Camden – New Jersey - History

Fort Nassau, built by the Dutch West India Company in 1626, was the first European attempt at settlement in the area. In the vicinity of present day Camden, European activity occurred along the banks of the Delaware River where the Dutch and the Swedish vied for control of the local fur trade. Located within the present boundaries of Gloucester City, the fort served as a trading center and storehouse until 1651 at which time it was dismantled.

English expeditions occurred as early as 1620, but the monarchy, consumed with domestic and Europe an wars, did not have the power to enforce their claims against the Dutch or the Swedes. Following the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, King Charles II granted all the lands between the Delaware and Connecticut Rivers to his brother, the Duke of York. In turn, the Duke of York gave a portion of these lands between the Hudson and Delaware River (New Jersey) to two loyal courtiers, Sir George Carteret and Lord John Berkeley. Soon after, due to financial problems the land was sold and finally the land was divided into 90 shares of 20,000 acres each and offered at 150 a share to men interested in creating a Quaker colony. In order to further facilitate settlement, the land was divided into tenths. The Third tenth, often referred to as the Irish tenth due to early settlements of Irish Quakers, comprises modern day Camden County.

The native inhabitants, the Lenni Lenape, were peaceful hunters and gatherers who resided along streams in wigwams or long houses. By 1700, Quaker colonists had begun to reshape the West Jersey environment. Indians and settlers coexisted peacefully, but the European presence altered Indian life drastically. English encroachment upon their woods and streams, and the use of other natural resources taxed the Indians' survival. The introduction of alcohol and the exposure of the Indians to infectious diseases to which they had no inherent immunity further dwindled Indian populations. A half-century after settlement, virtually no Indians remained in the Third Tenth.

Europeans continued to settle in and improve the area. Much of the growth directly resulted from the success of another Quaker colony across the Delaware River. Philadelphia, founded in 1682, soon had enough population to attract a brisk trade from West Jersey. To accommodate the trade across the river, a string of ferries began operation.

The earliest record of a license granted for a ferry service was to William Royden in 1688. Different persons from different points along the shore later started various ferry services. The extensive ferry system at these various points along the eastern shore of the Delaware River was the original impetus, which resulted in the growth of a few small settlements, which would later consolidate into the city known as Camden.

The earliest structures, which were built within the bounds of modern Camden, relate directly to the ferry industry. Taverns, hotels and pleasure gardens were established at or nearby ferry sites around the turn of the century. Industries utilizing the proximity to the river for shipping purposes have located at the former ferry site, demolishing many historic buildings related to the ferry industries. At Middle Ferry, the old "Ferry House" was on the north side of Cooper Street between Front and Point Streets. Erected 1794, it was used as the first post office in Camden. The house was later purchased by the city and demolished.

Early settlement of the City of Camden is interwoven with the acquisition and transfer of land. A number of families who owned land located between Newton and Cooper Creeks built homes and established residency. Out of these early settlers, three families, William Cooper, John Kaighn, and Archibald Mickle made substantial improvements and these lands were later subdivided to form a large piece of the future City of Camden.