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THE situation of this state is in some respects quite peculiar. It is long and narrow, and lies between two of the largest and most important states in the Union. While, on the one hand, its territory is thus rendered highly important, as the only direct thoroughfare between them, on the other, strong influences oppose the existence of a single, united spirit among the people. The Hudson and New York city attract the business of East Jersey, as the Delaware and Philadelphia do that of West Jersey.

In several respects, however, this state has points of interest equal to any of her sisters of the Union, which will be in some measure exhibited, even in the few pages which we have to devote to the following description.

New Jersey possesses a considerable variety of climate, for a country of so small a surface, as its length is two or three times greater than its breadth, and it stretches directly north and south, while there is a considerable difference of elevation between the low, sandy regions in the southern parts, and the hilly and almost mountainous northern counties. Much of the former district also lies near the sea, while the latter is removed to a distance from it.

The Allegany range, crossing the northwestern parts, gives them the character just alluded to; and, while it affects the soil and vegetable productions, yields rich mineral products, several mines of copper and iron being wrought-the latter to much advantage. The proportion of good land is not large, as the "piny woods" in the south too nearly resemble the "pine barrens" of the southern Atlantic border, of which they appear to be the beginning; while through the elevated districts are considerable tracts inconvenient of access, or incapable of cultivation. The railroads and canals, however, which cross the state in several places, afford important facilities for transportation as well as for travelling.

HISTORY.-Henry Hudson entered residence on Tinnicum island, building Delaware bay on the 28th of August, a fort, laying out a garden, and erecting 1609, and made an attempt to penetrate a church and several houses. Among by it into the continent, a short time be- his companions were John Campanius fore he discovered the harbor of New Holm, afterward the historian of the York (namely, September 3), and the colony, and an engineer named Lindriver which bears his name. The first strom, who published a map of the Delsettlements made by Europeans on the aware and its borders. There has been soil of this state were but a little subse- much doubt respecting the grounds on quent to the first occupation of Manhat- which the Swedes rested their claim to tan island. The first Dutch vessel came this part of the country; and they soon out to trade in the Hudson in 1610, and found it contested by the Dutch, who, the fort was erected at the Battery in having reoccupied Fort Nassau and sev1614. In the latter year a redoubt ap- eral other points, were called upon to pears to have been thrown up on the surrender them, and, on their refusal, Jersey shore. About the year 1618, a compelled to submit by force. Governcolony of Danes or Norwegians, who or Stuyvesant, of New York, soon inhad come out with the Dutch, made a terfered, and regained the Dutch posisettlement at Bergen, opposite New tions, and easily reduced the Swedish York. The first settlement in West Jer- posts, finally capturing the seat of gov sey is believed to have been made in ernment at Tinnicum island. This blow 1623, by Cornelius Jacobse Mey, whose terminated the Swedish power on the name is commemorated in Cape May. Delaware, called by them New Sweden. He proceeded up Delaware bay to Timber creek, a little above Camden, where he built Fort Nassau. He sailed in the employment of the Dutch West India company, which had been formed in 1621. Individuals obtained charters from that association, to large tracts of land, subject only to the Indian claim, one of which, opposite New York, extended thirty-two miles by two. One man thus obtained a tract sixteen miles square, at Cape May, bought of nine Indian chiefs. Some of these great landholders associated, and sent out David Petersen de Vries in a ship, to make a settlement on the Delaware, in 1630. He found Fort Nassau in the possession of the Indians, and no traces of its former occupants. He built another fort, and left it to return to Holland; but the garrison were soon massacred to a man. After another unsuccessful attempt to plant a colony, the treachery of the natives discouraged the company, and the enterprise was abandoned.

In 1640, a number of English colonists arrived from New Haven, claiming a right to occupy the soil under British authority; and thus the foundation was laid of disputes, which from time to time caused considerable difficulty. The tradinghouse which they erected was destroyed in one case; and in others their goods were confiscated, and some of the men imprisoned. One men imprisoned. The British and the Dutch governments had some warm altercations on the question of right to this part of the country. It is reported that some of the descendants of the early New Haven colonists still remain in Salem, Cumberland, and Cape May.

In 1637, two Swedish vessels arrived in the Delaware, and settlements were commenced on the western side, but lands were occupied only on the eastern. In 1642, Printz Hall came over as governor, under the appointment of the queen of Sweden, and established his

The year 1664 was the epoch of the reduction of the New Netherlands (now New York), by Colonel Nichols, at the command of Charles II. Sir Robert Carr soon after obtained possession of the posts and colonies on the Delaware, having entered the bay with two frigates, and expended "two barrels of gunpowder and twenty shot." The same year, Charles, by a royal patent, conferred it upon the Duke of York; and he conveyed a large tract, named "Nova Cæsarea" (New Jersey), to Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret. The name then bestowed, and which is still retained, is said to have been chosen in com

pliment to Carteret, because he had defended the island of Jersey against the "long parliament" in the civil wars.

