PREFACE.
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The work of gathering material and writing an accurate
History of Monmouth and Ocean Counties covering a
period of over two centuries, so full of interest to
residents of these counties and to the people of New Jersey,
generally, occupied the spare time of the author of this
work for nearly one-half of his life-time, or more than a
quarter of a century. Not being engaged in active
business during the last three years of his life, Mr.
Salter's time was exclusively devoted to research and
investigation for the purpose of securing reliable
information in regard to the early settlers of Old Monmouth
County of which the County of Ocean was once a part.
In order to accomplish this great undertaking, the official
records not only of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, and
a number of other counties of this State were searched,
but several other States were visited at great cost of time
and means and the State and county records patiently
and carefully examined- notably those of Western States,
to which many of the citizens of Monmouth and Ocean
Counties had from time to time emigrated. The result
was, the obtaining of a vast amount of valuable historical
information, the collection of a great number of interesting
local incidents, and unquestionably the fullest and most
valuable Genealogical Record of the first settlers of
Monmouth and Ocean Counties and their descendants, ever
compiled. For twenty-five years previous to his death
Mr. Salter was a corresponding member of the New
Jersey Historical Society and the recognized authority on
genealogical history, having been for years on its Stand-
ing Committee of Genealogy of New Jersey families. It
was conceded during the lifetime of the author that there
was no man in the State so thoroughly informed of the
history of first families of New Jersey (1664-1678) as
Edwin Salter.
The design in publishing this book, primarily, is to
carry out the long-felt desire of the deceased author to
furnish the citizens of Monmouth and Ocean counties
with a reliable and interesting historical work; secondly,
to perpetuate the honored name and memory of the
distinguished author, and thirdly, for the benefit of his
esteemed widow, who for so many years encouraged and
aided her husband in his arduous and responsible duties.
To the undersigned- between whom and the lamented
author there existed for nearly twenty years a close and
abiding friendship- was assigned the duty of editing and
preparing for publication the valuable material left by
the deceased historian. In this responsible undertaking
the Editor has studiously endeavored to omit nothing
essential to the completeness of the history, but has
striven to present the work in the form which lie believes
would have been acceptable to the lamented author. In
the hope that it may be equally so to the citizens of
Monmouth and Ocean counties, for whom it has especially
been prepared, the work is respectfully submitted.
December 1, 1889.
E. GARDNER, Editor,
Bayonne, N. J.