Welcome to the New Jersey - Reference Books
Woodside, the North End of Newark, New Jersey: Its History, Legends and Ghost Stories - C.G. Hine. A light- hearted, entertaining history rich with local traditions and amusing anecdotes of this old New Jersey town. Woodside is located north of Newark, New Jersey, along the western bank of the Passaic River. While readers may open this text with the intention of researching an ancestor or seeing a photograph of a family homestead, they will also be treated to a wealth of related folklore and tall tales. Several incidents of the Revolutionary War are described, as well as an account of the career of the Civil War iron- clad U.S.S. Monitor (including her much written of encounter with the Confederate ram Merrimac at Hampton Roads, Virginia). (1909) reprint, 308 pp., maps, photos, original fullname plus subject index, paper $27.00 #ZH351
A Glimpse of the Dutch Settlement of New Jersey as seen by the Van Dyke Family - Paul C. Van Dyke. In pleasant, readable style the book captures the drama of the Dutch migration from New York and Long Island into Middlesex, Somerset and Mercer Counties of New Jersey. With 36 illustrations, including maps, photographs of rare documents and historic landmarks (many never before published), the work is based upon facts gleaned from wills, probate records, estate inventories, deeds, minutes of town meetings, petitions, court documents, church records, family Bibles, diaries and other primary sources. Appendices, A to S, contain archival documents, biographical summaries, genealogies, Bible entries and related material. 1997, 246 pp., 8.5x11, illus., maps, bibl., append., subjects and surnames indices, paper, $23.50 #V052
Bergen County, New Jersey Deed Records, 1689-1801
Biographical Sketches of the Sheriffs of the County of Union in the State of New Jersey, 1857-1993: With Compiled Lists of the Constabulary of Some Select New Jersey Towns, 1669-1876: - Russell K. Dutcher III. The author has compiled sketches for the thirty-two men who have held the office since 1857, drawing from a variety of sources. The second part of the book is composed of lists of all the constabulary that could be found in the various records of town and county government dating back to colonial times, and is a less complete record than that of the first part. 1993, 105 pp., illus., paper $17.50 #ZD871
The History of New Jersey from Its Discovery by Europeans to the Adoption of the Federal Constitution - Thomas F. Gordon. This thorough history was originally published in 1834 in a single, bound volume with Gordon's Gazetteer of the State of New Jersey. Heritage Books, Inc. is pleased to publish the history separately, making it available at a bargain price to those with an interest in colonial New Jersey and its citizens.
Gordon was a meticulous chronicler, and his lucid prose is supported with numerous footnotes and endnotes. The subjects he covers range from the first conflicts between Holland and England at the mouth of the Hudson River to the initial division of New Jersey into East Jersey and West Jersey; from descriptions of the prevalent Indian tribes to explanations of the first forms of English government; from conflicts of the French and Indian War to increasing tensions between the colonists and Mother England; from the Stamp Act to the Declaration of Independence; from the heroic role of New Jersey militias to final victory in the Revolutionary War. A new tot pp everyname index has been added. (1834) reprint, 351 pp., new index, paper, $28.00 #ZG561
Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey - Cornelius Burnham Harvey. An overview of the first settlers and their origin is followed by a roster of "the earliest and most prominent" landowners and settlers. The bulk of the book is a treasure-trove of genealogical information. The length of the articles vary in length and generally contain the following information: name of the subject; birth/marriage/death dates; name of spouse; names of children; the subject's education and occupation; and the subject's siblings and parents. The subjects appear to have been born in the early to mid-1800s but commentary on their ancestries may cover several generations and reach into the early 1700s. (1900) reprint, 648 pp., illus., maps, new index, paper, $42.00 #ZH068
A Glance Back in Time: Life in Colonial New Jersey (1704-1770) as depicted in News Accounts of the Day - Richard B. Marrin. This compilation of news accounts from the colonial era can help today's reader better visualize what life was like in America between two and three centuries ago. It includes approximately 2000 names of the earliest inhabitants of the provinces of East and West New Jersey and others from 1704 through 1770, collected from nearly a thousand news accounts of life in colonial America, not previously published this century. 1994, 359 pp., index, paper $29.00 #ZM166
Passage Point: An Amateur's Dig Into New Jersey's Colonial Past - Richard B. Marrin. The title can be taken literally: this is an account of a seven-year archaeological investigation near the shoreline of a New Jersey peninsula between the Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers, separated from the Atlantic only by the barrier beach which ends at Sandy Hook a few miles to the north. This peninsula is now populated by quiet stately homes and estates, but was not always so. Known as Monmouth County's "Plymouth Rock," this location was the landing place for the first settlers in the region, and a major gateway for trade, in addition to being the site of battles at least three times in the War for Independence. Thus it seemed a promising site for an archaeological dig, and the author secured permission from the landowners and began to dig.
