Where is the OLDEST habited area of the Pinelands?
- Thread starter Fish1952
- Start date
I think it depends on what you mean by habited...the Lenni-Lenape go back a long way 
Let's not forget the Flintstones. Some evidence suggests that Stone Age people predated the American Indian by 10,000 years. I must concede however, that the Flintstones were actually labeled a Modern Stone Age Family by researchers, Hanna and Barbera.I think it depends on what you mean by habited...the Lenni-Lenape go back a long way
Here is an ad-ridden but informative article for consideration:
New evidence suggests Stone Age hunters from Europe discovered America
Are you defining the Pinelands as in the modern boundaries of the Pinelands National Reserve?
I think most of the continuously settled places within that boundary sprung up in the 18th century. There wasn't really much reason for people to stay inside the Pinelands. Even the Lenape didn't really do much in the Pinelands except go through them on their way to the ocean.
The first iron furnace in New Jersey was built in 1674 in Tinton Falls, which is outside the Pinelands, so that'd be your earliest year for furnaces showing up. Batsto was founded in 1766. Atsion was completed in 1768. The Cedar Bridge Tavern was built in 1740. There were settlers at Tuckerton as early as 1698. In 1700 Jacob Ong bought 100 acres of land in Northampton Township, although Ong's Hat doesn't show up on the maps until Thomas Gordon's 1834 Gazetteer.
If you want to step outside the modern boundary of the Reserve, the area around Medford started seeing European Settlers show up in 1670. There's a cabin in Mauricetown that shows up in the 1690s.
Old maps aren't much help. This map from 1685 doesn't show much in the way of settlements in the Pines. A map from 1667 shows a comically empty New Jersey, with just some forts along the Delaware, which most likely were built by the Swedes. Interestingly the "Kleyne Eyer Haven", "Groote Eyer Haven", and "Barnegat" show up along the Atlantic coast.
I think most of the continuously settled places within that boundary sprung up in the 18th century. There wasn't really much reason for people to stay inside the Pinelands. Even the Lenape didn't really do much in the Pinelands except go through them on their way to the ocean.
The first iron furnace in New Jersey was built in 1674 in Tinton Falls, which is outside the Pinelands, so that'd be your earliest year for furnaces showing up. Batsto was founded in 1766. Atsion was completed in 1768. The Cedar Bridge Tavern was built in 1740. There were settlers at Tuckerton as early as 1698. In 1700 Jacob Ong bought 100 acres of land in Northampton Township, although Ong's Hat doesn't show up on the maps until Thomas Gordon's 1834 Gazetteer.
If you want to step outside the modern boundary of the Reserve, the area around Medford started seeing European Settlers show up in 1670. There's a cabin in Mauricetown that shows up in the 1690s.
Old maps aren't much help. This map from 1685 doesn't show much in the way of settlements in the Pines. A map from 1667 shows a comically empty New Jersey, with just some forts along the Delaware, which most likely were built by the Swedes. Interestingly the "Kleyne Eyer Haven", "Groote Eyer Haven", and "Barnegat" show up along the Atlantic coast.
I have a book, "A Geography of New Jersey: The City in the Garden" that has a section on early settlements. There's a little map, but they seem to be around the edges of the Pines and not in the middle. Some that are shown are
Burlington (1678)
Coopers Ferry (1681)
Fort Nassau (1626)
Raccoon (1670's)
Salem (1675)
Greenwich (1675)
But there are others on this forum who know much more on this subject, I'm sure they will come along soon.
Burlington (1678)
Coopers Ferry (1681)
Fort Nassau (1626)
Raccoon (1670's)
Salem (1675)
Greenwich (1675)
But there are others on this forum who know much more on this subject, I'm sure they will come along soon.
I have driven past this cabin in Swedesboro a number of times and always thought it looked pretty cool, apparently it dates from 1654
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortonson–Van_Leer_Log_Cabin
[edit]Also see the link for the oldest buildings in NJ on that same page.
Last time I went by that cabin it was actually for sale.I have driven past this cabin in Swedesboro a number of times and always thought it looked pretty cool, apparently it dates from 1654
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortonson–Van_Leer_Log_Cabin
[edit]Also see the link for the oldest buildings in NJ on that same page.
Over the years I've driven all over Gloucester County on my way to someplace else, but never really knew much about it. Just found this page while looking for more info on that cabin (confirms it is privately-owned, which surprised me). Lots of other interesting info about early settlers here
www.gloucestercountynj.gov
Historical Sites | Gloucester County, NJ
Outside of the pines, but still in South Jersey, was the settlement of Townbank, founded by New England whalers on the Bay side of what is today Cape May County in 1632. Also known as Falmouth, New England Town, and Portsmouth Town, it is now under the waters of the Delaware Bay, just out of reach of today's Townbank section of North Cape May. While not technically Pine Barren country, the imagery of the contorted limbs on numerous wind-swept red cedars lends an equally desolate and eerie atmosphere on the timeworn peninsula.
