Excerpt from New Aberdeen: Or the Scotch Settlement of Monmouth County, New Jersey A year ago we had anticipated a series of articles in reference to the settlement of Middletown Point. But needs must, and cares engrossing, imperative have hitherto interposed, an insurmountable veto between us and the pleasant task. History is fact and not fancy, and faith as intense as it may be, cannot change that which is forever passed. What remains is, now, and again to "write fair what time's hand hath blurred." We would discover for ourselves and our readers the religious character of the first settlers of Matawan, their probable church organization and its relation to that which was after known as the "Old Scots" near Marlboro. In the beginning both Middletown and Shrewsbury, by which we understand was not only the respective towns, but the outlying plantations of thousands of acres, were settled by persons inclined to a modified Presbyterian form of worship. Shrewsbury "town," (now "township") embraced territory as far south as Barnegat. Middletown embraced Freehold Township and much that has been carved out of it.

Freehold Township erected in 1693, had for its easterly boundary a line that came so near Matawan village as the meeting of "Gravel" and "Watson's brook," (which latter has sometimes been called Aberdeen creek) and thence to Cheesequake creek, at that time included in Monmouth. Peter Watson, who owned a plantation of several hundred acres on Watson's brook including what is now Freneau and the old Mount Pleasant Presbyterian graveyard, was himself a Scotchman and a Presbyterian. In August, 1683, Barclay, sent to East Jersey by the Ship Exchange, joint stock for his own and other proprietors advantage. John Hanton or Hamton and John Reid were overseers and Peter Watson and James Reid were servants. The servants were to remain for four years from their first time, (N. J. Archives Vol. I, p.

465.) Each servant was to have according to his "indenture's twenty-five acres, the tradesmen of them 30 paying 2 d. an acre," etc. Peter Watson seems to have been a son-in-law of Alexander Napier. His will dated February 25th, 1726, names his wife, Agnes, and his sons William, Gawen and David; but his father-in-law, Alexander Napier, in his will (1744) mentions his granddaughters Agnes Watson, Elizabeth Watson and Margaret Watson. Captain Abraham Watson buried at the age of 67, in 1756 in the Middletown (village) Presbyterian Graveyard, is believed, however, to have been the son of Peter's cousin John Watson, to whom Peter wrote urging his removal to East Jersey in August, in 1684, Peter's brother also lived in Scotland and was likewise urged by Peter to migrate to Jersey. Peter Watson with his friend and fellow servant, James Reid, was settled at Amboy on a farm belonging to the proprietors, and there they probably served their full time of four years or until "about the month of December, 1687." (N.

J Arch., I, p. 468). Other Scotsmen came at intervals, some of whom were Quakers and some of whom were Presbyterians. There were gathered by 1690 a body that was already making itself felt in the province. The settlers, for common defence and for mutual social intercourse, built their towns in more or less compact forms. Such were Newark, Middletown and Shrewsbury. The town lot can still be identified.

Freedom of conscience being guaranteed by the proprietors, "each town arranged for its own minister." About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com.