It's 600 A.D. in Britain and the Saxons of Essex found a new territory called Middlesex. By this time, you have the South Saxons (Sussex), East Saxons (Essex), Middle Saxons (Middlesex), and the West Saxons (Wessex).
For us in New Jersey, you'll recognize familiar names. Except for one.
Why is there no Wessex County in New Jersey?
When NJ was in its English-ruled infancy it was split in two, East and West Jersey. In the 1600's East Jersey formed the Counties of Bergen, Essex, Middlesex, and Monmouth. West Jersey formed Salem and Burlington. As New Jersey unified and developed new Counties, Sussex County was founded in 1753.
And for anyone looking at a map, here is my glaring problem with that. Sussex being the northern-most County in the State, its name, to put it politely, is stupid considering its namesake. So stupid in fact that with it being WEST of Essex and Middlesex, naming it Wessex County is just so obvious. Also there was never a "Norsex" (Northern Saxon) kingdom in England, so again Wessex County make sense.
Since then, Counties have been partitioned and new were Counties founded, but none were to be named Wessex. Perhaps one day we'll see it become a 22nd County in New Jersey.
Oddly enough, a fictional Wessex County, New Jersey does exist and in all places it's the Friday the 13th series.
Anyway, this is my short rant on why Sussex should be renamed Wessex County, and New Jersey can form a new 22nd County in South Jersey called Sussex.
#NJHistory #Wessex #22ndCounty
