We copy the following from the celebrated but quite rare work of Oldmixon, published in 1708.* The capitals, orthography and italics are about as in the original.

After describing Middlesex county, he says: "We cross over the river from Middlesex into

Monmouth County; Where we first meet with Middleton a pretty Good Town consisting of 100 Families and 30,000 Acres of Ground on what they call here Out Plantations. 'Tis about 10 or 12 miles over Land, to the Northward of Shrewsbury and 26 miles to the Southward of Piscattaway. Not far off, the Shoar winds itself about like a Hook and being sandy gives Name to all the Bay.

Shrewsbury is the most Southern Town of the Province and reckon'd the chief Town of the Shire. It contains about 160 Families and 30,000 Acres of Out Plantations, belonging to its Division. 'Tis situated on the Side of a fresh Water Stream, thence called Shrewsbury River, not far from its Mouth. Between this Town and Middleton is an Iron Work but we do not understand it has been any great Benefit to the Proprietors. Col. Morris is building a Church at the Falls. There's a new town in the County called

Freehold, which has not been Laid out and inhabited long. It does not contain as yet above 40 Families, and as to its Out Plantations we suppose they are much the same in number with the rest and may count it about 30,000 acres.

We have not divided the counties into Parishes and that for a good reason, there being none, nor indeed a Church in the whole Province worth that Name. But there are several Congregations of Church of England men as at Shrewsbury, Amboy, Elizabeth Town and Freehold whose Minister is Mr. John Reak; his Income is 65£ a year; and a Church is building at Salem.

In another place Oldmixon in speaking of the first settlers of New Jersey says:

"We must note that most of the first English Inhabitants in this country (East and West Jersey) were Dessenters, and most of them Quakers and Anabaptists. These people are generally industrious; Be their Hypocrisy to themselves if they are Hypocrites; but we must do them the Justice to own, that they are the fittest to inhabit a new discovered Country, as possessing Industry, and shunning those public Vices which beget Idleness and Want. Their enemies drove great numbers of them out of England, and the Jerseys had their share of them. The People here are for this Reason Dissenters to this Day, there being but two Church of England Ministers in both Provinces; and this may be one reason why there are no Parish Churches, which the Inhabitants may be afraid to build, least it might be a temptation for more Orthodox Divines to come among them.

A gentleman asking one of the Proprietaries 'If there were no Lawyers in the Jerseys?' Was answered 'No.' And then 'If there were no Physicians?' The Proprietor replied 'No.' 'Nor Parsons?' adds the Gentleman. 'No,' says the Proprietor. Upon which the other cry'd 'What a happy place must this be and how worthy the name of Paradice!' We do not perhaps differ more from this gentleman than we agree with him."

Oldmixon derived his information of New Jersey from two of the Proprietors as will be seen by the following extract from his preface:

"Mr. Dockwra and Dr. Cox were both so kind as to inform him fully of the Jerseys and Mr. Pen did him the same Favor for Pennsylvania; these three Gentlemen doing him the Honor to admit him into their Friendship."

Ex-Governor Parker, dec'd, in his valuable address before the New Jersey Historical Society, produced the old town book of Middletown township, which gives the history of this section of East Jersey from 1667 to 1702. After the Dutch conquest in 1673, it was stated that little or nothing is recorded in the town book during their brief rule of less than a year.

The Dutch had the supremacy in New York and New Jersey until 1664, when the English conquered the Dutch. In 1673, a war having again broken out between England and Holland, a small Dutch squadron was sent over and arrived at Staten Island, July 30th. Captain Manning, the English officer temporarily in command at New York, surrendered at once without any effort to defend the place and the Dutch again resumed sway over New York, New Jersey and settlements along the Delaware. They retained it however only a few months, as by a treaty made in February following, these places were ceded back to England, though the English appear not to have taken formal possession until November following.

During this short time while the Dutch were again in authority, embracing the time that the Middletown township book records but little or nothing, the following items relating to old Monmouth, are found among the official records of the Dutch at New York. The first is an order issued shortly after their arrival; the orthography is given as found.

"The inhabitants of Middletown and Shrewsbury, are hereby charged and required to send their deputies unto us on Tuesday morning next, for to treat with us upon articles of surrendering their said towns under the obedience of their High and Mighty Lords, the States General of the said United Provinces, and his serene Highness, the Prince of Orange, or by refusall we shall be necessitated to subdue the places thereunto by force of arms.

"Dated at New Orange this 12th day of August, A. D. 1673.

                                               "CORNELIS EVERTSE, Jr. 
                                               "Jacob Benckes." 

"August 19th, 1673. Middletown, Shrewsbury and other towns in Achter Coll, to name two deputies each, who shall nominate three persons for Schout** and three for Secretarys, out of which said nominated persons by us shall be elected for each town, three magestrates and for the six towns, one Schout, and one Secretary.

                                               "JACOB BENCKES. 
                                               "CORNELIS EVERTSE, Jr." 

Achter Coll above mentioned, is said to mean "beyond the hills," that is, beyond Bergen Hills. The Dutch in New York, it is stated, sometimes called Old Monmouth and other parts of East Jersey, beyond Bergen Hills, by this name.

"April 19th, 1674. A certain proclamation being delivered into Council from the Magestrates of the Toune of Middletoune, prohibiting all inhabitants from departing out of said toune, unless they give bail to return as soon as their business will have been performed, or they be employed in public service &c., requesting the Governors approval of the same, which being read and considered, it is resolved and ordered by the Governer General and Council, that no inhabitant can be hindered changing his domicile, within the Province unless arrested for lawful cause; however ordered that no one shall depart from the toune of Middletoune, unless he previously notifies the Magestrates of his intention."