sey
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A
FURTHER ACCOUNT
OF
NewjERSEY
In an Abflraft of
LETTERS
Lately Writ from thence,
By ieveral Irthabitants thcreRefident.
~v
-
Printed 'n tbe rear
16760
0-00,~l 11
Fi
9
[1]
cA further 44ccount of New j erfey
in an Abftra5f of Letters lately writ from
thence, by feveral inhabitants there refident.
7Tcar Friend,
YLove is to thee, and thy Wife, defring
your wclltare, both inward and outward
and that we may be found fteadfaf in that
uth which is fving, for the welifare of our immortal] Souls And dear Friend, the deIire of my Soul is,
that we may know true Love and I Ihould be glad to
fee thee and thy Wile i I have partly a rememberance
oF thy Wife And I have thought on thee many
times with tears ig my eyes, and the Lord hath
done svonderous works for me unto him I return
thanks & praifes, who is God over all BlelTed for ever.
Now Friend, I Ihall give thee Iomthing of an information concerning i\civ7erJIe, but time will not permit
me to write at length. Thou dcuirett to know how f
live, through the goodnel's of the Lord I live very well,
keeping between 30 and 40 head of Cows, and 7 or
8 Horfs or Mares to Ride Upon, &c. There are 7
Towns fettled in this Province, (viz.) ShrewJliry and
Jvlidlctown, upon the Sea fide,and along the River tide
and up the Creeks there is 'P:fcattaway, & Iroodbridge,
Elizobeton'n, Nov wake, and Bergane mof of thele
Towns having about ico Familelsi and the Jcaft40.
The Country is very healthful, &c. In Middletown,
A2
where
M
[]
where I live, in 6 years and upwards there have dyed
but one Woman about Bo years old, one Man about
6o , a Boy about five years old, and one little Infant
or 2 there are in this Ton,in twenty five Families about 95 children mof ofthem under 12 rears of age,
and all Idly children. The produce olthis Province, is
chiefly Wheat,Barly,Oates,Bean, Beef, Pork,Peafc, Tobacco, TwrJin Corn,Butter, Cheele,1-1 emp,& flax,French.
beans,Strawberrics,Carrots,ParIni ps,Cabbidge,Turnips
Radithes, Onions, Cucumbers, Wa tcr-mellons, Muskmellons,Squathes;aIIo our Coil is very fertile for Apples,
Pears, Plums, Oiinces, Currans red and. white, Goofberries, Cherrics,and Peaches in abundance, having all
forts ofgreen trafh in the Summer time,& the Contry
is greatly lupplied with Creeks & Rrvers which afford
fore of F'ifh ,Pearch,Roach,Bafe,Sheeps-hcad, 0 y1ers,
Clams, Crabs, Sturgeon, Eels, and many other forts of
Fifh that I do not name 5 you may Buy as much FiIh of
an Tndin for half a pound of Powder, as will fcrve 6
or 8 men i Deer are allo very plenty in this Province;'
we can buy a fat Buck oftheJndin. much bigger thin
the Eng/ifii Deer for a pound and half. of. Powder, or.
Lead, or any other trade equivalent, and a pek of
Strawberries, the 1ndiiis will gather,and bring Home
to us for the value of 6 d. and our Beef aid Pork is
very fat and good; the natural Graf'softh Country
is much like that which glows in the Woods in FnLmd,which is food enough for our Cattk; but. by the
water fide we have fre[h meadows & Ilt Marfhes; we
nuke good Fg1lJh Bread and Beer ; befides we have
vcral1 oilier forts of Drink and travelling in the
Counti y; and corning to any Houf'e,they generally ask
you
[33
you to eat & drink, and takeTobacco,atid their Ièveral
forts of'drink they will offer you as confidently as Wit
were Sack Here are abundance ofChefnuts,Wauts,
Mrtlberries, and Grapes, rd and white, our Horlet
,and Mares run in the Woods, and we give then no
meat Winter nor Summer, unicli we work them but
our Cows mufk i looked 3rrcr our Timber (tarids
for fences about theLand we manures we plough our
Land with Oxen for the moll part i a Husband-man
here and in old England is all one, making mofk of our
utencils for Husbandry our felves, and a man that has
3or 4 Sons or Servants that can work along with hiw
will down with Timber amain, and get Coin quickly.
