Publisher's Synopsis
An excerpt from the beginning of the book:
THE VILLAGE.
Settlement. - Princeton was first settled by five Quaker families who came here from Piscataway, Middlesex County, New Jersey, in 1696. They bought the land from William Penn, and settled first near Stony Brook, spreading northwards from there. The settlement was first called Stony Brook, and this name still applies to the little village near the old mill, a mile and a half from Princeton on the Lawrence road. The name Princeton was first applied to that part of the settlement on the higher land, in 1724.
Before the Revolution, the patriotism and ability of Princeton men made the village prominent and influential in the colony. The first provincial congress assembled at Princeton's request, and the first legislature under the Constitution adopted by the Congress met at Princeton. Princeton members took leading parts in both assemblies.
During the Revolution, the location, as well as the patriotism and influence of Princeton, made the British forces particularly anxious to hold it. But Washington's wonderful strategy forced them out, and when the American Congress was under duress in Philadelphia in 1783, that body moved to Princeton. During this year, the closing year of the war, Princeton was the national capital. The soil and citizens of New Jersey bore the brunt of the war, and of the towns of New Jersey, Princeton suffered most, and received the most honor.
Since the Revolution, the village of Princeton, as such, has not been conspicuous, but in its institutions, its influence has continued to be felt throughout our country.
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THE FOUNDING OF THE COLLEGE.
Like all American colleges and universities founded before the Revolution, and the great majority of them since that time, Princeton College was founded by men of Christian faith in order to promote a culture of unmistakably Christian character. Therefore, while at no time and in no sense an ecclesiastical college, Princeton is and has been committed to Christian ideals. To these she has endeavored to be faithful in the past and is unequivocally pledged for the future.
The beginnings of the movement, which culminated in the founding of the College, date from the early years of the eighteenth century. At that time the population of the middle colonies, that is to say, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, was already considerable and was receiving constant accessions by immigration from the old world. The various elements which composed the population were marked by strong religious convictions. The Scotch and Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, Quakers, members of the Church of England, Dutch Calvinists, French Huguenots, and a sprinkling of New England Puritans made up practically the whole population. And all of these elements were directly or indirectly interested in the establishing of Princeton.