USA > New Jersey > The history of New Jersey : from its earliest settlement to the present time : including a brief historical account of the first discoveries and settlement of the country, Vol. I > Part 22
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In 1871, Washington and Munroe townships were set off from Camden county and annexed to Gloucester. , Franklinville, formerly called Little Ease, is six miles southeast of Glassboro.' Malaga is at the angle of Gloucester, Cumberland, and Salem counties, on the Maurice river.
Greenwich township contained a population in 1850 of 3,067 ; in 1860, 2,199 ; and in 1870, 2,342. Berkeley (or Sandtown), Paulsboro', and Billingsport, the former named after Lord Berkeley, and the latter after Edward Byllinge. are in this township.
Harrison township contained in 1850 a population of 1,984; in 1860, 2,544; and in 1870, 3,038. Mullica Hill* is in this township.
Mantua township in 1860 contained a population of 1, 742, and in 1870, 1,897. Barnsboro' and Carpenter's Landing, the latter named from Thomas Carpenter, an old settler, and Har- risonville, formerly called Colestown, are in this township.
Woolwich township was settled at an early period by the Swedes on Raccoon creek, hence they called the name of the first town they located, Swedesboro'.
Battentown is a good sized village, at the southern extremity of Swedesboro', and may be said to be a continuation of that town. Bridgeport, formerly called Raccoon Lower Bridge, is
* Mullica Hill derived its name from Eric Molica, a Swede, who purchased a large tract of land, and settled here about the year 1693.
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in this township. Woolwich township contained in 1850, 3, 265 inhabitants ; in 1860, 3,478 ; and in 1870, 3,760. Woodbury is the seat of justice of the county, and contained in 1860, 1,534 inhabitants, and in 1870, 1,965.
Somerset county was divided from Middlesex by a proprietory law in 1688, at which time it received its name. Its boundaries were limited by the act of 1709; again altered in 1713 and 1741 ; again in 1790 and in 1838, when Mercer county was formed ; and again in 1858. Population in 1850, 19,692; in 1860, 22,057 ; and in 1870, 23,510. At Baskingridge, in this county, resided William Alexander, Earl of Sterling, one of the early settlers. Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen, ancestor of Theodore Frelinghuysen, was one of the early ministers in this place. He preached in the Dutch church of that village.
The surface of the country is various, the northwest portion being mountainous, and the centre and southeast either level or undulating. The soil of the hills is generally clay or stiff, loam, that of the level portions sandy loam, formed of shell, and the mountain valleys are of limestone.
The range of hills about two miles north of Somerville, have been perforated by many mining shafts in search of copper ore. One of these shafts is 1300 feet in length. The ore is said to contain not only a large proportion of copper, but to be worth working on account of the gold it yields. The Bridgewater mineral paint mines are situated near the centre
Somerset county is distinguished as the birthplace of Samuel L. Southard, Peter D. Vroom, Commodore Stockton, William L. Dayton, and Theodore Frelinghuysen. Its capital is Somer- ville. The Delaware and Raritan Canal passes through this county, and follows the Millstone river to Bound Brook, when it takes a northeasterly course to the Raritan river, at New Brunswick.
Bedminster township is hilly, the soil fertile and well culti- vated. It has several small settlements, among which are Lamington, Peapack, Little Cross Roads, Greater Cross Roads, and Pluckamin. The latter was a celebrated place in the Revo- lutionary war. The American army halted here the day after the battle of Princeton, January 4th, 1777, on their march to
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Morristown, and in the winter of 1778-'79, part of the army were encamped at this place. The number of inhabitants in 1850 were 1,826; in 1860, 1,996 ; and in 1870, 1,881.
Bernards township is on the north branch of the Raritan river, opposite Bedminster. The population of this township was in 1850, 2,267 ; in 1860, 2,471 ; and in 1870, 2,369.
Liberty Corners is a post village, eight miles from Somerville. Millington is also a post village, forty miles from Trenton. Vealtown is also a small village. Baskingridge is about forty miles from Trenton. The mansion. house of Lord Sterling formerly stood about one mile from this place. It was one of the most splendid in the state, having a fine garden, and a park well stocked with deer. He owned some of the most elegant horses of the day.
The population of Branchburg township was in 1850, 1, 143 in 1860, 1, 174; and in 1870, 1,251. North Branch is a village of this township.
Bridgewater township contained a population in 1850 of 4,070 ; in 1860, 4,947; and in 1870, 5,884. Somerville, the county seat, is in this township, and contained in 1850,. 1,300 inhabitants. This village is of modern date. Martinsville and Bound Brook are also villages in this township.
