, March 28, 1740, on Harrison's Purchase.
83 118. James Hooper, Oct. 18, 1740, rear of Raritan Lots, S. E. cor. of Margaret Winder.
200
119. Alexander & Dunsta, June 1, 1740, on l'enpack and North Branch
I240
120. Andrew Hamilton, Jan. 1, 1741. on Lamintunk. 875 121. James Alexander, Sopt. 17, 174], in G tracts in Harrison's Neck ...
7851% 583
122. Alexander & Dunsta, Oct. 15, 1741, on Ilarrison
46629 .3
97. Jolin Parker, March 28, 1728, in Ilarrison's Neck
125 27238
101. Joseph Jennings, Dec. 29, 1727, on first mountain, at falls of Stony Brook
105. John Parker, Feb. 27, 1730, joyning Sutton's, on Harrison's Purchase
100 1163 493% 22
500
Dunstar & Alexander
Budd & Alexander
fmn.Hirook.
9- 100 127
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Lamington
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92
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NORTH PLAINFIELD
o
Green brood
50
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107
32
Round Brook
4
turerville
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Branch
Land Patents of SOMERSET COUNTY
Mulstone
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South
. North of the Borton River Copied from the Elizabethtown Bill in Chancery.
Z D HUNTERDON CO.
27
RITAT!
29
.Majur Dunirl Axtell's baml
Branch
BERN
Worth Branch 5
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Passur River
MORRIS
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BRID CE WATER
Hollands Hrook
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MIDDLESEX CO.
15
Z
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4
STER
563
ERECTION, ORGANIZATION, AND BOUNDARIES OF SOMERSET COUNTY.
Number.
Acres.
123. Heirs of Hooper, Oct. 17, 1741, at Ist mountain. 100 130. Peter Runyan, June 16, 1713, on south side of I'ussuic Hiver 30
131. Peter Runyan, June 16, 1743, on south side of Pavale Hiver 139. Alexander & Dunstar, Oct. 25, 1743, between Ist & od mountain 1633
142. J. Alexander, July 10, 1744, at Basking Ridge.
It has not been the intention to give, in this chap- ter, more than a very brief glance at the principal purchases from the natives and the proprietors of lands comprising the territory of Somerset County, and at a few of the very earliest of the pioneers who came to locate their homes within it. For more extended and detailed accounts of the land titles and settle- ments in the county, the reader is referred to the separate histories of the several townships, which will be found in subsequent pages of this work.
CHAPTER III.
ERECTION, ORGANIZATION, AND BOUNDA- RIES OF SOMERSET COUNTY.
Original Countles-Somerset as a Township, and Formatlen as n County -Townships Formed-Boundaries of County Defined-Part of Es- sex annexed to Somerset-Boundary between Somerset and Morris Counties-Re-establishment of Line between Middlesex and Somerwet -Part of Montgomery Township surrendered to Mercer, and Frank- lin to Middlesex-Tewksbury Township annexed to Somerset, etc.
THE province of East Jersey was first divided into counties in 1683. The Provincial Assembly which convened for its first session on the Ist of March in that year* passed an act, which was duly concurred in and approved, dividing the province into four eoun- ties, and appointing a high sheriff for each. Those four counties were Bergen, Essex, Middlesex, and Monmouth.
" Bergen included all the settlements between the Hudson and IInck- onsack Rivers, and extended to the northern bounds of the province; Essox Included all The country north of the diviling line between Wood- bridge and Elizabethtown, and west of the Hackensack ; Middlesex, all from the Woodbridge line on the nurth to Cheesequake Ilarbor on the southeast, and back southwest, and northwest to the province bounds ; and Monmouth comprised the residue."t
Somerset County was set off from the territory of Middlesex and separately erected, by act of the Pro- vincial Assembly, at a session which was commenced at Amboy on May 14, IGSS. The act provided and declared that a certain tract of country,
" Beginning at the mouth of the Bound Brook, where it empties into the Raritan River, and to run up the sald brook to the meeting of Bound Brook with Green Brook, and from the mid meeting to run a northwest lino into the hills ; and upon the southwest alle of the Raritan Hiver, to begin at a small brook, where It ompties itself into the Inritan about seventy chains below the Bound Hrook, and from thence to run up a southwest Hno to the uttermost line of the province, be divbled from the sald county of Middlesex, and berenfter to be deenied, taken, and be a county of Thla province ; and that the same county he called the county of Somerset, any statute, Inw, or usage to the contrary notwithstanding."?
* The Assembly called together by Deputy Governor Rudyanl.
+ Whitehead's Fast Jersey undor the Proprietary Governments, Elition 1875, p. 128.
Į Leaming and Spicer, p. 305.
