Editing Marlboro Township, New Jersey (section)

===Historical timeline===

====Lenni Lenape====
The [[Lenape|Lenni Lenape]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] were the first known organized inhabitants of this area, having settled here about one thousand years ago and forming an agricultural society, occupying small villages that dotted what was to become Marlboro Township.<ref>[http://www.ushistory.org/laz/history/timeline.htm Lazaretto: Time Line] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517124237/http://www.ushistory.org/laz/history/timeline.htm |date=2008-05-17 }}, Lazaretto Quarantine Station. Accessed August 30, 2015.</ref> Their villages were known to be in the Wickatunk and Crawford's Corner sections of the township.<ref>William S. Hornor, This Old Monmouth of Ours, published 1932, Page 190</ref><ref name=ColtsNeck/>

In 1600, the Delaware / Lenape Native American population in the surrounding area may have numbered as many as 20,000.<ref>Winson, Terrie. [https://archive.today/20120718101518/http://www.anthro4n6.net/lenape/ "Lenni Lenape"], [[Reading Area Community College]], March 2002, backed up by the [[Internet Archive]] as of December 11, 2008. Accessed July 16, 2015.</ref><ref>[http://www.penntreatymuseum.org/americans.php Native Americans], Penn Treaty Museum. Accessed July 16, 2015.</ref> Several wars, at least 14 separate epidemics ([[yellow fever]], [[smallpox]], [[influenza]], [[encephalitis lethargica]], etc.) and disastrous over-harvesting of the animal populations reduced their population to around 4,000 by the year 1700. Since the Lenape people, like all Native Americans, had no immunity to European diseases, when the populations contacted the epidemics, they frequently proved fatal.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120127152915/http://www.ulster.net/~hrmm/halfmoon/lenape/lenape.pdf "The Lenapes: A study of Hudson Valley Indians"], Welcome to Marist Country, backed up by the [[Internet Archive]] as of January 27, 2012. Accessed July 16, 2015.</ref> Some Lenape starved to death as a result of animal over-harvesting, while others were forced to trade their land for goods such as clothing and food. They were eventually moved to reservations set up by the US Government. They were first moved to the only Indian Reservation in New Jersey, the Brotherton Reservation in [[Burlington County, New Jersey]] (1758–1802).<ref>Thomas, JD. [http://www.accessible-archives.com/2013/08/colonies-first-new-jerseys-indian-reservation/ "The Colonies' First and New Jersey's Only Indian Reservation"], Accessible Archives, August 29, 2013. Accessed July 16, 2015.</ref> Those who remained survived through attempting to adapt to the dominant culture, becoming farmers and tradesmen.<ref>[http://www.nanticoke-lenape.info/history.htm Our Tribal History], The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape. Accessed July 16, 2015.</ref> As the Lenni Lenape population declined, and the European population increased, the history of the area was increasingly defined by the new European inhabitants and the Lenape Native American tribes played an increasingly secondary role.

====Dutch arrival====
[[File:Van_Der_Veer_House_in_Marlboro.jpg|thumb|left|[[Historic sites in Marlboro Township, New Jersey#Vanderveer House|Vanderveer House]] on Ryan Road]]
Within a period of 112 years, 1497–1609, four European explorers claimed this land for their sponsors: [[John Cabot]], 1497, for England; [[Giovanni de Verrazano]], 1524, for France; Estevan Gomez, 1525, for Spain, [[Henry Hudson]], 1609, for Holland. After the [[New Netherland|Dutch arrival]] to the region in the 1620s, the Lenape were successful in restricting Dutch settlement to [[Pavonia, New Netherland|Pavonia]] in present-day Jersey City along the [[Hudson River]] until the 1660s and the Swedish settlement to [[New Sweden]] (1655 – The Dutch defeat the Swedes on the Delaware). The Dutch established a garrison at [[Bergen, New Netherland|Bergen]] allowing settlement of areas within the province of New Netherland. For 50 years, 1614–1664, the Monmouth County area came under the influence of the Dutch, but it was not settled until after English rule in 1664.

