"Scattered Piles Of Wreckage" The Maritime Legacy Of Middlesex County New Jersey

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Paper / Report Submission (General Sessions)" , at the 2022 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

In 2020, Middlesex County Division of Historic Sites and History Services conducted additional research to broaden our understanding of the County’s maritime history. The navigable waterways were used since the period of earliest settlement to transport a variety of goods and people throughout the region and abroad. The Raritan River, Raritan Bay and Arthur Kill saw expanded use during the industrial revolution as vast amounts coal, clay, sand and other products were shipped in bulk from docks in Perth Amboy, South Amboy, Sayreville and New Brunswick. Maritime salvage operations were conducted in Perth Amboy by John H. Gregory whose "graveyard" of ships dotted the Perth Amboy waterfront. Research actions included Middlesex County New Jersey accepting a donation of a 19th century catboat and the commission of a report that identified maritime sites. This lecture discusses what survives today and what is being done to conduct additional research.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SHA 2022 General Sessions   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2022

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology