Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-11-10
EARLY COURT PROCEDURE.
An Hisforleal Aerounf Qfne Col0nial
Coutks of Gl0nfSsfer emmy. Read
Bsfore The Historleai .Soctefy ~
PyosS6u1o1 ef The Ploas,
LezoiS Starr, Esq.
Mf. Clairman, Ladies and Gentlemen

i 49,. Z - " eifO
eAaelo elia1 ~ eiases ~ 1iouces.ef county
.lAaa p.ope.'s IS - i''ueu - as 70 ihciuue
''ilso epoens
| Inc Hrst covering that period from the
time OF the earliest settlement 10 the
establishment OF legal tribunals under
the authority Of the General Assembly
ioi west Jersey, IN accordance WITH grants
and concessions OF that province. OF
Wnich mentlon VIII be made hereafter.
me second from the time OF the
organization OF that legislative bouy
until the surrender oi the power OF the
i government ny the propfietoIs, 10 the
sovereign OF Jreab britain, IN Luz.
| ana lastly from the latter GATE until
the termination OF the power OF the
mother country over lts colonies, Dy
reason OF the Declaration OF lndepend-
ence and the Revolutionary war.
~ course u must De understood that
when we speak OF the gloucester county
OF early history, we include the terrific
rial limits OF what is now Gloucester,
camden and Atlantic counties.
The earliest settlements within the
bounds OF old Gloucester were by the
Dutch and Swedes, covering the period
from 1923 to 1000.
1 The most important parsonage, among
the Swedes, was the Governor, who was
supreme IN all political matters, and
while history furnishes no authentic
account of whether or not these officials
assumed to exercise the powers OF judi
cial officers, yet from the Swedish Gus
toms, which to very considerable ex-
tent became dominant in the entire
colony. on the east side of the river. it
is safe to assume that whenever it became
necessary, in the administration Of the
affairs of the settlement, to decide dis
/ putes or punish offenders, the Governor
acted as he final and supreme arbitrator
/ In August, 1866, Peter Stuyyesant, the
i Governor of all Dutch America. residing
in what was then known as New Am
sterdanf, now New York, appeared on
the Delaware with seven ships and some
six or seven hundred men, and pro-
ceeded to sublugate the Swedes. As a
result OF this conquest the Dutch We're
restored TO power, and government
was Immediately established, by the
conquerer, over his newly-acqured ter
ritorv, to be administered by deputy,
called wee Director, who was invested
with power to grant lands, to decide
disputes, ana generaiiy 20 assume the
i powers oi legislation ana government.
me private qnarrels between the
4 swedes ana the Dutch made SO much
business that the vice directors could
not possibly avoid frequent adjustments
OF these disputes, Notwithstanding their
efforts to escape such annoyances These
oiflcers resided at different places IN the
colony, according to the exlgencies oi
the realm, or as tney themselves inter
preted their instructions, but It IS re-
corded by the historians OF that period,
that Wherever their presence was mostly
/ required, there they We're sure not to be
found, Il IS also SAID to be an authentic
historical fact that tindlng 1t impossible
to escape the determination OF the many
and frequent disputes betweenthe Swedes
and the Dutch, the worthy Dutch judges
i mace IL point always 10 nnd lhe rlght
90 pc on the side OF thelr conn'rymeh
ana 70 pass judgment accordingly
VI course 1t Is a matter OF common
knowledge among those VINO possess any
information Whatever as to the early
4 history Of New jersey, that under the
\ charter granted by Charles, King Oh
England, to his brother, the Duke OF
York, the latter granted that portion Oh
his lands covered thereby. now consti-
tuting our entire State. to Lord Berkley
and Sir George Carteret, as proprletors.
subsequently Berkiey sold his undl-
vlded share IN the province OF New Jer-
sey to John FenWlek, IN trust Tor Edward
Biiiings. A partition or DIVISION INTO
East and west provinces followed; ana
IN feofuary, lof4, fenWlcK ana ms
cestque trust assigned nine uhalvlueu s11.'l.
Iehehs parts OF Wese Jersey y y ililaih
rem, 1aWn LoWrey ana Nlcnolas y .,,. Lucas,
IN trust ior the creditors q bliilngs, 1ne
remaining tehtn part oeihg reserved 70
fenwick OK nlhlseh. 4 new ulVlsioh ys rlhe
was hXeu between tne hast anu "ssS So
provinces, Dy Wiiat y knoWn az e eae
quintipartite aeeu, mace Juiy ise, i1ao, @
70 Nilicil oaaeeIee aug ene aou1 go