Much to my dismay, I have written very little on this blog during 2011. There were reasons, of course, but I very much regret losing the thread of so many interesting subjects. I hope I can pick up those threads in the next few months, and follow where they lead.

First of these subjects is a look at the early history of Raven Rock and Bull’s Island, I thought this would be a relatively short piece, to highlight the Saxtonville Tavern, which is very much threatened. As always happens, though, I have found the village’s history much more interesting and complex than I imagined.

Another project left in the wind was my study of the early years of the Province of West New Jersey. I left off at 1691, and intended to continue it  until about the time that Samuel Green became a resident of Hunterdon County. Once again, I found myself fascinated by all the trials and tribulations of these early settlers, and wished to explore that history by writing about it. But how can I write about 1692 unless I finish writing about Raven Rock?

Other projects include publishing the articles of Egbert T. Bush, especially those that pertain to Delaware Township. And speaking of Delaware Township, my hometown will be celebrating its 175th anniversary in 2013, and planning has begun to find the best ways to celebrate this milestone. As part of my contribution, I plan to republish the articles I wrote a few years ago on how the township was created out of the much larger and older Amwell Township.

Another contribution to the anniversary I would like to make is a longish article on the first surveyors of what became Amwell Township, and of the Lenape who were most likely to live on this land before Europeans took possession of it.

The older I get, the better I understand Robert Browning’s observation–one’s reach should exceed one’s grasp (actually he said “man’s reach,” but nevermind).