dence), thence south by west two miles, and east two miles to Millstone
River, containing three thousand acres, exclusive of two hundred and
fifty acres of meadow, had been previously deeded to Capt. Anthony
Brockholls, William Pinhorn, John Robinson, Mathew Nichols, and
Samuel Edsall. The land was sold to John Royce & Co., of New York,
in 1685, and was to bo known in future as Roycefield. The bounds as
given in the deed of transfer were 'beginning at a place called Hunter's
Wigwam, on Millstone River, thence north by east and northeast to the
Raritan River, opposite the west end of a small island formerly belonging
to Robert Vauquellen, and thence down the Raritan three and a half
miles and up the Millstone to the place of beginning. Farther up the
Millstone were twelve plats of twelve thousand acres owned by Polhemus
Cortleyou. Lott and others located in 1701. John Harrison and Wil-
liam, his father, owned land at Rocky Hill."

Upon the tract first mentioned as having been pur-
chased from the Indians (May 4, 1681), two of the
purchasers — Thomas Codrington and John Royce —
became settlers :

" Codrington settled on the west side of the plot, of which he was part
owner, on the banks of Middle Brook, and became a man of extensive
influence in the county. His name is still borne by some of the inhab-
itants of Somerset. The location of his habitation, called Itacawacahamv,
may be indicated by saying it was recently owned by Dr. Samuel Swan ;
it passed, soon after the Revolution, into the hands of John Campbell,
nephew of Lord Neill Campbell, at one time Deputy or Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor of East Jersey, and subsequently into others, and finally into pos-
session of its present owners. It is one of tho first three homesteads
formed in the county. Royce lived first at Piscataway, and then in what
has since been known as Roycefield, near the late residence of John J.
Staats. He was a merchant in New York, but came to Somerset County
probably soou after the date of this Indian purchase. He owned, or
claimed to own, a tract ot twenty thousand acres on tho south side of
the Raritan, about which some dispute existed. Andrew Hamilton, the
Governor, writes of him in 1700 that 'he had an old patent which con-
tains 20,000 acres, but because the stations were uncertain and tho
boundaries would not meet he addressed the proprietors at home for a
new patent, which he had, and obtained about six thousand acres, for
which he was to pay five pounds a year for the whole, instead of one-
half per acre, and the proprietors, forgetting to make him surrender his
old patent, he now claims twenty thousand by it, and so takes away upon
Millstone River from Mr. Hart, and on the Raritan from Mr. Plumstead
and Mr. Barker, considerable tracts of land ; so that he uses both patents,
—the old one if he can, and the new one if the old fail him; it was a
great oversight. He is the very leader of tho troublesome sort of tho
people, and it is he that infuses the motive in them of holding to their
Indian titles.' This is not favorable altogether to Mr. Royce. He, how-
over, managed to maintain his position and influence, and was chosen
tho same year one of the representatives of New Jersey in tho colonial
Legislature.'*

Of the persons named as purchasers of the second
Indian tract before mentioned, it is not known that
any became settlers upon it, though two of them,
James Graham and Samuel Winder, came to live in
the province. Other settlers, however, were very
soon attracted to the rich lands embraced in the pur-
chase :



LAND PURCHASES AND SETTLEMENTS.



561



"Tho earliest permanent settlements along this part of the Raritan
were formed on It. According to tho declaration of John Worth, of
BUzabetbtoWD, Codrington, Boyce, White, Peter Van Nest, Jerome Van
Host, the Tnntsons, and Graham came and located bora rixtjr yean pre-
riotu to 1711, or In 1681, the rery year Huh land waa bought Tho resi
donees of Roy co and Codrington hare already been designated. Tho
Van Neat bouse woe, it bj said, on the vory snot now occupied by D. Fre-
Hnghnysen's residence, and tho Tuulsoiw located whore John C. Garret-
son now resides. But the residence of Graham baa not been ascertained.
He woe a prominent man in the province, more than once of tho execu-
tive council, and ho resided In the county somewhere on the river. He
was it mint of itilluenco in those days, and yet he may not have remained

any length of time on the Raritan Jerome Van Nr.it and I'eter

nHilnl permanently on tho Raritan, and their descendants aro yet among
our most respectable citizens. But the original farm on which they first
Located has now for many yearn been in other possessors' hand*. The
i an] ins, Cornelias and John, came here from Fort Orange, now Albany,
and were originally from tho vicinity of I trecht, In Holland, The name
Is found early in colonial annals, and wm prominent in moro than one
way; and it hafl become widely extended in the State."

