{"id":3482,"date":"2026-08-02T11:38:17","date_gmt":"2026-08-02T15:38:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/patersonhistory.com\/?page_id=3482"},"modified":"2026-08-02T11:38:19","modified_gmt":"2026-08-02T15:38:19","slug":"english-settlers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/patersonhistory.com\/index.php\/english-settlers\/","title":{"rendered":"English Settlers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Before Paterson was founded in 1792, the area was inhabited by the Lenni Lenape<\/strong>, who called the Great Falls area Totowa<\/strong>, meaning “between the mountains and the water” or “sinking waters.” The first European settlers in the region were primarily Dutch<\/strong>, not English. However, by the early 1700s, English settlers, surveyors, and landowners were becoming increasingly influential as East Jersey came under English control.<\/p>\n

The principal early English settlers and landowners associated with what later became Paterson include:<\/p>\n

John Berry (1635\u20131695)<\/h3>\n

One of the earliest English proprietors of East Jersey, John Berry received large land grants north of the Passaic River after the English took control of New Netherland in 1664. Although he did not establish a settlement at the Great Falls, his holdings helped open the region to English colonization.<\/p>\n

Thomas Rudyard (1640\u20131692)<\/h3>\n

Deputy Governor of East Jersey from 1682 to 1683, Rudyard surveyed and promoted settlement throughout the province. His reports described the fertile lands along the Passaic River and encouraged English immigration.<\/p>\n

Samuel Bayard (1669\u20131746)<\/h3>\n

An English lawyer and colonial official, Bayard acquired extensive lands in the Totowa area. Members of the Bayard family owned farms and property that later became part of western Paterson.<\/p>\n

Peter Sonmans (1678\u20131734)<\/h3>\n

A prominent English proprietor who managed East Jersey lands after the death of his father, Arent Sonmans. His land dealings affected much of present-day Passaic County.<\/p>\n

Colonel Peter Schuyler (1657\u20131724)<\/h3>\n

Although Dutch by ancestry, Schuyler served under English colonial government and was instrumental in administering northern New Jersey. His influence extended into the Passaic Valley.<\/p>\n

English Families in the Paterson Area<\/h2>\n

By the mid-1700s, several English-speaking families had settled alongside the earlier Dutch population:<\/p>\n