Whether you realize it or not, you live in West Jersey. You may be thinking to yourself, I live in South Jersey, or at the very least Central Jersey.
In colonial times, New Jersey was metaphorically described as a favorable keg with bungs (openings) at both ends. Those ends were New York and Philadelphia. Even dispatches from the American Revolution noted troops moving through the Jerseys.
The capital of West Jersey back in the 1600’s was Burlington. That meant for several days throughout the year, Burlington hosted court days.
If you love history, you need to go to The West Jersey History Project website. They have a tab labeled Documents, and when you click that tab look for the Burlington Court Book. I was absolutely amazed when I started reading this remarkable document.
The beginning is rather ordinary, laying out the original Townships like Springfield, Mansfield, and Chesterfield. They mention the necessity for the construction of roads and bridges, as well as the obligation to keep pigs penned at all times.
In 1682 two men were appointed Ale Tasters. Their job was to go to the ordinaries around West Jersey and taste the ale and make sure the measure that was being poured was accurate. Sometimes the issue was merely a neighborly dispute over cutting trees or something of the like.
And sometimes there was a dreadful crime committed. Although they were similar as today, the justice system was hardly remorseful. The book starts in 1681 and goes into the 1700’s.
The period in the 1690’s is particularly interesting as this was the same time as the famous Salem Witch Trials. We didn’t have any witches on trial, but they did bring a woman to trial for being a “vagabond and claiming to have a husband that comes to her sometimes.”
Since mental illness wasn’t understood, this particular case meant the woman was given four days to find a job, leave the province, or be whipped. The justice system wasn’t weighed equally either. Native Americans, African Americans, and women were often met with harsher sentences than men committing the same crime. One couple being found guilty of adultery were sentenced to be stripped of their clothing and repeatedly whipped. The man received 30 lashes while the woman received 35 lashes.
Sometimes the sentence would be to “have 39 stripes well laid on from the Market House to the River.” The next time that you are in Burlington City, take a walk along High Street or Broad Street to the Delaware River and imagine seeing that sentence carried out with shrieks of pain filling the air. It would certainly make your hair stand on end.
While these punishments seem dreadful today, they were very much in line with British law at the time. There was one difference here in West Jersey, however. Since most of the early residents were Quakers, there were far fewer death sentences. I only came across one death sentence, and that one was never carried out. So, if you have a few hours to kill, head to the West Jersey History site, and buckle up for a wild ride through crime and punishment in West Jersey.
Eric Orange is a historian with Burlington County Parks.
