Perth Amboy

In 1683, Scottish colonists established a settlement nestled on the banks of the Raritan Bay. They called it “New Perth,” in honor of James Drummond, the Earl of Perth. This place, my friends, is Perth Amboy. It quickly became a vital port, connecting the bustling cities of New York and Philadelphia. Perth Amboy even served as the capital of East Jersey, one of the two distinct provinces that would later merge to form the state of New Jersey. Imagine the political intrigue, the whispers of revolution brewing in the taverns and meeting houses of Perth Amboy. Here stood Proprietary House, home to William Franklin, the last Royal Governor of New Jersey, and son of the legendary Benjamin Franklin. The house still stands today, a silent witness to the clash of loyalties that ripped through families and colonies. Within those very walls, Benjamin Franklin himself pleaded with his son to join the Patriot cause, but William remained steadfast in his loyalty to the crown. He was eventually arrested and deemed a traitor. Perth Amboy wasn’t just a political hub, it was also a doorway for immigrants seeking new lives in America. Waves of people from Europe, lured by the promise of work in burgeoning industries, arrived in Perth Amboy, enriching its cultural tapestry. The city throbbed with the energy of new beginnings, of dreams forged in the heart of the Industrial Revolution. But perhaps the most remarkable event in Perth Amboy’s history occurred on March 31, 1870. Thomas Mundy Peterson, an African American resident of Perth Amboy, cast his vote in a local election. His simple act, made possible by the recently ratified Fifteenth Amendment, marked a turning point in American history, the first time an African American exercised his right to vote under this newly enshrined constitutional right. Perth Amboy, a city by the bay, is a place where history unfolded, where dreams took root, and where the journey toward a more inclusive America began.