Berkeley and Carteret conferred a constitution on the colony, securing to all equal rights and privileges, including liberty of conscience; and the latter was appointed governor, and took up his residence at Elizabethtown, in 1665. Having purchased land from the Indians, he sent an invitation to Connecticut for settlers, on such favorable terms that many accepted it, and the population of the colony rapidly increased.

But in 1672, difficulties, which had arisen between some of the older settlers and the proprietors, proceeded so far that an insurrection broke out, in consequence of the demand of the latter of rents for lands purchased by the former before the date of the charter of King Charles. The result was, that the governor was driven from the colony; and he repaired to England for redress, while his officers were resisted, deposed, and imprisoned by the people.

The New Netherlands being recovered, in 1673, by the Dutch, New Jersey passed with her again under her former proprietor. But this change was followed, the next spring, by a more permanent arrangement by treaty, in consequence of which the English were restored to the possession. The duke of York, to prevent any exposure of his title to question, on account of the intervention of the late Dutch conquest, procured a new patent; and, in 1664, Sir Edmund Andross arrived, with the authority of governor of the province of New York, claiming jurisdiction over New Jersey also, under pretence that the proprietors had lost their property by the Dutch conquest. This arbitrary man, whose injustice and oppression caused so much evil in New England, gave place to Philip Carteret, in 1675, who resumed the government of East Jersey, and so conciliated the colonists that order was restored. He postponed the demand of the payment of quitrents, but, on the other hand, in a list of "concessions" which he published, he laid some restrictions on political freedom. He attempted to open a trade with New

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England; but Andross, still governor of New York, opposed him, pretending that it would injure his colony. At length Andross sent to Elizabethtown, to seize Carteret and take him to New York.

Lord Berkeley about this time offered his share of the province for sale, as its prospects were not flattering; and it was conveyed to John Fenwick, in trust for Edward Byllinge, members of the society of friends, for one thousand pounds. The part sold was afterward called West Jersey, a designation often used at the present day. In 1675, the first English vessel arrived in the Delaware which ever visited West Jersey, and it brought over Fenwick and his two daughters, with a number of servants, and a company of settlers. He selected a pleasant and fertile spot, which he named Salem, and there planted his colony. The following are the names of some of the colonists: Edward Champness, Edward Wade, Samuel Wade, John Smith and his wife, Samuel Nichols, Richard Guy, Richard Noble, Richard Hancock, John Pledger, Hippolite Lefevre, and John Matlock. These men, and others whose names are not given, were heads of families. It was two years, however, before another ship arrived, probably in consequence of a difference which arose between Fenwick and Byllinge. Byllinge was sharer to much the greater amount, having ninety out of a hundred shares, while Fenwick had but ten. Byllinge, however, failed in his business, which was that of a merchant; and the management of his erty here was intrusted to William Penn, and his quaker friends, Gowen and Lucas, by whom much of it was sold to different purchasers. These proprietors published a plan of government, under the name of "concessions," by which "the proprietors, freeholders, and inhabitants of each of the ten proprieties, were authorized to meet annually, and choose by ballot one man each, to act as commissioners." A deed was then made between Sir George Carteret and the trustees of Byllinge, dated July 1, 1676, fixing the boundary-lines as follows: "We have all that side on the Delaware

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Jersey, on the 14th of March, 1682; at which time about seven hundred families were supposed to be residing in that part of the country.

A brief notice of important epochs is all we have room to give after this period. In 1702, in consequence of prolonged disputes and difficulties, the pro

colonies, to Queen Anne, who, on the 17th of April, 1702, accepted the offer, and reunited the East and West into one province, appointing her kinsman, Edward Hyde (Lord Cornbury), the gov ernor. He was grandson of the chancellor, Earl of Clarendon. The commission and instructions then given him remained as the constitution of New Jersey until the Revolution. The governor and twelve councillors were appointed by the crown; and twenty-four members of assembly, elected by the people for an indefinite term, met at Burlington and Perth Amboy alternately. Among these instructions was one allowing liberty of conscience to all, except papists, and one prohibiting printing in the colony.

river, from one end to the other: the line of partition is on the east side of Little Egg harbor, straight north, through the country, to the utmost branch of Delaware river, with all powers, privileges, and immunities, whatsoever. Ours is called New West Jersey; yours is called New East Jersey." Two companies of London and York-prietors resigned the government of the shire friends were among the purchasers of lands in New West Jersey; and, in 1677, commissioners came out to purchase land of the Indians, &c. The ship in which they came out arrived at New Castle on the 16th day of the 6th month, old style, bringing also two hundred and thirty passengers as colonists. They were glad, for a time, to land at Rackoon creek, and take up with such poor accommodations as they could find in the houses and cowsheds of the few Swedes whom they found occupying the spot, and found snakes numerous, creeping about the buildings. After making purchases of the Indians, who were numerous, the settlement of Burlington was commenced, and first called New Beverley, and afterward Bridlington; soon after which it received its present name. The following are some of the masters of families who formed this settlement: Thomas Olive, Daniel Wills, William Peachy, William Clayton, John Crips, Thomas Eves, Thomas Harding, Thomas Nositer, Thomas Fairnsworth, Morgan Drewit, William Renton, Henry Jenings, William Hibes, Samuel Lovett, John Woolston, William Woodmancy, and Christopher Saunders; Robert Powell, William Wilkinson, and William Perkins, died on the passage, but left families.