Neither the names of the first settlers nor the date
of the earliest settlement on the Vauquellen tract
(purchased Nov. 10, 1681) are known. On the other
Indian purchase of the same date, none of the orig-
inal grantees, <»r of tin- persons to whom the subdivi-
sions were allotted, became actual residents, except
Lord Neil! I 'ampbell. who waa a brother of the Duke
of Ajgyle.

" II.- was appointed Deputy Governor by the proprietors of East New
J"i < > tor two yean on the 4th of June, 1GW, and reached tho provlnco
in tho ensuing October. Hisrosldonce was on Ids plantation on the hanks
of tho Raritan ; the property is now ..w ned },\ Geni-p? M< Hi « • I * ■ . II ■ li.nl
Bent t-ixty-ilve servants to sottlo on it previous to his coming. 11-' must
have arrived la September. On tho 5th of October his commission was
read, and on the L8th his council named."

But his stay was very short. I >n the 10th of De-
cemher he appointed Anthony Hamilton to till his
ofliciai place, and soon after sailed for Scotland,
whence he never returned.

Say- I >r. Messier, —

" It will be seen hy adverting to tho names of tho original owners of
land by Indian purchases along the lUritan that they appear to have
boon nearly nil Scotchmen, and that jl-mm- .if tln-m >
nianent resident-*. The explanation is this. The principal and mostfl
proprietors of Kost New Jer*e\ were i n It ilnl i m nl >■■ >tland, and their
induce emigration audsettlenn'iits up- hi their land* wore made

in their native country. A* the effect of this, amboy wai fixed upon as
■ Mite fur a town, ami was named New Perth, and from thonco settle-
ment* of people from Scotland and England spread out northwest and
west as fur as Scotch Plains, Plalnflold, and Bound Brook, and single
ftunllles even farther, from this Immigration the ohurchos of Bound
Brook, Basking Ridge, and Lamlngton proceeded, It irai an Influx
coming almost entirely direct from Scotland, and the tii«t pastors of
tinr - burohss wore all native Scotchmen,— So it' h Preabj terlans of tho
Knox, Rutherford, and Brsklnc itainp. Besidsi this, there w.-re several
f Qornian origin and of the I.utli-iiui I'lmnh «!... ^.-it].-.|
oboul Pluokomln. . . .

"Kiom 1684, when the Dutch begmn to colonise at first,* until 1681,
Muy itii, when the Ur*t land tttlef ti dated, i pei lod ol Qfty*e)evan years,

nun to havo soon or heon altracti' I \<\ the l<< .mty und fertility
i it thll Wide-spreading valley, in ventured t<> endeavor to reclaim it from

Its wild, antroddon wildenM I unltive Inhabitants even had

deserted it alma-it entirely uiiil gone tOWVdfl ttraoted by

i\\- al lanl food, and only bird and boss! claimed it as their home.

Bui the time came when a dlfferenl stats o( things began to ■■\i-.t. The

title.-, fur III.- I'eitil" luixls had I n -■■■ I, :Uel -<-tth-i

thom. Some of theso havo boon already mentioned, and «■■ Dnd thai
from L68] to 1609 there bad arrived from Long Island the following



* in the neighborhood of Raritan Bay,

f In the territory of Somerset OotMtj,



heads of families, mostly of Dutch extraction: Coers Vrooin.
Hanson, Andrew AJlyn, Michael Vim Vegbten, Dirk Middak'h* Frederick
(Janets-.n, John Wortmon, Peter Van Nest, Joronemus Van Nest, Jacob
Sebring, Isaac Bodlne, Edward Drinkwater,' James Tuui~.ii, Cornelius
Tunlson, Pleter Dumont, Bdauricc Hudson, Johannei Dameld, John
Roolefson, Hendrick Rynlcrson, Thomas Possell, Cornelius Powelson,
Jan Eons Coeverden, Folkerd Bendrik Harris, Josuu Mcrlet, Andrew
AnderBon, Elton rfyssen, William Olden, William Clausen, Lawrence
Opdyke, William Monorhen, Keiil.eu Jonsen, Gabriel Lebcrsteln, Folkerd
Blendl i' kson.

