History of New Jersey United States of America

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NEW JERSEY, one of the Middle States, and one of the original thirteen, is bounded on the N. by New York; E. by New York, (from which it is separated by the Hudson river,) and the Atlantic ocean; S. by Delaware bay; and W. by the Delaware river, which separates it from the States of Delaware and Pennsylvania. It lies between about 38° 58' and 41° 21' N. latitude, and between 74° and 75° 33' W. longitude; being about 168 miles in extreme length from N. to S., and from 37 to 70 miles in breadth, including an area of 8320 square miles, or 5,324,800 acres, of which 1,767,991 only were improved in 1850.

Population: New Jersey was originally settled by Dutch in the N. E., English in the central, and Swedes in the south-western part; but of these the English portion predominated, and gave tone to the rest. At present, with the same predominancy, it partakes of the usual mixed character of the population of the Union. In 1790, it numbered 184,139 inhabitants; 211,949 in 1800; 245,555 in 1810; 277,575 in 1820; 320,823 in 1830; 373,306 in 1840, and 489,555 in 1850; of whom 233,442 were white males; 232,071 white females; 11,800 free colored males; 12,017 free colored females; 103 male, and 122 female slaves. This population was distributed into 89,080 families, occupying 81,064 dwellings. Of the entire population 385,429 were born in the state; 45,012 in other states of the Union: 11,377 in England; 31,092 in Ireland; 2429 in Scotland and Wales; 581 in British America; 10,686 in Germany;. 942 in France; 1257 in other countries, and 528 whose places of birth were unknown. In the twelve months preceding June 1st, 1850, 2392 paupers received aid, of where 576 were foreigners, at an expense of near $40 for each person. There occurred in the same period, 6467 deaths, or about 13 in every 1000 persons. Of 203 deaf and dumb, 11 were colored persons; of 213 blind, 27 were colored; of 386 insane, 11 were colored, and of 426 idiotic, 16 were colored.

Counties: New Jersey is divided into 20 counties, viz. Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Caps May, Cumberland, Essex, [p.784] Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren. Capital, Trenton.

Jersey City had (by a local census) more than 18,000, in 1853; and Hoboken, more than 5000.

Jersey City had (by a local census) more than 18,000, in 1853; and Hoboken, more than 5000.

Cities and Towns: Notwithstanding New Jersey has on her borders, in the neighboring states of New York and Pennsylvania, the two greatest cities in America, she is studded over with populous and thriving towns and villages. The largest of these is Newark, population, in 1850, 38,893; besides which there are Paterson, 11,338; New Brunswick, 10,008; Camden, 9479; Jersey City, 6856 ;1Trenton, 6460, and Burlington, 4,536. The other most important places are Hackensack, Hoboken,2 Morristown, Gloucester, Elizabethtown, Rahway, Princeton Freehold, Mount Holly, Bordentown, and Salem, with populations varying from 2000 to 4000.

Face of the Country: The southern and middle portions of New Jersey are mostly flat and sandy, but in the north it becomes hilly, and even rises into low mountains. Some ridges of the Alleghany range cross from Pennsylvania, in a N. E. direction, into New York, bearing in New Jersey the local names of Schooley's mountain, Trowbridge, Ramapo, and Second mountains. The Blue mountains cross the extreme N. W. portion of the state. Below Raritan bay is a group of hills of from 300 to 400 feet high, called Nevisink hills, washed by an inlet from Raritan bay, commanding a wide sweep of ocean, and furnishing a beacon to mariners, to whom they are generally the first and last seen of the shore of New Jersey, on their voyages in and out of the port of New York A range of trap rock, varying from 200 to 500 feet high, and known as the Palisades, coast the Hudson for 20 miles on the N. E. of the state. The shores of the Atlantic S. of Sandy Hook are lined with a series of inlets and islands, which are constantly changing. The country for some distance back of these is generally marshy or sandy.