Excavating each summer for seven years, Mr. Marrin spent the winters researching archives and records for further clues. Likewise, the chapters in this book alternate between accounts of the digs and findings, by year (presented as letters to the landowners), and accounts of the history of this area, traces of which were sought and found. This kind of search combines the written record, which is available to everyone, with the physical evidence, which the ground grudgingly yields only to the patient archaeologist.
Archaeological digs, like gold prospecting, offer the prospect of the Big Find that no one else has seen. Anyone who has been involved in field archaeology has felt this in varying degrees, and will enjoy this account, as will anyone curious about the history of this part of New Jersey. The everyname plus subject index contains a wide variety of entries testifying to the breadth of background research and discussion in the book. 1997, 333 pp., illus., maps, footnotes, everyname plus subject index, paper, $25.50 #ZM066
Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey, CALENDAR OF NEW JERSEY WILLS. - William Nelson. In preparing this work the abstracts of wills were made from the originals in the office of the Secretary of the State, and where they are recorded a reference to the book of record is given. The wills are arranged in alphabetical order by the testators or intestates names.
Vol 1 is out of print.
Volume II, 1730-1750. (1918) repr, 708 pp., 2 vols., index, paper $44.50 #ZN149
Volume III, 1751-1760. (1924) reprint, 469 pp., index, paper, $32.00 #ZN150
The History of Cape May County, New Jersey, 1638-1897 - Lewis Townsend Stevens. This history portrays the gradual development of Cape May County and the progress of its people from the earliest times. Among the highlights: the aborigines, the Dutch in Delaware Bay, the settlement of the county, the whaling industry, the growth of the villages, patriots and the Revolution, the establishment of the new government, the War of 1812 and the soldiers of the Civil War.
The information obtained for this volume was supplemented by the collections of the historical societies of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Many facts were also gathered from the articles of Francis B. Lee, Esq. and from contributions by Col. J. Granville Leach and County Clerk Edward L. Rice. The diaries of Jacob Spicer, the Aarons Leaming and Dr. Beesley were perused and liberally abstracted.
The plethora of names in this volume makes it a must for the genealogist. The author goes into great detail with biographical sketches of the more prominent citizens of Cape May County, as well as listings of Cape May patriots from the Revolution, First New Jersey Cavalry, enlistments of 1862, men involved in the Civil War campaigns of 1864 and 1865, and distinguished visitors to the county. There are also appendices listing members of the legislature (1702-1897), the boards of chosen freeholders (1827-1897), county officials (1693-1897), postmasters, municipal officers (1851-1897), and the population of Cape May County (1726-1895). An everyname index with over 3,000 names has been added. (1897) reprint, 509 pp., illus., new everyname index, $36.00 #ZS723
Annals of the Classis of Bergen, of the Reformed Churches Under Its Care: Including the Civil History of the Ancient Township of Bergen, in New Jersey - Benjamin C. Taylor, D.D. The Classis, or district, of Bergen (now a part of the New Jersey portion of New York City) has a lengthy history going back probably as early as 1618, when it was a place for trading with the Indians. The book begins with 30 pages on the Classis of Hackensackand Bergen, followed by 61 pages on the churches of Bergen. From there on, the bulk of the book consists of 21 chapters each dealing with a nearby church, such as First Hoboken, Third Newark, or Second Hackensack, and ending with a chapter of concluding remarks. (1875) reprint, 479 pp., illus., fullname plus subject index, paper, $37.00 #ZT096
Old Bergen: History and Reminiscences - Daniel Van Winkle. The village of Bergen, established in 1660, was the first permanent settlement in New Jersey. Now known as Hoboken and Jersey City, the marshy land on which Bergen was founded is just across the Hudson River from New York. At the beginning of this century, when this book was written, the Bergen region was still known for an old-fashioned charm. Daniel Van Winkle wrote in his preface,
From its antiquity and historical importance, "Old Bergen" deserves more than a passing glance. Founded during the infancy of our country, and standing at the gateway of the continent, it was subjected during the colonial and revolutionary period to the privations and vicissitudes peculiar to those early days, to an unusual degree...
"The people inhabiting its territory, retaining to a great extent the characteristics and conservativeness of their forefathers, were oftentimes visited by their city neighbors, when tired and worn with the cares and anxieties of a business life, to secure a momentary relaxation and rest among their peaceful surroundings.
Mr. Van Winkle used sources such as colonial and revolutionary documents, old newspaper articles and individual's reminiscences to compile this pleasant and enjoyable history. Chapter subjects include discovery of the region, early settlements, native inhabitants, dissatisfaction with Gov. Kieft, English and Dutch rivalry, Revolutionary times, transportation, churches, War of 1812, Civil War, customs and habits, and old homes. There are over 25 maps and pictures, and an everyname index has been added. (1902), reprint, 323 pp., illus., new index, paper, $27.00 #ZV059
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