The beft coming to this Country, is at the Spring or
Fall,we mike our Soap &.Cndles,& all Ruch things our
felves5 in theWinter we make good fires,nad eat goad
meats and our Women & Children are healthy Sugar
is cheap; Venilbn, Cede, Turkies, Pidgeons,Fowlc, &
Fifh plentyand one great happincis we enjoy,whichis,
we are very quiet. I could give thee more information
concerning thisCountry, but time will not give leave,.
In fhort, this is a rare place for any poor man, or
others and lam ftisfied people may live better here
then they do in Old EngLwd and cat more good meat
&c. The Veffel is going away, I have not time to
coppy this over 5 therefore talce the fenCc of it, my
Love lalutes thee, ftrc we],.
R1 hard
New Jerre. Mid1eon it,
f:he 9th. M.';:th i65.
[4]
Form) Dear 'B ro. Richard Craven
in Linie-houle,
l)ear Br 6% and SifI;,
J
And my Husband do dearly lalute you,
hoping in the Lord you are all in good
health, as vc are all at this time, praifes do I
return unto the Lord for the largencfs of hi
love unto me) the which I have great caiil'c
never to forget. I having this opportunity
took it, to let you hear from us : And dear
Sifter, it would be the joy of my heart to Ice
thec,and thy Huband, and children here; and
dear Sifter, I have more comfort in one day
here, then I had in many dayes in England,
which is great joy to my foul, and do defire if
theLord be plea'id we may end our days together ; and vou mv believe me, it is a brave
Country, and we have Cows, Swine, and F-Jciis,
and are like to have Sheep (horny; and we are
going to l'et up a good I-loule, for we have not
a
a very good one at prcfenr,and we would tak
up ibme Land for you if we were iure you
wou!d corne& if the Country be unto you as
it is unto us, it'you lived bcter then you do,
you would not repent your coming hither;but
be fure you come with an lionc1 Shiprnafler,
and bring Come comFortable things in the Ship
with you to take by the Way; but I have found
no want iince I came out of the shipAnd 1-0
my dear Sifter and Brother, I Jung to lee
your
faces if you he free to come.
Thy Dear Sifter,
r
New 7erfr the 22. 6
9th.filLrnth, i675.
Martha S.
[6]
'Den €Z*I Eoviiig !fzfi',
Aving now an opportunity to let thee underfand
of my vckiire through the great mercy of God,
. and as to the other place it is as good a healthfull place as men can defire to live in, and here is plenty
enough of all provitions, and good Eiig/iJ7i Wheat and
Mulr, plenty of Fith and Fowl i Iitdecd here is no
want o any thing, but hone1 people to Inhabit it;
there is Land enough purchaled of the Indians for
ten times [0 many s we were, and thefè Indians here
are very quiet and Peaceable Indip,i In NewEn&Lu,cl
they are at Wars with the Izdiznsand the news is, they
have cut off a great many of them; but in this place,
the Lord is making way to exalt his name and truth;
for it is 1a4 by thofè that live here abouts, that within
theCe few years, here were five Indians for one now,
and thelè that be are very willing to Cell their land to
the EngliJii; and had 7h,iTernvick done wi1ly, we had
not been ditjeri, but I hope it may all work fOr the
belt; And dear \Vif, I hope thou wilt be well fatisfled to come and live here,%%-here we may live very
quietly and Peaceably, where we fhall have no vexation, for teuing flOF ren(ling what we have from us;
[have bought a Plantation by the advice and conient
of tonu VrIcilds, upon which there is a very good liouIi,
a great deal of Out-houling, Orchards, and Gardens
ready planted, and Nvell fenced; I do intend (if God
permit) i f' (21. the I-larvct is gotten in, to come to
inçIind for thee, and I hope thou wilt be willing to
COIflC, Iccing here re leverall of thy Neighbours
\i1orfl thou knoweft well, as Richard Guy and his
Wifi:
H
E71
Wife, and William Hancock and hit Wife,and many others i and here is an honefl Friend with me, that
world have a fourth part of the Land, &c. And Lb
hoping thele lines may find thee in good health, as
rough the great mercy and goodnels of God, I have
never been better in health.
