travelgrove Travel Guides
 
 

Newark History, New Jersey

Newark, NJ US - History: How a Colony’s Disagreement Paved the Way for a City?

In 1662, Newark, NJ’s history began in Connecticut. It was during this period when New Haven Colony got absorbed by Connecticut Colony following orders from King Charles II. Puritans, founders of the New Haven colony, were displeased with this forced merger to their neighbors. Their colonists believed that members of Puritan’s church should be the only ones allowed for voting. Again, they felt that church members’ children could also be baptized. However, these rules were not a part of the constitution of this new colony.

Determined for pursuing their theocracy, Puritans sent John Gregory & Robert Treat for meeting New Jersey’s new Royal Governor, Philip Carteret. They came up with a site near Elizabethtown and along Passaic River for their new location. In 1666, Treat and other Puritan settlers purchased that land directly from Hackensack Indians in exchange to goods, which mainly comprised of arms and ammunitions like gunpowder, axes, coats, pistols, guns, knives, swords, blankets, beers and breeches valued around $750. A portion of this payment was assessed on every family, which arrived to settle in this new colony within first year of the settlement.

This was followed by the creation of Market & Broad Streets, 2 major thoroughfares, and division of village into 6-acre plots. Initially, the town was named Milford, which was the place in Connecticut from where most settlers migrated. However, it was renamed ‘Newark’ once the first formal government was established.

First hotel of the town opened on Broad & Walnut Streets in 1920 at Thomas Johnson’s home, who was the city’s first constable. College of New Jersey, which later on became Princeton University, got shifted to Newark from Elizabethtown in 1747. In 1756, the University finally got settled in Princeton. While she was in Newark, Ewarth, wife of Rev Aaron Burr (second President of the college and man behind the important decision of its move), gave birth to Aaron Burr, Jr. (United States’ 3rd Vice President).

Church & government of Newark were initially inseparable. Anyone, not a church member, was deprived of Newark Government’s benefits. Church was, in fact, first public building of Newark. It stood on Broad Street. For the first forty years of the village's inception, First Church, now known as Old First Presbyterian, was actually the scene for worship, military proceedings and town meetings.

Now, city has changed a lot since the earlier times. Still, what remains is the beautiful architecture having historical significance. Every year, tourists from every corner of the globe come to see these wonderful sights.


Ask our travel experts a question about Newark

Things about Newark you may be interested in

Be the first who requests a site listing for this page.
 
 
 

Read our members' reviews about Newark



No reviews have been added yet for this category. Be the first to add a new one.
 

Read our members' travel tips about Newark



No travel tips have been added yet for this category. Be the first to add a new one.
 
 

Community

Members Who Have Been to Newark

 
the best travel deals provided by TravelZoo...
  • cheapoair.com$58Spirit Airlines flightSpirit Airlines
    Inbound
    Pittsburgh, PA (PIT)  Newark, NJ (EWR)
    01/11/2025 09:17 pm
    Outbound
    Newark, NJ (EWR)  Pittsburgh, PA (PIT)
    01/22/2025 06:38 pm
  • cheapoair.com$90Spirit Airlines flightSpirit Airlines
    Inbound
    Orlando, FL (MCO)  Newark, NJ (EWR)
    01/26/2025 05:30 am
    Outbound
    Newark, NJ (EWR)  Orlando, FL (MCO)
    02/06/2025 09:16 pm
  • cheapoair.com$109Spirit Airlines flightSpirit Airlines
    Inbound
    Chicago, IL (ORD)  Newark, NJ (EWR)
    02/12/2025 05:15 am
    Outbound
    Newark, NJ (EWR)  Chicago, IL (ORD)
    02/20/2025 09:29 am

Newark City Ratings

  • Ratingunrated
    City Rankunrated
     
  • History & Culture: not rated
  • Night Life & Entertainment: not rated
  • Family & Fun: not rated
  • Outdoors Activities: not rated
  • Food: not rated
  • Sightseeing: not rated
  • Shopping: not rated
  • Public Transportation: not rated
  • Must visit this place: not rated
  
 
 
 
  
ToolsBookmark and Share

Popular destinations

 
 
   Welcome to Travelgrove  register 
tell a friend bookmark it 
 
 
*