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West New Jersey, 1688
The Courts Carry On
After a long digression to write about the life of Dr. Daniel Coxe before he became governor of West New Jersey in 1687, I am returning to my chronology to study the events of 1688 et seq., beginning with the Burlington Court session of February 1688, in which the list of those present began with “Daniell Coxe Esq. Governour.”Continue reading »
Basic Resources for Hunterdon County
Sources Pertaining to Hunterdon County
What follows is a list of the more commonly used sources for Hunterdon history and genealogy. This is in addition to archival material to be found in the Hunterdon County Clerk’s Office and the Hunterdon Surrogate’s Court.
Many of these books and pamphlets are out of print and can only be found in libraries. You might find some of them on Google Books, but so far very few have gone online. Some of the Hunterdon sources can be purchased from the Hunterdon County Historical Society. The Hunterdon County Library has a very good list of sources. Use the link to the Library.Continue reading »
About
About Goodspeed Histories
This site is an outgrowth of my blog, “Hunterdon History & Genealogy” which I started in June 2009. The history of my hometown (Delaware Township) and home county (Hunterdon) has long fascinated me, as well as the early history of New Jersey. But when questions come up, the answers are not always available in history books. This website gives me the chance to write some of those missing histories.
Just like many people, my history education began with my township, expanded to my county and from there to the Province of West New Jersey out of which Hunterdon County was created. After many years, I find I am still interested in all three, which is why they are present on this site as separate categories. Needless to say there will be some overlap, since the three entities are much like a set of nesting dolls.
Along with an interest in genealogy and the early years of Delaware, Hunterdon and West NJ, I am interested in the politics that influenced the growth of these places and the well-being of those who lived here. Political stories have the advantage of being well-sourced, as opposed to the quiet lives of ordinary people. I will try to find a way to balance the two, since they go hand in hand.
As for content, along with genealogies, I may write about institutions like schools, churches, local government, or mills, stores, cemeteries. I hope that people who know even more about my subjects will add to the story and make corrections whenever I jump to the wrong conclusion. This brings up the question of sources.
Many many years ago, as a beginner genealogist, I made the common mistake of neglecting to note my sources. Like many people, I learned the hard way how essential it is to keep good track of your sources. Sources give you grounding, especially when family trees grow large. These days it is much easier to keep track of sources, thanks to the internet. However, helpful as they are, online family trees are not reliable. If I have no better source than an online tree, I will add a caution. When I have real sources to rely on, I will include them. But I do not want this site to be loaded down with attributions, so I have created some separate pages for sources.
On the subject of Corrections: Whenever one of my readers discovers I’ve made a mistake, or when new information turns up in later research, my practice will be to recognize the Sharp Reader who caught one of my goofs; then amend the original post with correct information; and (following the practice of the New York Times) make a note at the bottom that the original was amended.
About Marfy Goodspeed
I have been a resident of Hunterdon County since 1976. My research business, Goodspeed House Histories, has taught me many things about early county residents, especially in my home town, Delaware Township. Many years on the Township Planning Board and as a member of the Delaware & Raritan Canal Commission have added to my understanding of historical geography.
I have been researching Hunterdon County, New Jersey families since 1981 when I started my house history business. Along the way, I have collected a lot of information. I have also written articles for the Hunterdon Historical Newsletter, the Township newsletter “The Bridge,” and the website “The Delaware Township Post.”
The Mills of Delaware Township
This article is similar to the previous article, “Delaware Township Villages and Mills,” but just different enough to be allowed in the archive. Gradually I will collect here all my published articles on Delaware Twp. mills.Continue reading »
The Carolina Constitutions
It has been some time since my last post, so it might help to skim over the previous post before continuing with this one.
The Carolina Constitution of 1669 came out four years after the Concessions and Agreements of the Proprietors of East New Jersey. Undoubtedly, Shaftesbury and Locke were acquainted with it. But when Berkeley and Carteret became the first proprietors of New Jersey in 1664, they probably studied the first Carolina Constitution of 1663 before publishing their Concessions and Agreements. Berkeley and Carteret knew what was happening in Carolina because they were among the eight Lords Proprietors of the colony, so we can assume there was a lot of cross-pollination.Continue reading »
West New Jersey in 1687, Part Two
West New Jersey In Debt
The West Jersey Assembly met in May of 1687. The minutes of their meeting are not included in Leaming and Spicer’s Grants and Concessions, so for many years, people thought they had not met at all. We know of two matters undertaken by the Assembly in 1687. The first was the problem of the Province’s debt. Despite the fact that taxes had been levied, they could not be collected. Much of this was due to the scarcity of coin, which had to come from abroad. By May of 1687 the debt had risen to £1,250.Continue reading »
West New Jersey in 1687, Part One
The year 1687 was intense for West New Jersey and for England in matters concerning politics and management of land, but not very much for the families of Gloucester who might have been connected with Samuel Green. If your interests are limited to genealogy, then you must wait for part two of 1687. If the politics of days long gone are your fancy, then this year and the next will be of particular interest.Continue reading »
West New Jersey, 1686
Straws in the Wind
In 1686, there were a few events that boded ill for West New Jersey.
The Declaration of Indulgence, which James II issued in March (or April), was James’ attempt to get the Protestant English accustomed to having Catholics and dissident Protestants more visible in daily life. It granted amnesty to those imprisoned under laws against the practice of these religions. Following this, James granted many commissions to Catholics in the army. Seems like a good thing, but it was also a good example of how James misread his subjects, who truly feared that a strong Catholic sovereign like James might turn their country into an appendage of Catholic France.Continue reading »
West New Jersey, 1685
The New King
On February 2, 1684, Charles II, only 54 years old, suffered a stroke. Perhaps he might have survived it, but given the medical practices of the day, he was doomed to die, which he did four days later. His brother James was now King of England.Continue reading »