The first settlers made their land deals directly with the Indians. However, when the English Lords Carteret and Berkeley in 1664 divided New Jersey into East and West Jersey, many of those early plantations had to be repurchased. Some of the earliest landowners in the area were Thomas Lawrence, Cornelius Longfield, David Mudie and John and Asher Bissett. Thomas Lawrence bought several thousand acres from the Indians as did his stepson, Cornelius Longfield. Since the most suitable form of transportation was by way of water, the original pioneers established themselves adjacent to the river routes. The earliest settlement in the northern area of East Brunswick was the vast plantation and home of Thomas Lawrence along the stream which now bears his name. Cornelius Longfield, his heir, finally dissolved these huge land holdings by selling them to smaller but equally enterprising landholders.

Farther south in the township of East Brunswick is the Historic District of Old Bridge. It is bordered on two sides, east and south, by the South River, by the Chestnut Hill Cemetery on the north and by Route 18 and Old Bridge Turnpike on the west. Due to its favorable geographical position located on the navigable part of the South River, the area attracted settlers as early as 1685. Old Bridge derives its name from the fact that the first bridge spanning the South River was built there, and as other bridges were built across the river the first one became known as "the Old Bridge." Prior to that, it was known as South River Bridge. Although the village had never been chartered or incorporated, it nonetheless grew, since it served the people and their needs. Through its long history the village had numerous names but none were as meaningful or as permanent as Old Bridge. Real Estate Brokers in East Brunswick

Find More Real Estate Agents and Real Estate Brokers in New Jersey Below:
• Asbury Park • Atlantic City • Bayonne • Bloomfield • Brick • Bridgewater • Camden • Cape May • Chatham
• Cherry Hill • Chester • Clementon • Clifton • Cranford • Denville • East Brunswick • East Orange • East Rutherford
• Edison • Elizabeth • Englewood • Fairfield • Fair Lawn • Flemington • Fort Lee • Freehold • Hackensack
• Haddonfield • Hoboken • Irvington • Jersey City • Lakewood • Lawrenceville • Livingston • Manchester Township
• Marlton • Medford • Montclair • Moorestown • Morristown • Mount Laurel • Newark • New Brunswick • North Bergen
• Ocean City • Paramus • Parsippany • Passaic • Paterson • Piscataway • Plainfield • Princeton
• Red Bank • Ridgewood • Rockaway • Somerset • South Orange • Spring Lake • Summit • Teaneck
• Toms River • Trenton • Union • Union City • Vineland • Wayne • Westfield • West New York
• West Orange • Wildwood