MySource:Quolla6/Stillwell, 1903:Vol 2:398 et seq

Source:Stillwell, 1903 Historical and Genealogical Miscellany, Vol. 2:398

Stillwell's commentary on the first town book, plus his extract of the first lot holders for the Monmouth plantation as contained in that town book. See also MySource:Stillwell, 1903 Vol 2:399 for a second series of lots

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The First Town Book is probably the oldest document of any size in the State of New Jersey , and possibly with one exception, (Newark), is the only perfect record of any settlement on the original Nicolls ' patent, most of the records of the towns on this land grant having either been lost or much mutilated. Between December, 1664, and December, 1666, the settlement of Elizabethtown , Middletown , Shrewsbury , Woodbridge , Piscataway and Newark , was effected by English people who came from Long Island and New England . The Dutch who held these lands prior to 1664, defeated all attempts to settle in this region by burdensome restrictions. When, however, the Dutch were overthrown and the English became supreme, Nicolls , the Governor of the Province and representative of its owner, James , Duke of York , granted two patents, which, from their liberal character, drew many settlers to this tract of land. These grants were known as the Elizabethtown and Monmouth Patents and within their limits grew the towns above enumerated.

After a brief ownership the Duke of York conveyed to Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret that portion of his domain which included these grants from Nicolls . Though this transfer from the Duke of York to the Proprietors was made at a date anterior to Governor Nicolls ' patents, no news of the transaction had reached this country. The patents were applied for, issued and received in good faith by both parties, and no questions arose concerning their validity until the settlers had located themselves upon their grants and had further extinguished the Indian titles to the lands.

In the meanwhile the divided domain was represented by two Governors, Nicolls ruling for the Duke of York , and Philip Carteret for the New Jersey Proprietors. The latter soon commenced to exercise his prerogatives by enforcing taxation and creating laws which infringed the rights of the settlers under the Nicolls ' charter. They rebelled promptly and in retaliation the validity of their land titles was questioned by Carteret who declared that they were null and void from being issued at a date later than the Duke's transfer to the Proprietors; that the Duke, represented by his agent, Nicolls , could not sell that which he did not own. On the other hand the settlers maintained that Nicolls ' acts were legal, he being vested with governing power until relieved or stayed by an official notice to the contrary; and that, while he was superseded in England by the date of Carteret 's commission, he was still the head of the government in New York , until his successor arrived, and his acts during this time were binding, especially as he lacked any knowledge of the Duke's conveyance to the Proprietors. This dispute was waged for many years and it is upon this interesting period in New Jersey State history that the old town book sheds much light.

John E. Stillwell .

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December: 30: 1667 The lotts of Middleton all layd out being numbered thirty-six: begining at the west end upon the south side with number one and ending at the west end north side with number one and ending at the west end north side with number thirty-six * * * *. The south side

Lot assignments in original order

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Lot assignments in Alphabetical Order