Geology: We abstract from Goodrich's Geography a portion of the following brief sketch of the geology of New Jersey:--The central and southern portions of the state are composed of the new secondary or cretaceous group, covered with sand and gravel, and containing valuable beds of green sand or marl, so important to the agriculture of this state, and which has worked such wonders in the improvement of the soil in latter years, and so enhanced the value of the land. In the central and western parts especially, the marl is abundant, and lies near the surface. In the secondary region are found occasional tertiary beds, composed of clays containing fossil shells. In one of these tertiary beds, near Long Branch, was found a nearly perfect skeleton of the mastodon. About the great bend in the Delaware, near Bordentown, commences a hilly and broken region, the prevailing rock of which is the red sandstone, containing shales, sandstones, and conglomerates in alternation, and covered by a calcareous conglomerate which forms a good building material, similar to the Potomac breccia. The palisade range is composed of gneiss, traversed by dikes of greenstone, while the valleys of West Jersey consist of alternating strata of slate, argillaceous sandstones, and limestone. The Blue mountains are composed of red and gray sandstones, and the valleys west of them of fossiliferous limestones and calcareous sandstones.

Minerals: The mineral resources of this state consist in the extensive beds of marl referred to above, in valuable iron deposites, (bog in the S., and hematite and magnetic in the N.,)zinc and copper in the same region, besides a red sandstone, (much exported for building,) marble, limestone, slate, a very fine sand, (exported for making glass,) found in the S. W., near Maurice river, extensive beds of peat, copperas, and alum earth. The zinc mines of Sussex county are among the richest in the United States, and are now extensively worked: 950 tons were mined in the 6 months preceding June, 1853, and 4000 were expected to be taken out by the close of the year.

Rivers, Bays, Islands, &c: Washed by the Delaware river and bay on the W. and S., and by the Hudson river and the Atlantic ocean on the E., New Jersey forms a sort of peninsula, so to speak. Were it not that its trade is monopolized by New York and Philadelphia, New Jersey has great advantages in position for a commercial state. The Delaware is navigable 120 miles from the sea for ocean craft of the smaller kind, and for ships for 96 miles; while on the Atlantic side, for more than half its extent, there are numerous inlets and lagoons admitting smaller vessels; and on the N. E., Raritan and Newark bays, and Hudson river, accessible to vessels of heavy tonnage; so that there is nothing but the circumstance mentioned above to prevent New Jersey becoming a great entrepot of foreign and coasting trade. Besides the rivers mentioned as laving the shores of the state, are a number of smaller streams traversing the interior; the most important of which are the Passaic and Hackensack, emptying into Newark bay, in the N. E.; Raritan river, draining the northern and central portions, and pouring its waters into the bay of the same name; Maurice river, in the S. W., discharging itself into the Delaware bay, and Great Egg Harbor river, emptying directly into the Atlantic ocean. These are severally navigable for coasters, in the order named, 10, 15, 17, and the last two 20 miles each. Raritan bay and Arthurkill sound cut off Staten Island from New Jersey. This island, politically, belongs to [p.785] New York, but by position, to New Jersey. There are a number of low sandy islands along the Atlantic, cut off from the mainland by lagoons. These are generally unfertile and of little value.

