While Mendham Borough was founded 120 years ago in 1906, the history of the area goes back an additional 200 years or so with the arrival of European settlers, who began arriving to the Mendham Area in the early 1700s. Prior to their arrival, the Lenape Indians had inhabited the area for 1000’s of years. Many of these initial settlers came from the Village of Mendon in southeastern Massachusetts. They came here to make a better life that was free from religious tyranny and had more tolerant societal norms, than the strict religious and moral restrictions imposed by the Puritans. communities in Massachusetts. They were also attracted to the fertile fields, the abundance of water power, and availability of iron ore.

In 1713 an English settler named James Wills established the village of Roxiticus which later became Ralston. The Wills Family proceeded to sell this land to various settlers. As word spread of the abundant resources, more settlers began to arrive.In the 1720s, David Bainard, Ebenezer and Eliab Byram established a village along India Creek where they built houses, a forge, a sawmill, three dams, planted a large apple orchard, and started a tannery.

In 1745, Ebenezer invited Jonathan Cary to come to Mendham from Bridgewater, MA to build the first Hilltop Presbyterian Church on the current location at 14 Hilltop Road. Jonathan then settled in the area to raise a family and operate a grist mill. His son Stephen was born on March 15, 1794. In 1822, Stephen purchased 59 acres of land on Mountainside Road to operate as a farm. The barn from that farm is one of the oldest structures in the area and is now owned and being preserved by the Borough of Mendham.

Life was not easy for the early settlers. They had to be self-sufficient and quickly made use of the abundant resources that the Mendham Area had to offer. Remnants of the early iron mines, grist mills, sawmills, and limestone kilns can still be seen today.

Mendham Twp. From which Mendham Borough evolved, was founded on March 29, 1749, and included some or all of what is now Chester, Randolph, Roxbury, and Mine Hill.

The early settlers. In the 1700s New Jersey was still under British rule. Discontent among many of these early settlers foreshadowed the larger overall quest for freedom that resulted in the Revolutionary War. The settlers became increasingly intolerant of having to answer to a foreign government while working very hard to survive and assimilate into their new life.

This discontent eventually led to the Revolutionary War which officially started on July 4, 1776, with the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Five delegates representing New Jersey signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776, often referred to as the "Jersey Five”. They were appointed to the Continental Congress in June 1776 to replace a previous delegation that was hesitant to support independence. The five signers from New Jersey, more than any other colony other than Pennsylvania (9) and Virginia (7) were; Abraham Clark (Elizabethtown), John Hart (Hopewell), Francis Hopkinson (Bordentown), Richard Stockton (Princeton), and John Witherspoon (Princeton).

Mendham provided substantial support to the revolutionary War. Key contributions included:

Supplying the Troops: Local farmers and businesses provided food, forage, and livestock to the Continental Army. John Logan, who operated a local grist mill, was appointed as a commissary to George Washington, ensuring food reached the encampment at Jockey Hollow.

Medical Care and Hospitalization: When smallpox struck the army, the original Hilltop Church was used as a hospital. Many soldiers succumbed to disease, with 27 known to be buried in a common grave at the church cemetery.

Mendham Forges and Munitions: The area had several forges, including the Mendham Forge, Rushes Forge, and Rye Forge, which helped supply the army with iron and materials. Additionally, Lebbeus Dod served as an artillery captain and operated an armory to repair and make muskets.

Military Personnel: Local men served as Minutemen, in the New Jersey Militia, and the Continental Line.

Strategic Location: The area now known as the Schiff Natural Lands Trust is believed to have served as a Revolutionary War outpost between 1779-80, protecting the road through the Raritan River pass.

After the Revolutionary War ended in 1783, Mendham, NJ, transitioned from a war-torn, small farming community into an incorporated township (1798) that thrived on iron forges, agriculture, and local commerce. The area was known as a source of apples which were distilled into hard cider, which most people, including children, drank instead of water. Industrial Activity developed in the 1780s and 1790s, several forges, including Mendham (Ralston), Rushes, Rye, and Willets forges, operated in the area, capitalizing on the region's iron industry. John Ralston established a general store in 1786 in the area now known as the Ralston District, which served as a community hub. The community remained heavily agricultural, with farmers navigating a difficult post-war economy. As the 1800s progressed, Mendham developed a reputation as a summer resort; and boarding guests became one of the industries in the village.

The end of the 1800’s brought change to the area. many local industries struggled to compete with larger urban factories, leading to a decline in the area's manufacturing base. The Rockaway Valley Railroad served the area from 1891 to 1913, transporting agricultural goods, coal, and mail, though it was known for its slow and unsteady service. The area became more residential as many mansions that began to dot the landscape. Mendham Borough was incorporated from a portion of Mendham Township on May 16, 1906, because residents wanted modern amenities like a water system, sidewalks and streetlights, while the remaining Township preferred to maintain its rural character.

During the early 20th century, particularly between 1914 and 1929, developers, along with residents in areas like Brookside, renovated old homes and built new ones, deliberately transforming the rural area into a residential, suburban setting that we have today.