the Air is wholesomer and the Countrey far more pleasant and not troubled with Musketaes which breeds in the salt Meadows upon the mouths of the Rivers where the Salt-water Ebbs and Flows And for these Reasons we would as soon choise to settle above upon the Rivers as below For though ships of burden cannot come up very farr in the Rivers yet Boats and Cannoes may which are sufficient to carry too and fro such things as are needfull for those that desire to live a Countrey life and do not follow Trading or Merchandizing Towns and Cities being only fit for such And indeed the Countrey People themselves begin to be desirous to go backwards into the Countrie and settle And we believe that if they had not setled suddenly at their first coming before they were well acquainted with and had viewed all the Countrie they had most of them gone further up for we know some of them that have sold their Plantations below and gone backwards and setled new ones and such as have lived any while in the Countrey upon Trades or Merchandizing before they setled Plantations have gone and setled backwards as particularlie the Merchants of New York who have many of them setled Plantations on the Rariton River and choised to go far above those that first setled and their Plantations though they be far later yet are of much more value than those that are below There is a tract of Land upon Milston River which lyes far above any that is as yet taken up that was pitched upon by a person well known and experienced in these Countries upon which he intended to setle a considerable Town and ingadged many Families in New-England to come and settle there and had sold them land who being better dequainted with the state of things in America then any here in Scotland can be would not left their own Coasts in New-England and gone there and planted backwards if it had been inconvenient or disadvantagious But this person they engaged with not taking the right way to effectuate his designe was forced much against his will to desist The Governour of the Province refusing him the land upon any terms which so vexed the People in New-England that he had treated with and sold a part of the land to that he durst not be seen in their Countrey for a considerable time afterwards And besides these Rivers there are many pleasant Brooks and Rivolets all over the Countrey that run into the greater Rivers upon which many curious Plantations may be setled So that although many thousands were going over we know there is Land enough to accommodate them there being Countries as yet in a manner untaken up and particularlie from Shrewsberry to Little-Egg-Harbor which is a large Countrey altogether as yet untaken up and towards the South-west-part of it an excellent Bay or Inlet of the Sea called Barnagate wherein runs a River This place we have heard commended by many to be the best place for Fisherie upon that Coast and that the Land about it is good and convenient appears by the desire of several of the Countrie People who to our knowledge offered to make purchase of land there It was envyed by the Governour of a Neighbouring Province who could he obtained libertie would have planted it with People from his own Countrie So this place being altogether untaken up may well accommodate many People especiallie those that desire to be upon a Navigable River or Bay it being a place where Vessels may come in It seems among other things these Persons writes That there is not Land purchased of the Indians It s true the whole Countrie is not purchased from them but there is as much purchased as is needful at present and more then will be setled in haste For when we came away the Deputy Governour was treating for above sixty thousand Acres the greatest part of which was finallie agreed for and the rest very near agreed upon Seventeen thousand Acres of it lyeth betwixt Rava River and the Rariton River five thousand Acres lying betwixt two Creiks the one called Chcesquaks and the other Chingaroras which are the Indian names and thirty two thousand Acres lying betwixt that Chingaroras upwards in the Countrey and the lands of Midleton and Shrewsberry and eight thousand Acres lying upon the Rariton River and several other Parcels in other places in all which places there is aboundance of good land which is altogether untaken up unless what may be taken up of it by these Persous that are lately gone over and are arrived since our coming away so that certainly very many people must go over before this can be all setled and to Purchase more of the Indians untill this or the greatest part of it be setled were not prudence for whereas now the Indians part with their land for a small matter they would if People seemed too earnest to purchase all in a sudden augment their price These things being considered we know not what reason of discouradgement there is to binder any from engadging in that Countrey And indeed we are sory that any thing shauld appear to stop our Countrey People that are inclinable to go and settle there for we are sure that if they knew and understood the nature of the Country and how easily a man may procure a plentifull Livelyhood for his family in those parts they would not account those that have rashly written these discouradging Letters their Friends And because we are informed that it is reported in some places that we have given an ill report of the Countrey We do hereby Declare it to be false for as it truely deserves we have alwayes commended it and encouradged such as we have have found inclinable to go thither as is well known to those among whom we have conversed since our return from thence and as may appear be several Letters we write to our Friends while we were in that Countrey wherein we alwayes acknowledged that the Countrer did deserve that good Commendation which it generally got and this hath been confirmed by many Letters from several Persons that are arrived there since our coming away who have not been sor ash and unadvised in their Censures as these others have been This we thought fit to give forth for the satisfaction of such as are desirous to be informed of the Countrcy from those who have been Inbabitants for a time therein and have been Eye and Ear Witnesses to the State and Affairs thereof testifying under our hands what we have here written to be true we remain well-wishers to all our Countrey People David Barclay Althur Forbes At Aberdeen the 5th day of March 1685. David Mudies Letter to his Wife New-Perth the 12. December 1684. My heart I Hope this shall find you and your Children in Good bealth and I wish in as much satisfaction as I and our Children are here far beyond my expectation and others my well-wishers who are with you my last to you