The reasons which moved the Legislature to set off the new county were declared, in the preamble to the act, to be that
" The uppermost part of the Raritan River is settled by persons, whom, in their husbandry and munuring their lands, are forced upon quite dif- ferent ways nud methods from the other formers and inhabitants of Mid- diesex County. Because of the frequent floods that carry awny their fences on the meadows, the only nrable land they have, and so, by con- sequences of their interests, are divided from the other inhabitants of said county."
The okl division line, run by Keith in 1687, formed at that time, as now, the western boundary of the county, in that part which is south of the South Branch of the Raritan River. Such of its other boundaries as were vague and indefinite have since been more clearly defined, and others have been ma- terially changed by reductions of the territory of the county.
In 1692, nine years after the province was divided into counties, an act was passed to divide each county into townships. The existence of towns, hamlets, and divisions was recognized, but their bounds had never been legally fixed. It was necessary to do this for the proper choosing of deputies, constables, the levying of taxes, etc. Several settlements did not seem to be included in any town. Some of these towns, as Woodbridge and Piscataway, already ex- isted by independent charters. The constable of l'is- rataway took charge of the out-plantations on the south side of the Raritan as far cast as South River (1688, p. 308), and to the recently-enacted borders of Somerset. Other constables took charge of neighbor- ing out-plantations.
In 1693 an act was passed dividing the four counties of the province into townships. Somerset County, being yet sparse in population, was not divided, but the act provided that "The county of Somerset, as it is already bounded by a former aet of Assembly," shall be a township. This included the whole county according to the bounds of 1688. The township of Piscataway, in Middlesex, extended westward to the bounds of Somerset County. Besides that part of it on the east side of the Raritan, it took in nearly the whole of Franklin, the southeastern corner of Hills- borough, and nearly one-half of Montgomery town- ships ; all of Mercer, east of Keith's line, down to the bounds of Monmouth ; and along the line of Monmouth to the West Branch of South River, and down the said river to its mouth. This included the townships of North Brunswick, East Brunswick, South Bruns- wick, and Cranberry, in Middlesex, and the townships of Princeton, West Windsor, East Windsor, and Washington, in Mercer.
Ax Somerset was not divided into townships in 1693, the act concludes, -
" Provided also that when any county shall hereafter come to be better settled and Inhabited, this shall not be understood to hinder other sululi- visions to be made upot application to the General Assembly to that effect."à
¿ Ibid., pp. 330, 331.
564
SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
In 1695 (Laws, p. 359), when a tax was levied and the proportion of each town was designated, Somerset County was not yet divided into towns. Peter Van Nest was the assessor for Somerset, and was charged with the collection of four pounds sixteen shillings six pence as Somerset's share.
In 1698 (Laws, p. 371), while each town had its number of representatives fixed at one or two, the county of Somerset had yet only one. There was no division into townships up to that time.
The boundaries of the county were defined in " An act for dividing and ascertaining the boundaries of all the counties in this province," passed Jan. 21, 1709, as follows :
"SEC. 3. The county of Somerset begins where Bound Brook enipties itself into Raritan River; thence down the stream of Raritan to the month of the brook known by the name of Lawrence's Brook; thence running np tha said Lawrence's Brook to the great road that leads from Inian'a ferry to Cranberry Brook; from thence south forty-four degrees westerly to Saupiuck Brook; thence down the said Sanpinck Brook to the snid division line of the eastern and western division aforesaid, and 60 to follow the said division line to the limits of the above said county of Essax ; thence east along the line of Essex County to Green Brook; and thence running down the said Green Brook and Bound Brook to where it began."*
The boundary line established by the above act as between Somerset and Middlesex Counties was changed and redefined by an act of the Legislature passed March 15, 1713, which provided,-
"SEC. 1. That the boundary line between Somerset and Middlesex Connties shall be and begin where the road crosseth the river Raritan, at Inian's ferry, and run from thence along the said old road by Jedediah Higgins' honse, leading towards the falls of Delaware, 60 far as the eastern division of this province axtanda.
* * "SEC. 3. That the boundary lines between the said counties, settled by
* * * * * act of General Assembly of this province, passed in January, 1709, 60 far and no furthar as the same is altered by this act, shall be, and is hereby, repealed, to all intanta and purposes."}
It was not until more than a quarter of a century after the erection of Somerset that it became organ- ized as a separate county. During this period it had no courts of its own, but was dependent for the ad- ministration of justice upon those of Middlesex. The precise date of its separate organization cannot be given, but it was in or about 1713. On Feb. 28, 1713 -14,¿ an act was passed directing the manner of elect- ing freeholders and their meeting with the justices as a board for the transaction of public business ; among which they were charged with the repairing of such court-houses and jails as were already built, and the erection of such buildings in counties which had none, and they were empowered to appoint and pay man- agers to superintend the building of such court-houses and jails.
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