Coxe–Barclay Line facts for kids

<mapframe text="The dividing lines between the original provinces of West and East New Jersey. The Keith Line is shown in red, and the Coxe and Barclay line is shown in orange" width=250 height=350> { "type": "ExternalData", "service": "page", "title": "West and East Jersey Dividing Lines.map" } </mapframe> The Coxe–Barclay Line was an important border drawn a long time ago in what is now New Jersey. It helped divide the land into two main parts: West Jersey and East Jersey. This line was created when New Jersey was still a group of colonies, long before it became a state.

The Coxe–Barclay Line: Dividing New Jersey

This line was a special boundary. It was meant to split the land of New Jersey into two big sections. Think of it like drawing a line on a map to show where one person's property ends and another's begins. This was important for managing the land and its settlers.

Why Was This Line Needed?

Back in the colonial period, New Jersey was owned by different groups of people. These groups were called "proprietors." They needed clear borders to know which land belonged to whom. This helped avoid arguments and made it easier to sell land to new settlers.

How Was the Line Drawn?

The first attempt to draw a line was made by a surveyor named George Keith. A surveyor is someone who measures and maps land. Keith started his line from Little Egg Harbor and drew it towards the northwest.

However, his line went too far west. Dr. Daniel Coxe, who was the governor of West Jersey, ordered Keith to stop. Keith's line ended near the Raritan River in a place now called Three Bridges.

Later, Governor Coxe and Governor Robert Barclay of East Jersey met in London. They worked together to agree on a new, compromise line. This new line followed parts of the Raritan River and other rivers like the Lamington (or Black) River. It also included straight lines connecting different points.

What Happened to the Line?

Even after the agreement, the owners of East Jersey were not happy with the Coxe–Barclay Line. They officially rejected it in 1695. Later, in 1718, the colonial legislature formally cancelled the line. The legislature was like the government body that made laws for the colony. So, the line was no longer an official border.

Where Can We See It Today?

Even though the Coxe–Barclay Line was cancelled, its path still affects New Jersey today. You can see parts of where the line used to be in the borders of some modern counties. For example, it forms parts of the eastern borders of Morris County and Sussex County. It also makes up part of the northern border of Somerset County.