The original inhabitants of New Jersey H were Indians of the Delaware
tribe, which belonged to the Algonquin family. The early white settlers
were of different nationalities,--Dutch, Swedes, English, and French.
The geographical names of the state are interesting reminders of the
various occupants.
The first exploration of the state was made by Henry Hudson, who, in
the employ of the Dutch East India Company, sailed for a week in 1609
on the waters of Delaware Bay and Delaware River, which the Dutch
called South River, in search of a northwest passage to India. Failing
to find it, he sailed north and entered New York Bay and Hudson River,
or North River, as it is still called. In 1614 the Dutch founded New
Amsterdam, afterwards New York, and, about the same time, established a
trading post in what is now Hudson County. Later the Swedes attempted
settlements in the southwestern part of the state, but were expelled by
the Dutch. The Dutch made settlements at various places, some of which
proved to be only temporary. The first permanent settlement in New
Jersey was at Bergen, now a part of Jersey City, to which was granted a
town form of government, separate from that of New Amsterdam, in 1660.
In 1664 the English took possession of New Netherland--the Dutch Colony
including New York and New Jersey, King Charles II granted it to his
brother, the Duke of York, who in turn granted that part of it lying
between the Hudson and Delaware rivers to Lord John Berkeley and Sir
George Carteret. The latter had been governor of the Isle of Jersey,
and their new grant was named New Jersey in his honor. Disagreements
between Carteret and Berkeley led the latter to sell his interest to
other proprietors, among whom afterwards was William Penn. In 1676 the
colony was divided into East Jersey and West Jersey by a line running
from Little Egg Harbor to the Delaware in the northern part of the
state. It is because of this division that the state is still often
referred to as "the Jerseys." In 1702 the proprietors surrendered their
proprietary rights to the crown. From that time to its independence the
whole of New Jersey was under royal government.
Five representatives from New Jersey signed the Declaration of
Independence. The position of the state made it "The War Path of the
Revolution." Paulus Hook, Springfield, Morristown, Monmouth, Princeton,
and Trenton are famous names in Revolutionary history. The troops of
the state were in every conflict. In the army of General Wayne, which
punished the Indians after the Wyoming massacre, one third were New
Jersey soldiers under General Maxwell.
[Illustration: Trenton Battle Monument]
[Illustration: Physical and Political New Jersey (north half)]
[Illustration: Physical and Political New Jersey (south half)]