Chesterfield Township, NJ, was settled in 1677 by Quakers who had fled England, primarily from the north and midlands in to escape persecution by the British Crown.^[1]“A Brief History of Chesterfield Township,” Chesterfield Township Historical Society website, accessed 13 Nov 2020  They settled three historic communities within the township, beginning with the village of Crosswicks. The other two communities were Recklesstown (name changed to Chesterfield in 1888) and Sykesville.

The township is still largely rural, comprised mainly of farmland, and more than half of the township’s land has been placed in permanent preservation. The Old York Road, an early highway ordered built by the Duke of York, runs through Chesterfield Township on its way from Burlington to Perth Amboy.^[2]“A Brief History of Chesterfield Township,” Chesterfield Township Historical Society website, accessed 13 Nov 2020   In 1773, the current Quaker meeting house was built on the green in the center of Crosswicks. In 1827, the Quaker Meeting split and the Orthodox group built a new meeting house on Ward Avenue in Crosswicks, which now houses the Historical Society’s museum.

The Library at the Historical Society Headquarters includes several genealogical publications regarding local families, as well as New Jersey State Archives abstracts of early wills. We also have a street-by-street residential history of Chesterfield Township, including photos, newspaper articles, and other documents collected since the 1950s. The library has several early Quaker books, periodicals, and publications, as well as originals of the minutes of the Crosswicks Friends Meeting dating from the 18th century. Search the Collection online.

Historical Society Membership

Interested in becoming a member of the Chesterfield Township Historical Society? The application form is available on the Historical Society website. Donations are also appreciated. Chesterfield Township Historical Society is a non-profit, volunteer organization. Member dues and donations help to maintain the Museum and share township history through community-focused activities open to the public. With Member support and sponsorship, most activities are free.