Entered by THOMAS F. GORDON, according to the Act of Congress, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

PREFACE.

An attempt has been made in the following pages to narrate, succinctly, but fully, the history of New Jersey, from the time of its discovery by Europeans, to that of the adoption of the constitution of the United States. By the latter event, the individuality of the State, as a historical subject, is merged in the history of the nation; and the subsequent period of unvaried political prosperity, within her borders, presents few matters for the historian.

The story we have told, has, for the inhabitants of the State, the interest of their peculiar and proper affairs; but, like such affairs, may not prove attractive to strangers. Like Pennsylvania, this State was founded by deeds of peace; and no community, in any country, can have undergone less vicissitude. Her prudence and justice preserved her from Indian hostility, and her distance from the frontier protected her from the inroads of the French. She has known, therefore, no wars, save those commanded by the king, or undertaken in defence of her own civil liberty. To pourtray the part, which, as a colony, she took in the one, and as an independent State, in the other, it has been necessary to treat of the general colonial and revolutionary history; yet no further than was indispensable to exhibit the action of New Jersey.

In the compilation of the work, resort has been had to all the known histories of the Anglo-American colonies, to the best writers on the American revolution, and to the minutes of the legislature and the statutes, for a period of more than one hundred and twenty years. From these sources, it is believed, that a faithful and ample narrative has been obtained. More particulars of the horrors which attended the revolutionary war, especially of those which were inflicted by furious tory partisans, might, perhaps, have been added, if full reliance were due to the partial newspaper accounts, frequently written under excitement unfavourable to truth. Yet, enough of these scenes has been described to display the nature and extent of the sufferings of the inhabitants; more would have served rather to disgust, than to entertain, the reader.

The author submits the result of his labours to the many subscribers by whom they have been encouraged, with an assurance of his readiness, in another edition, to supply such omissions, and to correct such errors, as may be discovered in the present.

March, 1834.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Comprising Events from the Discovery by Europeans, to the Grant from

Charles I. to James Duke of York. I. Ancient and Modern Principles of

Colonization. II. Voyages of the Spaniards and Portuguese upon the East

Coast of North America. III. Voyages of the Italians, Verrazano, and the

Cabots. IV. First English Attempts at Discovery. V. Efforts of Raleigh

to establish a Colony. VI. Gosnold opens a new Road-London and Ply-

mouth Companies created. VII. Voyages and Discoveries of Hudson.

VIII. Intercourse of the Dutch East India Company with America, and

Formation of the Amsterdam Licensed Trading West India Company.

IX. Settlement of the Puritans at Plymouth. X. Formation of the Great

West India Company in Holland. XI. Voyage and Proceedings of Cor-

nelius Jacobse Mey. XII. Measures of the Company to promote Emigra

tion; Purchases of large Tracts of Land from the Indians. XIII. Voyages

of De Vries; Colony planted-The Delaware abandoned by the Dutch.

XIV. Minisink Settlements on the Delaware. XV. Settlements of the

Swedes on the Delaware-first Project of a Colony-first Colony-increase

of Settlers. XVI. Colonial Government established-Colonel Printz first

Governor. XVII. English Settlements upon the Delaware-prostrated by

a united Force of Dutch and Swedes. XVIII. Swedish Government

under Printz and his Successors. XIX. Swedish Colony subjected by the

Dutch. XX. Dutch Colonial Government on the Delaware-Possessions

on the East of New Jersey. XXI. Account of the English Settlements

upon the Delaware previous to 1664-under Patent from Lord Baltimore-

under Grant to Sir Edward Ploeyden-by Traders from New Haven.

XXII. Plans of New England Settlers for Conquest of the Dutch Colo-

nies. XXIII. Duke of York's Charter from the Crown and Grant to

Berkeley and Carteret. XXIV. Conquest of New Netherlands, by Co-

lonel Nicholls. XXV. English Government established on the Delaware.

XXVI. Condition of New Netherlands at the time of the Surrender

CHAPTER II.

Comprising Events from the Grant to the Duke of York, to the Division of the

Colony, into East and West Jersey, I. Nature of the Estate acquired by

the Duke of York, by the Grant from Charles I. II. Motives and Nature

of the Grant from the Duke of York, to Berkeley and Carteret. III.

Bounds of the Country ceded. IV. Proceedings of the Proprietaries, to

settle their Province of New Jersey, &c.-their "Concessions." V. Re-

marks on the Constitution. VI. Assumption of Government by Colonel

Nicholls-Indian Grants. VII. Philip Carteret appointed Governor-His

Efforts for Colonization-Advantages enjoyed by the New Colonists._VIII.

Unhappy Effects of the Demand of Proprietary Quit Rents. IX. Recap-

ture of New Netherlands by Holland-and Restoration to the English.