"At North and South Branch, Andreas Ten Eyck, Abraham Dubois,
John Pussell, Joslss Claosen, Jan Hendrii kson, Daniel Sebring, Coonrad
Ton Eyck, Derick Van Voghten, Alexander BfoDowel, Jan Van Sloklen,
BenJ miiu Boi% Joi ob Btoll, Xeunhi Van Ulddleswortb, George Boll, Al-
bert Louw, William Uosa, I'aulus Bulner, Lucns Schermorhorn, Piotor
Van Nest, Emanuel Van Etton, Johanes Grauw, John Bmens, Coert Jan-
sen, George Dildine, John Reading, Garret VanTleet, William Brown,
John Cook, Hendrick Roesonboom, Frans Waldron, &idfrled Peters,
David Busuui, David Subair, Ahrnni Broca, Jacob Rayuiorse, Garret
Smock. In the vicinity of New Brunswick were Adrian Bonnet, Aert

bring, JohanesFolkerson, HendrKk it
h.e», l.iiwrens Willimse, Root if Nevlus, Jan Van Voorhees, Jacob Ouke,
Jolmnes Stoothoff, Jaqos Fonteyn, Jacobus Buys, Thomas Auten
Davidts, William Klassen, Johanes Coovort, Hendrick Brlos, Andrlas
Wortznan, Bernerdus Kuetor, Christopher Van Arsdolen, Jacob Corse,
Cornelius Buydam, Juris Andersen, Martin Vonderhoeve, Job
Eelaer, Samuel Hontfort, Jan Aten, William Moore, Nicklss Bason,

"At Three-Mile Hun, Etendrick Bries, Roelf LUCOO, Jan Voorhees,
A.r t A.-it sen, Isaac Van Dyke, Johanes Folkerscn, Jan Aeten, I
Willimse, Roellf Nevlus, Charles Fonteyn, Hans StoothorT, Thomas
Bouwnian, Dorck Volkorso, Garret Bolmor, Jan Lavor,SImon WlckorT,
rioter Hon", Garret Dorland, Andrlea Boat, Jan Broca, James rTonteyn,

Adrian Molleliar, Ja<uh Uaph-yi-u, Juri* llael, Jan Laeten, William

Lumbers, Peter BLlnne, Hendrick Iraphogen, Luycus Schermorhorn,
Jans Van Biiddles worth, Johannes Fisher, Joeremuu Field, Luycas Wos-

-.■1 ■, ,1 i, .,1, K..ri,.'N, Ni.-h-la- il.iviii:ni. I'unielins .'an i inw.^.-ii, William
Him Andreas Ten Eyck, William Dey, Manuel Van Allen, Ahram
Elomoteron, Johannes Seigeler, Jaurlon Rcmor.

*' We are not able to indicate specifically or certainly tho placo of resi-
dence of each of theso families. Tho Sebrings and Harrises lived in the
vicinity of Bound Brook, Pleter Dumont on tho south side of tho Rari-
tan, Powolsons near Pliiekumin. All of them evidently did not remain
permanently or leave descendants. Tho names of others continue to
occur in tho records for many years, but somo of them have at last passed
away. All of them, we judge, were religious men, and aided In the for-
mation of the Raritan Church, then a church in the wilderness. Most
of them are known to have hnmlgroted to Somerset from Loug Island,
and among them there aro several names which indicate a lluguonot
uri^ii. s .in"i-.'t County has had, in lai t, ■ targe Infusion of thll noble
blood, and among tho family traditions, in many instances, linger inter-
esting reminlscencei of the night of St Bartholomew, at tho tinio when
they Bed from Franco to Holland, leaving their all behind and never
looking back, rescuing only their lives, their children, and their Bilvor
from the deadly sindlor."

The Dutch settlers were generally persons of deep
religious feeling, honest and conscientious, and, ad-
ding to those i|un!itics those of industry and frugality,
they generally heeame prosperous. The style of their
Uiihlinur* they doubtless brought with them from
Holland, their Fatherland. They were built with
one story, with low ceiling, with nothing more than

the heavy and thick boards thai Constituted the upper

Boor laid on monstrous broad and heavy beams, on
which they stored their grain, it being used as :i
granary and for the spinning of wool : sometimes parts
of it would be divided into sleeping-apartmentB.
Their fireplaces were usually very large, extending
generally without jambs, and sufficient t" accommo-
date B whole family with a comfortable seat around

the tire. The chimneys were so Large as t<> admit of

having their meat hung Up and smoked within them,



562



SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.



which was their usual practice. When jambs were
added, they were often set around with earthen
glazed tiles imported from Holland, ornamented with
Scripture scenes, which furnished the children and
others with amusement and instruction.

