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From Historic Roadsides of New Jersey by The Society of Colonial Wars in the State of New Jersey, 1928
Edited by GET NJ, COPYRIGHT 2002
By an Act of March, 1682, the Province of East Jersey
was divided into the four Counties of Bergen, Essex, Middle,
sex and Monmouth. Middlesex County then comprised much
more territory than now, as part was set off to Somerset
County in 1688, 1850, and 1858; part was set off to form Mercer County in 1838, part added to Monmouth County in 1844
and part to Union County in 1858. As at present constituted,
it is bounded on the north by Union County; on the east by
Staten Island Sound and Raritan Bay; on the southeast by
Monmouth County; on the southwest by Mercer County and
on the west by Somerset County.
Perth Amboy was, during Colonial days the site of barracks built in 1758 and 1759, occupied by troops returning
from the siege of Havana. The place is industrial and large
terra cotta works are located here.
Principal points of interest:
Points of interest:
The General Assembly of the Province met in Woodbridge October 5, 1676, lasting four days, when it was decided
that the Governor's salary should be paid in "peas, wheat or
tobacco." Among the laws passed was one providing that
"rowdies be put in the stocks for two hours for swearing,
quarrelling, drinking liquor or singing vain songs or tunes on
the Sabbath."
The Township Court established in 1669, was held in a
building on the site where Mrs. F. G. Tisdall's residence now
stands on Rahway Avenue.
In 1680, Rev. John Allen of England, was selected as
pastor of the Town Church, built in 1675 on the "Kirk Green"
near the spot now occupied by the Presbyterian Church.
The Presbyterian Church dates back to year 1669. The
Presbyterian Burial Ground has burials prior to 1700. Here
may be found the graves of Captain Daniel Britton, who died
in 1733, General Nathaniel Herd, Captain Nathaniel Fitz
Randolph, Captain David Edgar, Lieutenant James Paten,
Colonel Samuel Crow, Colonel Benjamin Brown, General
Clarkson Edgar, and a host of others.
Trinity Episcopal Church founded in 1711, was chartered
by George III, December 6, 1769. The Episcopal Burying
Ground dates from 1714.
The Quaker Burial Ground (now the Methodist Burial
Ground) dates from 1707.
In 1751, James Parker, an apprentice of William Bradford, printer in New York, established a printing press. In
1761, Parker printed on his Woodbridge press the second
volume of Nevill's Laws of New Jersey.
General Washington visited Woodbridge April 22, 1789,
and stopped at the Cross and Key Tavern while on his way
to New York to be inaugurated President.
Woodbridge was the scene of much fighting by the
British, Tories, and Continentals during the Revolution.
Sewaren, now part of Woodbridge, has Governor Carteret's quarters to which the soldiers would come from Totenville to confer with the Governor.
CRANBURY. Settled about 1697 by Joseph Prickett. One
of the oldest places in the State. In its vicinity David Brainerd,
missionary to the Indians, labored.
Points of interest:
PERTH AMBOY
(or "Perth Town.") On the Raritan Bay
at the junction of Raritan River and Sound. Was named in
honor of the Earl of Perth, who was one of the Associators.
It was located at Ambo Point and the name Perth Amboy is
a combination of Perth and Ambo. The town site is supposed
to have been selected by Governor Carteret and the first charter
was granted August 1718 during the administration of Governor Robert Hunter. Early Provincial Governors resided here --
Governor Lawrie, Andrew Hamilton, Lord Neill Campbell,
Robert Hunter, Jonathan Belcher, Francis Bernard, Thomas
Boone, Josiah Hardy, and William Franklin.
and Residence of William Franklin, Last Royal Governor (Now Westminster Hotel)
NEW BRUNSWICK
(or Prigmore's Swamp) On west bank
of Raritan River, twenty-six miles northeast of Trenton. Settled by John Inian and Cornelius Longfield 1681, originally
named Inian's Ferry. Named New Brunswick in honor of
British Royal house. Royal charter granted in 1730. First
inhabitants were from Long Island, many of them Dutch.
Rutgers College was the eighth college founded in American Colonies. Charter granted in 1766 by William Franklin,
Governor. Formerly called Queen's College. Charter revised
in 1770. In 1825 name was changed to Rutgers in honor of
Henry Rutgers, a Colonel in the Continental Army.
WOODBRIDGE
Woodbridge Township named in honor of
the Rev. John Woodbridge, who, with a number of associates
and their families, came from Newbury, Massachusetts, in
1665, and settled in Woodbridge, at the solicitation of Captain
Philip Carteret, Governor of the Province of New Jersey.
Chartered June 1, 1669.
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