This 19th-century gazetteer for New Jersey begins with a detailed account of life in the Garden State at the time of the book's publication. The gazetteer itself
contains descriptions of upwards of 2,000 places in existence in 1833any number of which will fail to appear in contemporary maps or gazetteers. If your
genealogical research should find you looking in New Jersey prior to the Civil War, this could be just the finding aid you'll need to stay on track.
Gordon's is the standard nineteenth-century gazetteer for New Jersey. Since the author's stated objective was "to present to the public, a full and correct
portraiture of the State in the year 1833," it should come as little surprise that Gordon's index of places in New Jersey is preceded by a detailed account of life
in the Garden State at the time of the book's publication. Mr. Gordon, who traversed virtually the entire state in compiling his book, begins the lengthy
"prefatory chapter" with precise geographical and geological descriptions of the state's terrain, climate, bodies of water, roads, canals, railroads, and so forth.
Utilizing a number of tables, he portrays the growth in the state's population and the state of manufacturing. This is followed by a "moral view of the state," which
takes into account the history of various elements of local and state government, militia companies, religious life in New Jersey, educational institutions, and the press.
The gazetteer itself, which extends an additional 175 pages, covers every nook and cranny in the state, from small streams, hills, and hamlets to townships, cities,
and entire counties. In fact, the alphabetical listing of places is interrupted periodically by statistical tables on New Jersey counties showing the names of all townships,
their length and breadth, area, and change in population from 1810 to 1830. While some of the descriptions are scarcely more than a sentence and others a page or more,
the following sketch of Highstown, New Jersey, may serve as a representative one: "Part of East Windsor township, Middlesex co., on the turnpike road from Bordentown
to Cranberry and on Rocky brook, 13 miles from Bordentown, 183 from W.C. and 18 from Trenton; contains a Baptist and Presbyterian church, 3 taverns, 2 stores, a
grist and saw mill, and from 30 to 40 dwellings. The rail-road from Bordentown to Amboy passes through the town, and a line of stages runs thence to Princeton, etc."
In all, Gordon's Gazetteer of the State of New Jersey contains descriptions of upwards of 2,000 places in existence in 1833, any number of which will fail to
appear in contemporary maps or gazetteers. If your genealogical research should find you looking in New Jersey prior to the Civil War, this scarce volume
could be just the finding aid you'll need to stay on track.
BOOK #2 CONTENTS – History of New Jersey
CHAPTER I. Comprising Events from the Discovery by Europeans, to the Grant from Charles I. to James Duke of York.
CHAPTER II. Comprising Events from the Grant to the Duke of York, to the Division of the Colony, into East and West Jersey. I. Nature of the Estate
acquired by the Duke of York, by the Grant from Charles I.
CHAPTER III. From the Division of the Province, into East and West Jersey, to the Purchase of East Jersey, by Quakers.
CHAPTER IV. From the Purchase of East Jersey, by the Quakers, to the Surrender of the two Provinces to the Crown, 1682— 1702.
CHAPTER V. Comprising the Administration of Lord Cornbury.
VI. The Governor refuses the Message of the Assembly, which they enter
upon their Minutes.
VII. The West Jersey Proprietors, in England, address a Memorial to the Commissioners of Trade and Plantations, against Cornbury — Address of the
Lieutenant-Governor, and Provincial Council,
to the Queen.
VIII. The Governor unable to obtain the gratification of
his wishes, by the Assembly, first prorogues, and then dissolves them.
Offensive Conduct of Lord Cornbury, in his Government of New
York — His Character
CHAPTER IX. Containing Events from the Presidency of Mr. Reading to the Repeal of the Stamp Act — from the year 1746 to the year 1766.
CHAPTER X. Comprising Events from 1766 to 1769. I. Remaining Discontents in the Colonies, after the Repeal of the Stamp Act. H. Dissatisfaction in Great Britain
on account of the Repeal — American Taxation again proposed in Par-
liament, by Mr. Townsend— Bill imposing Duties on Goods imported into
America, passed.
CHAPTER XI.
Comprising Events from the year 1773 to 1776.
CHAPTER XII. Comprising Civil Events of the year 1776.
CHAPTER XIII. Military Proceedings in Canada.
CHAPTER XIV.
I. Organization of the New Jersey State Government. II. First Address of
the Governor — Other principal Officers. III. Condition of the State at
this period. IV. State of the Northern Department — Operations on the
Lakes. V. The British seize Rhode Island. VI. Demonstration of Ge-
neral Heath, on Long Island — Condition of the American Array, in New
Jersey — Skirmishing. VII. Early efforts of Sir William Howe, to destroy
the American Magazines — Stores burned at Peck's-kill — at Danbury.
CHAPTER XV. Campaign of 1778.
CHAPTER XVI. Comprising a View of the War in the South.
CHAPTER XVII. 1. Condition of the Armies in the North.
CHAPTER XVIII. Peculiar sufferings of the State of New Jersey from the War.