AN ADVERTISEMENT Concerning the Province of EAST-NEW-JERSEY IN AMERICA Published for the Information of such as are desirous to be concerned therein or to transport themselves thereto EDINBVRGH Printed by John Reid Anno DOM. 1685. AN ADVERTISEMENT Concerning the Province of EAST-NEW-JERSEY IN AMERICA THE certain and undoubted account of the Province of East-New-Jersey hath been so authentically verified now for two years past by the testimony of persons of unquestionable Credit who have written from thence As also by the Verbal account of severals who having been many Moneths upon the place have since returned that it seems strange there should be any further need to inculcate the verity or certainty of it And yet to this day for all the clamors that have been raised all unanimosly agree even those Letters whereupon the late noise hath been built in asserting the healthfulness pleasantness and fertilty of the Countrey its advantagious Scituation for Trade and plenty and safety of excellent Herbors and Inletts so that no Ship was ever known through the uneasiness or disadvantage of the Coast to be thrown away nor yet the People to melt away by decease incident and customary in the Countrey which those who Industriously seek to spread reports to the disadvantage of this Province dare not affirm in favours of that interest they seek to set up by decrying it without being convict of manifest falshood also all the reports agrees in the plenty of Cattle and Corn and Fruits of all kinds already there and of Fish and Fowl of all sorts But the ground of all these clamors are founded upon some expressions of a letter written by John Campbel to the Lord Secretary Lundin which because they have been industriously represented many degrees worse then really they are are here verbatim insert New-Perth 9th of October 1684. My Lord WE came here on Friday the last of September and found but bad Quarters there being but four Houses built upon the Proprietors account which are not worthie to be called houses they are but little with one Chimney in every one of them having but two low Rooms and garrets above and scarce will hold out Snow or Drift and they are possessed by others that are here There are four Houses considerable building upon particular mens accounts that will be finished this Winter one of them is for the Governour which Munivarde possest as it was and calls it the Earl of Perths-house The present Governour-Depute lives at Elizabeth-town he came here to us on Wednesday last and took very great pains to accommodate us all and Lockharts Ship arrived the next day which made us very throng the Governour-Depute after he had settled us went alongs and shewed us the Townbounds that we might choise out our Town-interest which falls to be very little for the Town being alwayes computed to be 1500. Acres it proves to be after survey but a 1000. of this 1000. there is laid out for high wayes and publick uses 200. Acres so there remains to be divided for 24. Proprieters but 800. Acres of which 800. there is for every Proprieter within the Town 4. Acres for building on so that I have taken up for your Lordship having the half of a Proprietie in your own hand including what your Lo has disponed to Gauin Drummond and me 2 Acres which your Lo is oblidged by Act of Council here to build upon within a twelve moneth else the first that desires to build after the year is run out for the better advancing of the Town the Governour gives them what is left unbuilt but I got him to delay giving of your Lo to any bodie till I have your Lo return whither you resolve to build in the Town on not If your Lo do build 300. lib. will be the least that your Lo can allow to build sueh houses as are here building There is about 33. Acres to fall to every Proprieter within the Town of which John Reid possesses near the half of the Scots Proprieters share and has your Servants and Stock on it When I begin to talk of calling them to an account of the Stock sent over they say It cannot be done till the 4. years is out John Reid has a considerable dale of land under Corn and a stock of Cowes and Horse John Hanton has the other share in another place of the Countrie whom I have not yet seen I shew the Governour-depute here your Lo Commission to me and Instructions and desired he would lay out a convenient place near a River for a House and Plantation for your Lo But by all that I find there is no such thing to be had for all sucb places are already planted and taken up and by all appearance had not the Governour-depute purchased a tract of land a little before we came from the Natives there had not been enough to settle those who came in this two Ships There is a place called Chinkaroray which by the Governours letter is appointed to be preserved for the Proprieters and when the Depute Governour had surveyed it and compted what was of it there would not fall 3. Acres to every Proprieters share there being so much of it laid out alreadie So that as yet I can see no convenient place for your Lo. Munivarde and I with some others are going towards the Hills on Monday to see that land last purchased which is computed to be about 15000. Acres which Munivarde sayes he will have wholly to himself and 1000. more if it please him if not he will immediatly return home or to Mariland where be had very good offers of good Land I do not find no place as I hear of that is good untaken up within 5. or 6. miles of a portable River I have not as yet the Governour Deputes final resolution as to your Lo Plantation But I will get him to give your Lo an account of things as they are himself which he cannot do at the present he being so taken up with the People that is here My Lord as to what I have seen of the product of this Countrie there is very good Grain such as Indian-corn to a great increase English-wheat and Oats and no question Barley and Pease will grow which they are now going to try There is abundance of good Cattel Horse and Swine and some Sheep they will labour the ground twenty years without any dunging there are many good Meadowes upon the Rivers there is abundance of Deir Turkiefowles Quails and Partridges Some of our People has killed of them here very near the Town and Water-fowles in all Creiks and Rivers My Lord this is all I have to trouble your Lo with at present But if your Lo please to build in your share of the Town you would send your Commands by the first occasion with Provision for that end The Servants that are useful here are Carpenters and Brick-layers and Makers for they may make Brick where they found their houses this is all
