Philip Carteret (colonial governor) facts for kids

Philip Carteret (1639–1682) was a very important person in the early history of New Jersey. He was the very first Governor of New Jersey. He served from 1665 to 1673. Later, he became governor of East Jersey from 1674 to 1682.

Philip Carteret: New Jersey's First Governor

How New Jersey Began

In 1664, England took over a Dutch area called New Netherland. This land included what is now New Jersey. The English king gave these lands to two friends, John Berkeley and George Carteret. George Carteret was Philip's cousin.

In 1665, Philip Carteret was chosen to be the governor of this new territory. It was renamed the Province of New Caesaria, or New Jersey. His job was to take charge and help the colony grow.

Rules for the New Colony

Philip Carteret and Berkeley created a set of rules called the Concessions and Agreements of the Proprietors of New Jersey. These rules were very fair for the time. They promised settlers freedom to practice their own religion. They also offered large amounts of land to people who moved there.

Carteret gave out many land grants. This helped more people settle in New Jersey. The owners of the land, Berkeley and George Carteret, hoped to make money from these new settlements. And they did!

The Capital and Early Challenges

Carteret chose a town called Elizabethtown as the capital of New Jersey. It was named after George Carteret's wife. The first group of representatives, called the New Jersey Assembly, met there in 1668.

However, not everyone agreed with Carteret. Two towns, Middletown and Shrewsbury, refused to send representatives. They even tried to declare their independence! They chose James Carteret as their leader instead.

Philip Carteret was upset by this. He traveled to England to get help from the government. The English government then made the New Jersey settlers pay special fees called quitrents for their land.

Growing the Colony

When Carteret first arrived, New Jersey had only a few hundred Dutch and English settlers. During his time as governor, many more towns were built.

By 1682, when his time as governor ended, New Jersey had seven main towns. There were also many smaller farms, called plantations. The population, not counting the native Lenape people, was about 3,500. These people lived in towns like Berghen, Newarke, Elizabeth Towne, Woodbridge, Piscattawy, and Middletown.

A Difficult End

After George Carteret passed away, the governor of New York, Edmund Andros, tried to take control of East Jersey. Philip Carteret refused to give up his position.

Andros sent people to Carteret's home. There was a disagreement, and Carteret was taken to New York. He was put on trial, but the jury found him innocent. Sadly, this event caused lasting health problems for Carteret. He passed away in 1682.