Cape May was discovered by Sir Henry Hudson in The Half Moon August 28, 1609. The first permanent colony in the area of Cape May County was located Nummy Island is another purported burial place. Although he anchored near Cape May Point and explored the area, there was never an attempt to settle the land. To continue supporting this vital reporting, please consider a digital subscription or contribution. President, Cape May Point becoming the Summer Capital during the season of 1890. With records available for almost 400 years of the state's history, your family is sure to be found in a variety of records available online and at the many archives and libraries located throughout the state. Many county roads today, including Route 9, Route 47, Breakwater Road in Lower Township, Indian Trail in Middle Township and Route 50 in Upper Township follow Lenape trails. Point, where he also built Beadle Memorial Chapel. Two articles from the early issues of The Cape May County Magazine of History and Genealogy. They established their congregation and built a church. The area was first settled by Europeans in the early 1600s, and we were the third state to ratify the US Constitution. The history of Cape May County, New Jersey : from the aboriginal times to the present day by Stevens, Lewis Townsend, 1868-Publication date 1897 Topics Cape May County (N.J.) -- History, Cape May County (N.J.) -- Biography Publisher Cape May City, N.J. : … Cape May County was still part of the English colonies, but far enough away from the seat of government for the settlers to practice their religion without interference and still feel that they were English citizens. The men who came to this area were whalers from Long Island and New England. [Cedar Swamp Creek by Joyce Van Vorst, 1977]. The earliest deed between the Dutch and the Lenape in the Colony of New Jersey was signed in 1664 in Lower Township. The Helby surveys were sold out to settlers at an early day, but the Bellers title was the occasion of much difficulty. They were often hired to work on the whaling boats and in building homes. Low 29F. This restored, 19th Century South Jersey Farming Village depicts life as it was in Cape May County in the mid 1800s. His sister had married a white minister, become a Christian and raised a family. •  Template  •  County Coordinator: Laverne Tornow. (Stevens History of Cape May County.). The 11 room Cresse Holmes house treats you to a glimpse of life as it was in Cape May County from colonial to modern times. Within a few years, however, the Lenape felt the area was getting too crowded. Stevens, 1897. He never set foot on the land, but he named the south cape, Cape Cornelius (now Cape Henlopen in Delaware) and the north cape, Cape Mey. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. It is planned to When she died at a young age, her brother, whose real name was Manomie, stayed so he could help raise her children in the Lenape tradition. Later, English settlers changed the spelling to Cape May. It wasn’t until the late 1680’s that English immigrants came who would stay. Once whaling was over, the camps were abandoned until the next season. Will you be the next to find evidence of our early past? The early Quaker settlers in New Jersey "bought" the land from the Lenni-Lenape. continued to be a borough until 1896. Early Legislative Acts 1693 The Cape May County Court for the trial of small causes erected 1694 Cape May County empowered to elect five representatives. You have permission to edit this article. This database indexes warrants and surveys of the Proprietors of the provinces of East and West New Jersey, in the years 1670-1727. As it did, it pushed sand and dirt before it, creating the barrier islands. The Presbyterians settled along a large creek on the southern bayshore. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Clear to partly cloudy. Their first contact was with the Dutch. 29 May 1668: First meeting of the first General Assembly of New Jersey at Elizabethtown: 1673: Dutch recapture New York and New Jersey: 1674: Cession of New Netherlands to England – Treaty of Westminster: 1676 and 1687: Formal division into East and West Jersey : 3 Mar. Discover the past of Cape May County on historical maps. The proceeds from one whale would buy a house and lot on Long Island. But in his book 1491:  New Revelations of the Americas before Columbus, Charles C. Mann presents evidence that by the time white settlers arrived, as much as 95% of the native people had been lost to European diseases, primarily smallpox, introduced by European explorer and fishermen who visited the east coast of America. Their first contact was with the Dutch. He was the only member of his immediate family to settle in New Jersey. Genealogy Resources in Cape May County, New Jersey Research in New Jersey can be an exciting and rewarding experience. “The History of Cape May County” is the result of many years of research, and the author hopes that it will meet with the approbation of the public. Archaeological excavations have revealed some of the history of these people. Ethan Osborn was born on August 21, 1758 in Litchfield, Connecticut and died May 1, 1858 in Cumberland County, New Jersey. They built their first meeting house in the area of Beesley’s Point, but built the still standing, and still active, Seaville meeting house around 1704. The first settlers who came were primarily Quakers and Presbyterians. On a USGenWeb/NJGenWeb Web site These people were nomadic, trailing the game that they needed to survive. Daughter of Early Settlers Remembered By Rachel Rogish; Dec 17, 2019 ... Cape May County Herald 3-11-2020. north of Cape May Point on the shores of the Delaware Bay, between 1680 and 1710. The history of Cape May County, New Jersey : from the aboriginal times to the present day Contributor Names Stevens, Lewis Townsend, 1868- Created / Published Cape May City, N.J. : L.T. So what happened to the native people? have boats leave every hour, making the New Jersey coast resorts easily accessible to the people of the South and