New Barbadoes Neck is the name given in thecolonial era for thepeninsula innortheastern New Jersey,US between the lowerHackensack andPassaic Rivers, in what is nowwesternHudson County and southernBergen County. The neck begins in the south atKearny Point in theNewark Bay and is characterized by aridge (creating the valley of the Passaic) along the west and part of theNew Jersey Meadowlands (theflood plain of the Hackensack) on the east.
The neck was part of an area calledMeghgectecock by theLenape. It was the territory of the group called theHackensack.[1] The name ofmasgichteu-cunk meaningwhereMay-apples grow, from a moist-woodland perennial that bears edible yellow berries. The nameAchter Col was given during theNew Netherland era in the mid-17th century, and can be translated arear mountain pass orbehind the ridge, in reference to the access it provided to the hinterlands beyond theHudson Palisades that were rich fur-trapping grounds.
After the surrender ofFort Amsterdam by the Dutch in 1664, the area became part of the proprietaryProvince of New Jersey during the period ofBritish colonization of North America. On July 4, 1668,William Sandford obtained a grant of 15,308 acres (62 km²) from the proprietors. In the grant document, the name of the area was recorded as "New Barbados." As was the custom of the times, Sandford paid Chief Tantaqua of the Hackensack Indians 20 English Pounds Sterling for all their reserve rights and titles. On June 10, 1669,John Berry obtained a grant of 10,000 acres (40 km²) to the north of Sandford's grant.[2] In 1671, Sandford's grant was divided between him and his uncle Nathaniel Kingsland of Barbados, with Sandford owning the southern third of the tract and Kingsland the northern two-thirds.[3] The Kingsland tract was settled by Nathaniel's nephew Isaac Kingsland about 1683. From 1668 to 1687, New Barbadoes was part of Newark Township.
The Sandford family is recalled locally in Sandford Avenue inHarrison andKearny. The Kingsland family is recalled in theKingsland Station, Kingsland Avenue in Lyndhurst, andKingsland Manor. Berry is recalled in the names ofBerrys Creek, and the historicYereance-Berry House. A portion was later sold to an early settler toPavonia, New Netherland,Walling Van Winkle.
The township was created in 1710 and encompassed all of the neck as well as lands to the north and west to theSaddle River. At this time, the territory was transferred fromEssex County and made part of an expandedBergen County.[4]
In 1710, Kingsland sold a tract for 300 English Pounds Sterling to CaptainArent Schuyler – a former trader and Indian agent and, a member of the influentialSchuyler family. The new purchase included present-dayKearny,North Arlington andLyndhurst. Following his death in 1730, his sons inherited the land. After Schuyler's purchase of his new homestead, it was discovered the ground contained copper, which led to the opening of theSchuyler Copper Mine. After it became flooded, the first steam engine in America was developed and used to pump out the deep mine shaft.[5] The engine was secretly built by the engineerJosiah Hornblower. The engine and mines were destroyed by fire in 1768 and remained idle for some years.[6]Schuyler Avenue, which runs along the eastern edge of the ridge honors the early settlement.
Lord Howe of England took possession ofNew York Harbor and the proximity of Schuyler Mansion drew many of his officers who traveled over a road known today as theBelleville Turnpike. It had originally been laid in 1759 with cedar logs from the nearby swamps. In September 1777,Henry Clinton, head of the British Expeditionary Forces in America, selected Schuyler Mansion for his headquarters during one of his more important raiding operations, including those alongSecond River.[7]
In the 19th century, the Neck came under the jurisdiction of different townships and in 1840 part of the newly createdHudson County.
A large portion of the peninsula has, since 1968, been part of theNew Jersey Meadowlands District.
40°42′25″N74°06′43″W / 40.707°N 74.112°W /40.707; -74.112