Bulletin 67, The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries, 1606-1968

and annexed to the jurisdiction of either state, the township of Oxford, Capush island, Foulrift
according to the same principle. ''a4s island, and Mack's island; opposite to the township
Some 75 islands north of Trenton were specifically of Knowlton, Mack's island and three bars, and Gap
allocated by other commissioners in 1786, and their island; opposite to the township of Walpack, Hoops'
report was ratified by New Jersey on March 16 and two islands, Chambers' island, A. Van Campen's
by Pennsylvania on Sept. 25 of the same year: fishing island, Opaughanaugh island, and Necesseas
"First. The parties aforesaid, [the commissioners] island; opposite to the township of Sandyston,
in pursuance of the authority to them severally Nominack island, and Westfall's island; opposite to
given, and in behalf of the respective states afore- the township of Montague, Minisink island, Quick's
said, do agree, that from the said falls of Trenton, two islands and bar, Shabbacung great island and
to the station point, or northwest corner of the state bar, and Westfall's two islands, shall be annexed to
of New Jersey, aforesaid, the following islands, oppo- the state of New Jersey,....
site to the cotmty of Bucks, and the townships here- "Secondly. That all other islands which may
• after named, that is to say, opposite to the Falls hereafter be formed within said river, between the
township, Bird's Island; opposite to Lower Make- falls of Trenton and the station point, or northwest
field township, Slack's three islands, Duer's island, corner of the state of New Jersey aforesaid, shall
and Harvey's lower island; opposite to Upper Make- hereafter be deemed and considered as parts and
field township, Harvey's upper island anti Lowne's parcels of the state to which such islands may be
island; opposite the Solebury township, Smith's nearest."14s
island anti bar, and Paxton's island anti bar; uppo- Court decisions have held that the boumlary line
site to Tinnicum township, Pratt's two islands, between Pennsylvania and New Jersey, aside from
Wall's island, Resolution island, Marshall's island, the allocation of islands, above the falls at Trenton
Wall's two islands, Fisbing island, and Pennington's extends to the middle of the river (187fi), and below
island; opposite to Nockamixon township, Lough- the falls is the "thalweg" or "main sailing channel"
ley's islaml; and opposite the county of Northamp- as it existed in 1783, as changed only by "natural
ton, and the townships hereafter named, that is to and gradual processes" (1956). 1_2a
say, Williams township, Pohatcung island, Shoe- The New Jersey-Delaware boundary was described
maker's island, and Loor's island; opposite to the by the State of Delaware in its Revised Statutes of
Forks township, Easton island; opposite to Mount 1874 as the "Low-water mark on the eastern side of
Bethel, Mason's island and bar, Mason's island, the river Delaware, within the twelve-mile circle
Foulrift island, McElhany's island, and Attin's two fiom New Castle; and the middle of the bay below
islands; opposite to Lower Smithfield, Handy's said circle. ''2._0This perpetuated the deed granted to
island and bar, Goodwin's two islands, Shawanagh, William Penn in 1682 from the Duke of York, conor
I. anti B. Van Campen's island, N. Depew's island veying in part a tract of land within a 12-mile circle
and two bars, Chambers' island and Van Oken's about New Castle. TM
islaml; opposite to Delaware township, Swartwood's New Jersey, between 1876 and 1929, sued to move
island anti Isaac yah -Campen's island; opposite the boundary to the middle of the Delaware River
Upper Smithfiehl township, Punkey's island and five anti Bay throughout the New Castle area, in part
bars, shall be annexed to the state of Pennsylvania, prompted by the valuable oyster beds there, 230 but
anti considered as parts and parcels thereof, the U. S. Supreme Court confirmed the Delaware
"Anti that the following islands, opposite to the claim on Feb. 5, 1934, declaring:
county of Hunterdon, in the state of New Jersey, "It is now Ordered, Adjudged and Decreed as
anti the townships hereafter named, that is to say, follows: . . .
opposite to the township of Trenton, Yard's island,
Mott's two islands, and Gould's two islands; oppo- "2. Within the twelve mile circle (that is, within
site to the township of Hopewell, Stout's island; the circle the radius of which is twelve miles, and
opposite to the township of Amwell, Smith's Mill thecenterofwhichisthebuildingusedprior to 1881
islaml, Coryell's islaml, Holecombe's two islands, as the courthouse at New Castle, Delaware, certain
Eagle island, and Bull's island; opposite to the town- arcs of which are hereafter described anti detership
of Kingwood, Rush island, Ridge's island, mined), the Delaware River and the subaqueous soil
Shyhawk's three islamls, Pinkerton's island, aml thereof up to mean low water line on the easterly or
Man-of-war island; opposite to the township of New .Jersey side is adjudged to belong to the State of
Alexamlria, Stull's island, Lowrey's island, and Delaware, and the true boundary line between the
Lougltley's island and bar; anti opposite to the States within said twelve mile circle is adjudged to
county of Sussex, and the townships hereafter be mean low water mark on the easterly or New
named, that is to say, opposite to the township of Jersey side of the Delaware River.
Greenwich, Rope's island, Champman's island, "3. Below said twelve mile circle the true bound-
Stout's island and bar, anti Bar island; opposite to ary line between the States of New Jersey and Dela-
17
NEW JERSEY GEOLOGICAL SURVEY