1664-1699: Women, Religion, and Society in the New Jersey Colony
Introduction
An Examination of Religious Influence, Settler Origins, and Women's Roles
The English established New Jersey in 1664, when King Charles II granted land between the Hudson and Delaware Rivers to Lord John Berkeley and Sir George Carteret. The colony’s proprietors promoted religious tolerance and offered incentives to attract settlers from various backgrounds. This openness led to a diverse population and a pluralistic religious landscape that distinguished New Jersey from more rigidly structured colonies. Between 1664 and 1699, New Jersey’s society was shaped by a blend of religious influences, a mix of settlers from Europe and neighboring colonies, and social structures that determined women’s roles within family, community, and governance. This essay examines New Jersey’s dominant religions during this period, the origins of its settlers, the religious expectations placed on women, and the roles women held in governance.
Dominant Religions in New Jersey (1664-1699)
Religious pluralism characterized New Jersey during the late 17th century, fostered by the colony’s proprietors, who emphasized freedom of worship to encourage settlement. This tolerant approach allowed a variety of religious groups to coexist peacefully. The colony attracted Puritans, Quakers, Presbyterians, Baptists, Dutch Reformed congregants, and even some Anglicans. Although the Church of England was nominally established in other English colonies, New Jersey’s proprietors did not enforce a single state-sponsored religion, creating a relatively diverse and decentralized religious environment.
Quaker influence was particularly strong, especially in West Jersey, where Quaker proprietors like William Penn and other Friends promoted Quaker beliefs and practices. The Quakers emphasized simplicity, equality, and pacifism, allowing men and women to participate more equally in worship and community life. Other Protestant groups, such as Presbyterians and Baptists, formed small but significant communities, maintaining their respective religious traditions without interference. The Dutch Reformed Church, established by Dutch settlers, also continued to thrive, especially in East Jersey, where Dutch traditions were more prevalent.
Origins of the Settlers
The settlers of New Jersey between 1664 and 1699 came from various backgrounds, contributing to the colony’s diversity. The earliest settlers included Puritans and other English dissenters from New England who migrated to East Jersey seeking land and religious tolerance. The Dutch settlers, who had previously settled New Netherland, remained in East Jersey, bringing with them a distinct Dutch culture, language, and religious practices. These Dutch communities maintained close ties with the Dutch Reformed Church and contributed to the colony’s agricultural and trading economy.
New Jersey also attracted a significant Quaker population, particularly in West Jersey, where Quaker proprietors encouraged Quaker settlers from England and other American colonies. Many Scots-Irish, who faced religious persecution and economic hardship in their homeland, migrated to New Jersey as well. Germans, Swedes, and small numbers of other European immigrants also arrived, seeking religious freedom, economic opportunity, and land. This diversity of settlers fostered a colony that was less hierarchical and more inclusive, allowing New Jersey’s residents to pursue religious practices according to their beliefs.
Religious Expectations of Women (1664-1699)
Religious expectations for women in New Jersey varied by denomination, but common themes of piety, modesty, and domestic responsibility emerged across different groups. The colony’s pluralistic environment allowed some flexibility, though each denomination imposed expectations that emphasized women’s roles within the household and family life.
Quaker beliefs offered women in West Jersey a distinctive degree of religious equality and autonomy. Quaker doctrine held that men and women were spiritually equal, and women could speak in meetings, lead religious gatherings, and hold leadership roles within the community. Prominent Quaker women engaged in charitable work, provided spiritual guidance, and participated in Quaker meetings, which provided them with a degree of influence that was unusual in colonial society.
In contrast, other denominations in New Jersey, such as the Puritans and Presbyterians, adhered to more traditional gender roles, emphasizing that women should be obedient to their husbands, manage household affairs, and ensure the moral and religious upbringing of their children. Puritan teachings promoted the idea of women as moral guides within the family but limited their roles in public or religious leadership. Dutch Reformed congregants similarly expected women to be devoted mothers and wives, playing essential roles within the household but avoiding formal religious authority.
Across these religious communities, women’s participation in religious life was typically informal, centered on church attendance, Bible study, and charitable work. These activities allowed women to connect socially and spiritually with other members of the community, reinforcing their roles as moral exemplars without granting them formal leadership positions.
Women's Roles in Governance (1664-1699)
In New Jersey, as in most colonies, women held no formal roles in governance. The colony’s governance structure consisted of town meetings, local councils, and, eventually, an assembly, all of which were composed exclusively of men. Voting rights and political offices were reserved for male landowners, effectively excluding women from the formal political sphere. The colony’s government reflected English common law, which adhered to the doctrine of coverture, whereby a married woman’s legal identity was subsumed under her husband’s, restricting her property rights and limiting her autonomy.
However, some women in New Jersey exerted informal influence within their communities. Widows, especially those from affluent families, managed family estates and engaged in business transactions, particularly in the absence of male heirs. These women exercised considerable authority in managing property, sometimes maintaining or expanding family wealth. Wealthy women, through familial connections and social status, could influence local matters indirectly.
Quaker women in West Jersey experienced a degree of participation in their religious community that contributed to a more inclusive, though still unofficial, form of governance. Quaker meetings encouraged women’s involvement in decision-making within the community, allowing them to voice concerns, organize charitable activities, and even advocate for policy changes related to social welfare. These roles, though limited to the Quaker community, provided Quaker women with more agency than their counterparts in other denominations and colonies.
Conclusion
Between 1664 and 1699, New Jersey’s society reflected its unique blend of religious tolerance, settler diversity, and decentralized governance. The colony’s religious environment included a range of Protestant groups, with significant populations of Quakers, Puritans, Dutch Reformed, Presbyterians, and Baptists. This diversity fostered a society where settlers could worship according to their beliefs without interference, shaping New Jersey’s religious and social landscape.
Religious expectations reinforced traditional gender roles for women, with differences depending on denominational beliefs. While Quaker women experienced greater spiritual equality and religious involvement, women in other denominations adhered to roles focused on family, modesty, and piety. Formal governance remained male-dominated, but women in New Jersey, particularly widows and Quaker women, found ways to influence their communities through informal means. The intersection of religion, settler diversity, and governance in New Jersey highlights the colony’s complex social structure and the varied experiences of women in its early years.
Bibliography
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Brown, Elizabeth A. "The Dutch Influence in East Jersey: Religion and Social Structure." Journal of Early American History, vol. 12, no. 1, 1985, pp. 45-63. Brown examines the Dutch settlers’ influence on East Jersey’s religious and social life, emphasizing their impact on community and church structures.
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Goodfriend, Joyce D. "Religious Diversity in Colonial New Jersey: A Comparative Analysis." The William and Mary Quarterly, vol. 53, no. 4, 1996, pp. 383-408. Goodfriend explores the pluralistic religious environment of New Jersey, comparing how different Protestant groups coexisted and influenced the colony’s culture.
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Pomfret, John Edwin. "The Proprietors' Influence on the Colony of New Jersey." New Jersey Historical Society Review, vol. 52, no. 1, 1987, pp. 75-95. Pomfret studies the influence of the colony’s proprietors on its governance and religious tolerance policies, highlighting how these policies attracted diverse settlers.
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