The original provinces of West and East Jersey are shown in yellow and green respectively. The Keith Line is shown in red, and the Coxe–Barclay Line is shown in orange.
The Delaware Valley had been inhabited by the Lenape (or Delaware) Indians prior to European exploration and settlement starting around 1609, undertaken by the Dutch, Swedish and English. The Dutch West India Company had established one or two Delaware River settlements, but by the late 1620s, it had moved most of its inhabitants to the island of Manhattan. This became the center of New Netherland.[1] West Jersey and East Jersey were two sections of New Jersey.
The development of the colony of New Sweden in the lower Delaware Valley began in 1638. Most of the Swedish population was on the west side of the Delaware. After the English re-established New Netherland's Fort Nassau to challenge the Swedes, the latter constructed Fort Nya Elfsborg in present-day Salem County. Fort Nya Elfsborg was located between present day Salem and Alloway Creek. The New Sweden colony established two primary settlements in New Jersey: Sveaborg, now Swedesboro, and Nya Stockholm, now Bridgeport. Trinity Church, located in Swedesboro, was the site of the Church of Sweden for the area.[2][3]
The Dutch defeated New Sweden in 1655. Settlement of the West Jersey area by Europeans was thin until the English conquest in 1664. Beginning in the late 1670s, Quakers settled in great numbers in this area, first in present-day Salem County and then in Burlington. The latter became the capital of West Jersey.[4]
Before 1674, land surveyors for New Jersey considered it as a hundred and partitioned it into tenths. West Jersey comprised five of the tenths. But demarcation of the boundaries awaited settlement, the quit-rents the settlers would pay, and the land surveying which the money would purchase. Thus it took years and multiple surveys to settle boundary disputes. Burlington County was formed on May 17, 1694 by combining the first and second tenths.[5] At least three surveys were conducted of West Jersey. Richard Tindall was surveyor-general of Fenwick's Colony, the fifth tenth.
Quintipartite Deed Line (between George Carteret on the East, and William Penn, Gawen Lawrie, Nicholas Lucas, and Edward Byllynge on the West, except for 10% to John Fenwick)
On the north from a point 41° 40' latitude on the Delaware River extending southward on a straight and direct line to the east side of Little Egg-Harbor.
1687
William Emley / John Reid Adjustment (commissioners from West and East Jersey respectively)
Adjusted description on the Delaware fifty minutes more westerly due to magnetic compass variation
1687
Keith Line aka Province Line (Surveyed north only to the south branch of the Raritan River)
Extended the Keith Line from the Raritan River along specific properties that defined the eastern boundaries of present- day Morris and Sussex Counties and the northern border of Somerset County
1696
Thornton Line Survey
Attempted to correct errors from previous surveys
1702
East and West Jersey United
Violence became so obsessive, that East and West proprietors gave up their individual governing rights to Queen Anne
1743
Lawrence Line Survey (Land ownership disputes continued. West Jersey proprietors attempted to fund survey but failed. East Jersey Proprietors then hired John Lawrence)
Adopted by NJ supreme court in 1855 as the final arbiter of all land disputes. Today defines boundary for Walpack, Sandyston, Stillwater, Hampton, and Green Townships
^British Colony (Burlington County Historical Society. Burlington City, NJ ) [1]
^ abSnyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 93. Accessed September 30, 2013.
Further readingedit
Weslager, C. A. Dutch Explorers, Traders, and Settlers in the Delaware Valley, 1609–1644. (Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Press, 1961).