The initial European proprietors of the area purchased the land from the Lenni Lenape leader or [[Sachem|Sakamaker]].<ref>[http://www.co.monmouth.nj.us/page.aspx?Id=2645 Marlboro Municipal Records] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727034720/http://www.co.monmouth.nj.us/page.aspx?Id=2645 |date=July 27, 2011 }}, [[Monmouth County, New Jersey]]. Accessed June 29, 2011.</ref> The chief of the Unami, or Turtle clan, was traditionally the great chief of all the Lenni Lenape. One of the sons of the leader, was Weequehela<ref>[http://wolfweb.unr.edu/homepage/shubinsk/delaware/lenape nation.txt History of The Lenape Nation]{{dead link|date=March 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, [[University of Nevada, Reno]], backed up by the [[Internet Archive]] as of January 16, 2010. Accessed April 20, 2012.</ref> who negotiated the sale of several of the initial tracts of land to the first farmers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spotswoodhistory.tripod.com/id10.html |title=Weequehela - Indian King of Central New Jersey |publisher=Spotswoodhistory.tripod.com |access-date=November 24, 2011}}</ref> An early deed refers to "the chief sachems or leaders of Toponemus."

On April 2, 1664, the English appointed [[Richard Nicolls]] to serve as the Deputy Governor of New York and New Jersey. One year later, April 8, 1665, Nicolls issued "The Monmouth Patent" to twelve men who had come from Western Long Island and New England seeking permanent stability for religious and civil freedom as well as the prospect of improving their estates. Nicolls was unaware that in June, 1664, James had given a lease and release for New Jersey to Lord John Berkeley and Sir George Carteret, thus invalidating the grant to the Monmouth Patentees.<ref name=ColtsNeck>[http://www.colts-neck.nj.us/hist/hccn.html ''History of Colts Neck''], Colts Neck Township. Accessed December 4, 2016.</ref> The rule at the time was that land should be purchased from the Patent.

However, in the time between 1685 and the early 18th century, the patent was ignored and land was gradually purchased from the Lenni Lenape causing confusion and disputes over ownership. Following the initial sale of land, the history of the township starts about 1685, when the land was first settled by European farmers from [[Kingdom of Scotland|Scotland]], [[Kingdom of England|England]] and the [[Dutch Republic|Netherlands]]. The Scottish exiles<ref>{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle=Freehold (New Jersey) |volume=11 |pages=75–76}}</ref> and early Dutch settlers lived on isolated clearings carved out of the forest.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-register-early-dutch-settlers/155175578/ "Early Dutch Settlers: Cornelius Couwenhoven of Pleasant Valley"], ''The Daily Register'', May 18, 1898. Accessed January 24, 2025, via [[Newspapers.com]].</ref> The [[lingua franca]] or common language spoken in the area was likely, overwhelmingly Dutch. However, this was one of many languages spoken with the culture very steeped in [[New Netherlander]]. The official documentation at the time is frequently found to be in the Dutch language. The documents of the time also suggest that money transactions used the British [[shilling]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://brotherton-weekping.tripod.com/id20.html |title=Brotherton & Weekping Indian Communities of NJ |publisher=Brotherton-weekping.tripod.com |date=1957-01-25 |access-date=November 24, 2011}}</ref> The English and Scotch settlers were [[Quakers]]. After initial European contact, the Lenape population sharply declined.