Objects of Interest to Tourists: The Atlantic shores of New Jersey are renowned for their sea-bathing resorts. The most important of these is Cape May, at its southern extremity, which is probably more frequented than any bathing place in America. Its beach slopes gradually, and being covered with a fine, hard, white sand, forms a delightful promenade and drive when the tide is out. Here are about ten or twelve hotels, capable of receiving from 200 to 2000 guests; besides smaller hotels and boarding houses without number. Long Branch, a few miles below Sandy Hook, ranks next in the number of its visitors; but Deal, Squam Beach, and Tuckerton are also much frequented. A railroad is now in course of construction to Abescom, Beach, 40 miles N. E. of Cape May, which will probably become a great bathing resort. Schooley's Mountain, in Morris county, 1100 feet high, with a mineral spring on its summit, and commanding some very fine prospects, has long been much visited in the summer season. Brown's Mills, 20 miles E. of Burlington, situated among the pines, is considered particularly beneficial to consumptive patients. Among its natural objects, the Passaic falls, in the river of the same name, deserves particular mention. They are situated near the village of Paterson, which owes its importance as a manufacturing town entirely to these falls, which are 70 feet in perpendicular height, and form (when the river is full) an imposing scene. in the ordinary season of visiting, the water does not run over the falls to any great extent, being drained off by the mills. It has, however, at all times, a wild and romantic aspect. New Jersey shares with Pennsylvania another still more interesting object, in the passage of the Delaware through the Blue mountains--generally called the Delaware Water Gap: See PENNSYLVANIA. In Warren county, 15 miles N. from Belvidere, there is a small mountain lake, perhaps 2 miles in circumference, at an elevation, it is said, of near 1400 feet above the level of the Delaware river. It is known to be very deep, and abounds with sunfish, perch, and other fish. The lake seems to lie almost on the summit of the mountain, and from its immediate vicinity is obtained a magnificent view of the river below, and of the surrounding country for a distance of many miles. The Neversink, or Nevesink hills, already noticed, near Sandy Hook, command extensive views both seaward and landward, and are crowned with a light-house. Weehawken Heights, near Hoboken, (the commencement of the celebrated Palisadoes,) are the termination of such a promenade as is seldom offered in the vicinity of any great capital. They command a near view of New York city and Harlem, and a more remote one of Staten Island and the Narrows, through which may be caught a faint glimpse of the ocean.

Climate: The severity of the climate is somewhat mitigated in the southern portion by its proximity to the sea; while in the N. it partakes of the characteristics of the S. of New York and the N. of Pennsylvania. According to meteorological tables kept at Lambertville, by L. H. Parsons, in the year ending June 30, 1852, the mean height of the mercury at 2 P. M. for July, was 82°.43; August, 78°.40; September, 75°.11; October, 64°.83; November, 46°.15; December, 33°.29; January, 30°.74; February, 34°.23; March, 44°.88; April, 51°.76; May, 72°.04; and June, 79°.97. Average for the year, 57°.82; maximum, (June 16,) 97°; minimum, 16 1/2° below zero, (December 27.) There were 37 clear days; cloudy, 40; and rain or snow on 114 days. Water fell 36.179 inches. The peach blossomed on the 6th of May; apple on the 9th, and cherry on the 6th. The present year, (1853,) between New York and Philadelphia, the peach was in bloom by the middle of April.

Soil and Productions: The soil of New Jersey in the central and southern portions has much of it been underrated: though naturally light and sandy, and in many places poor, it is very easily improved, easily worked, and by the aid of the marl which it embowels in large quantities, may be made to produce good crops of wheat, Indian corn, and potatoes. Where the white sand prevails, as it does in some parts of the center and S., and near the sea-coast, the soil is worth but little. The shore on Long Branch and Deal beaches is said to be the only fertile territory immediately on the coast from Maine to Georgia. The northern portion is well adapted to both tillage and pasturage, and is of moderate fertility. Some of the productions of this state are of particular importance to the great cities of her borders, as they furnish them with the greater part of their musk and water melons, and a great quantity if sweet potatoes and market vegetables. The staple productions are wheat, rye, Indian corn, oats, Irish potatoes, and butter, besides large quantities of sweet potatoes, peas, beans, wool, buckwheat, orchard and market products, cheese, butter. hay, beeswax, honey, grass-seeds, and flax; and some tobacco, barley, wine, hops, silk, and maple sugar. In 1850 there were in New Jersey 23,905 farms, occupying 1,767,991 acres of improved land, (about 75 acres each farm,) and producing 1,601,190 bushels of wheat; 1,255,578 of rye; 8,759704 of Indian corn; 3,378063 of oats; 14,174 of peas and beans; 3,204,236 of Irish potatoes; 508,0158 of sweet potatoes; 878,934 of buckwheat; 91,331 of grass-seeds; 375,396 pounds of wool; 9,487,210 of butter; 365,756 of cheese; 182,965 of flax; 156,694 of beeswax and honey; 435,950 tons of hay; value of live stock, $10,679,291; orchard products, $607,268; market products, $475,242, (the last two the largest relatively in the Union;) slaughtered animals, $2,638,552.

