The Middle Colonies were originally settled by the Dutch as New Netherland, with Fort Orange (later Albany) established in 1614 and New Amsterdam (later New York City) founded on Manhattan Island in 1624. The Dutch focused on fur trading and agriculture rather than missionary efforts. England took control of the region after defeating the Dutch in several wars in the late 1600s. New Jersey was originally awarded by the English king as payment to aristocrats and to pay off debts, making it a small, poor colony between the larger colonies of New York and Pennsylvania.