Descendants of Founders of New Jersey

There are descendants of New Jersey colonists living all over the United States and in other countries. The lives and contributions of some of their ancestors of three centuries ago may have been chronicled, but many have been lost.

Settlers came to East Jersey as early as 1618 when the Dutch from New Amsterdam settled at Bergen (now Jersey City), and in West Jersey as early as 1623 when Fort Nassau was established on the Delaware River. In March, 1664, King Charles II formally granted the land to his brother, James, Duke of York. In June, 1664, James divided the grant between Lord John Berkeley and Sir George Carteret.

The two Jerseys were formally divided by the Quintipartite Deed of 1 July 1676, and governed as separate proprietary colonies until 1702. Throughout this period settlers continued to arrive and flourish in East Jersey and West Jersey. Land was purchased from the native Indians, grants were made by Proprietors to individuals and groups, and the settlements multiplied.

Twenty-five years ago a group of descendants of these founders found it desirable to bring together in one society the descendants of both those who remained in New Jersey and those who migrated to pursue the continuing dream of a better way of life.

Objectives of the Descendants of Founders of New Jersey:

Provide scholarship assistance to students of American history who have a special interest in the history of New Jersey and who are enrolled in a New Jersey college or university; or support activities which enhance or preserve early New Jersey history.
Establish, preserve and publish lines of direct descent from founders who settled in New Jersey prior to 17 April, 1702.* Founders are defined as anyone who was a settler or anyone who financed the settlement of others in any area now within the borders of the State of New Jersey.
Establish and maintain a society of fellowship among descendants of the founders of New Jersey.

*17 April, 1702 is the date that East Jersey and West Jersey were merged into a single entity by Queen Anne. By that date basic settlement had been accomplished in the areas that now make up the State of New Jersey.