Their style of building corresponded well with their
habits, which were simple, unaffected, and econom-
ical, contributing materially to their independence
and solid comfort. They brought their children up
to habits of industry. Almost every son was taught
some mechanical art, and every daughter was re-
quired to become well acquainted with all knowledge
necessary to housekeeping. The farmers burnt their
own lime, tanned their own leather, often made their
own shoes and boots, did much of their own car-
pentering, wheelwrighting, etc. The spinning- and
woolen-wheels were set in motion in proper season,
and all materials for clothing the family, white as
well as colored, were manufactured at home. No
female was considered a suitable candidate for matri-
mony who could not show some stores of domestic
linen and other evidences of industry and economy.
So economical were the females of their time that
they frequently took their spinning-wheels with them
when they went to spend a social afternoon with a
neighbor. They often helped the men in the field
in times of planting, harvesting, and in other busy
seasons. Such a thing as a carpet was not known.
The floors of their houses were scrubbed and scoured
and kept as white as their tables, which were used
without cloths. Their floors were sanded with sand
brought from the beach for that purpose and put in
regular heaps on the floor, and, becoming dry, it
would be swept with the broom in waves or so as to
represent other beautiful figures. When the first im-
ported carpet was introduced is not now known, but
the first rag carpet was made a short time previous to
1800. It was woven by Adrien Hageman for the
widow of George Martense. Frugality, industry, and
economy characterized all their actions. They lived
chiefly within themselves, and knew but little of the
dangers and diseases incident to luxury and indo-
lence.

The following are the names of persons who pur-
chased land of the proprietors or their heirs, with
dates and number of acres, and, in some cases, its lo-
cation. They are taken from Schedule No. 3 (and
accompany the map of Indian titles and land grants)
in the Elizabethtovvn Bill of Chancery, published by
James Parker, of New York, in 1747. The lot-
numbers below given correspond with those upon the
accompanying map of the Indian purchases and sub-
divisions of land tracts in Somerset County, north of
the Raritan River:

Number. Acres.

8. John Palmer, Sept 25, 1683 877

4. Thomas CodringtOD, Sept. 26, 1888 877

5. John Roy. ■.-, .'-|it. .'.., Iii«.i 877

6. Juliii White, Sept. Hi, 188S 877

7. Graham, Winder & Co., Sept. 28, 1888 1004

8. Proprietors. Reserved and sold to Thomas Rudyard, Sept.

2.0, 16s:; 1171)



Number. Acres.

10. Peter Sonmans, Oct. 0. 1G85, at Green Brook 2500

12. John Campbell, Nov 9, 16S5 1874

13. John Dobie, Nov. 0, 1685 375

14. John Drunimoud, Nov. 0,1085 1000

15. Andrew Hamilton, Nov. 9, 11185 700

22. Andrew Hamilton, April 25, 1087, on Holland's Brook 500

23. Andrew Hamilton, Oct 3, 1087 250

20. John Robinson, May 1, 1680, on north side of Vanquillen.. 660
32. Thomas Codlington, April 20, 1688, in rear of his land 100O

34. J. and G. Alexander, June 15, 10811, at Bine Hills 462

35. Hubert Fullerton, June 4, 1686, at Blue Hills 300

37. Hendrick Corson, June 10, 1688, junction of North and

South Branches 500

38. James Cole, Sr., April 23, 16SS 125

39. Sir Ev. Cameron, south side of Bound Brook 1300

43. William Ackman 400

44. Archibald Riddle, juins Ackman 300

48. Lord Neill Campbell, Jan. 9, 1085, on North Branch and

Raritan 1650

49. William Dockwra, May 20, 1690, on south side of the Pas-

saic River 3000

50. Samuel Winder, in rear of Graham, Winder & Co 600

51. Margaret Winder, Mav 20, 1690, daughter of T. Rudyard.. 1000
53. John JohnsMn, Mav 211, 16(10, west side of North Branch.. 400

