Ebook Historical Collections of the State of New Jersey

The object of this work is to give an account of the most important and interesting events which have occurred in the State of New Jersey, together with geographical descriptions and numerous engravings. In selecting the extracts which are introduced in the course of the volume, care has been taken to avoid dry detail and tedious official documents, which usually appear in regular, formal history, and to give those selections likely to interest the feelings, refresh the memory, and instruct the mind.

We are aware there are historical items in these pages which may seem to some too trivial, or perhaps loo much beneath what is termed "the dignity of history." It may be observed, however, that we are not always competent judges of what may be valuable or interesting to posterity. Much important information has undoubtedly been lost to the world by fastidious views on this subject; and of that preserved, much at the time considered comparatively insignificant, has proved the most useful and instructive.

In view of the great variety of subjects introduced, and the almost impossibility of producing a publication of this kind without errors and imperfections, it is with a degree of diffidence that it is submitted to the public, especially when we consider who are to be our readers. Travellers, in giving accounts of foreign countries, can make statements at random which may pass for truth, when there is none at hand able to detect their errors. This publication will come before many persons who have better means of information and more knowledge on some subjects introduced than can reasonably be expected from the authors. This is especially true in relation to the descriptive part of the hook, for we were obliged to obtain much of that kind of information at second hand, and consequently were liable to adopt the errors or misrepresentations of many informants.

In collecting the materials for this work, we have travelled over the State, conversed with her most intelligent citizens, among whom were survivors of the Revolution, and obtained from them descriptions of their respective localities, and many items of historical value. We have, moreover, solicited written communications from gentlemen in all parts of the state, embodying facts of great value, which could be properly prepared only by those who resided on the spot. These solicitations have been met with a promptness altogether unexpected, and the materials thus obtained have much enhanced the value of this publication, and placed us under lasting obligations.

It will be perceived that numerous quotations arc made in this volume from a variety of authorities; in most instances of which credit has been given. As a general rule, we have preferred each account to appear as originally written, in the author's own words, from which the reader can draw his own inferences. In the geographical department, some information relating to the topography of the counties bus been obtained from Thomas F. Gordon's valuable "Gazetteer of the State of New Jersey," published at Trenton in 1834, by Daniel Fenton. The description of villages and the cities has been brought down to the present day by personal inquiry. For the boundaries of the townships and counties, their extent, course of rivers, &c., we arc indebted to the large, elegant, and uncommonly accurate map of New Jersey, drawn by Thomas Gordon, Esq., of Trenton, from his own original surveys. This valuable map is about to be republished, and it is hoped will receive, as it well deserves, a generous patronage throughout the state. The population and statistics of the several townships arc from the United States census and statistics of 1810, by the order of Congress.