Identifying Colonial Roads in Southern New Jersey: An application of field and archival methods to document the locations and roles of critical American Revolutionary War supply routes

This paper explores the use and preservation of historic roads in the State of New Jersey. The authors examine in detail the historical significance of a number of unpaved routes that continue to exist in Burlington County, New Jersey as well as discuss various methods that can be used to identify routes with historical significance. Field research was conducted to establish the current location of these historic routes, using GPS and GIS methods to estimate their likely date of construction. Further examination and mapping of these routes was undertaken, followed by documentation of the historical events linked to their use, thus establishing historical context. We have identified likely routes used as critical Revolutionary War supply routes, and describe a significant incident along one of these routes that partly contributed to Benedict Arnold’s treason against the United States. The paper concludes with a discussion of appropriate actions that should be considered in the preservation of these routes and offers planners some options in terms of public policy.