55. Lord Neill Campbell, May 24, 1611(1, on North Branch 1000

56. Sir Ev. Cameron, Mav 21, 169(1, at Blue Hills 2000

57. Sir John Dalrvmple, Feb. 17, 161(2, on N. Branch at Riddle's 500

58. Ann Wert, Aug. 1-1, 169 1, on North Branch at Dalrvmple's 912

59. Campbell & Blackwood, Aug. 4, 1093, on North Branch 390O

60. Wm. I'inhorn, March 3, 1697, joyning Lord Neill Campbell 500

61. John Johnston, on North Branch, joyning his own land... 100

62. Johnston & Willocks, June 6, 1701 3150

63. George Willocks, June 7, 1701, against Margaret Winder.. 60

64. Dr. John Johnston, joining Lord Neill Campbell on North

Branch

65. Michael Handon, west side of North Branch 4G6- ; ,

66. George Willocks. west .side of North Branch 466-..;

67. Miles Foster, west side of North Branch 466%

68. Thomas Gordon, North Branch, at Peter Van Neste 500

69. Campbell & Blackwood, two tracts 7600

71. Elisba Parker, in the Blew Hills, between them joins

Adam Hade's 469

72. Elisha Parker, between the same, a mile west of John

Johnston's house 250

73. Elisha Parker, between 1st and 2d mountain, joining his

other tract 80

74. Adam Hude, joining Parker's, 1st above tract 469

75. Adam Hude, joining Parker's, 2d tract 250

76. John Campbell, 12(1 chains up from Passaic River on Dead

River 200

77. Judiah Higgins, on Bound Brook and Rohobous Brook,

Piscataway 500

82. William Pent), 1717, on Dead River and Passaic 7500

85. John Pittinger, joining Penn's Land 200

88. McDowell & Pittinger. May 1,1721, on Peapack 132

90. John Hamilton, March 25, 1727, between 1st & 2d mountain 500

93. Alexander McDowell, on Dan'l Shoemaker's, formerly

Pittinger's, on Penn's Land 50

94. James Alexander, Feb. 12, 1727, begin at N. E. corner of

Sir Ev. Cameron 118%

96. John Parker, Feb. 12, 1727, begin at llollinshead & Ham-

ilton 165

97. John Parker, March 28, 1728, in Harrison's Neck 147

98. R. S. Hooper, May 10, 1726 125

99. James Alexander, Sept 17, 1741, east side oi North Branch

of Dead River 272|g

100. George Rirarick, Match 28, 1728, between Dead River aud

Penn Brook 184>§

101. Joseph Jennings, Dec. 29, 1727, on first mountain, at falls

of Stony Brook 4

102. Alexander McDowell, Sept. 16, 172s, N. W. cor. of M. Vegh-

ton's, on Raritan (Lot 3, John Palmor) 142%

103. Daniel llollinshead, Juno IS, 1727, on Dead River 132%

104. Daniel Hollinshead, March 25, 1727, between 1st & 2nd

mountain 393

105. John Parker, Feb. 27, 1730, joyning Sutton's, on HarriBon's

Purchase 83%

106. John Parker, Sept. 29, 1730, of HarriBon's Purchase 159

107. David Cossait, May23,1729,onSir Ev.CamoronV/IHlllncros 100

108. Ephraim Dunhams, March 1, 17:1(1, joining Penn's Brook

and 20 chains on Passaic River 100

109. John Parker, Nov. 4, 1720, between 1st & 2d mountain, on

Dead River, at Moses Ayer's Place 98^j

110. Dr. Win. lleekmaii, on Dunstar's and Tioppell's 200

111. John Darker, July 10, 1731, between 1st & 2d mountain, in

Harrison's Neck 100

112. John Parker, in the mountains by Judiah Itiggin'e Salt

Pond 100

113. James Alexander, Jan. 12, 1727, N. W. cor. of Lockiell's

2000 acres on Bound Brook 116%

114. James Alexander, Jan. 12, 1727, behind Snmnan's, 118%.... 403ft

115. Elisha Sinalloy, March 17,1736. Blue 1 1 ills, on Stony Brook 22

117. Nathaniel Roiph, March 28, 1740,on Harrison's Purchase 83

118. James Hooper, Oct. 18, 17JII, rear of Raritan LotB, S. E. cor.

of Margaret Winder 200

119. Alexander & Dunata, Juno 1, 1740, on Peapack and North

Branch 1240

120. Andrew Hamilton, Jan. 1, 1741. on l.aluintunk 876

121. James Alexander, Sept. 17, 1741, in 6 tracts in Harrison's

Neck 785;%

122. Alexander & Dunsla, Oct. 15, 1711, on Harrison 683




r ' Clo



ERECTION', ORGANIZATION, AND IJOINDAKIES OF SOMERSET COUNTY. 5G3



Number. Acres.

