Philip Carteret faced significant challenges upon returning to the Jersey territory, including settlers refusing to pay quitrents and legal disputes over governance with New York, which led to eventual arbitration in England and Carteret selling his interest in East Jersey.
The history of early New Jersey is marked by a series of conflicts and political maneuvers. Upon his return to the Jersey territory, Philip Carteret was faced with various challenges. Settlers given land by Richard Nicolls under the Duke of York’s orders refused to pay quitrents, and additionally, they rebuffed taking an oath of allegiance to New Jersey.
There were legal and political disputes with New York over governance rights, involving the Duke of York asserting his claim through Edmund Andros, who attempted to impose taxes and even arrested Carteret. Eventually, after a lengthy dispute, arbitration in England ruled in Carteret's favor.
Despite this victory, the ongoing difficulties led Carteret to sell his interest in East Jersey to several Quaker investors in 1682, and both East and West Jersey would eventually fall under royal control in 1702 due to mismanagement.