the delaware river estuary was the territory of the lenape. european settlement of the region around today's salem began in 1638 when the colony of new sweden was established and the salem river was called varkens kill or hogg creek. tradition holds that ethnic finns settled inland from finns point in 1638. in 1641, a group from the new haven colony settled around varkens kill. in 1655, it was re-claimed by new netherland and in 1664 it became part of the province of new jersey. in 1675, a land patent was given to john fenwick, who founded the town. originally, salem's wharves were located along fenwick creek and salem creek, and received calls from philadelphia, boston and the caribbean. during the american revolutionary war, it was occupied by the british to prevent supplies from reaching american troops. steamer service between salem and philadelphia began in 1825. the salem railroad opened in 1863.