My love to Richard Green, he defired me to lend
him lome account of the Country, which to the beft
of my knowledge I will do , as to Building here is
little until more People come over, for the Inhabztant
that were here did generally Build their own houles,
though after a mean manner,for they fell down Trees,
and fplit them in parts, and Co make up a lorry HouIè,
&c. But here is Earth enough that will make very
gool Brick, and Stone enough of feverall Forts, as four
that will fkrike fire, which may make Milflones,or what
a man will put them to; they make their Lime of'
Oyfler-thellsi here is good Land, and a Healthful and
Plentiful Country5 here is no Tanner in all the River,
but Come Tann their Hides themle1ve', after their own
manner. Here is good Oak enough, here is Hemp
Ad Flax, good Water, and the Ground will bear any
thing that groweth in E111914nd, and with Ies Pains and
trouble; with my dar Love to thee I reft thy Loving
Hu'band
Robert 112d'.
I)clarwarc River the place
ed/cd Upland , the :1.
iift/.e 2(1. iVonth 16'.
B
E73
Wife, and Williams Hancoc(and hii Wife,and many o
fliers; and here is an honefl Friend with me, that
woi.tld have a fourth part of the Land, &c. And Co
hoping thele lines may find thee in good health, as
through the great mercy and goodnels of God, I have
never been better in health.
My love to Richard Green, he defired me to lend
him lome account of the Country, which to the be1
of my knowledge I will do; as to Building here is
little until more People come over, for the Inhabitants
that were here did generally Build their own houles,
though after a mean manner,for they fell down Trees,
and fplit them in parts, and fo make up a lorry Houle,
&c. But here is Earth enough that will make very
goal Brick, and Stone enough of feverall forts, as four
that will Itrike fire, which may make MilIones,or what
a man will put them to; they make their Lime of
Oyfter-thells; here is good Land, and a Healthful and
Plentiful Country5 here is no Tanner in all the River,
but Come Tann their Hides thmlelvec, after their own
manner. Here is good Oak enough, here is Hemp
and Flax, good Water, and the Ground will bear any
thing that groweth in 1'1191.vid, and with les Pains and
trouble; with my dear Love to thee I ref thy loving
FIu'band
Rbrrt Tide.
l)clarware River the place
(I/lCd Upland , the 2:1.
øftL'e 2d. Month 16.
B
I
Tear and oving fri end 7obn Suniftn,
Y kind love unto thee and to thY Wife, hoping
thele lines may find thee in good health,as thanks
be unto the Lord we arc all Cafe through mercy arrived at New C'efare4 or New 7crjle:having an opportunity I thought good to fend a few lines unto thee I lent
one to 7ohn 7ones of Chipman Card-maker,& ifany are
minded to come over, they may go thither and know
what goods to bring over that are fit to fell or ule
here : here is no want of any thing but good people
to Inhabit5 here is liberty for the hondi hearted that
truly defire to fear the Lord here is liberty from the
cares and Bondage of this World, and after one sear
or two, you may live very well with very little labour
here is great ftore of Fith and Fowl, and plenty of
Corn, and Cows, Hoggs,Horles, Oxen, Sheep, Venilon,
Nuts, Strawberries, Grapes and Peacho s here is good
Fnlijh Wheat ripe in three Months, Wheat is at 4 .
