FENWICK'S SALEM TENTH John Fenwick was born in England in 1618. He was student at law at Gray's Inn, Middlesex County, England in 1640. He was commissioned a Major in Cromwell's Army in 1648. In 1649 he was a church member in England, and afterwards became a member of the Society of Friends. In 1673-74 he became associated with Edward Byllinge, also a Quaker, in Lord Berkeley's interest in New Jersey, from whom Fenwick received a deed in trust for Byllinge, conveying half the province. Byllinge afterward became financially embarrassed. Nine tenths of this interest was assigned to trustees for the benefit of his creditors, and one tenth, comprising what is now Salem and Cumberland Counties was retained by Fenwick. Because of this, the area has become known as FENWICK'S SALEM TENTH. Fenwick arrived in New Jersey from England in the ship "Griffith" in 1675, and landed at a place which he named New Salem or Salem. Soon after his arrival he had a council with the Indian chiefs of Salem County under the shade of an old Oak Tree, and purchased of them their lands. The Salem Oak Tree is still standing and is believed to be over 600 years old at this time. In 1676 he announced his plans for settling and laying out the town of Salem, and in 1683 he was elected a member of the New Jersey Legislature, which met at Burlington. Fenwick lived only about nine years after his arrival in New Jersey but the area of Salem and Cumberland Counties are still referred to as "Fenwick's Salem Tenth".

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