Editing Barnegat Township, New Jersey (section)

==History==
Barnegat's name can be traced back to [[Dutch people|Dutch]] explorers who, in 1614, mapped the coastline of the nearby [[Barnegat Bay]] and [[Barnegat Inlet]]. The original name for the inlet was "Barendegat" or "Barnde Gat," which translates to "inlet of the breakers" or "surf cove". These names were given due to the turbulent channel of the inlet, which is characterized by strong currents and choppy waters.<ref name=History>[http://www.barnegat.net/about-barnegat/history-of-barnegat/ History of Barnegat], Barnegat Township. Accessed June 7, 2016. "Around 1609 Henry Hudson sailed along the coast of New Jersey coming to an inlet which he named Barende-gat, a Dutch word meaning an inlet with breakers. This name was replaced by Barndegat by early mapmakers and later evolved into the present day spelling of Barnegat."</ref><ref>Lloyd, John Bailey. ''Eighteen Miles of History on Long Beach Island.'' p. 42. 1994 Down The Shore Publishing and The SandPaper, Inc.</ref><ref>Staff. [https://books.google.com/books?id=m1EEAQAAIAAJ&q=barnegat+Barnde+amsterdam ''Special Libraries, Volume 62, Issue 2''], p. 410. [[Special Libraries Association]], 1972. Accessed December 2, 2012. "Deutl Bogt, Wedge Bay, in New Amsterdam became Turtle Bay in New York. Barnde Gat or Surf Cove became, of course, today's Barnegat."</ref><ref>[[Henry Gannett|Gannett, Henry]]. [https://books.google.com/books?id=9V1IAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA37 ''The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States''], p. 37. [[United States Government Printing Office]], 1905. Accessed August 27, 2015.</ref><ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. [http://mapmaker.rutgers.edu/356/nj_place_names_origin.pdf#page=7 ''The Origin of New Jersey Place Names''], New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 27, 2015.</ref> An alternative theory suggests that "Barndegat" is a Dutch term meaning "a pool created from a dike breach".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Gold |first1=David |title=Studies in Etymology and Etiology |date=2009 |publisher=Universidad de Alicante |isbn=9788479085179 |page=127}}</ref><ref>Germain, Keith A. [https://barnegatpolice.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/The-Case-for-Barndegat-1.pdf "The Case for Barndegat A Journey from Barendegat to a Burning Hole"], Barnegat Township Police Department, November 2020. Accessed December 31, 2020.</ref>

Long before European settlers arrived, the [[Lenape]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] inhabited the region, including the area now known as Barnegat. The Lenape would spend their summers along the shore, collecting and roasting clams for sustenance during the winter months. They also fished, hunted, and gathered various fruits and nuts found in the area.

European settlers, primarily [[Dutch people|Dutch]], [[English people|English]], and [[Swedes]], began to arrive in the Barnegat area around 1720. These settlers were attracted to the region's fertile land, abundant natural resources, and proximity to the coastline. The first permanent homes in Barnegat were constructed around 1750, as the settlers established farms, fisheries, and other small businesses.<ref name="History" />
 
Barnegat played a role in the [[American Revolutionary War]], as one of the last skirmishes of the conflict took place near the site of the [[Cedar Bridge Tavern]] in 1782. Known as the "Battle of Cedar Bridge," this encounter involved Patriot forces clashing with Loyalist troops and local Pine Robbers, who took advantage of the war's chaos to engage in banditry. The Patriots eventually emerged victorious, marking a symbolic end to the Revolutionary War in New Jersey.<ref>Weaver, Donna. [http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/press/ocean/ocean-county-to-preserve-historic-cedar-bridge-tavern-site-of/article_1eb9c8ec-ab6b-11e1-8619-001a4bcf887a.html "Ocean County to preserve historic Cedar Bridge tavern, site of Revolutionary War skirmish"], ''[[The Press of Atlantic City]]'', May 31, 2012. Accessed July 23, 2016. "Barnegat Township — Ocean County Parks Department wants to preserve Cedar Bridge Tavern, which historians believe could have been the backdrop for a noted Revolutionary War skirmish in 1782.... Bartlett said historians and the county have been unable to absolutely document that the tavern was there in 1782 when the Battle of Cedar Bridge took place, which was one of the last land conflicts of the American Revolution."</ref><ref>[https://www.co.ocean.nj.us/ch/frmOCTimeline.aspx Ocean County Timeline], [[Ocean County, New Jersey]]. Accessed April 12, 2020. "1782: A skirmish at Cedar Creek (now in Barnegat Township) marked last land conflict of American Revolution."</ref>