Franklin township contained a population in 1850 of 3,062 in 1860, 3,599 ; and in 1870, 3,912. Weston is a post village on the Millstone river. Middlebush and Griggstown are in this township.
Hillsborough township is on the Millstone river. Its popula- tion in 1850 was 3,409 ; in 1860, 3,488 ; and in 1870, 3,444. Blackwell's is on the Millstone river, six and a half miles from Somerville. Flagtown, Branchville (or North Branch), and Neshanic, are small villages.
Millstone is on the left bank of Millstone river, and near the Delaware and Raritan Canal, and contains about sixty dwellings. It was founded in 1720, and here the first court-house for Som- erset county was built, which was burned by the British in 1779.
Montgomery township contained in 1850, 1,767 inhabitants ; in 1860, 1,975; and in 1870, 2,066. Rocky Hill is a post village on the Millstone river, and the Delaware and Raritan
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Canal. Plainsville, Harlingen, Blawenburgh, and Stoutsburgh, are in this township.
It was at Rocky Hill that Washington wrote his farewell address to the American army, November 2d, 1783. The dwell- ing is still standing, and was at that time the residence of Judge Berrian. Congress was at that time in session at Princeton, and the president addressed him in a complimentary manner, to which he replied in the presence of congress and then retired. He was provided with a house at Rocky Hill, where he conferred from time to time with the committees and members of congress, giving them his views on such subjects as were referred to him.
Warren township was formed in 1806, from Bedminster and Bernards. Its population in 1850 was 2,148 ; in 1860, 2,388 ; and in 1870, 2,705. In 1778-'9, a part of Washington's army encamped here, in a fertile valley known as Washington's valley.
Cape May was first made a county by proprietory law in 1692, and by another in 1694 its boundaries were better ascertained, and by the act of 1709-'10 they were again fixed. It is the most southerly county in the state, as well as the smallest in population. The Atlantic Ocean bounds it on the east and south, and Delaware bay on the west. This county derived its name from Cornelius Jacobson Mey, who came here in 1623, under the auspices of the Dutch West India Company, with a number of settlers. He explored the coast from Cape Cod to the Delaware, and gave his own name to its northern cape. Its population in 1810 was 3,632 ; in 1830, 4,936 ; in 1840, 5,324; in 1850, 6,433 ; in 1860, 7,130 ; and in 1870, 8,349.
Cape May city contained in 1870 a population of 1,248. Dennis township was formed in 1826. Dennisville (or Dennis Creek) is a flourishing post village, situated on both sides of the creek of the same name, and seven miles from Cape May Court- House, and called North and South Dennisville. Around this village is an extensive deposit of sound cedar timber in the soil. Ship building and trade in lumber are carried on to some extent.
·Lower, the most southern township in the state, was incorpo- rated in 1798. Cape Island is a favorite watering place in the southern part of the township. At the time it first came into notice as a watering place in 1812, there were but few houses
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there, but it has now increased to considerable importance. During the summer months it is one of the most fashionable places of resort in the United States. It contains five or six churches, one bank, and eleven large and commodious hotels, besides numerous smaller ones. In summer Cape Island has daily communication with Philadelphia, and is thronged by the wealthy and fashionable, principally from that city. It is also largely patronized by residents from New York and the east. While the permanent population is only about one thousand, in the summer season it is increased from ten to fifteen thousand persons. At this place is the finest bathing in the world. Be- sides the hotels, there are numerous cottages and other houses for summer boarders. In and around the island there are about one hundred houses. The Cape May light-house is about two miles west of the boarding-houses.
Cold Spring is a post village in this township, about ten miles from Cape May Court-House. The name is derived from a remarkable spring near it rising in the marsh, and is overflowed at every tide. Population about 400. This village contains about fifty houses within a radius of a mile. The water of the spring above mentioned flows up from the salt marsh, and is much frequented by visitors at the island. Cape Island received its name from the fact that it is separated from the mainland by a small creek, and the houses are located on both sides of the same, but principally on the north side. Fishing Creek, on the shore of Delaware bay, is six miles southwest of the county seat. · Cape May county is an island. On its east and south is the Atlantic Ocean, west is Delaware bay and West Creek, and north is Tuckahoe river, which runs across its northern extremity.
Middle township was incorporated in 1798, and contained in 1850, 1,884 inhabitants ; in 1860, 2,155 ; and in 1870, 3,443. About one-half of this township is salt marsh or sea beach. It extends across the township from the Atlantic ocean to Delaware bay. Goshen is a post village about five miles northwest of the court house, and contains about twenty-five dwellings. The post village of Cape May Court-House is in the central part of the county, between Great Sound and Jenkins' Sound, and about eighty miles from Trenton, in a straight line. It contained in
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1870, 1,348 inhabitants. Upper township was incorporated in 1798, and contained in 1850 1,341 inhabitants ; in 1860, 1,552; and in 1870, 1,433.
