Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History
Benson Lossing, Ed.

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Newark,

Chief city in New Jersey, noted for the variety and extent of its manufactures and its large insurance interests; population in 1890, 181,830; in 1900, 246,070. The purchase of the site of Newark and the adjoining settlements of Bloomfield, Belleville, Caldwell, and the Oranges was made in 1666 by a party from Milford, Conn., for which they gave the Indians 50 double hands of powder, 100 bars of lead, 20 axes, 20 coats, 10 guns, 20 pistols, 10 kettles, 10 swords, 4 blankets, 4 barrels of beer, 2 pairs of breeches, 50 knives, 20 hoes, 850 fathoms of wampum, 2 ankers of whiskey, and 3 troopers' coats. Others joined the first settlers, in the autumn, from Guilford and Branford. Self-government and independence of the proprietors seem to have been secured to the new colony, as well as religious freedom guaranteed. The colonists agreed that no one should be admitted to the rights of freemen in the colony except he belonged to the Congregational Church. Abraham Pierson was chosen minister of the first church, and the settlement was called Newark, says Whitehead, in compliment to him, he having come from a place of that name in England.