Culture
A Quaker meeting house in Burlingtion, New Jersey. This meeting place was in operation starting in 1678. The first meeting house on this site was built in the 1600s. ArchitectureNew Jersey Building Style
Building styles in the 13 colonies were influenced by techniques and styles from England, as well as traditions brought by settlers from other parts of Europe.
Dutch Colonial structures, built primarily in the Hudson River Valley, Long Island, and northern New Jersey, reflected construction styles from Holland and Flanders and used stone and brick more extensively than buildings in New England. Dutch Colonial
Developed from around 1630 with the arrival of Dutch colonists to New Amsterdamand theHudson River Valleyin what is now New Yorkand in Bergenin what is now New Jersey.Initially the settlers built small, one room cottages with stone walls and steep roofs, with little or no side overhang, to allow a second floor loft. Most buildings originally had entrance doors divided separately into upper and lower halves. By 1670 or so, two-story gable-end homes were common.
In the countryside of the Hudson Valley, the Dutch farmhouse evolved into a linear-plan home with straight-edged gables moved to the end walls. Around 1720, the distinctive gambrelroof was adopted from the English styles, with the addition of overhangson the front and rear to protect the mud mortar used in the typically stone walls and foundations.
A 1760 rural traditional Dutch colonial located in Dumont, New Jersey. German Colonial
Developed after about 1675, when the Delaware River Valleyarea (Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware) was settled by immigrants from Sweden, Finland, Scotland, Ireland, Germany and several other northern European nations. The early colonists in this region adapted the "half-timber" style of construction then popular in Europe, which used a frame of braced timbers filled-in with masonry. The "bank house" was a popular form of home during this period, typically constructed into a hillside for protection during the cold winters and hot summers of the region. Art Portrait of James II, Duke of York Washington Crossing the Delaware painted by Emanuel Leutze DietAgriculture
Farming was suited to the Middle colonies, to such an extent that they are often called the "breadbasket colonies" because they grew so many crops, especially wheat, but also included barley, oats, rye and corn. The Middle colonies raised crops such as corn, pumpkins, rye, squash and beans all of which were common types of colonial food.The crops raised for colonial food included: wheat, rice, barley, oats, rye corn pumpkin, squash, and beans.
Fruits and Vegetables
Many fruits and vegetables were brought from Europe, adding to the selection of foods in America. Some vegetables the colonists grew werepotatoes, cabbage, cucumber, string beans, beans, sweet potatoes, turnips, onions, mushrooms, carrots, parsnips, and legumes. Fruits included apples, quince, plum, pear, peaches, cherries, nectarines, apricots, pineapple, cranberries, grapes, wild strawberries, huckleberries, blackberries, raspberries, melons, watermelon, and tomatoes. Meat
Different types of fish eaten included cod, mackerel, halibut, sea bass, herring, flounder, hake, tuna, sturgeon, trout and salmon. These fish were gathered from the rivers and the ocean.
Game birds eaten were: turkeys, geese, partridge, quails, grouse, ptarmigans, prairie-chickens, and woodco*ck.
New Jersey colonists also brought domestic animals from Europe such as beef, pork, mutton, and chicken.
Other types of meat available included deer (venison), squirrel, opossum, rabbit, hare, elk, bear, mountain goat, coyote, fox, raccoon, porcupine, weasel, and beaver. | Daily LifeClothingUpper-class colonists wear expensive clothes of the European fashion, with materials consisting of silk, velvet, satin, and lace. Lower-class colonists wear the same style of clothing, but they are handmade; their dresses and breeches are made from linen, wool, and leather. Men
Breeches
Most men wear breeches as their lower body garment. Worn by all levels of society, breeches are made in a variety of silks, cottons, linens, wool, knits, and leathers.
Coat
A coat is the uppermost layer of the dress attire, worn over the waistcoat and breeches.
Hat
There are many sorts of folded or co*cked hats. While beaver felt is the preferred material, others, including wool and camel's down, are available.
Leggings
Since breeches come to just beneath the knee, a covering for the lower leg is useful for warmth and protection. Made of stout woolen or linen cloth or of leather, leggings are worn by the sporting gentleman, laboring man, and the military.
Neck Handkerchiefs, Cravats, Stocks
Neck handkerchiefs are the most informal sort ofneck-wearworn by sporting gentlemen, working tradesmen,and laboring slaves. They are usually made of linen, cotton, or silk, and can be in white, plain colors, woven checks and stripes, or printed patterns.The cravat is a narrow length of white linen that could be adorned on its ends with lace, fringe, or knots.A stock is the most formal neck-wear. It is made of fine white linen.