affording a delightful sight-seeing trip over the waters of the bay, which together with the modern concrete roads at either terminus, will present to the tourist one of the most pleasing trips in all the world. shows that a lot had been bought at Cape May, on which a beacon or lighthouse was to be erected." Detectives Conduct Death Investigation at Villas Residence, Pennsylvania Man Found Dead on Avalon Beach, Increase in Food Assistance Benefits for SNAP Recipients Expected, Deaths of Villas Couple Believed to be Murder-suicide, Plane Crash off Cape May Point Was a Suicide, NTSB Determines, Crest Man Faces Drug, Weapons Charges After Arrest in Wildwood, County Loses 4 to Covid; 101 New Cases Reported in 2-day Total, Blaze Caused by Fireworks Yields Roughly $5,000 in Damages to N. Wildwood Home, 310-seat Restaurant Proposed for Avalon Dunes, Cape May Court House - "A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves" Edward R. Murrow. CAPE MAY COUNTY. The Changing Landscape of Cape May County, New Jersey. Low 29F. There was one exception, however. This New Jersey state page of our website provides direct links to genealogy databases, books and information found on New Jersey genealogy and history. In 1497, Vasco da Gama sailed along the whole coast of South Africa on his way to India, landed at St Helena Bay for 8 days, and made a detailed description of the area. of Sunset Drive at the edge of Delaware Bay. By the time the white settlers arrived in Cape May County, there were only a few small clans remaining. Subject Headings however use of this text file, other than for personal use, is They may have been numerous. Once the English took over, they were not very accepting of any religions outside the Church of England. This circa 1909 photo of approximately Thirteenth and Beach Avenues looking east toward Cape May City, shows a glimpse of the torture spree. The Quakers settled in the north eastern part of the county, building farmhouses and farming as well as whaling. Since the land was fertile and there was plenty of native wood to harvest, whaling soon became a less important source of income. We wrap up the news from the Shore you love, and deliver it to your inbox, weekly. Primarily coming from the eastern end of Long Island and New England, they came to Cape May County for two primary reasons. 1790) & A bio of Rev. The photos show what Cape May looked like in the early 1900’s when the city’s roads were unpaved and the railroads ruled. Indeed, it may be safely said that four-fifths of the land included in Cumberland County was covered by surveys before 1700. Please support the Herald's journalism by subscribing or making a contribution. From: The history of Cape May County, New Jersey, from the aboriginal times to the present day, by Lewis T. Stevens; Cape May City, N.J.: When the last Ice Age ended over 10,000 years ago, the glaciers that covered northern New Jersey receded and the sea level began to rise. This resort was foudned in 1875 by Alexander Whilliden, Dr. V. M.D. Cape May Point (formerly Sea Grove) is situated at the western extremity Here the whaler could purchase almost 1000 acres for the same money. These Indians lived in small villages and not only hunted and fished, but also harvested edible plants and acorns, which they ground into flour. By the 1750’s, whaling was no longer a primary industry in the county as farming, timbering, fishing and ship building became more important sources of income. Members of other religions were persecuted and often thrown in jail. The first Englishmen to arrive came in the late 1660’s, however, they were not settlers. Trump was, is and always will be a willfully ignorant buffoon. Permission is granted solely to view these map images. New Jersey is loaded with history, and some of … The discovery of Paleo points in the area is further evidence that these prehistoric people spent time here. Some stone artifacts that have been found in the county were made from stone found in northern New Jersey and as far west as central Pennsylvania, indicating a robust trading network among the Lenape tribes. The present lighthouse was built in 1859. These families include Hewitt, Leonard, Edwards, Davis, Spicer, Leaming, Townsend, Whitlock, Richardson, Crawford, Dennis, Stillwell and Taylor. As the game they hunted moved on, so did the hunters, leaving just a trace of their stay. Court records show they were treated equitably by the early settlers. [Cedar Swamp Creek by Joyce Van Vorst, 1977]. He was appointed Postmaster General by President Harrison in 1889 and was visited by the President and family, where they expressed much appreciation of the attractions of the resort, that, through the efforts of Mr. Wanamaker and a few friends, a beautiful cottage was built and presented to the The current “Old Brick” Presbyterian Church in Cold Spring is a descendent of that original congregation, although not the original building. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index for New Jersey, 1500s-1900s($) The second reason was religious freedom. Tomlin's "Cape May Spray," thus describes the natural beauty of this It is now a part of Lower Township. In a short time, houses were built and the townspeople were farming outlying areas. Support the Herald; Support Local Journalism, Coronavirus: Local Information and Coverage. United States of America - This is sickening. restricted without written permission from the transcriber (Photo courtesy of The Summer City by the Sea, An Illustrated History of Cape May, NJ. Stone points are often found along the bayshore and occasionally in plowed fields. We... Wildwood - Not over, not by a long shot. A letter (around 1800) that reflects on the reason for a Migration of some of Cape May County Residents to Clermont County Ohio. He shows up in the 1830, 1840, and 1850 Census in Cumberland County. There were, after all, over 900 white residents by 1700. ... men. TRANSCRIBED BY JANICE BROWN, County Coordinator in 2006. We are committed to ensuring our readers can make critical decisions for themselves