{{anchor|Topanemus}}[[File:Marlboro (settlement), NJ.jpg|thumb|right|[[New Jersey Route 79|Route 79]] in [[Marlboro, Monmouth County, New Jersey|Marlboro Village]]]]
The first settlers of the area were led by missionary [[George Keith (missionary)|George Keith]]. They were [[Quakers]]. The Quakers established a town called '''Topanemus''' and nearby a meetinghouse and a cemetery on what is now Topanemus Road<ref>[http://www.twp.freehold.nj.us/around_freehold/history/hist_religion_in_twp_8.asp Religious Society Of Friends (Quakers)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501175840/http://www.twp.freehold.nj.us/around_freehold/history/hist_religion_in_twp_8.asp |date=2011-05-01 }} ub 1692. Freehold Township website. Accessed April 5, 2006.</ref> and held the first meeting on October 10, 1702.<ref>[http://www.twp.freehold.nj.us/around_freehold/history/hist_religion_in_twp_7.asp St. Peter's Episcopal Church History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501175826/http://www.twp.freehold.nj.us/around_freehold/history/hist_religion_in_twp_7.asp |date=2011-05-01 }}. Freehold Township website. Accessed April 5, 2006.</ref> The first leader of the church was Rev. [[George Keith (missionary)|George Keith]] who received a large grant of land<ref>{{cite web |url=http://files.usgwarchives.net/nj/monmouth/cemetery/topanemus01.txt |title=Cemeteries: Topanemus Burying Ground: Freehold, Monmouth Co, NJ |access-date=November 24, 2011 |archive-date=April 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426173146/http://files.usgwarchives.net/nj/monmouth/cemetery/topanemus01.txt |url-status=dead }}</ref> in the area due to his position as [[Surveyor-General]].<ref>Metzgar, Dick. [http://www1.gmnews.com/2000/10/04/pastor-proud-of-churchs-involvement-in-community-work-continuing-on-st-peters-restoration/ "Pastor proud of church's involvement in community; Work continuing on St. Peter's restoration"], ''News Transcript'', October 4, 2000. Accessed January 20, 2018.{{dead link|date=November 2024}}</ref> Among the first listed communicants of the new church were Garret and Jan Schenck.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/earlydutchsettle00beek/earlydutchsettle00beek_djvu.txt |title=Early Dutch Settlers of Monmouth County, New Jersey |access-date=November 24, 2011}}</ref> The church later changed its affiliation to the Episcopal faith and became [[St. Peter's Episcopal Church (Freehold Borough, New Jersey)|St. Peter's Episcopal Church]], which is now located in Freehold.<ref>[http://www.getnj.com/historicroadsides/monmouth.shtml "Monmouth County" from ''Historic Roadsides of New Jersey''], Get NJ. Accessed December 4, 2016.</ref> The old burial ground still remains on Topanemus Road. In 1692 those of the Presbyterian Faith built a church and burial ground on what is now Gordons Corner Road. The church eventually moved to Tennent where it became known as the Old Tennent Church and played a role in the [[American Revolutionary War]]. The old Scots Cemetery still remains at its original site.

====Marl's discovery====
The township of Marlboro is named for the prevalence of [[marl]],<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. [http://mapmaker.rutgers.edu/356/nj_place_names_origin.pdf#page=20 ''The Origin of New Jersey Place Names''], New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed July 16, 2015.</ref> which was first discovered in the area east of the village in 1768. Marl was used extensively on farms and spread during the winter months to be tilled into the soil in the spring.<ref>History of Monmouth County, New Jersey, 1664-1920, Volume 3 - Published 1922</ref> The "Marl Pits" are clearly reflected on maps from 1889 shown as a dirt road off of Hudson Street heading towards the current location of the township soccer fields.<ref>Wolverton's Atlas of Monmouth County NJ - Published by Chester Wolverton 243 Broadway - New York 1889</ref> Farmers used marl to improve the soil in the days before commercial fertilizers and there was a heavy demand for it. Marlboro Township's first industry was the export of the material, used primarily as fertilizer. In 1853, the Marl was harvested and transported to other parts of the state and to the [[Keyport, New Jersey|Keyport]] docks via the [[Freehold and Jamesburg Agricultural Railroad|Freehold Marl Company Railroad]] (now the [[Henry Hudson Trail]]).<ref>[http://njrails.tripod.com/19th_Century/Freehold_Jamesburg/Freehold_Jamesburg.htm The Freehold and Jamesburg Agricultural Railroad], New Jersey Railroad Information. Accessed August 29, 2015.</ref><ref>[http://mapmaker.rutgers.edu/NJ_1872.jpg Outline Map of New Jersey]</ref> The marl was then sent to New York and other parts of the country via ship.<ref name=Thinking>Glickson, Grant. [https://www.nytimes.com/1993/08/22/realestate/if-you-re-thinking-of-living-in-marlboro.html "If You're Thinking of Living in: Marlboro"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', August 22, 1993. Accessed April 20, 2012. "Settled by the Dutch in the late 1600s, Marlboro got its name from marl, a mixture of clay and shells, discovered on a farm shortly before the Revolutionary War. The material, used primarily as fertilizer, was shipped throughout the state and by boat to New York."</ref> Prior to the finding of Marl, the area was known as 'Bucktown' for John Buck who owned a tavern in the area.<ref>History of Monmouth County, New Jersey, 1664-1920, Volume 2 - Page 463 - Published 1922</ref>

