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Description

With Boundaries Claimed During The New York - New Jersey Line War

Detailed Colonial map of the Province of New York, drawn from original English sources, illustrating the dispute between New York and New Jersey regarding boundaries.

Detailed map of New York and the Northern part of New Jersey, engraved for the Universal Magazine.

The map also covers parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont. It provides an excellent view of colonial settlements, forts and roads. West of the Delaware River are Endless Mountains and northern New York is labeled Hunting Grounds. A number of Roads along the Hudson River, Mohawk River and in Long Island.

Of note is the inclusion of 3 different proposed boundary lines, reflecting claims and final settlement of the New York-New Jersey Line War, including

  • Line Claim'd by Jersey in 1770
  • Partition Line in 1769
  • Boundary Line Claim'd By New York.

The New York - New Jersey Line War

The New York - New Jersey Line War refers to a series of skirmishes and raids that took place for over half a century between 1701 and 1765 at the disputed border between two American colonies, the Province of New York and the Province of New Jersey.

Border wars were not unusual in the early days of settlements of the colonies and originated in conflicting land claims. Because of ignorance, willful disregard, and legal ambiguities, such conflicts arose involving local settlers until a final settlement was reached. In the largest of these squabbles some 210,000 acres of land were at stake between New York and New Jersey.

Originally the western and northern border of New Jersey ran "along said River or Bay (the Delaware) to the northward as far as the northward most branch of the said Bay or River, which is in latitude 41 degrees, 40 minutes and crosseth over thence in a straight line to the latitude 41 degrees on Hudson's River." Said point on the Delaware is Cochecton or Station Point. This border, set in 1664, had been acknowledged by both the New York and New Jersey legislatures by 1719.

However, the northbound extension of New Jersey was not respected by settlers from New York who moved westward from Orange County. The resulting conflict was carried out by settlers from both sides. In addition, these settlers had to fight off Native Americans who also raided the area during the French and Indian Wars.

The last fight broke out in 1765, when the Jerseyans attempted to capture the leaders of the New York faction. Because the fight took place on the Sabbath, neither side used weapons. The New York leaders were captured and kept briefly in the Sussex County jail.

The conflict was eventually settled. The King of Great Britain through the royal commission of October 7, 1769, appointed commissioners to establish what would become the permanent and final border that runs southeast from the confluence of the Delaware and Neversink Rivers near Port Jervis to the Hudson River. The New York and New Jersey legislatures ratified the compromise in 1772, and the King approved it on September 1, 1773.

Condition Description
Some small foxing marks in the image. Lower-right margin reinstated where previously trimmed away from binding.