a shipp that was to come to Pescadoe for masts for the King. This being all at present hopeing (winde and weather permitting) to be at New Yorke in 5 or six days hence, I am Sir, your humble servant Ph Carteret Sir-If you please to doe me the favour to let mee heare from you direct your Letter to Cap" James Bullaigne in New Yorke. This letter reached Winthrop, July 4, and was answered, July 18. In his reply, he says, I knew nothing of any intention of Mr. Hutchinson to set up such works [salt works] in these parts of the world. He mentions now New Jarsy, which is a place I know not nor have ever heard where it is-it would be good to consider the convenience of the place for that commodity and for the vending of it before expenses be laid out. (He adds,) Salt is brought in by ships for ballast, &c.-from Turtugas.* That last sentence, probably, put an end to the scheme for erecting salt-works in the new plantation, and to the Governor's dream of large profits. Whether the ship that bore the freight ever arrived at Piscataway, or not, is not known. Carteret himself did not reach New York until July 29.† Some few days, probably, are occupied in arranging with Gov. Nicolls the question of jurisdiction; the latter being not at all pleased with the partition of the territory. Carteret now learns, for the first time, that Nicolls, by virtue of his unrepealed commission from the Duke of York, has given land patents already for two extensive plantations,—one between the Raritan and the Passaic Rivers, and the other below Sandy Hook and the Raritan, afterwards Middletown and Shrewsbury. Carteret seems not to have entered any protest against these grants, nor to have objected to them at all, but rather to have been gratified at the speedy prospect of peopling his new colony. He determines to locate himself with the Ogden company, and to make their plantation. the seat of his government. At that time, the thought had not, apparently, entered his mind, that the Indian purchase and Nicolls' Grant were of * 3 Mass. His. Soc. Coll., X. 52-3. "Y" LP of the 20th of Jan. came to my hands the 22d of June; 'twas sent from Capt. Carteret then at Virginia, but is here arrived the 29th of July." Gov. Nicolls, in N. Y. Col, Doc., III. 103. no validity. It does not occur to him, that he can locate himself where he pleases, and appropriate to himself and the Lords whatever lands he chooses. He enters not into conflict with the planters, but sets himself to acquire, by purchase, an interest in their lands. Learning that Baily, of Jamaica, is willing to part with his rights in the town, he enters into a negotiation with him, soon after his arrival, and buys him out. The deed given him by Baily bears date, September 8, 1665. Its connection with subsequent events makes it important to place much of it on record in these pages. It is as follows: Indenture between John Bayles of Jamaica in Yorkshire upon Long Island of the one part and Philip Carteret, Esq', Governor of the Province of New Jersey upon the main land of America of the other part. For and in consideration of a valuable sum to him in hand paid by the said Philip Carteret, the said Bayles hath sold to Philip Carteret, all and every my Lott or Lotts part or parts of a certaine peice of land scituate lying and being on the Maine Continent of America commonly called or known by the Name of Arthur Cull or Emboyle, or what other Name or Names soever It hath been or now is Called by which said Parcell of Land he the said John Bayles with severall others did Lawfully purchase from the Natives or Indians as by his said Bill of Sayle from the Indians bearing date the 28th day of October 1664 will more at large appear which was confirmed by The Right Hon. Col. Richard Nicholl Governor of His Royal Highness Territoryes in America his Grant bearing date the first day of December, 1664. To have and to hold, &c.* What Baily sold to Gov. Carteret was not one fourth part of the patent, but simply his lot, or lots, part or parts, of the land, his rights as one of the Associates,-a third lot right;—sold, February 10, 1663, by Carteret, to a new comer, William Pyles, of Piscataway in New England; "lying and being on the South side of the Creek." So, also, in Nov. 1668, he purchases the third lot right of Capt. Robert Sealey, deceased, for £45. By these, and several other similar transactions on record, Carteret becomes a party to the Indian purchase; admits that the land is "lawfully purchased from the natives;" and confesses that the Grant by Gov. Nicolls conveys a valid title. The settlers, therefore, had every * E. J. Book of Surveys A. 1, 2 II. 2, 182. reason to be satisfied with their titles, confirmed, as they had so fully been, by the two Governors, Nicolls and Carteret. The name of the town had evidently not been determined at the date of Baily's deed, or it would have been specified. It is, therefore, quite probable, that, in this case, tradition reports truly, when it affirms, that the town took its name from the Lady Elizabeth, the wife of Sir George Carteret. Of this lady, Samuel Pepys, one of her familiar friends, bears this testimony, during the following year, Oct. 15, 1666: "She cries out of the vices of the Court, and how they are going to set up plays already. She do much cry out upon these things, and that which she believes will undo the whole nation." It is well to know something of her, from whom is derived the honored name of ELIZABETH-TOWN.* * E. T. Bill, p. 28. Per contra, see Ans. to E, T. Bill, p. 20. CHAPTER IV. A. D. 1666. The "Concessions" - New Immigrants ers - Loss of Town Book-Extracts from it -- Oath of Allegiance - By whom taken - Names of the Associate FoundAlso of Carteret's Servants - Notices of Strickland and the six Petitioners-Bailey, Daniel and Nathaniel Denton, Benedict, Foster and Watson - Also of the Patentees, Baker and Ogden. THE town has now entered upon its work of subduing the wilderness, and planting the institutions of religion and civilization. The people are, at least, reconciled to the change in their government, believing that their rights will be as carefully guarded by Berkeley and Carteret, as they would have been by the Duke of York. "The Concessions," with which they now, for the first time, become acquainted, were well fitted to attract a large immigration from the puritan towns of New England, and the neighboring colony of New York. This instrument accorded the utmost freedom of conscience, consistent with the preservation of the public peace and order, in matters pertaining to religion; provided every practicable safeguard for political freedom; and offered the most liberal terms to immigrants. It committed the work of legislation and taxation to a Legislature, of which the popular branch were to be chosen directly by the people; and thus early established, in this favored colony, the doctrine, for which, a century later, the colonies so strenuously and successfully contended, that representation is not to be separated from taxation-that the people must have a voice in determining the expenses of government.* *Leaming and Spicer, pp. 12-26. Smith's History of N. J., pp. 512-21. E. T. Bill, pp. 12-16. E. J. Records, III. 66-74. Care was taken to give publicity to these Concessions. The Associates, with whom Carteret had wisely identified himself, found the document, doubtless, of considerable use, in overcoming the hesitancy of some of their former friends. and neighbors to embark in the new enterprise. Some few others, who had not, probably, thought previously of removing, but were somewhat unsettled, were thereby led to take up their abode in this new "El Dorado," the "Great West" of 1665. But the settlers of the first two or three years were mainly of one class, and of the same general origin-almost wholly New Englanders from Long Island and Connecticut. Very few of the planters, for the first five years, came over directly from the mother country. This will appear from an examination of the names of these pioneers, recorded as early as February 1665, and to be found on subsequent pages. Very soon after the commencement of their undertaking, various meetings for consultation and agreement, in relation to the division or allotment of the lands, and other regulations for the orderly transaction of the business of the town, were held, a record of which was made in a book provided for the purpose, by one of their number, appointed to this service, and known as the Town Clerk. The character of this Town Book, and the nature of the record, may be seen by reference to the Town Book of Newark, published in 1864 by the N. Jersey Historical Society. This book, so necessary for a proper understanding of the early history of the town, was safely kept, and records continued to be made in it, until the year 1718, when, during the troubles of that period, the book disappeared, having been purloined or destroyed, or both, and has not since been forthcoming. The loss is irreparable. Extracts from this book have been preserved, the particularity of which deepens the regret felt at the loss of so much invaluable material. The earliest record, of which we have now any knowledge, is the following: At a Meeting Court held at Elizabeth Town in the Province of New Jersey, the 19th of February 1668, by the Freeholders and Inhabitants |