Amwell Township, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
37°5′24.86"N 95°42′46.41"W
Amwell Township was a Township
that existed in Hunterdon County
, New Jersey
, United States
, from 1708 to 1846.
The Township was established by a royal patent on June 8, 1708, from Queen Anne
, the first sovereign of the combined kingdom of Great Britain
, while the area was part of West Jersey
. At the time of its inception, its territory comprised 200 square miles (518 km²) and included the present day Delaware Township
, Raritan Township
, Readington Township
, East Amwell Township
and West Amwell Township
and portions of Clinton
, Lebanon
and Tewksbury
Townships.
On March 11, 1714, it became part of the newly formed Hunterdon County. Lebanon Township
was first mentioned on October 26, 1731, as having been created from Amwell Township, though the exact date of its formation is unknown.
Reading Township (now known as Readington Township
) was created from portions of Amwell Township on July 15, 1730.
Amwell Township was incorporated by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature
as one of New Jersey's initial 104 townships.
On April 2, 1838, both Delaware Township
and Raritan Township
were created from portions of Amwell Township.
On April 6, 1846, Amwell was split into East and West Amwell Townships, and Amwell Township was dissolved.
Amwell Township was a Township
Township (New Jersey)
A township, in the context of New Jersey local government, refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government. As a political entity, a township is a full-fledged municipality, on par with any town, city, borough, or village, collecting property taxes and providing...
that existed in Hunterdon County
Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Hunterdon County is a county located in the western section of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 128,349. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Flemington....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, from 1708 to 1846.
The Township was established by a royal patent on June 8, 1708, from Queen Anne
Anne of Great Britain
Anne ascended the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702. On 1 May 1707, under the Act of Union, two of her realms, England and Scotland, were united as a single sovereign state, the Kingdom of Great Britain.Anne's Catholic father, James II and VII, was deposed during the...
, the first sovereign of the combined kingdom of Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, while the area was part of West Jersey
West Jersey
West Jersey and East Jersey were two distinct parts of the Province of New Jersey. The political division existed for 28 years, between 1674 and 1702...
. At the time of its inception, its territory comprised 200 square miles (518 km²) and included the present day Delaware Township
Delaware Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 4,478 people, 1,643 households, and 1,302 families residing in the township. The population density was 121.9 people per square mile . There were 1,701 housing units at an average density of 46.3 per square mile...
, Raritan Township
Raritan Township, New Jersey
Raritan Township is a Township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 22,185...
, Readington Township
Readington Township, New Jersey
Readington Township is a Township located in the easternmost portion of Hunterdon County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 16,126...
, East Amwell Township
East Amwell Township, New Jersey
-History:During the American Revolutionary War, a small but important skirmish occurred in East Amwell when local militia under Capt. John Schenck ambushed a party of British dragoons near Larison's Corner...
and West Amwell Township
West Amwell Township, New Jersey
The Delaware River separates West Amwell from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,383 people, 949 households, and 696 families residing in the township. The population density was 109.7 people per square mile . There were 984 housing units at an...
and portions of Clinton
Clinton Township, New Jersey
Clinton Township is a Township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 13,478....
, Lebanon
Lebanon Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 5,816 people, 1,963 households, and 1,556 families residing in the township. The population density was 183.5 people per square mile . There were 2,020 housing units at an average density of 63.7 per square mile...
and Tewksbury
Tewksbury Township, New Jersey
Tewksbury Township is a Township located in Hunterdon County, New Jersey and is located within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 5,993...
Townships.
On March 11, 1714, it became part of the newly formed Hunterdon County. Lebanon Township
Lebanon Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 5,816 people, 1,963 households, and 1,556 families residing in the township. The population density was 183.5 people per square mile . There were 2,020 housing units at an average density of 63.7 per square mile...
was first mentioned on October 26, 1731, as having been created from Amwell Township, though the exact date of its formation is unknown.
Reading Township (now known as Readington Township
Readington Township, New Jersey
Readington Township is a Township located in the easternmost portion of Hunterdon County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 16,126...
) was created from portions of Amwell Township on July 15, 1730.
Amwell Township was incorporated by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
as one of New Jersey's initial 104 townships.
On April 2, 1838, both Delaware Township
Delaware Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 4,478 people, 1,643 households, and 1,302 families residing in the township. The population density was 121.9 people per square mile . There were 1,701 housing units at an average density of 46.3 per square mile...
and Raritan Township
Raritan Township, New Jersey
Raritan Township is a Township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 22,185...
were created from portions of Amwell Township.
On April 6, 1846, Amwell was split into East and West Amwell Townships, and Amwell Township was dissolved.
Notable residents
Notable residents who resided in Amwell Township include:- William KirkpatrickWilliam Kirkpatrick (New York politician)William Kirkpatrick was a United States Representative from New York.Kirkpatrick was born in Amwell Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, he graduated from Princeton College in 1788, studied medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and commenced practice in Whitestown, Oneida County, New York...
(1769-1832), represented New York in Congress from 1807 to 1809.