Johnson, AmandusThe Swedish Settlements on the Delaware Volume I: Their History and Relation to the Indians, Dutch and English, 1638–1664 (Philadelphia: Swedish Colonial Society. 1911)
west, jersey, east, jersey, were, distinct, parts, province, jersey, political, division, existed, years, between, 1674, 1702, determination, exact, location, border, between, east, jersey, often, matter, dispute, province, 1674, 1702the, original, provinces, . West Jersey and East Jersey were two distinct parts of the Province of New Jersey The political division existed for 28 years between 1674 and 1702 Determination of an exact location for a border between West Jersey and East Jersey was often a matter of dispute Province of West Jersey1674 1702The original provinces of West and East Jersey are shown in yellow and green respectively The Keith Line is shown in red and the Coxe Barclay Line is shown in orange StatusColony of EnglandCapitalBurlingtonCommon languagesEnglishGovernmentProprietary colonyLords Proprietor 1674Edward ByllyngeJohn FenwickGovernor 1680 1687Edward Byllynge first 1699 1702Andrew Hamilton last History Established1674 Disestablished1702CurrencyPound sterlingPreceded by Succeeded byProvince of New Jersey Province of New JerseyDominion of New EnglandToday part ofUnited States New Jersey1698 map showing West Jersey and Pennsylvania Contents 1 Background 2 Constitution 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksBackground editThe Delaware Valley had been inhabited by the Lenape or Delaware Indians prior to European exploration and settlement starting around 1609 undertaken by the Dutch Swedish and English The Dutch West India Company had established one or two Delaware River settlements but by the late 1620s it had moved most of its inhabitants to the island of Manhattan This became the center of New Netherland 1 West Jersey and East Jersey were two sections of New Jersey The development of the colony of New Sweden in the lower Delaware Valley began in 1638 Most of the Swedish population was on the west side of the Delaware After the English re established New Netherland s Fort Nassau to challenge the Swedes the latter constructed Fort Nya Elfsborg in present day Salem County Fort Nya Elfsborg was located between present day Salem and Alloway Creek The New Sweden colony established two primary settlements in New Jersey Sveaborg now Swedesboro and Nya Stockholm now Bridgeport Trinity Church located in Swedesboro was the site of the Church of Sweden for the area 2 3 The Dutch defeated New Sweden in 1655 Settlement of the West Jersey area by Europeans was thin until the English conquest in 1664 Beginning in the late 1670s Quakers settled in great numbers in this area first in present day Salem County and then in Burlington The latter became the capital of West Jersey 4 Before 1674 land surveyors for New Jersey considered it as a hundred and partitioned it into tenths West Jersey comprised five of the tenths But demarcation of the boundaries awaited settlement the quit rents the settlers would pay and the land surveying which the money would purchase Thus it took years and multiple surveys to settle boundary disputes Burlington County was formed on May 17 1694 by combining the first and second tenths 5 At least three surveys were conducted of West Jersey Richard Tindall was surveyor general of Fenwick s Colony the fifth tenth Summary of Boundary Lines 5 Date Boundary Name Description1674 Original Duke of York Line did not recognize John Fenwick s holdings Barnegat Bay to Rancocas Creek on the Delaware River just north of present day Philadelphia 1676 Quintipartite Deed Line between George Carteret on the East and William Penn Gawen Lawrie Nicholas Lucas and Edward Byllynge on the West except for 10 to John Fenwick On the north from a point 41 40 latitude on the Delaware River extending southward on a straight and direct line to the east side of Little Egg Harbor 1687 William Emley John Reid Adjustment commissioners from West and East Jersey respectively Adjusted description on the Delaware fifty minutes more westerly due to magnetic compass variation1687 Keith Line aka Province Line Surveyed north only to the south branch of the Raritan River Stopped by Governor Daniel Coxe of West Jersey and Governor Robert Barclay of East Jersey1688 Coxe Barclay Line Survey Extended the Keith Line from the Raritan River along specific properties that defined the eastern boundaries of present day Morris and Sussex Counties and the northern border of Somerset County1696 Thornton Line Survey Attempted to correct errors from previous surveys1702 East and West Jersey United Violence became so obsessive that East and West proprietors gave up their individual governing rights to Queen Anne1743 Lawrence Line Survey Land ownership disputes continued West Jersey proprietors attempted to fund survey but failed East Jersey Proprietors then hired John Lawrence Adopted by NJ supreme court in 1855 as the final arbiter of all land disputes Today defines boundary for Walpack Sandyston Stillwater Hampton and Green TownshipsConstitution editSee History of the New Jersey State Constitution West Jersey ConstitutionSee also editColonial history of New Jersey Concession and Agreement Lords Proprietor 1665 1703 List of colonial governors of New Jersey Governors under the Proprietors 1665 1674 Newton Colony Province of New York Dominion of New England West Jersey and Seashore RailroadReferences edit The Delaware Indians A History by Weslager C A New Brunswick NJ Rutgers University Press 1972 The Swedes and Finns in New Jersey Federal Writers Project of WPA Bayonne New Jersey Jersey Printing Company Inc 1938 A Brief History Of The Early Swedes in New Jersey Gloucester County NJ History and Genealogy http www nj searchroots com Gloucesterco swedesboro htm British Colony Burlington County Historical Society Burlington City NJ 1 a b Snyder John P The Story of New Jersey s Civil Boundaries 1606 1968 Bureau of Geology and Topography Trenton New Jersey 1969 p 93 Accessed September 30 2013 Further reading editWeslager C A Dutch Explorers Traders and Settlers in the Delaware Valley 1609 1644 Philadelphia University of Pennsylvania Press 1961 Johnson Amandus The Swedish Settlements on the Delaware Volume I Their History and Relation to the Indians Dutch and English 1638 1664 Philadelphia Swedish Colonial Society 1911 External links editWest Jersey History Project Quaker West New Jersey Democracy in 1677 1677 Charter Archived 2013 05 07 at the Wayback Machine 1681 Regulations Where was the West Jersey East Jersey line Colonial Charters Grants and Related Documents at New Jersey 40 09 58 N 74 14 02 W 40 166 N 74 234 W 40 166 74 234 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title West Jersey amp oldid 1157115662, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
