How the Brits Helped Us Depart The rise of townships in Bergen County…..Hmmmmm….Some might suggest that this is an article to assist borderline insomniacs while others might postulate that it is for the anal retentive interested only in the arcane minutia of little known events and connections of many, many years ago. Well, this mighty pen (keyboard) will quickly dispatch those dragons……Hopefully if you remain awake to the end. Hang in and don’t despair as there are some pictures. I’ll try to answer your first question: What is a township and where did they come from? The answer is that a township is an administrative unit of a larger geopolitical…
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Installment #6 – The Ponds Church
The Ponds Church – Serving God and Oakland for Over 300 Years The Ponds Church in Oakland…..This writer struggles to present its importance and contribution to this community since it was established in 1710. And even now when I have much information at my fingertips about it, I still marvel at its contribution to Oakland and say a silent prayer in thanksgiving for its presence here as Oakland would simply not be what it is without it. If one were to think about it for a moment, the Ponds Church was 66 years old when the Declaration of Independence was read from its pulpit and 153 years old when the…
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Installment #2- Slavery in Oakland
Slavery In Oakland In this era of hyper politically correct sensitivity, did you know that your property was once owned by a slave owner and that your same property was once farmed by slave labor? Yup, it’s true. And did you know that the very founding and settling of what is now Oakland was accomplished by virtue of slave ownership? Yup, it’s also true. In fact there are a few slave graveyards still in Oakland. So, let’s start from the beginning and explore the facts. Prior to 1664 the Dutch laid claim to all of New Jersey and New York State up to Albany and including New York City.…
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Installment #3 The Names of the First Oakland Settlers
Oakland History Reconsidered Recap of Oakland History Presentation Installment #3 The Names of the First Oakland Settlers and When They Really Came Here!! In the previous installment here we are told of land patents and the requirement that the wilderness area of the patent had to be populated within 6 years of its granting. It was also noted that the use of slave ownership was a tool to encourage the settlement of the wilderness via free land for every slave owned and, by extension, slavery was the probable basis for the settlement of this valley, a portion of which was destined to become Oakland. Within the above context, one of…
