The Barnegat-Pennsauken line

The very first mention of a dividing line between Sir George Carteret's half-interest in New Jersey and the other half (which had been Lord Berkeley's), is in a confirming grant of July 29, 1674 to Carteret only. There was no corresponding mention of Berkeley at that time, apparently because Berkeley had recently sold his interest to Edward Byllynge, (through the agency of John Fenwick, since Byllynge was in bankruptcy).

The name "Pennsauken" is not used in the grant to Carteret, but being the first major creek south of the Rancocas, it must be the "certain Creek in Delaware river, next adjoining to and below a certain creek in Delaware river called Renkokus Kill..." There is also, presently, no "creek called Barnegat" but this is probably a reference to Oyster Creek.

Below is the precise wording of the boundaries of Nova Caesarea from the grant to Carteret:

"...James Duke of York, doth hereby acknowledge, and thereof doth acquit and discharge the said Sir George Carteret, his heirs and assigns for ever by these presents, hath granted, bargained, sold, released and confirmed, and by these presents doth grant, bargain, sell, release and confirm unto the said Sir George Carteret, his heirs and assigns for ever, all that tract of land adjacent to New England, and lying and being to the westward of Long Island and Manhitas Island, and bounded on the east part by the main sea, and part by Hudson's river, and extends southward as far as a certain creek called Barnegatt, being about the middle, between Sandy Point and Cape May, and bounded on the west in a strait line from the said creek called Barnegat, to a certain Creek in Delaware river, next adjoining to and below a certain creek in Delaware river called Renkokus Kill, and from thence up the said Delaware river to the northermost branch thereof, which is forty-one degrees and forty minutes of latitude; and on the north, crosseth over thence in a strait line to Hudson's river, in forty-one degrees of latitude; which said tract of land is hereafter to be called by the name or names of New Caeserea or New Jersey..."

see the entire wording of the July 29, 1674 grant here at Yale's Avalon Project



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Last updated: 2007 Ninth Month, 10th.