====Revolutionary War====
Marlboro Township was the scene of a number of skirmishes during the [[American Revolutionary War]], in particular following the [[Battle of Monmouth]] in 1778. During the war, the Pleasant Valley section was often raided by the British for food supplies and livestock.<ref name=Thinking/> The area was referred to as the "Hornet's Nest" because of the intensity of attacks on the British by local militia.<ref>Staff. [https://web.archive.org/web/20130302001750/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/app/access/1772284481.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Feb+09%2C+2006&author=&pub=Asbury+Park+Press&desc=Markers+steer+you+back+in+time&pqatl=google "Markers steer you back in time"], ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'', February 9, 2006. Accessed April 20, 2012. "During the Revolutionary War, the British referred to this area as the Hornets Nest because it was thick with rebels who raided British ships in Sandy Hook Bay."</ref> [[Beacon Hill, New Jersey|Beacon Hill]] (of present-day Beacon Hill Road) was one of three Monmouth County sites where beacons were placed to warn the residents and the Continental forces if the enemy should approach from the bay.<ref>Beard, Sonya. [https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/app/access/1851760431.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+28%2C+1999&author=SONYA+BEARD&pub=Asbury+Park+Press&desc=Railing+against+Marlboro+development+50+protest+planned+development+in+Marlboro+Site+environmentally+sensitive%2C+demonstrators+contend&pqatl=google "Railing against Marlboro development 50 protest planned development in Marlboro Site environmentally sensitive, demonstrators contend"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302000208/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/app/access/1851760431.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+28%2C+1999&author=SONYA+BEARD&pub=Asbury+Park+Press&desc=Railing+against+Marlboro+development+50+protest+planned+development+in+Marlboro+Site+environmentally+sensitive%2C+demonstrators+contend&pqatl=google |date=March 2, 2013 }}, ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'', September 28, 1999. Accessed April 20, 2012. "Burrows points out that the area is part of Beacon Hill, where patriots warned of British troops coming during the Battle of Monmouth in 1778."</ref><ref>[http://co.monmouth.nj.us/page.aspx?Id=2645 Marlboro Municipal Records], [[Monmouth County, New Jersey]]. Accessed April 20, 2012.</ref> There was also considerable activity in the Montrose area of the Township as British troops, retreating from the Battle of Monmouth, tried to wind their way to ships lying off Sandy Hook.<ref>Staff. [https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/app/access/1772284351.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Feb+09%2C+2006&author=&pub=Asbury+Park+Press&desc=Name+rooted+in+the+good+earth&pqatl=google "Name rooted in the good earth"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302001801/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/app/access/1772284351.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Feb+09%2C+2006&author=&pub=Asbury+Park+Press&desc=Name+rooted+in+the+good+earth&pqatl=google |date=March 2, 2013 }}, ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'', February 9, 2006. Accessed April 20, 2012. "Marlboro may not have been the site of a major Revolutionary War battle, but the colonists and the Redcoats had a few skirmishes there, particularly after the Battle of Monmouth in 1778, when the retreating British moved through Marlboro on their way to ships at Sandy Hook and were attacked by militiamen waiting for them."</ref>

The area was also frequently sacked for food and livestock. The woods and surrounding vegetation were hunted for animals to depletion by the British. One description of a hunt was recorded: "A great deer-drive was organized, taking in almost the entire northern portion of Monmouth county. Before daylight... a line of men... was stretched... somewhere near Marlboro. At an appointed hour this line of beaters, with shot and shout... proceeded forward to drive as large as possible a number of deer to the shore between Port Monmouth and Atlantic Highlands. The drive was completely successful... that deer were almost exterminated in the northerly part of the county."<ref>William S. Hornor, This Old Monmouth of Ours, 1932, Page 1</ref>

