250 Years of Cumberland County History
A session of the Colonial Legislature, held January 30, 1748, passed an Act stipulating the east side of Salem County as a new county to be known as Cumberland County. Governor Jonathan Belcher named it in honor of his patron, William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, brother of the king.
The Act establishing the new county divided it into six townships: Greenwich, Hopewell, Stow Creek, Deerfield, Fairfield, and Maurice River. The Freeholders met at Cohansey Bridge, which is now Bridgeton, to arrange for the taking of a poll. The poll would determine the location of the county seat. The first court was held at Greenwich. Later that same year, 1748, Cohansey Bridge (now Bridgeton) was chosen as the seat of county government. The selection was a compromise with Greenwich, Fairfield, and Deerfield, because of the convenience, and the practical advantage from a business standpoint.
In 1752, Cumberland County's first court house, was built in the center of what is now West Broad Street. During the next 15 years Cumberland County developed rapidly. At the same time dissatisfaction over Colonial rule was increasing. In 1772, Cumberland County elected two representatives to the Colonial Legislature. Salem and Cumberland had been jointly represented.
Cumberland's pride in its Liberty Bell is reflected in its official flag. The banner is displayed in the Freeholders Room at the courthouse and is used on ceremonial occasions.
The flag was designed by J. Landis Meade and was adopted as the official insignia by the freeholders in 1955
. Cumberland County split from Salem County in 1748, which is represented in the red lettering on the flag. The buff and sky blue of the diagonally quartered primary portion represent the colors of the uniforms worn by the Continental troops in the Revolutionary War. The insignia of a bell in the central portion of deep blue is a likeness of Cumberland's own Liberty Bell. The bell, bearing the date of independence, is surrounded by 14 stars positioned at random, each representing a municipal subdivision in the county at the time.
Cumberland County Liberty Bell
- The bell, in the key of F, was made in Bridgewater, England before 1776.
- This bell has been used in many ways in Bridgeton and once in Philadelphia.
- Called people together for important news and meetings when hanging in the Court House that was built in 1760-61.
- Rang for liberty when the Declaration of Independence was signed.
- Used as a warning signal during the War of 1812.
- Was a fireman's bell.
- Was a school bell for the West Jersey Academy and later at the old Bridgeton High School.
- Rang for the 200th Anniversary of the founding of Cumberland County in 1948.
- Was on exhibit in Philadelphia during the 150th Anniversary of Independence. While there, it rang for the closing time.
