Government

The English were the first to occupy New Jersey. Phillip Carteret was the first governor and established Elizabethtown, the first settlement. It was run by a form of government called "Concessions." In this system, a governor, council and an assembly of twelve were chosen by the people. No taxes could be set without the consent of the assembly, and all Englishmen were given religious liberty. The first Assembly was mostly Puritan, and the laws were very strict. Within two years the people rebelled.

In 1676 New Jersey was divided into two parts. East Jersey was run by Carteret, and West Jersey went to the Quakers. Two completely separate governments were set up. In the eastern part there were many Puritans from New England who influenced the making of laws; there were thirteen crimes that had the penalty of death. In the West, a code of laws gave all of the power to the people.

When James II became King of England, he dissolved the governments and combined East and West Jersey, New York and New England under one government. When James II fell, the whole area was left in complete anarchy. Finally in 1702, New Jersey became a royal province of England.

List of Governers 1674-1699
Edmund Andros East and West New Jersey 1674-81;
Edward Byllynge West New Jersey 1680-87
Robert Barclay East New Jersey 1682-90
Daniel Coxe West New Jersey 1687-92
Andrew Hamilton East and West New Jersey 1692-98, 1699-1703
Jeremiah Basse East and West New Jersey 1698-99