Shunpiking - Early Shunpikes

Early Shunpikes

Shunpikes were in use in the United States in the early 1800s. A shunpike in Morris County, New Jersey dates back to 1804; one near Mt. Holly, Vermont, was in existence at least as early as 1809; and one in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire was created circa 1810.

A newspaper article in the "New Jersey Journal" of 6 Mar 1804, (p. 4), references a house for sale on Shunpike Road between Morristown and Elizabethtown, New Jersey. This "Shunpike Road," parts of which are still extant, was in existence the same year that the turnpike opened for business: 1804. It ran southwest of and parallel to the Morris Turnpike . It was formed by the improvement and connection of sideroads to enable country people to avoid the expenses of the tolls. Shunpike road ran through the towns of Bottle Hill, Chatham, Summit and Springfield.

When the "Turnpike" was built around 1810 or so, by the Hampton Causeway Turnpike Corporation, in Hampton Falls, NH, a toll was charged to cross it at Taylor's River.

Not content with the payment of a toll, some of the residents got together and built a slight bridge called the "Shunpike" across the Taylor's River, some distance west of the Turnpike bridge, where travelers and teamsters could cross without charge. This continued on until April 12, 1826, when the toll on the Turnpike was discontinued and has remained a free road to this day.