The village of Tuckahoe is situated on Tuckahoe river. At Beesley's Point a ferry was established as early as 1692, which crossed over Great Egg Harbor river.
The county of Cape May has an area of two hundred and fifty square miles. On the Atlantic coast is a sand beach, which, for the width of from a half to two miles, is covered with grass, affording excellent pasture. It is broken by various inlets, by which the sea penetrates the marshes, forming lagoons, or salt water lakes. The marsh is about four miles wide, and a similar marsh extends across the northern part of the county. Near Dennisville is a deposit of cedar timber in the soil to an indef- inite depth, which (although from the growth above it, it is believed to be over 2,000 years old) is still perfectly sound, and a large number of persons are employed in digging it out, and working it into shingles, posts, &c. The soil near the central part is clayey, with a sandy subsoil, and is naturally of a good quality. The county was organized under its present boundaries in 1710, having been previously named from Cornelius Jacobse Mey, a navigator in the service of the Dutch West India Com- pany, who visited Delaware bay in 1623, as previously stated.
Burlington county was first laid ont and settled in 1677, and its boundaries were limited by the act of 1709-'Io. It was curtailed in 1838, at the formation of Mercer county. The population in 1850 was 43,203; in 1860, 49,730 ; and in 1870, 53,639.
The county derived its name from the town of Burlington, which was one of the earliest settled towns in West Jersey. The city of Burlington was laid out for a town in 1677, and at that time, and for many years subsequent, the courts were held here, and the legislature of the province met alternately here and at Amboy. The supreme courts were also held here and at Amboy. Burlington is next to the largest city in the county, having at the present time 5,817 inhabitants. It is a port of entry on the Delaware river, nearly opposite Bristol, in Pennsyl- vania, twenty miles above Philadelphia, and twelve miles south-
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west of Trenton. The Camden and Amboy division of the Pennsylvania Railroad connects it with New York and Philadel- phia. The river here is about one mile wide, and is divided by an island containing three hundred acres, lying nearly opposite the city. The streets are wide, straight, and well shaded with trees, and lighted with gas. The houses are mostly built of brick, and the bank of the Delaware is adorned with many handsome residences and gardens. The city is copiously sup- plied with good water, raised by means of hydraulic machinery. Burlington College, for males, and St. Mary's Hall, for females, was founded by the Episcopalians in 1846, and had in 1852, one hundred and eighteen students, and a library of twelve hundred volumes. This city is much resorted to during the summer months by the citizens of Philadelphia, with which it communi- cates by steamboat several times a day. It was originally called New Beverly, then Bridlington, and afterwards by its present name.
The population of Bass River township in 1870 was 807. Beverly township contained a population in 1860 of 2, 126, and in 1870, 2,438. Bordentown township and borough contained in 1860 a population of 4,027, and in 1870, 6,041. The Bor- dentown Female Seminary, under the direction of Rev. John H. Brakeley, is located at this borough. Francis Hopkinson, the celebrated poet of the war, and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, resided here. Joseph Bonaparte, Count de Surviliers, ex-king of Spain and Naples, came to this country in 1815, and settled here the following season, and built his palatial residence, now the property of the heirs of Henry Becket. Bonaparte lived here during his stay in this country. He returned to Europe and died there, leaving his possessions here to his nephew. The park and grounds comprise about fourteen hundred acres, which were converted by the count into a place of beauty and elegance. His first residence, which stood on the site of the present one, was destroyed by fire, together with some rare paintings executed by the first masters of the old world, which rendered them of immense value. He had also the busts of the Bonaparte family, carved from the finest Italian marble.
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Chester township contained a population in 1850 of 3,061 ; in 1860, 2,227 ; and in 1870, 2,586. Moorestown, Chesterville, and Stiles Corners, are in this township.
Chesterfield township contained in 1850 a population of 1, 789 ; in 1860, 1,628; and in 1870, 1,748. Crosswicks and Reckless- town are in this township.
Cinnaminson township contained in 1860 a population of 2,701, and in 1870, 3, 112. Bridgeborough, Cinnaminson, River- side, and Palmyra, are in this township.
Evesham township contained in 1850 a population of 3,067 ; in 1860, 3, 145 ; and in 1870, 3,351. Evesboro', Marlton, and Milford, are in this township.
Lumberton township contained in 1860, 1,830 inhabitants, and in 1870, 1,718. Lumberton and Hainesport are the principal towns.
