What Was 'Old New Jersey'? The Berkeley Proprietary Before English Rule

"Old New Jersey" refers to the northern coastal portion of the province held by Lord John Berkeley before the English consolidated control in the late 17th century.

Proprietary Origins

In 1664, the Duke of York granted the territory between the Hudson and Delaware Rivers to Berkeley and Sir George Carteret. Berkeley's share—"West Jersey"—encompassed present-day Newark, Elizabethtown (now Elizabeth), Middletown, and surrounding lands.

Transition

Berkeley sold his interest to Quakers (1673–74), who established a distinct West Jersey government. In 1702, East and West Jersey surrendered proprietary rights to the Crown, becoming the unified royal colony of New Jersey.

The term "Old New Jersey" thus evokes the brief, formative Berkeley proprietary era.