X. Re-grant of the Province to the Duke-Re-grant to Berkeley and Car-

teret. XI. Return of Philip Carteret to the Government-Modification of

the Constitution. XII. Oppressive Conduct of Andross, Governor of New

York. XIII. Division of the Province into East and West Jersey

CHAPTER III.

From the Division of the Province, into East and West Jersey, to the Purchase

of East Jersey, by Quakers. I. Motives of the Quakers for Emigration.

II. Sale of Lord Berkeley, to Byllinge and Fenwicke. III. Assignment

of West Jersey to William Penn, and others in Trust, for the Creditors of

Byllinge. IV. "Concessions," or Constitution of West Jersey. V. Mea-

sures of the Proprietaries to promote Colonization. VI. Commissioners

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appointed to Administer the Government of West Jersey-their Proceed-

ings. VII. Increase of Emigrants-Success of their Efforts. VIII. Death

of Sir George Carteret-Successful Efforts of the Colonists, to procure

Relief from the Jurisdiction of New York. IX. Extraordinary Pretensions

of Byllinge. X. Resisted by the Proprietaries, in General Assembly-

Samuel Jennings elected Governor-Proceeds to England, as Deputy of

the Assembly-The Right of Government, purchased by Doctor Daniel

Coxe, and subsequently transferred to the West Jersey Society. XII.

Meeting of the First Assembly-Proceedings. XIII. Modification of the

Law, relating to Religious Faith. XIV. Death of Carteret-his Disposi

tion of East Jersey. XV. Troubles at the Close of the Administration of

Philip Carteret. XVI. Review of the Policy of the Proprietary Govern-

ments. XVII. Comparison between the Laws of East and West Jersey

CHAPTER IV.

From the Purchase of East Jersey, by the Quakers, to the Surrender of the two

Provinces to the Crown, 1682-1702. I. Purchase of East Jersey by Penn

and his Associates-They admit others, not Quakers, to participate in the

Purchase. II. Robert Barclay appointed Governor for Life-Scotch Emi-

grants-Deputy Governors-Foundation of Amboy-Vain Efforts at Com-

merce. III. Efforts of James II. to destroy Colonial Charter-Defeated

by the Revolution. IV. Andrew Hamilton, Deputy Governor-Death of

Robert Barclay-Interregnum-Andrew Hamilton, Governor-in-Chief-

Superseded by Jeremiah Basse-Reappointed-Discontent of the Colonists.

V. Attempt of New York to tax the Colony. VI. Proposition from the

English Ministers for the Surrender of the Proprietary Governments-

Negotiations relating thereto. VII. Final and Unconditional Surrender-

Lord Cornbury appointed Governor-Outline of the New Government.

VIII. Stationary Condition of New Jersey-Causes thereof. IX. Condi-

tion of the Aborigines-Purchases of their Lands-Traditions of their Ori-

gin-Tribes most noted in New Jersey-Treaty at Crosswicks-at Bur-

lington and Easton-Final Extinction of Indian Title to the Soil of New

Jersey. X. Review of the Title under the Proprietaries of East Jersey.

XI. Review of Title of Proprietaries of West Jersey. XII. Of the Parti-

tion Line between East and West Jersey

CHAPTER V.

Comprising the Administration of Lord Cornbury. I. Arrival of Lord Corn-

bury-Demands a large and permanent Salary-being refused, dissolves

the House. II. A new Assembly chosen-Part of its Members arbitrarily

excluded-Measures of the Governor. III. Third Assembly convened-

Determines to Petition the Queen, and to remonstrate with the Governor

-Public Grievances-Delivery of the Remonstrance, by Samuel Jennings.

IV. Reply of the Governor. V. Dispute on the Treasurer's Accounts.

VI. The Governor refuses the Message of the Assembly, which they enter

upon their Minutes. VII. The West Jersey Proprietors, in England, ad-

dress a Memorial to the Commissioners of Trade and Plantations, against

Cornbury-Address of the Lieutenant-Governor, and Provincial Council,

to the Queen. VIII. The Governor unable to obtain the gratification of

his wishes, by the Assembly, first prorogues, and then dissolves them.

IX. Offensive Conduct of Lord Cornbury, in his Government of New

York-His Character. X. Is reluctantly removed by Queen Anne-Im-

prisoned by his Creditors

CHAPTER VI.

Comprising Events from the Removal of Lord Cornbury to the Close of the

Administration of Governor Hunter, 1709-1719. I. Lord Cornbury suc-

ceeded by Lord Lovelace-His Conciliatory Address to the Assembly. II.

Ready disposition of the House to provide for the Support of Government

-Change in the Constitution of the Assembly-Assembly obtain a Copy

of the Address of the Lieutenant Governor and Council, to the Queen, in

favour of Lord Cornbury-Demand a hearing for their Defence before the

Governor. III. Death of Lord Lovelace and Accession of Lieutenant

Governor Ingoldsby. IV. Promptitude of the Province to aid in reducing

the French Possessions in North America. V. Failure of the Expedition,

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