Edward Byllynge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edward Byllynge
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|---|---|
| 1st Governor of West New Jersey | |
| In office August 1680 – January 1687 |
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| Deputy | Samuel Jennings Thomas Olive John Skene |
| Preceded by | Office created |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Coxe |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Hengar, St Tudy, Cornwall |
| Died | January 1687 England |
| Nationality | Cornish |
| Occupation | Brewer |
| Signature | .png){kind=small} |
Edward Byllynge was an important figure in the early history of America. He was a British leader who helped manage the colony of West New Jersey. From 1680 until his death in 1687, he served as its governor. Byllynge also owned a lot of land in New Jersey, sharing it with a religious group called the Quakers.
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Who Was Edward Byllynge?
Edward Byllynge was born in Cornwall, England. Before becoming involved in American colonies, he worked as a brewer in London. A brewer makes beer. He was also a member of the Quakers. This group was important in the early settlement of New Jersey.
Buying Land in America
In 1674, Edward Byllynge decided to buy land in the New World. He purchased a large area in what would become New Jersey. He bought this land from Sir John Berkeley. Another important person involved in this deal was John Fenwick.
Byllynge faced some money troubles around this time. Because of this, the land purchase became more complicated. In 1675, a new agreement was made. This agreement involved William Penn, who was a famous Quaker leader. The land was then put into a special trust. This trust included Fenwick, Penn, and Byllynge himself. After this, Quaker communities began to settle and grow in the new lands.
Governor of West New Jersey
Edward Byllynge became the first governor of West New Jersey in 1680. He held this position until 1687, the year he passed away in England. As governor, he was in charge of managing the colony. He helped make rules and guide the settlers.
Why Was He Unpopular?
Even though he was governor, Byllynge was not very popular with the settlers in New Jersey. One main reason was that he never actually visited the land he owned. He never set foot in the colony he governed. This made it hard for the settlers to feel connected to him.
In 1682, Byllynge was one of 24 "proprietors." A proprietor was someone who owned a large piece of land in a colony. These proprietors shared ownership of West New Jersey.
Images for kids
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Edward Byllynge's signature.
