How it all Began on the Banks of the Delaware and Rancocas- The History of Delran Township, NJ

Our First Neighbors The Lenni-Lenape (the Original People) were the first residents of Delran. Also known as the Delaware Indians and a part of the much larger group of Algonquins which constituted the entire Northeast.

Lenni-Lenape The Lenni-Lenape were divided into three sub tribes…. The Minsis of North Jersey The Unami of Central Jersey The Unilacgtigos of South Jersey

Living on the Rancocas The Unami (which is translated- people down the river) settled here along the Rancocas. The Unami were also referred to as the Turtle Tribe since the turtle was their totem characteristic.

Lenni-Lenape and the European Settlers This is in contrast to many areas of our country where Native Americans were forcefully removed. The Lenni-Lenape did relocate to the Midwest. The Quakers of NJ treated the Lenape with respect. Could the numerous Quaker setters have affected their treatment? Chief Calvin, a Lenape himself, in 1832 wrote a letter to the NJ Legislature, “Not a drop of our blood have ye spilled in battle, not an acre of our land have ye been taken but by our consent, naught save benisons can fall upon you from the lips of a Lena-Lenape.”

William Penn makes a Treaty with the Lenape on the Delaware In 1682 William Penn and Lenni- Lenape Chief Tamanend made a treaty beneath a large elm tree along the Delaware River.

Why Would European Settlers Develop a Town Here?

Original European Settlers The First Record of settlers to Burlington County was in They were English Friends (Quakers) who sailed on the British ship Kent. Most people settled in Burlington City but some traveled south to the crossing of the Rancocas at Bridgeboro.

Early Delran (Bridgeboro) Original settlers started at the mouth of the river and quickly worked inwards towards Mount Holly. Bridgeboro was settled and named long before a bridge was ever erected. The picture on the right is not of Delran or the surrounding areas

Early Delran (Bridgeboro) The First Covered Bridge was erected in Once the bridge was built the Ferry became a less significant form of travel.

Expanding Delran A Ferry was established at the river crossing and from it became one of the busiest ferry operations in the entire East. A tavern was built in 1733 as Delran is equidistant from Philadelphia to Trenton. The location was perfect for a resting spot along the pike. Pictured on the right is the Schmidt and Sons

Old Bridgeboro Bridge

Who was here in 1850? John Little-Boat builder Isaac Brown- Blacksmith John Whitesell-Cooper Edward Gates-Butcher List of some of the earliest settlers of Bridgeboro and their occupations in the mid 1800’s John Cleaver-Shoemaker Edward Hubbs- Farmer Alex Bright-Carpenter Charles Lowden- Storekeeper

Methodist Church- First erected in The existing building was built in 1879

Bridgeboro Main Street What year do you think this could be?

Delran Becomes a Township!!! Since 1895 the boundaries have remained the same. On February 12 th,1880 the township was created. The land was formally a part of Cinnaminson and Chester Township. (Moorestown) The original population was about 1,800 people Riverside left Delran and the population of Delran decreased to 938 people.

Schools in Delran In 1880 when the township was created we had four school districts Riverton, West Chester, Bridgeboro, Chesterville The Oldest School in the township was built in in the early 1800’s on Chester Avenue about ¼ mile from route 130.

Bibliography Power Point developed by Brian Stolarick for the purposes of using as a resource within the Delran Township School District. The following book was used and on loan from Rowan University’s Library Downs, Edward C. A Historical Development of Delran Township, New Jersey Rowan University Library Information taken from the Delran Township website and specifically written by Lloyd Griscom Some of the Photos used were taken by the Delran Historical Society Delran High School’s Advanced Photography Class during a joint effort to photograph the Then and Now of Delran.