SOURCE: “History of Burlington and Mercer Counties, New Jersey, with Biographical Sketches of Many of Their Pioneers and Prominent Men” by Major E. M. Woodward & John F. Hageman, 1883.

PRINCETON BOROUGH HISTORY

The Borough of Princeton. - This is situated nearly in the centre of the township, on an elevation two hundred and twenty-one feet above the ocean, and almost as high as the Rocky Hill Mountain. It stands on the first highland which separates the alluvial plain of South Jersey from the mountainous and hilly country of the north. There is a gentle depression between it and the mountain, and a gradual descent on every side of it towards the streams that nearly encircle it. The views from Princeton are almost equal to those from the summit of Rocky Hill, though less extensive northward.

The population of the borough does not increase rapidly. The last census, taken in 1880, when the students were absent and not counted, returned the number of three thousand two hundred and nine.

The number of students and others connected with the institution who remain here a few years and then go elsewhere is about seven hundred.

Princeton is nearly midway between New York and Philadelphia, - forty-five miles from New York and forty from Philadelphia. It is ten miles from Trenton by the turnpike. It is three miles west of Kingston and sixteen from New Brunswick. It is six miles from Lawrenceville on the old road to Trenton.

The name of Princeton is not as old as that of Stony Brook, for previous to the year 1724 the whole settlement in this vicinity was designated in deeds and correspondence as “Stony Brook.” Nathaniel Fitz Randolph, a native of this place, born in 1703, made an entry in his family journal under date of Dec. 28, 1758, as follows, viz.: “Princeton first named at the raising of the first house built there by James Leonard, A.D. 1724. Whitehead Leonard the first child born in Princeton, 1725.” Tradition confirms the registry of Mr. Fitz Randolph; and there is another entry in said journal immediately preceding this one in relation to the college and the laying of the corner-stone thereof, with other incidents which are amply confirmed in the history of the college. There is a very general belief among our citizens that Princeton has a flavor of royalty about its name, and that it was given in honor of William Prince of Orange, a prince whose memory was cherished with affection by hosts of men who had been persecuted in Great Britain and on the continent of Europe, not a few of whom had taken refuge in this country and in this neighborhood.

But it is quite as probable, if not more so, that the name is traceable to Kingston, a village a few miles east of Princeton. Kingston is probably an older village by name than Princeton, and the idea of royal affinities seems to have been kept alive in the people in designating the names of several adjoining places. Thus we have, first, Kingston; next, Queenston; then Princeton, and last, Princessville, on the road from Kingston to Trenton. It is quite probable that the first of these names was called Kingston because it was situated on the road called the king's highway, though it may have been so named directly in honor of England, then the mother-country.

Princeton, being central in the State, and on the southernmost of the highlands between the hilly countries of the extreme north and the alluvial plain of the south, has, as we have seen, a salubrious climate and a medium temperature. It is not, in any proper sense, a business place. There is a large amount of capital invested here, but not in manufactures, trade, or commerce. There is nothing here to invite the manufacturer, but much to repel him.

It is pre-eminently an educational town, and has been such for more than one hundred and thirty years and this feature gives it its peculiar charm. Far distant be the day when the pure, bright atmosphere of Princeton shall be darkened and tainted with the smoky, dirty exhalations of a manufacturing city. Millons of dollars have been expended here in the erection of handsome public buildings, for literary, scientific, and theological pursuits, and for endowing professorships in educational institutions. Here have been planted and nourished those two venerable institutions, the College of New Jersey and the Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church, making it the stronghold of Presbyterianism as well as of science and letters. Such a place, though not inviting to the speculating capitalist, is nevertheless attractive to wealthy families who have children to educate, and to persons of literary taste and religious sentiments, which may be gratified in the libraries, lecture-rooms, and society of Princeton.

Princeton is especially attractive in the summer and autumnal months, when it is embowered in its rich green foliage. It is then clothed with uncommon beauty. Its shady streets, its extensive and finely-kept lawns, its rich and rare variety of trees, some of them over a hundred years old, its handsome residences, with grounds beautified by flowers, walks, and hedges. All those, in addition to the numerous large, unique, and beautiful public buildings and churches, pertaining to letters, science, and religion, with the higher attractions of libraries and literary society, and of educational and religious advantages, cannot fail to make it a peculiarly interesting and attractive place, especially for those families who seek health and repose for themselves or education for their children.

There is also much of historic interest associated with Princeton, calculated to excite some local pride in its name. It was here that two of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, Richard Stockton and John Witherspoon, resided. It was here on this battle-field that the tide of war in the early period of the Revolution was turned and gave hope to the country. Here the Council of Safety held its sessions; here the first Legislature under the State Constitution met and organized a State government, elected a Governor, adopted the great seal of New Jersey in 1776, and enacted important and appropriate laws. Here the Continental Congress sat for a season, and legislated in the college library, and closed their session amid festive rejoicings over the announcement of peace.

These events, with the long line of illustrious men who have lived here, and who have shed a halo of glory in war and in peace, in politics, in law, and in theology, in science and in literature, and most of whom lie buried in the Princeton cemetery, may claim without presumption a prominent place in history.

Princeton became incorporated as a borough while it was yet a small village. The charter bears date Feb. 11, 1813. It was asked for because the town lay in two counties; the line between Somerset and Middlesex, following the old road, ran through the middle of the town, and caused some embarrassment in preserving the good order of the village. But the reason more distinctively alleged in the preamble to the charter was “the interest of those institutions of learning and piety established within the same.”

The good order of the place was affected by the presence of the students, and some special legislation and police force became at times a necessity. The boundaries were nearly the same as they are at the present time. The charter provided for a mayor, recorder, and three aldermen, all having the powers of a justice of the peace, ex-officio, and six assistants to be elected by the people yearly. By a supplement in the year 1814 the jails of the two counties were allowed to be used for offenders in the respective counties.

In 1822 the charter was renewed, the territorial jurisdiction a little enlarged, embracing the same area which the present charter contains, and exclusive jurisdiction was conferred on Council on the subject of the license and sale of liquors, and power to raise by tax such sum of money yearly as the Common Council might think necessary for the exigencies of the borough.

This charter was extended from time to time, and amendments were added conferring power to open streets, and gradually making all the officers elective by the inhabitants. The council chamber, or town house, as it was called, with a jail, was built in the middle of the main street, at the end of the markethouse, opposite where Mercer Hall now stands. In the earlier days of the borough the best citizens of the town took an interest in the borough affairs, and not only attended the elections, but bore their part in the administration of the offices.

Full minutes of the proceedings of the Council have been preserved since the year 1817. The poll-list of the election of that year is recorded, and contains the names of seventy-seven voters; among them are the names of the professors of the college and seminary and other leading citizens of the place.

In 1873 a new revised charter was adopted. The same boundaries are retained. The corporate name was changed to “The Mayor and Council of the Borough of Princeton.” All the officers are elected by the people except the marshal, surveyor, and solicitor. These are appointed by Council. The mayor is elected for two years, and councilmen also, in classes of four each year. The salary of the mayor is fixed by Council, but must not exceed three hundred dollars a year. The Council have the right to raise money by tax without a vote of the people, but not a larger sum than five thousand dollars at one time, and no debt beyond five thousand dollars can be lawfully contracted by Council. A larger sum may be raised by a vote of the people upon advertising the object.

This charter contains ample powers for city improvements, as well as for police purposes.

The borough jail is a small stone building in Hullfish Street.

The streets are thirty and upwards in number. They are under the supervision of a street commissioner, appointed by Council, and he has the of a committee of Council on streets.