Forest Trees: There are extensive forests of pine in the southern and central parts of the state, much of which is converted into charcoal, and sold in the Philadelphia market. In the S. are some valuable cedar swamps. The other forest trees are those peculiar to the latitude, as various species of oak, hickory, sycamore, sassafras, dogwood, &c. New Jersey has long been celebrated for its peach, and the vicinity of Newark and Elizabethtown for its apple orchards. Plums, apricots, cherries, &c. are the other fruits.

Manufactures: New Jersey is extensively engaged in manufactures, for which it enjoys great facilities in its abundance of waterpower and fuel, and in its nearness to great markets. In 1850 there were in the state 4374 manufacturing establishments, each producing $500 and upwards annually; of these, 21 were cotton factories, employing $1,483,500 Capital, 616 male and 1096 female hands, consuming raw material worth $666,645, and producing 8,122,580 yards of stuffs, and 2,000,000 pounds of yarn, valued at $1,109,524; 41 woollen factories, employing $494,274 capital, 411 male and 487 female hands, consuming raw material worth $548,637, and producing 771,100 yards of stuffs, and 350,000 pounds of yarn, valued at $1,164,446; 108 furnaces, forges, &c., employing $2,577,093, and 1996 male hands, consuming raw material worth $954,705, and producing 42,452 tons of castings, wrought iron, &c., valued at $1,876,247; 133 tanneries, employing $572,857 capital, consuming raw material worth $423,537, and producing leather valued at $724,466; and $409,655 invested in the manufacture of malt and spirituous liquors, consuming 103,700 bushels of barley; 254,000 of Indian corn; 58,400 of rye; 409,700 of apples, and 42 tons of hops, producing 34,750 barrels of ale, &c., and 1,250,530 gallons of whiskey and wine Homemade manufactures were produced, valued at $112,781.

Internal Improvements: Lying in the direct line of communication between the two greatest cities of America, as well as in the regular route of travel between the North and South, New Jersey was among the first of the states to be traversed by a railway. Three lines of railroad cross the entire state; one of which unites Jersey City, (a suburb of New York,) through Treaton, with Philadelphia; a second, Elizabethtown with Easton; and a third, South Amboy with Camden, opposite Philadelphia. Another from Jersey City also intersects the New York and Erie railroad, just beyond the N. boundary of the state; and yet another diverges from the same place to Dover in Morris county. Railroads have been projected connecting Absecom Beach and Cape May with Philadelphia, the former of which is already (September, 1853, ) completed to Haddonfield; another, connecting Trenton with Belvidere, is in course of construction There are some short side-roads branching from the main lines to different villages. In January, 1853, there were in New Jersey 348 miles of railroad completed, and 89 in course of construction. This state is also traversed by important canals, one of which, connecting New Brunswick with Bordentown, opens an internal navigation between New York and Philadelphia, and is the track of an immense transit trade between the two great cities and other towns further east and south. Easton and Newark are also united by a canal which is the channel of a great coal trade. These two give to New Jersey 145 miles of canal: See Table of Railroads and Canals, APPENDIX.

Commerce: The direct trade of New Jersey, though surrounded by navigable waters on all sides but one, is very small, being almost wholly carried on through the ports of New York and Philadelphia, though this state has several ports of entry. Her internal and transit trade, however, is very great, being, as before remarked, the highway between the two greatest cities in the Union. A large amount of coal, too, crosses the state from the mines of Pennsylvania to the city of New York and other places. The Britishline of steamers has its entrepot at Jersey City, in this state. The tonnage of New Jersey in 1852 was 95,716 85/95, and the number of vessels built, 38, with an aggregate tonnage of 3953 7/95. Value of imports, $2491; exports, $1439; tonnage entered, 2304; and cleared, 1393.

Education: There were in New Jersey in 1851, between the ages of 5 and 16, 145,629 children, of whom only 88,810 attended the schools. In the same year the school fund amounted to $385,153, and $40,000 were appropriated by the legislature to school purposes, and $119,869 expended. New Jersey College, at Princeton, is one of the oldest colleges, and one of the best in reputation in the United States, having furnished some of the leading men in the nation. There are 3 colleges in the state, with an aggregate of 434 students, and 28,700 volumes in their libraries: See Table of Colleges, APPENDIX.

