The following is an excerpt from the letter written by James Johnston to his brother John back home in Spotteswoode, Scotland, in 1685. I have taken up a part of land nine miles from Amboy and four miles from Piscataway, and as far from the nearest part of the Raritan on the brook side, where there are exceeding great plains without any timber, where there is excellent gunning for deer and turkies of which there is plenty and easily shot. In the summer there is plenty fruits, peaches, walnuts chestnuts, strawberries, and another berry like currant.
Vines are as good as anywhere.
I and all who have come over here have kept our health very well, our food hath, for the most part, been venison we got from the Indians, which I like exceedingly well. The Indian corn, Indian beans and pease are pleasing grains. We have good fishing. Wolves are so far from troubling men that if a man should lay a glove on a carcass of their prey, they will yell but not come near.