Submitted by Al Shipley, City Historian and Rahway Library Research Consultant
It had been a long time in coming, but the legal requirements necessary to make Rahway an incorporated city had finally been completed. On March 12, 1858, the Legislature of the State of New Jersey granted the incorporation of the City of Rahway.
Although the year of incorporation is 1858, Rahway’s history goes back to the 1670s, soon after the villages of Elizabethtown and Woodbridge were settled. The early settlers of those places were the founders of Rahway which began as outlying acreage and plantations located on the banks of the Rahway River. The name “Rahwack,” with several variants in spelling, appears to have been in use for this vicinity in very early days and is traditionally ascribed to an Indian chief who dwelt here. By the 18th century, Rahway consisted of four distinct communities: Upper Rahway, Bridgetown (also called Lower Rahway), Leesville, and Milton. These four sections joined to form Rahway Township in 1804.
Once becoming an incorporated city, an election procedure was organized, and on April 19, the people of the new city went to the polls to elect their first city officers. When the votes were counted, the Honorable Edward R. Rogers had been chosen as the first mayor. Other positions were also filled including, city clerk, treasurer, assessor, collector, councilmen, judges of election, ward clerks, and constables.
One of the first acts of business enacted by the newly elected officials was the adoption of an official city seal. On May 4, 1858, the “clerk (John R. Chapin) was requested to design and procure the execution of a proper seal for the city.” Two weeks later, on May 18, Clerk Chapin presented the design. On June 8, the following ordinance establishing the City Seal was unanimously adopted:
“ Be it ordained by the Mayor and Common Council of the City of Rahway, shall be in accordance with the design herewith annexed, and which may be described in the words following to wit:
Within a circle of not less than an inch & ¼ in diameter is a shield quartered and bearing the following devices: In the upper sinister quarter a bare arm with sledge representing mechanics; in the upper dexter quarter a wheel representing the prominent manufacture of the city, Carriages; opposed in the lower sinister quarter is also a wheel, and in the lower dexter quarter a sheaf of wheat, represents the agricultural interest. The crest is the crest of the State, a Nag’s head. The supporters are, on the sinister an Indian chief, representing “Rahwack,” from whom the city derives its name, bearing in his dexter hand a calumet or pipe of peace; on the dexter, a member of the Society of Friends — the first settlers of the vicinity – bearing in his sinister hand a deed, indicative of the peaceful transition of the soil from the Aborigines. Beneath the shield is a ribbon on which is inscribed the motto of the city __ “Onward.” Within the outer circle are the following words: “Seal of the city of Rahway, incorporated 1858.”
The Mayor shall have the custody of the city Seal and the same shall be kept by him at all times in his office.”
Rahway’s city seal is worthy of a second look. Within the circular design, a history lesson is waiting to be explored.