123. I i.ir« of Hooper, Oil. 17, 1741, at lal mountain 100

i Runyau.Juni 16, : ;i I on - mtl I Pal d Bl rei 30

181, Petoi Bunyan,Juni 16, r. I ... n joutli I River 2S
130. Alexander .v Dunstar, Oct 25, I i t 1, between Lai .v 2d

i inlaln

142, J. Alexander, Jul; 1", 1744, nl llasklng Bidge Osftl,

It has not been the intention to give, in tin- chap-
ter, more than a very brief glance at the principal

[ill nil :i-< - Ire mi the mil i\'- a ml tin- proprietors <<f lam Is

comprising the territory of Somerset County, and at

a few cif tin- vrn rarlif.-t nf tile pioneers who came

to locate their b es within it. For more i

and detailed accounts of the land titles and settle-
ments in the county, the reader is referred to the
separate histories of the Beveral townships, which will

be found in subsequent pajres nl' tlii- work.



CHAPTER III.

ERECTION, ORGANIZATION, AND BOUNDA-
RIES OP SOMERSET COUNTY.

Original Oonuttes — Somerset ns a Townslilp.and FormaHon as a Oonnty

— Townships Formed— Boundaries of Count] Defined Part ol I -

nnexod to Somorsot— Bounds id Morris

Counties Rc-eotabllsliment of Lino between Ulddlesox and Somei ot

— Part of Montgomery Tom nahlp surrendered to ttercer, and Frank-

i in i ■; ...■. i iwi^tiiji annexe. I io Somerset, elc.

THE province of East Jersey was first divided into

i nties in 1683. The Provincial Assembly which

convened for il- first session mi the 1st of March in
that year* passed an act, which was duly concurred in
and approved, dividing the province into four coun-
ties, ami appointing a high sheriff for each. Those
four counties were IVnren, F.sscx, Middlesex, and
Monmouth:

" Bergen Included all tbe settle is betweon the Budi in and Hack-

enaaok Rivera, and extended tt, the northern I I- "1 the

tm lulled all U ntry tb of the dividing lino between W I-

bridge and EUnbothtown, and west of the Backonsack j ttlddli
linn ill,. Woodbridgo line on the north to Cheosequake Qerboronthe
southeast, unit liack southwest, and northwest to the province bounds;
1. 1 Uonmonth comprised the reeldue."f

Somerset County was set oil' from the territory of
.M iddlcsex an I erected, by act of the Pro-

vincial Assembly, at a Bession which was commenced

at Anihoy 00 .May I I, Hiss. The acl provided and

declared that a certain tract of country,

" Beginning at the ati of the Bound Brook, where it empties Into

tlio Iturltat) River, SJld to run up tin- laid l-r-'.-k ti> III ting of ilouml

Brook with Qreen Brook,aDd from the said meeting to run a northwest
line Into ilo- bills ; and upon tho southwest tide of the Barltaa Hirer, la
begin at eemall brook, where II empties Itself Into the Barltun about
Boventy chains belowthe Bound Brook,and from thence ti> nm up a

southwoBl line to tl ttennost line ■■! the !"■■* Ini •■. be divided from Ihe

M,iii i iiiiniv nl Ulddleaex, and bereaftei to be deemed, taken, and kn
county of this provinoe; and tliat ttie same count) ' died ■

nf Somerset, any statute, laW t OrUSage to tin- , .uiti ,ir\ liunvitlistunilinp.";



• Tlio Assembly called together by Deputy Governor Budyard.
t Whitehead's East Jersey under the Proprietary Government
1878, p. 128.

J Lcaniiuc. unit Bpioer, p



The reasons which moved tin Legislature to Set "if

the mw count] w. re declared, in the preamble to the
act, to be that

"The uppermost part "I the It. nil. in River i* setlled by person*, whom,
in their husbandry and manuring their lauds, are forced upon
ferent ways and methods from the other farmers and I
dlcsex County. Because ol tl" frequent floods thai carry away their
fences on tbo meadows the onlyarable land tlieyhavi

i.i ii ther inhabltante of

said county."

The old division line, run by Keith in Hi*?, formed
at that time, as now. tin- western boundary of the

county, in that part which i- BOUtb of the Smith

Branch of the Raritan River. Such of it- other
boundaries as wen- vague and indefinite have since

i, . ,1 more clearly ill-lined, and others have been ma-
terially changed by reductions of the territory of tin-