Religious Denominations: Of 807 churches in New Jersey in 1850, the different sects of Baptists owned 107; the Dutch Reformed, 66; the Episcopalians, 51; the Friends, 52; the Methodists, 312; the Presbyterians, 146, and the Roman Catholics, 21. The remaining churches belonged to the Africans, the Bethel Church, the Christians, the Congregationalists, the Free Church, the Independents, Lutherans, Mormons, the Second Advent Church, [p.787] the Tunkers, the Union Church, the Unitarians, and Universalists--giving one church to every 606 persons. Value of church property, $3,540,436: See Table of Religions, APPENDIX.

Public Institutions: New Jersey has a fine state prison near Trenton, conducted on the solitary system, in which there were in December, 1850, 332 prisoners, of whom 58 were colored, and 54 foreigners. The prison yielded this year a revenue of nearly $7000 to the state. A house of refuge was commenced at Kingston, in Middlesex county, but after an expenditure of $20,831, the work was discontinued. The noblest institution in New Jersey is her insane asylum, which was opened in May, 1848, and is under excellent management. January, 1861, there were 126 patients in this institution, but during the year there had been under treatment 264 persons, of whom 73 were paupers, 113 indigent, and 78 private patients: 37 were dismissed cured and 8 died. For the year above named, there was an excess of expenditures over receipts of more than $5000, provided for by legislative appropriation.

Government, Finances, Banks, &c: The governor of New Jersey is elected for three years, by popular vote, and receives $1800 salary and fees. The senate is composed of 1 member from each county, elected for three years, and the house of representatives of 60 members, one from each district, elected annually. The judiciary consists--1. Of a court of errors and appeals, composed of a chancellor, the judges of the supreme court, and six other judges appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, for 6 years, one judge retiring each year. The pardoning power lies in this court in conjunction with the governor. 2. The court of chancery and prerogative court, the chancellor or judge of which is appointed by the governor for seven years; and, 3. Of the supreme court, composed of one chief and four associate justices, who are nominated by the governor, and appointed by him, with the advice and consent of the senate. 4. Of circuit courts and courts of oyer and terminer, held by the justices of the supreme court in each county three times a year. 5. Of courts of common pleas, composed of 5 judges appointed by the legislature, one each year, who receive fees, but no salaries. The other judges receive from $1400 to $1800 per annum. Any white male citizen, 21 years of age, who has resided in the state one year, and in the county five months next preceding an election, is entitled to vote.

The assessed value of property in New Jersey in 1850, was $190,000,000, (the personal estate estimated.) The public debt in 1852, was only $76,346; school fund, $373,983; productive property, $279,540; unproductive property, $764,670; and annual ordinary expenses, exclusive of debt and schools, $90,000. On the 1st of June, 1853, New Jersey had 24 incorporated banks, with an aggregate capital of $3,917,410, a circulation of $3,126,607, and $629,202.62 in coin.

History: Settlements were made in New Jersey, soon after their arrival in New York, by the Dutch, at Bergen, between the years 1614 and 1624. A Swedish colony was founded in the S. W. in 1627, near the shores of the Delaware river, In 1664 this state fell with New York into the hands of the Duke of York, who assigned it to Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret. In compliment to the latter, who was an inhabitant of the Isle of Jersey, in the English channel, it received its name. Penn and Carteret divided the state into East and West Jersey, (more properly, North and South,) in 1676, Penn taking West, and Carteret East Jersey. The latter sold his share to twelve Friends in 1683. The first general assembly was held in New Jersey in 1681; East and West Jersey were United eleven years after, and formed part of New York till 1702, when they were restored to the crown. This colony escaped the bloody inroads of the savages, which so afflicted most of the older settlements. It was, however, the scene of several engagements in the Revolution, the most important of which were the capture of 900 Hessians by Washington, at Trenton, December 26th, 1776; ,the Battle of Princeton, a few days after; and the Battle of Monmouth, in June, 1778, all of which resulted favorably to the American cause, and in all of which Washington was present. The American army wintered at Morristown in 1776-77.

