The 13 Colonies: New Jersey By Iann Pavlovic and Philip Evans

Physical Map of New Jersey This map shows the physical appearance of New Jersey today. The map shows where there are wetlands, beaches, rivers and lakes.

Political Map of New Jersey This is a political map of New Jersey today. This map shows the counties, roads, and cities in New Jersey.

Map of New Jersey in the 1700’s This is a map of New Jersey sometime in the 1700s. This map shows cities and rivers like the other maps, but this map shows names for places that are no longer used.

Founding New Jersey England claimed New Jersey in 1644 after taking it from the Dutch, the original founders. In September 1664, Colonel Richard Nicolls sailed into New York Harbor and seized the colony. After the siege, Nicolls became the governor of New Amsterdam (New York). New Jersey was named after the Island of Jersey in the English Canal. After New Jersey was given to King James II, he gave the land to his to good friends, Sir George Carteret and Lord Berkeley of Stratton.

Getting Started In order to get settlers to come to New Jersey, Sir George Carteret and Lord Berkeley of Stratton granted land to settlers and passed the Concession and Agreement, a document allowing religious freedom. England did not allow religious freedom, and everyone who lived in England were in the British Church of England. In return for the land and religious freedoms, settlers paid annual fees called quitrents.

Business and Trade Many colonists in New Jersey became farmers due to the fertile soil. Since New Jersey was near the ocean, colonists also fished and traded goods over seas. Many farmers struggled due to the dearth of English money, so slaves or indentured servants did most of the work for them.

Significance of New Jersey New Jersey did not play a very major role in the colonies until the Revolutionary War. New Jersey is referred to as the “Crossroads of the Revolution” because the British and Continental armies fought many crucial battles there. Throughout the war about 296 war engagements took place, more than any other colony. Some of the major battles that took place in New Jersey are the battles of Springfield, Trenton, and Princeton.