a buihel, Baricyat three,good White Rie at three,good
India,, Corn at 2s. 6 d. a bufhd half a bufhel when
it is planted will find a great Family a whole year with
bread and drink,it is Co great increafe but in ErgIiji'i
goods it will coft but half fo muchthe Beef fat its felt',
and Hogs fat themfèlves, they are fat all the 'rear,
and People may kill them when they have occa1ion
here is good Land enough, and wood enough, Servants
are in great requeft, young Men and Maids come to
fortune (as they call it,) and do very well, the
friends Daughter of Bat/iford, is very well,and wifhth
her Father were here, he might live very well. I have
fent you nothing but the truth, here are mans thing
too
M
F
(,)
ioo tedious to rdate,rny othei remembers her to thee,
c'c, & [he would not have you be diIouraged becaule
of the Water, for the Lord is as well able toprelerve
by Sea as Land, we were near two Hnndred People
on board the Ship we came in, and there was an
ancient Woman judged near fouricore years of Age,
and [he did very well, and leverall others that were
very ancicntwe loft but two, and they were Brothers,
So I reft thy loving Friend till death,
Efier L7iic&epi.
I\ew 7crJie Delaware,
4prilthe h. 1676,
B
2
(to)
Dear and loving TVif,
T
His may let thee underaand that lam
very well in health through the mercy
and goodnels of the Lord towards us, and I
now having this oprortunity, I thought fit to
ICE thee underftand of our welfare. Now dear
Wife I hope thou wilt make provifion to come
to this place againfI I come,which I hope will
be in the Winter if I can have convenient
paffage. K. Guy bath bought a Plantation
dole by me, fo we ihall be very near Neighbours, and the refì of our acquaintance are
near us, and I hope now thou art fatisfied by
'John Meadock.that I could not write to thee
before, and as to any news of the Natives or
others, here there is little, for all is at peace
and quict,and I do not hear but they are like
fo to continue; and 'Jo. F. is now about to
lay out Come Land for thole that have purchafed of him,now he fees he cannot bring us to
fubcribcro him,foF his aim was altogether for
his
(II)
his own exaltation, and not the puhlkk good,
my love to all our Frend9 and Neighbours,
with my dear Love to thee and your Family,
I. rcfl thy loving Husband,
I(bert Wade.
The '7th. day of the
4th. Mnih 1676.
V LAIR
Dear and loving Wife,
M
Y dear love to thee and thy children;
loving wife this may let thee underfiand that it was late before we came into this
Country, but the Land was bought prefently, the Natives were as willing to fell as
we were to Buy ; and there is Land enough
bought, and here is very good Mar(li as well
as up. land & good Timber for Shipping, and
it is a very free and plentiful Country for all
provilions,as Corn,and Cattle,FiIh,and Fowle,
&c. But Jo. F. would not let us out our land,
except thofe that were concerned would let
their hands to fuch papers as he drew up,
which would have been to eninare us and all
that come after us; I do not write this to diicourage any; dear Wife, I hope to Ice (bee
here before this may come at Lod,i, if not,
I dcliie thee to come as loon as thou canfi:;
I am with Kobert Wade, who has bought a
plantation, and I am to have part with him,
which will come to a little above 26 1. and
here
('.3)
here is a brave River Fifhing and Fowling;
the Whales run a Ihore here Comtimes;arid for
Siurgeon.,and all other filh here are abundance,
we want Coopers to make Barrels Tubbs&c.
if an), be delirous to come,here are plantations
enough) and good £ ng/ij7 Wheat plenty 3and
here is Tobacco enough made on this River
to fraght a ShIp,fo dear Wifejexpeffing thee
the firfi opportunity toomc away; with my
dear Love to thee and ill friends and Neighbour$. I reli thy Loving Husband
Roger Pederic k
From Telawre River the 14h.
da) ofthe j4tb. Month 1676.
PROPERTY OF
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FREE PUBLic. LIBRARY.
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CNF
MID
A further account of New Jersey in an
Middletown Township Public Library, NJ
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i- Ck &'-'
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For Reference
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PROPERTY OF
MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY
NAVESINK. N. J.