We May Be a Year Off On Our Dates
Jean Jones
Staff Writer for The Bridgeton Evening News

The date for the formation of Cumberland County is usually written as Jan. 19, 1747/48.

The dual year is because England and the colonies changed from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar in 1752. Under the Julian calendar, the year began on March 25. Pope Gregory's calendar began on Jan. 1. In the transition, 11 days were dropped. Don't ask why. You would only become more confused.. (It has to do with the fact that the Julian year was six hours per year longer than the seasonal year.)

When referring back to events which happened prior to 1752, between Jan.1 and March 25, The Julian year was henceforth referenced as "old style," or N.S. when the period from Jan. 1 to March 25 was involved.

Washington's Birthday, for instance, occurred on Feb. 11, old style, or Feb. 22, new style. Because of the calendar adjustment, we celebrate Feb. 22 as the anniversary of his birth.

Cumberland County was set off on Jan. 19, old style, which would be Jan. 30, new style.

We owe this reminder to writer and Historian J. Meade Landis, who pointed out the error in 1948. Was anyone paying attention?

Taken from The Bridgeton Evening News;
250 Years of History Special - 6/26/1998