In 1679, George Carteret died, and, according to his will, East Jersey was sold, to pay his debts. The indenture of lease and release is dated February 1 and 2, 1681-'82, and conveys the property to William Penn and eleven others, who, in the following year, published a description of the country, with a plan of a town. These men were called the "twelve proprietors." Each of these took a partner; and to these "twenty-four proprietors" the duke of York made a new grant of East New

In 1702, the period when New Jersey became a colony of the crown, the population was estimated at twenty thousand; of which twelve thousand were set down for East, and eight thousand for West Jersey. Lord Cornbury was kept in prison, for debt, from 1703 till the death of his father, when he was raised to the peerage, and was released by law.

He is said to have been more detested by the people than any other governor the province had ever had. Governor Lovelace, Lieut. Governor Ingoldsby, and Governor Hunter, were in turn at the head of the colony; under the second of whom paper-currency was first introduced into New Jersey, with its long train of evils. One of the pretexts for it was to raise funds for an expedition against Canada. William Burnet, son of the celebrated Bishop Burnet, was appointed governor in 1710, and held the office ten years, and afterward was governor of New York and New Jersey until 1727. The last of the royal governors was William Franklin, son of the celebrated Benja

min. He entered upon his office in 1763, the epoch signalized by the treaty by which France ceded Canada to Great Britain, and thus terminated the harassing wars which for half a century had caused great evil to the colonies. New Jersey contributed liberally to the expeditions marched against Canada in 1758, 1759, and 1760; for, although her quota was but five hundred men, she raised and supported a thousand, and, in 1761, and 1762, six hundred men, and incurred a debt of forty thousand pounds.

As the Revolution approached, New Jersey was among the foremost opposers of British oppression. In July, 1774, the people of the different counties held meetings to express their condemnation of the closing of the port of Boston, &c., &c. Delegates went to the congress in Philadelphia, who reported to the assembly, on the 11th of January,

1775.

invested with the powers of government. In vain the governor made another effort at resistance. He held one more meeting of the legislature; but it was the last. They would not consent to declare that they had no intentions to proclaim independence. The body was prorogued till January, 3, 1776; but it never met again.

The provincial congress assembled again on the 10th of June; and, on the 18th of July, a few days after the declaration of independence at Philadelphia, New Jersey assumed the title of a state. The seal which was then adopted and made is still in use, though much worn. А сору of parts of it is under the vignette at the head of this description. The head of a horse over a globe is supported by figures of Liberty and Ceres, while three ploughs are placed between them, and the following legend surrounds the whole: "The great seal of the state of New Jersey: MDCCLXXVI." It is made of silver, two and a half inches long, and three eighths in thickness.

The governor, however, who was opposed to resistance, endeavored to defeat the wishes of the people and legislature, particularly by refusing to con- On the 25th of June, Governor Frankvoke the latter. The delegates were, lin was made prisoner, by the command therefore, appointed by a convention. of the provincial congress, as an enemy On the 23d of May, 1775, the second to the liberties of the country, and sent convention assembled at Trenton, and to Connecticut, under a guard, to be kept laid a tax of ten thousand pounds, to under the charge of Governor Trumbull, support a company or more, which it who placed him, with several other adordered to be raised in each of the town-vocates of British authority, in Middleships and corporations. This was con- town. When released, after a considfirmed by the provincial congress, which erable time, he went to England, where met in August following, and directed he enjoyed a pension. the organization of fifty-four companies, William Livingston was appointed of sixty-four minute-men each. Ten governor of New Jersey, by the new battalions were accordingly formed: legislature, on the 31st of August; and one in each of the counties of Bergen, he was annually re-elected for fourteen Essex, Middlesex, Monmouth, Somerset, Morris, Sussex, Hunterdon, and Burlington, and one in Gloucester and Salem together. Independent light-infantry and rangers were raised in Cumberland and Cape May.

At the same meeting, a resolution was adopted which rendered the people and their representatives less dependent on the will of the governor. It provided that, during the controversy with the mother-country, the voters should annually meet and choose deputies to the provincial congress; and this body was

years. And now commenced the long course of trials which the Revolution brought in its train, and in which this state suffered most severely. Her peculiar situation, which renders it, during peace, the thoroughfare of important commerce and travel, exposed her, in the war, to the passage and the occupation of armies, and as the theatre of incursions. The navigable waters on her boundaries, so convenient and safe to the hundreds of merchant-ships and steamboats, by which they are crowded in our day, then gave too easy access to

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