Illustrated Booklet

The early days of Somerset County, NJ, and its various communities --

Basking Ridge, Bedminster Township, Belle Mead, Bernards Township, Bernardsville, Blackwells, Blawenburg, Bound Brook, Branchburg Township, Bridgewater Township, Far Hills, Flagtown (Flaggtown), Franklin Park, Franklin Township, Gladstone, Green Brook Township, Harlingen, Hillsborough Township, Kingston, Liberty Corner, Logtown, Lyons, Manville, Martinsville, Millington, Millstone, Montgomery Township, Neshanic Station (New Shannack), North Branch, North Plainfield, Peapack, Pluckemin (Pluckamin), Raritan, Rocky Hill, Skillman, Somerset, Somerville (County Seat), South Bound Brook, South Branch, Vealtown, Warren Township, Watchung, Weston and Zarephath -- are recalled through a mixture of colorful tales and factual data in this New 39 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 spiral-bound booklet is printed one-sided on 60# paper, with the fine print enlarged for easier reading. A sheet of clear vinyl protects 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; a Physical Description of the County, including "Chimney Rock"; Various Church Histories; a Copper Mine; the Somerville Water Power Co.; the House of William Paterson, where Aaron Burr once lived; a Biography of Gen. Frederick Frelinghuysen and tombstone epitaphs of his family; an artist's description of Washington, and an incident that made the general laugh heartily; Washington's Farewell to his Troops, written at Rocky Hill; How Wooden huts were constructed without Nails; a military execution at Middlebrook; the death of Capt. G. P. Voorhies; an excerpt from British Lt. Col. Simcoe's Military Journal detailing his expedition into the area, called one of the "handsomest exploits" of the Revolutionary War; and other interesting bits of history and trivia.  

The booklet contains delightful hand-drawn sketches by Barber and Howe depicting Gen. Charles Lee's Headquarters in Baskingridge, the Frelinghuysen Mansion, and the towns of Somerville and Bound Brook.

Wouldn't this make a unique gift?

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