Little Egg Harbor township comprises the southeastern section of the county, and contained in 1870 a population of 1,779. Tucker's Beach fronts the township, in the Great and Little Egg Harbor bays. The town of Tuckerton was settled about the year 1699.
Mansfield township in 1850 contained 2,953 inhabitants ; in -860, 2,777 ; and in 1870, 2,880. Columbus (formerly called Black Horse) and Georgetown, are in this township.
Medford township in 1850 contained a population of 3,022 ; in 1860, 2,136 ; and in 1870, 2,189. The town of Medford, on Haynes creek, is in this township.
Mount Laurel township was formed from Evesham, March 7th, 1872. Masonville, Mount Laurel, Hartford, and Fellowship, are post towns ; Centretown, Milltown, and Colemantown, are villages.
New Hanover township in 1850 contained a population of 2,245 ; in 1860, 2,529; and in 1870, 2,536. Jacobstown, Cookstown, Arneytown, Sykesville, Wrightstown, and Point- ville, are in this township.
Northampton township in 1850 contained a population of 3,031 ; in 1860, 2,997 ; and in 1870, 4,018.
Mount Holly, the county town, is pleasantly situated in the west part of the township, on the Rancocas creek, nineteen
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miles from Trenton. It derived its name from the hill or moun- tain in the vicinity of the town, and from the holly trees growing upon its summit It was first settled by Friends a short time after the settlement of Burlington. It was a place of con- siderable importance during the Revolutionary war. Stephen Girard at one time resided here.
Pemberton township in 1850 had a population of 2,866; in 1860, 2,672 ; and in 1870, 2,743. The thriving village of Pem- berton is in this township, and contained a population in 1870 of 797 ; the celebrated Brown's Mills are also here. There are also the villages called Mary Ann, Ong's Hat, Comical Corner, Hanover, and Birmingham.
Randolph township contained in 1870 a population of 450, and was formed from Washington township. March 17th, 1870. Wading River and Lower Bank, are post towns.
Shamong township contains extensive cedar swamps. Popula- tion in 1860, 1,008, and in 1870, 1, 149. Fruitland and Shamong are post towns.
Beverly township was formed from Willingborough in 1859; Lumberton from Medford, Northampton, and Southampton, in 1860 ; Bass River township was formed from Little Egg Harbor and Washington, in 1869 ; Florence from Mansfield, in 1872; and Mount Laurel from Evesham, the same year.
Southampton contained a population in 1850 of 3,545; in 1860, 2,558 ; and in 1870, 2,374.
Springfield township was settled between 1682 and 1685. Jobstown derived its name from Job Lippincott, who owned considerable land there about the year 1798. Juliustown, the principal village in the township, received its name from Julius Evans. The population of the township in 1850 was 1, 827 ; in 1860, 1,810 ; and in 1870, 1,761.
Washington township was formed from Northampton, Eves- ham, and Little Egg Harbor. Pleasant Mills and Green Bank are post towns. Crowleytown, Washington, and Quaker Bridge, are also in this township. It contains an extensive cranberry swamp. There are also large quantities of bog iron ore. The popula- tion in 1850 was 2,009 ; in 1860, 1,co8 ; and in 1870, 1, 149.
Westhampton township contained a population in 1850 of
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1,507 ; in 1860, 1,313 ; and in 1870, 1,369. Rancocas and Smithville are post towns.
Willingborough township contained a population in 1850 of 1,596 ; in 1860, 643 ; and in 1870, 750. A portion of Rancocas is in this township.
Woodland township was formed from Pemberton, Shamong, Southampton and Washington, in 1866, and although the largest in the county as to territory, it is the smallest in population, containing in 1870, 389 inhabitants. Shamong, Woodmansie, Mount Misery, and Speedwell, are villages of the township.
Hunterdon county was divided from Burlington by an act of assembly in 1713, and derived its name from Governor Robert Hunter. The boundaries were then fixed, but altered in 1738, and again changed upon the erection of Mercer county in 1838. This county is situated along the Delaware river, above tide navigation, and was, in 1765, the most populous and opulent county in the province. The land is generally good for tillage. This county is very mountainous, and contains diversified hills, table lands, and fertile valleys.
Alexandria township was incorporated in 1798. Mount Pleasant, Little York, Everittstown, Musconetcong, Holland, and Milford, are post towns. On its northern end, bordering on Warren county, is some very fine iron ore. Milford is a thriving village on the Delaware, in a highly fertile and well cultivated region. The township of Alexandria contained in 1850, 3, 811 inhabitants ; in 1860, 4,088 ; and in 1870, 3,341.
