The early days of Middlesex County, New Jersey, and its various communities -- Bonhamtown, Cranberry, Matouchin, Monroe, New Brunswick, New Market (Quibbletown), North Brunswick, Perth Amboy, Piscataway, South Amboy, South Brunswick, Uniontown, Washington, and Woodbridge -- are recalled through a mixture of colorful tales and factual data in this New 54-Page Booklet reprinted from two hard to find books: the 1847 edition of John Warner Barber and Henry Howe's Historical Collections of the State of New Jersey and New Jersey, a Guide to Its Present and Past, a WPA project published in 1939. The 8.5" x 11" spiral-bound booklet is printed on 60# paper, with the fine print enlarged for easier reading. A sheet of clear vinyl has been added to protect the front cover.
The Howe/Barber history covers the development of this area until about 1844, while excerpts from the WPA book, give a nostalgic glympse from a 1939 vantage point, including interesting historical notes, especially as they relate to sightseeing possibilities.
Among the many and varied topics in the booklet are:
Early Settlers; Physical Description of the Land; Selection of Ambo Point as a City Site; Various Church Histories; Boyhood Memories of William Dunlap (painter and author) regarding Slavery and British Soldiers; History of Rutger's College (formerly Queens College); "Prigmore's Swamp"; British Account of the Evacuation of New Brunswick in 1777; Capt. Adam Hyler and Capt. Marriner, Whaleboat Privateers; William Lyon's Bloody Feet, John Schureman's War Adventures and other Revolutionary War Stories; William Paterson, who helped frame the US Constitution; Bio of Gen. Zebulon Pike, explorer and soldier; Copper Mine near New Brunswick; David Brainerd, Missionary, extracts from his Journal; Special WPA Sections on New Brunswick and Perth Amboy, including maps; Small Maps of the area; and other interesting bits of history and trivia.
The booklet contains delightful hand-drawn sketches by Barber and Howe depicting: Perth Amboy from Staten Island; Rutgers' College; New Brunswick (full page); Presbyterian Church and Academy, Cranberry.
Wouldn't this make a unique gift?