Hertford County, West New Jersey facts for kids
Hertford County was a place that might have been a county in West Jersey. It was an area of land that wasn't officially organized into a county with its own government yet. We only know about it from one old map.
This map was made by a mapmaker named John Thornton. He based his map on surveys done by John Worlidge of Salem.
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What Was Hertford County?
Hertford County was either a proposed county or one that existed for a short time. It was located in a part of West Jersey that didn't have a formal county government. This area was known as "unorganized territory."
The only proof we have of Hertford County is from a map. This map shows it as a county, but there are no other official records.
Where Was Hertford County Located?
We don't have a full description of Hertford County's exact borders. However, a note on Thornton's map gives us a clue. It says that the Assunpink Creek was the boundary.
This creek separated Hertford County from Burlington County. This was on the west side of a special dividing line called the line of Partition. The area where the city of Trenton is today would have been inside Hertford County. But back then, very few people lived there. The map doesn't show a northern border for Hertford County.
The Mystery of Hertford County's History
It's a bit of a mystery because there are no official laws or documents that created Hertford County. There are also no records of it being officially dissolved or ended.
Missing Records and No Government
Some important records from the West Jersey Legislature are missing. These records cover the years between November 1685 and November 1692. It's possible that a law about Hertford County was made during this time and then lost.
However, there are no records of any court, sheriff, or other county government for Hertford. It also wasn't listed as a voting area in the West Jersey General Assembly. This makes it seem like it might not have been a fully formed county.
What Happened to the Land?
On May 17, 1694, a new law was passed. This law said that the land north of Assunpink Creek would become part of Burlington County. This was meant to be a temporary arrangement. The law didn't mention Hertford County at all.
Later, on March 11, 1713/14, the northern part of Burlington County was officially separated. This new area became Hunterdon County. This means the land that might have been Hertford County eventually became part of Hunterdon County.
