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Surveyor General's Office

260 High Street, Next to City Hall

Built c.1852...

The Surveyor General's Office is a two-room building that was used as a meeting place and record archive of the Board of Proprietors of the Eastern Division of New Jersey.    During the 17th Century, the East Jersey Proprietors purchased all of the land in the Province from Sir George Carteret.   When the Proprietors surrendered control of the government to British Queen Anne, they retained their land rights.   Interestingly enough, the East Jersey Proprietors survived the American Revolution and lasted until 1998, when they dissolved.   Their last meeting place is this structure, i.e., the Surveyor General's Office which was constructed c.1852-1854.   A fireproof vault within housed records of survey and an elegant Greek Revival entrance highlights the facade of this historic building.

The building now houses a museum exploring the early history of Perth Amboy, however, it is currently not open for visitors.