Bethlehem township was incorporated in 1798, and contains the towns of Bethlehem, Charlestown, Bloomsbury and Junction. The New Jersey Central Railroad runs through the entire length of the township. The population in 1850 was 2, 746; in 1860, 1,859 ; and in 1870, 2,211.
Clinton township was formed from Lebanon in 1838. Its population in 1850 was 2,369 ; in 1860 including the village of Clinton 2,949 ; and in 1870, 3, 134. This village was formerly called Hunt's Mills, from an early proprietor, in consequence of its valuable water power. It is beautifully diversified with hills, was incorporated as a borough in 1865, and contained in 1870, 785 inhabitants.
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Delaware township was formed from a part of Amwell, in 1838. Its population in 1850 was 2,554; in 1860, 2,838; and in 1870, 2,959. Sergeantsville, Head Quarters, Sandbrook, Rose- mont, Stockton, Raven Rock and Prallsville are post towns and villages of this township.
East Amwell. was formed from Amwell in 1856; in 1860 it contained a population of 1,865; and in 1870, 1,802. The Sourland Mountains are partly in this township and partly in Hillsborough township, Somerset county.
Franklin township contained in 1850 a population of 1,452; in 1860, 1,552; and in 1870, 1,342. Sidney, Pittstown, Quaker- town, Oak Grove and Cherryville are post towns.
High Bridge township was formed March 29, 1871, from part of the townships of Clinton and Lebanon. High Bridge is a post village, Readingsburg and Cokesburg are in this township. The south branch of the Raritan river runs through the centre of the township from north to south, and the New Jersey Central Railroad runs across its entire western part.
Kingwood township was formed in 1798. In 1850 the popu- lation was 1,799 ; in 1860, 2, 148 ; and in 1870, exclusive of the borough of Frenchtown, it was 1,942. The borough of French- own was incorporated in 1 857, and in 1870 contained a popula- tion of 912.
Lebanon township was formed in 1798, and contained in 1850, a population of 2, 128 ; in 1860, 2,495 ; and in 1870, 3,561 An- thony, Changewater, White Hall, New Hampton and Glen Gardner are post towns.
Raritan township was formed from A mwell in 1838. Its popu- lation in 1850 was 3,070 ; in 1860, 2,270 ; and in 1870, 3,654; Flemington the county seat is in this township. Its population in 1870 was 1,412. In the vicinity of Flemington are valuable copper mines. Croton and Copper Hill are post villages.
Readington township was formed in 1798. Its population in 1850 was 2,836 ; in 1860, 3,074; and in 1870, 3,070. The New Jersey Central Railroad runs through the township, near its cen- tre. Whitehouse, Potterstown, White House Station, Reading- ton, Pleasant Run, Stanton, Rowland Mills and Centreville are post villages.
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HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.
Tewksbury township was formed in 1798. Its population in 1850 was 2,301; in 1860, 2,333; and in 1870, 2,327, New Ger- mantown, Fairmount, Farmersville and Mountainville are in this township.
Union township was formed from Bethlehem in 1853, and con- tained in 1860, 1,217 inhabitants ; and in 1870, 1,051. Perry- ville and Pattenburg are post towns.
West Amwell township was formed from Amwell in 1856, and contained in 1860, 1,089 inhabitants, and in 1870, 4,872. The town of Lambertville contained in 1850, 1,417 inhabitants ; in 1860, 2,699; and in 1870, 3,842. It was incorporated as a town April 13, 1868.
Morris county was incorporated 1738, and its boundaries were then established by law, but were altered by the formation of Sussex in 1753. It was named from Governor Lewis Morris. Morristown is the county seat. Boonton township was formed from Hanover and Pequannock townships in 1867, and in 1870 contained a population of 3,458. Chatham township in 1850, contained a population of 2,469 ; in 1860, 2,968 ; and in 1870, 3,715. The Morris and Essex Railroad runs through this town- ship. Chester was formed in 1799, and in 1850 contained a population of 1,334 inhabitants; in 1860, 1,558 ; and in 1870, 1,743. Hanover was formed in 1700, and in 1850 contained a population of 3,614; in 1860, 3,476; and in 1870, 3,623. Jeffer- son contained in 1850 a population of 1,358; in 1860, 1,471; and in 1870, 1,430.
Mendham contained a population in 1850 of 1,723; in 1860, 1,660 ; and in 1870, 1,573. Montville was formed from Pequan- nock in 1867, and in 1870 contained a population of 1,403. Morris contained a population in 1850 of 4,992; in 1860, includ- ing Morristown, 5,985; and in 1870, 5,674. Passaic contained a population in 1870 of 1,624. It was formed from Morris in 1866.
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