Shirt
The shirt is worn as a man's undergarment, covering the body from neck to knee. Most are made of white linen which can be very fine or very coarse. A laborer's shirt is sometimes made of unbleached linen or small patterned checks and stripes.
Shoes
Men's shoes are made in a great variety of styles and qualities. Most shoes are made from leather. Black is by far the most common color. While buckles are the primary mode of fastening, ties are also worn.
Stockings
Stockings are worn by men and women, and are most often knit. Stockings of silk or cotton are generally white. Utilitarian stockings of linen and particularly worsted wool are seen in colors, mostly blue and gray. Coarse stockings for the low class and slaves are made of woolen or linen cloth.
Trousers
Trousers are worn by middling tradesmen, laborers, sailors, and slaves. Trousers are made mostly of durable linens.
Waistcoat
Waistcoats are made in all qualities of silk, cotton, wool, and linens. It can be embroidered, printed, brocaded, quilted,tasseled, silver or gold laced, and isgenerally the most elaborate article of men's dress.
Wigs
Wigs are made of human, horse, goat, or yak hair.
Women
Cap
The cap is worn by women and girls. It protects the hair from everyday dust and dirt so that the hair doesn't require frequent washing. The cap can be made of linen, cotton, or lace.
Cape
A protective outer garment made of either heavy or light fabrics of wool, cotton, or silk.
Cloak
A long, loose, unfitted, protective outer garment that is sometimes hooded, and usually made of a heavy woolen fabric.
Gown
A woman's dress usually consists of a gown and petticoat. The gown consists of the bodice and skirt joined together.
Hat
Worn for fashion and for protection against the sun. Hats are usually made of chips or straw. Ladies' riding hats are often made of felt.
Mob Cap
A mob cap is daily life head wear. It has a puffed crown, a deep flat border surrounding the face, and side pieces.
Petticoat
A woman's skirt-like garment worn with a gown or jacket.Under petticoatsof linen, wool, orcotton were added for warmth.
Shift
The shift is the undermost garment worn by children and women. It is made from various qualities of white linen.
Shoes
Shoes are made of silk fabrics, worsteds, or leathers. Depending on current fashions, they may or may not have had elevated heels. They fasten by buckles, clasps or ties.
Stays
An elongated tubular trunk, with little taper and encased the bosom. Frequently constructed in layers of linen with narrow strips of boning inserted within. The boning is either baleen, metal, wood, pasteboard, or pack thread. Their exteriors could be covered in fine silks, worsteds, or plain linens. Children
Bed Gown
A long shapeless gown worn by babies is called a bed gown. They might be made of a variety of fabrics, especially prints, and might be pinned or tied.
Blanket Robe
A robe blanket is a garment without sleeves. Usually of a light wool, bound with ribbon and is wrapped about the baby for warmth.
Child's Gown
A back-fastening gown is worn by girls until about age twelve or fourteen, and by boys until age four to seven years. The gown most often resembles a woman's but those worn by boys sometimes resembled men's coats.
Clout
Made of linen diaper fabric and either pinned with straight pins or tied with tapes.
Infant's Shift
A miniature of the adult shift is worn by children (both boys and girls) as the undermost garment. Made in a variety of white linens, they are cut and constructed from rectangles and squares.
Stays
Stays are worn by children, both boys and girls, from the age of 18 months. The first stays a child wears are "soft" and are never tightly laced. By two or a little older, the stays would be of a heavy linen, boned with pack thread, reeds, wooden splints, or baleen. Boys wear them to age four to seven years old; girls for the rest of their lives.
Relationships with Native AmericansEarly Relations
The New Jersey colonists had a hostile relationship with the Native Americans living there, the Lenni Lenape. When the Dutch colonists first came, a strained relationship was made, since the Native Americans had an ideal trading relationship with the colonists. InFebruary 25, 1643, the Dutch forced the Lenni Lenape on barren and desolate reservations. Dutch soldiers invaded the Lenni Lenape village and killed hundreds of men, women, and children. English Colonists
However, the English took over shortly, and with them, came the idea of land ownership. This concept forever changed the lives of the Native Americans, who did not understand how land could be bought and sold like merchandise. The English colonists manipulated the Lenni Lenape and took much of their native land away. Many Lenni Lenape decided to leave, and the ones who stayed were faced with days full of pain and agony. By 1700, the once mighty population consisting of 2,000 men and women of the Lenni Lenape had dwindled down to a meager number of 500 natives. Decline and Destruction
European invasion brought epidemic diseases such as tuberculosis, cholera, influenza, measles and smallpox. The Native Americans of New Jersey had not developed immunization against these diseases, resulting in huge losses in population. Exploitation including the leverage of taxes, enforced labor and enslavement were also major factors in the destruction of New Jersey Indian tribes.
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