Editing Marlboro Township, New Jersey (section)

====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.