and their families during this ongoing situation. by Emil R. Salvini, Rutgers University Press- 1998) What we do know is that artifacts left behind by the earliest residents of the county are still turning up. The Early Settlers. Henry Hudson sailed up the Delaware River on the Half Moon in 1609. Clear to partly cloudy. When the Dutch governed Long Island, they tolerated all religions. These early whalers would set up watch towers along the barrier islands and the bay front and, when a whale was spotted, would launch a boat very similar to today’s life guard boats directly from the beach. George Taylor, Jacob Dayton, John Shaw, Timothy Brandereth and John Crawford represented the County in 1697 Some ten years ago the author began the keeping of a scrap book of cape May county history, among other things, and this constant accumulation of facts resulted, about a year ago, in a determination on the part of the author to prepare a history of the county, which would portray its gradual dev… No other permission to use the map images on these webpages is granted. They treated the natives much more humanly then most. Of course, once the English booted the Dutch out of the New Netherland Colony in 1674, that deed was no longer honored. Although there were numerous farms, they never founded an actual town. (who has edited, compiled and added new copyrighted text to same). Edited by GET NJ, COPYRIGHT 2002. 1897, page 449. John Wanamker had a handsome summer residence for many years at the In the 19th century, it was common for farmers plowing their fields in Upper, Middle and Lower Townships to turn up axe heads, points, nutting stones, fishing net sinkers and other artifacts. Old maps of Cape May County on Old Maps Online. The First Navigators - Royal Grants - Settlements of the Dutch, the Swedes end the English - New Jersey Established - Division of the Province into East and West Jersey. They hunted bison (yes, there were bison in New Jersey), and a much larger specie of deer than today’s, that roamed the area. The first permanent colony in the area of Cape May County was located north of Cape May Point on the shores of the Delaware Bay, between 1680 and 1710. The primary purpose of the Dutch East India Company was to establish trade with the Indians, setting up trading posts where the Dutch exchanged commodities such as iron pots for animal furs and skins. Behind these islands, meadows with meandering creeks and small ponds, and wooded stands of oak and cedar attracted a variety of wildlife. It has an electric light works, a water plant, four or five hotels, several boarding houses, a public school, a Baptist, a Catholic and an Episcopal Church. We will probably never know. Williamson in September 1905. The population was decimated by disease and culture clashes. When he testified that he had legally bought the whale, his testimony was accepted and the seller was arrested as the real thief. History of Townbank. Following that wildlife came prehistoric man. Is “King Nummy’s” grave somewhere in Lower Township or Middle Township? The Lenape simply moved on into Salem County (now Salem and Cumberland Counties) and into Burlington County (now Burlington, Atlantic and Ocean Counties.) View our print e-Edition publication online here! Mayflower Pilgrim descendants in Cape May County, New Jersey : memorial of the three hundredth anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, 1620-1920; a record of the Pilgrim descendants who early in its history settled in Cape May County, and some of their children throughout the several states of the union at the present time Visitors are welcome at certain house. When the county was established in 1692, the influence of the Quaker settlers and their belief of equality for all were reflected in the early laws. Not many people, though, know the story of the earliest people who were in Cape May County. Trump has not only created the greatest divide in the US since the Civil War but has also enabled corrupt politicians on both sides to further the divide within our government. The Dutch East India Company never established any posts in Cape May County, however. We recently noticed many old postcards appearing on a Cape May fan page on Facebook. The light of the revolving type, flashing every thirty seconds and can be seen twenty miles. Manomie died in Cape May County and the place of his burial has been debated for almost 300 years. A burial site was uncovered in Upper Township and several temporary camp sites were found in Lower Township, including one at the Cape May County Airport. The named the creek New England Creek and called their settlement New England Town or Portsmouth. Way; Sea Isle City, N.J.: Atlantic Printing and Publishing Co., 1930. The original source of this information is in the public domain, History as listed in part on Township of Lower Website>> and updated in 2018 by current President Dean A. Umscheid. Sir George Carteret, a governor of New Jersey, named the land New Jersey because Carteret had been the governor of the Isle of Jersey in the English Channel. The old Lighthouse is always interesting to the visitor and will well repay for the energy expended in climbing to the observatory at the top, where a wonderful view is given of the ocean, bay and surrounding territory. He married Elizabeth Riley of Cumberland County. Situated between Route 9 and Seashore Road in Cold Spring is Historic Cold Spring Village. EARLY SETTLERS SURNAMES for ATLANTIC COUNTY, NJ: If you have a family tree published on the internet, and would like it linked here, please send me the web site address. Historic Town Bank (aka New England Town, Portsmouth Town, and Falmouth) was the first settlement in New Jersey founded by Long Island and New England whalers around the year 1632, they settled on the sandy bluffs along the Delaware Bay shore. COPIES OF … Many people know the story of Henry Hudson’s “discovery” of Cape May and of Cornelius Jacobson Mey’s exploring the area and naming it after himself. 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