Indian incumbrance He wrote hack That was not a right measure for the Indians were still offering the lard and it was better only to take it up as there came People But that if the fourth part of the People of Scotland should come they should not want Land upon that accompt for he could still procure it in time And therefore John Campbel saving if 15000. Acres had not been lately purchased from the Indians there had not been enough-to accommodate those that came in the last two Ships Which being write but five daves after his Arrival there shews he was not yet acquainted with the Method of that Countrey And yet by Munivards Letter it is obvious how easte that Indidian Incumbrance is since he write He was to have 20. miles squar for less than 250. lib sterling which yet is above three hundred thousand Acres so that the consequence of that purchase need not frighten any Yet Munitard hath been ignorant in that fancy since no Subject of the King of England dare purchase any within the bounds of any Patent granted by him but by allowance of the Government derived from him And as to Munivards Complants of his Bargain and that he was told by the Deputy Governour he knew not yet where his Land lay which yet might be truely said in an interest undivided as all the Land is till it be distinctly taken up the true mistery of that is known by Letters of a moneth latter date from Credible Persons that he refused to take up land for Reasons not proper here to insert This with the Letters and Testimonies before mentioned do sufficiently evidence how little ground there is for those reports that have been spread abroad and tho in particular many scurulous reports have past upon Robert Barclay upon this occasion yet none durst ever challange him to his face as having done injustice in this matter and to shew how false they are let it be considered that tho he might have put a considerable sum of money in his pocket by selling of part of his own Propreity yet he never did it but only procured from others in England Sharers to such as desired out of Zeal to advance the Interest of his Countrey men that though there hath been half a Propriety bought since this clamour was raised and that he might have so disposed of the half of his own and yet have reserved as great an Interest as any Scots-Man hath he choised rather to procure it from England which shews he neither sought his own advantadge nor yet hath no Diffidence of the value of the Province notwithstanding of those clamours And for the other wild reports that have been industriously spread upon him as to that matter they being but a Mass of envy and malice which of themselves evanish as such which every Body is ashamed to own they are not worth the taking notice unto Here Followeth the Testimony of some Persons that were many Moneths in the Province with an abstract of some Letters write by Persons that are lately gone Over WHereas we understand that there are some Letters come from East-Jersey of late from some Persons that are lately gone over there wherein they give an ill Character of the Countrey as if there were not in it land to accommodate those who have purchased Interests there although this without doubt may startle those that have not been in the Countrey and do not know the present state of it yet to us it seemeth not strange for had we given ear to the Reports of many persons who have been long Inhabitants there we should have write no less our selves but we soon perceived their design in it who being unwilling that others should come in among them and share of their Advantages and especially our Countrey People of whom they were most jealous because they saw that they took a right way to improve their Interests there did what they could to discourage us telling us that all the best land was taken up and many other stories to disswade us from setling our selves or advising any of our Friends and Countrey People to come and settle there But after we had been a while in the Countrey and had occasion to see the Land and other Conveniencies of it we found there was no regard to be had to these reports and saw it was out of meer prejudice they endeavored to discourage us because they perceived that the Scots Proprietors of the Countrey were in good earnest and as they had begun to send over People and make setlements upon their Lands so they would proceed and examine all other affairs in the Countrey which was very unwelcome to those Planters not only by reason of the invalidity and unjustness of the Titles whereby many of them claimed so great tracts of Land as they pretended was already taken up but because such of them as had good and sufficient Rights to some parcells of land were run so far in the arrears of their Quit-rents that it would pinch them to pay all they were owing to the Proprietors and they saw if the Proprietors proceeded in sending over People and otherwayes improving their Interests they must either pay or part with some of their lands which they were loath to do to any and especially to Scots People and so they thought that if they could but discourage those that came first over it would hinder others from coming and make the Proprietors careless of their Interests We doubt not but these persons who have been allarumed with these reports at their first arrival will if they be not altogether careless of their own or the Interests of their Friends there and take for granted every thing that the Old-Planters say without further inspection into the Countrie write in another strain for we know there is yet abundance of good land to be taken up the Countrie being large and but a skirt of it as yet inhabited It is from the place called Little-Egg-Harbour to the extent of the bounds of it upon Hudsons River reckoned 120. miles at least and from thence over to Delavare River it is affirmed by them that have travelled it to be above 100. miles and besides Hudsons River there are several other brave Rivers upon which there is land yet to take up as the Rariton Pissaick and Hackinsack Rivers And also the South-River and Milston River and many other Creiks and Rivers upon all which there is good land to be taken up and aboundance of Meadow and although some of the land upon the mouth and a little upwards upon some of these Rivers be taken up yet we know that the land above which is yet untaken up though it be not altogether so convenient for Trading so as to have Ships come to it it hath other conveniencies exceeding that below For the land is better and it is generally observed in these Countries that the farther up the better the land is and as the Soil is better so also