====Township formation====
[[Image:MarlboroNJMcMansions.jpg|thumb|right|New houses under construction off Buckley Road, late 2005]]
Under the direction and influence of John W. Herbert,<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-register/104753620/ "John W. Herbert Dead; An Old Republican Leader Passes Away; His Ancestors Came to This County in 1677 - Mr. Herbert's Large Possessions and the Many Public Positions Held by Him"], ''The Daily Register'', April 13, 1898. Accessed January 24, 2025, via [[Newspapers.com]]. "Mr. Herbert was chiefly instrumental in having Marlboro township set off from Freehold township in 1848, and was the first freeholder elected in that township."</ref> Marlboro was established as a township by an act of the [[New Jersey Legislature]] on February 17, 1848, formed from portions of [[Freehold Township, New Jersey|Freehold Township]].<ref name=Story/> The township's name was originally "Marlborough," but was subsequently changed to "Marlboro."<ref>Chang, Kathy; and Kesten, Karen L. [https://archive.centraljersey.com/2009/12/16/birth-of-a-town-9/ "Birth of a town"], ''News Transcript'', December 16, 2009. Accessed May 16, 2023. "Marlboro had been a part of Freehold Township. Early maps show it as Marlborough."</ref> It is not known when the name was officially changed, with maps and other documents in the decades after the township's establishment referring variously to "Marlboro"<ref name=Beers1873>Beers, F.W. [http://www.historicmapworks.com/Map/US/177430/Marlboro+Township/ ''Atlas of Monmouth County NJ'', Plate 39], New York City, NY. 1873</ref> or "Marlborough".<ref name=Raum1877/><ref>Lightfoot 1851 Map of Monmouth County</ref> The first elected freeholder was John W. Herbert.

By 1873, Marlboro had a post office, school, hotel, multiple stores, churches, and a railroad station of the Freehold and Keyport Railroad.<ref>F.W. Beers, Monmouth County, 1873, [http://www.historicmapworks.com/Map/US/177418/Holmdel++Marlboro++Edinburg++Colts+Neck/Monmouth+County+1873/New+Jersey/ p. 29]</ref> In 1882, the population was 102.<ref>{{cite book | title = Industries of New Jersey | url = https://archive.org/details/industriesofnewj03edwa | publisher = Historical Publishing Company | year = 1882 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/industriesofnewj03edwa/page/n78 101]| ol = 24332547M }}</ref>

Marlboro was described in 1939 as having "large frame houses comfortably spaced along the highway".<ref name="NJGPP">{{cite book | title = New Jersey, a Guide to Its Present and Past | publisher = Viking | year = 1939 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=t6wmzEJvTGcC&pg=PP1 | pages = 555| isbn = 9781603540292 }}</ref>{{rp|555}}

Marlboro was [[rural]] and composed mostly of [[dairy]] farms, [[potato]], [[tomato]] and other farms laced with small [[hamlet (place)|hamlets]] with modest inns or taverns.<ref>"A history Rich in Lore - and Soil", ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'', February 9, 2006, Page 87</ref> Before [[World War II]] Marlboro Township was the nation's largest grower of potatoes and also known for a large tomato and egg industry.<ref>Gabrielan, Randall. [https://books.google.com/books?id=UWpvGFRbd-kC&pg=PA21 ''Images of America: Marlboro Township''], p. 21. [[Arcadia Publishing]], 1999. {{ISBN|0738564478}}. Accessed April 20, 2012.</ref> During World War II, egg farms significantly expanded to accommodate military demand.

Following World War II, the state began to significantly build and improve the area transportation infrastructure. As the infrastructure improved, the population started to increase. The 1950s and 1960s saw Marlboro starting to significantly grow. Housing developments started to replace the farm and rural nature as the community expanded. After the early 1970s, Marlboro became a growing [[suburb]] for people working in [[New York City]] and in large nearby corporations. During the 1980s and early 1990s most of the new [[housing development]]s featured four- or five-bedroom houses, but later the trend shifted toward larger estate homes. The building effort became so advanced that Marlboro Township placed restrictions for building around wetlands; called the Stream Corridor Preservation Restrictions to mitigate construction and habitat contamination.

The year 2000 saw continued growth of the housing trend toward larger homes. Towards the end of the decade, housing growth declined due to the [[Great Recession]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}