The first foreign settler to immigrate to Monroe was James Johnstone of Ochiltree, Scotland, who came to what was then known as East Jersey in 1685. Upon arrival, he was offered 50 acres of land and 25 acres for each additional family member that came along with him.After sending letters back home, telling stories of the fertile soil, plentiful food, plentiful water supply and the health of the immigrants, more Scottish, English and Dutch religious dissenters came to the area.On Feb. 23, 1838, Monroe, named after the fifth President of the United States, James Monroe, broke away from South Amboy and was incorporated as an independent municipality by the New Jersey State Legislature. Originally, Monroe was a part of Piscataway and then a part of South Amboy. The 1838 incorporation of Monroe Township originally included Spotswood, Helmetta, and Jamesburg, as well as parts of Cranbury and East Brunswick.