Morristown Green, most commonly referred to as the Green, is a historical park located in the center of Morristown, New Jersey, United States. It has an area of two and a half acres and has in the past served as a military base, a militia training ground, and an area for public executions. It is now a public park in which many community events are held. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places, listed as a contributing property of the Morristown District, on October 30, 1973.
A map to walking paths on the Morristown Green is available.
History
Lenape ownership
Around the year 1000, the Morristown area was inhabited by Munsee Lenape people. Circa 1500, Morris County was part of the Lenapehoking, i.e., modern-day New Jersey. Arrowheads found in Munsee encampments throughout the Washington Valley suggest that they hunted wolf, elk, and wild turkey for game and likely ate mussels from the Whippany River.
In 1757, colonists of the "New Jersey Association for Helping the Indians" forcibly relocated some 200 Lenape to Brotherton, New Jersey. In 1801, some members of the tribe voluntarily traveled to join the Oneidas' reservation in Stockbridge, New York after receiving an invitation from the Oneidas. However, Americans again expelled Lenape families in Stockbridge to Green Bay, Wisconsin in 1822.
English ownership
According to a historical marker, the park was established in 1715. Throughout the 18th century, the Green was a "grazing area for cattle, sheep, and horses." The town had about 250 inhabitants at this time.
In 1731, the first burial took place in what is now the Presbyterian Church's historic graveyard. In 1733, Presbyterians began to gather for service at the Morristown Green. That year, the graveyard was officially founded. There were 1,640 burials on record (71 of which fought in the Revolutionary War). In 1738, King George II "issued the church a charter," and the Church structure was built sometime before 1742. That year, Reverend Timothy Johnes became its first pastor. From 1758 to 1816, the Green and some surrounding land was owned by the Presbyterian Church in Morristown.
Circa 1740, Samuel Arnold established the "famous" Arnold's Tavern on the North side of the park. The Tavern was located beside "the Morris County courthouse and jail [and] the Presbyterian and Baptist churches."
American ownership
During the Revolutionary War, from January to May 1777, the Arnold's Tavern was George Washington's headquarters, "while his troops stayed in [locals]’ homes" and/or camped in the Loantaka Valley to the east. By that year, Arnold's Tavern had "sprouted an extension with a large public hall for dances," which Washington used to convene councils. The National Park Service claims "Much of [Morris]town's social, political, and business life was conducted at Arnold's Tavern" during the Revolutionary era.
According to Simons, "the Green was the site of the Morris County Courthouse and jail for nearly 75 years (until 1827) and was the stage for many penal activities, including the incarceration of Tories and Hessian soldiers during the Revolutionary period".
In 1816, trustees of the Morristown Green purchased the land from the Morristown Presbyterian Church. The trustees pledged that the Green would remain "a common forever for the use and enjoyment of the public" and by the 1850s, efforts were made to revitalize the Green with tree plantings and fencing."
Executions
The Green was used as a public executions ground.