On November 29, 1783, at 10:50 p.m. (UTC−5), a Mfa 5.3 earthquake occurred in the U.S. state of New Jersey.

[5] The earthquake is thought to have originated from within the New Jersey Highlands of the Reading Prong,[4] possibly on the 300 km long, 12 km wide Ramapo Fault zone, a structure formed during the Late Triassic during the break-up of Pangaea.

[8] There are reports and recordings in diaries that suggest that the earthquake was felt in neighboring states.

[4] George Washington was visiting New York City at the time to mark the Evacuation Day departure of British forces, and was sleeping at Fraunces Tavern when the earthquake struck, but he was not woken by the tremors.

[9] Reports show that the earthquake was felt in Philadelphia, New Haven, and Boston.