Biographies:

Mahlon Dickerson, governor of New Jersey, was born in Hanover, N.J., April 17, 1770; son of Jonathan Dickerson and a descendant of Philemon Dickerson, immigrant, who settled in Salem, Mass., before 1672, and subsequently removed to Southold, Long Island, N.Y. He was graduated at the College of New Jersey in 1789 and was admitted to the bar as an attorney in 1793. In 1794 he was a volunteer soldier in suppressing the whiskey insurrection. He settled in Philadelphia, Pa., where he continued the study of law and was admitted to the bar in 1797. He held several municipal offices in Philadelphia, and in 1802 was appointed commissioner of bankruptcy. He was made adjutant-general of the state in 1805, resigning three years later to become recorder of the city of Philadelphia. In 1810, on the death of his father, he removed to Morris county, N.J., and was a representative in the state legislature, 1812-13; a justice of the supreme court, 1813-14, and governor of New Jersey, 1815-17. In 1816 he was elected U.S. senator from New Jersey and served by re-election till Jan. 29, 1829, when he resigned his seat and was elected to the seat made vacant by the death of Senator Bateman, completing Bateman's term, March 3, 1833. He was chairman of the committee on manufactures. In May, 1834, he declined the mission to Russia and in June was appointed secretary of the navy in President Jackson's cabinet. He held that portfolio by re-appointment of President Van Buren until June 30, 1838, when he resigned and was succeeded by James K. Paulding, naval agent at New York city, 1826-38. He was subsequently U.S. district judge of New Jersey. He was actively engaged as a miner and manufacturer of iron in Morris county and was president of the American institute, 1846-48. He contributed to the Aurora, edited by William Duane, and is the author of Speeches in Congress, 1826-1846. He died in Suckasunny, Morris county, N.J., Oct. 5, 1853.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Philemon Dickerson, governor of New Jersey, was born in Morris county, N.J., in 1788; son of Jonathan Dickerson, and a direct descendant of Philemon Dickerson, who immigrated to Salem, Mass., and removed to Southold, Long Island, N.Y., in 1672. His brother, Mahlon Dickerson, was secretary of the navy, governor of New Jersey and U.S. senator. He studied law, was made an attorney in 1813, a counsellor in 1817, and a sergeant-at-law in 1824, and practised in Paterson, N.J. He represented his town in the New Jersey assembly in 1833, and his district in the 23d and 24th congresses, 1833-36, resigning in 1836 on being elected governor of New Jersey. He was a representative in the 26th congress, 1839-4l, but his election was contested by John B. Aycrigg, and he did not secure his seat until March 10, 1840, his term expiring, March 3, 1841. He was appointed judge of the U.S. district court in New Jersey by President Van Buren. He died in Paterson, N.J., Dec. 10, 1862.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

George Franklin Fort, governor of New Jersey, was born in Pemberton, N.J., in May, 1809. He was graduated M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1830, and practised medicine in New Jersey. He was a member of the New Jersey assembly from Monmouth county; a member of the state constitutional convention of 1844, and later a state senator. He was governor of New Jersey, 1851-54, and was subsequently appointed judge of the court of errors and appeals, and a member of the prison reform committee. He received the degree of A.M. from the College of New Jersey in 1847. He published: Early History and Antiquities of Freemasonry (1875). He died in New Egypt, N.J., April 22, 1872.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

John Hamilton, governor of New Jersey, was born probably in East Jersey about 1692; son of Andrew Hamilton, governor of East and West Jersey, 1692-97, and again. 1699-1701, and deputy-governor of Pennsylvania, 1701-03, who is credited with the first organization of a postal service and received a patent from the crown for its establishment in 1694. John was a member of the council of Governor Hunter in 1713 and retained his seat under Governors Barnet, Montgomerie and Crosby, and on the death of Governor Crosby, March 31, 1736. Hamilton became acting governor and served till the appointment of Lewis Morris in 1738. After the death of Governor Morris in 1746 Hamilton was again acting governor up to the date of his death, which occurred in Perth Amboy, N.J., June 17, 1747.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

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