On
22 December 1780, the General Assembly of the new state of New
Jersey passed a law to more effectively prevent inhabitants of
the state from trading with the British forces (see Acts
of the Fifth General Assembly of the State of New Jersey,
first sitting, Chap. V, pp. 11-19). By section 18 of this law,
merchants in counties bordering enemy territory (i.e. New York),
and selling goods produced outside New Jersey or neighboring states,
were required to apply to the county court of quarter sessions
for a license to open a shop or store. Petitioners were required
to solicit signatures from fifteen "reputable and well-affected"
freeholders from the same county, certifying the applicant to
also be of good repute and "well-affected" to the government
of the state.
The penalty for selling foreign goods without a license was six
pounds per offense--half of which was to go to the support of
the poor in the township where the offense was committed. The
courts were allowed to charge six shillings for the issuance of
the licence. They were also empowered, of course, to revoke any
shopkeeper's license if a legitimate complaint was made against
him.
This
series contains signed petitions of Essex County (mainly Newark)
shopkeepers, along with a few corresponding licenses. They date
from the 2nd of January, 1781, soon after the enactment of the wartime
trade legislation referred to above, to the end of June of that
year.
Item No.
Description
Images
1.
Anderson,
Alexander, [no location given], no date
(Click image to enlarge)2.
Baldwin,
Jesse, Newark, 10 April 1781 [2 items]
(Click image to enlarge)3.
Boorback,
Garret, [no location given], 10 April 1781
(Click image to enlarge)4.
Camp,
Sarah (widow), [no location given], 8 April 1781
(Click image to enlarge)5.
Clark,
Aaron, Elizabeth Twp., 9 January 1781
(Click image to enlarge)6.
Clark,
John Mersereau, Elizabeth Twp., 9 January 1781
[2 items]
(Click image to enlarge)7.
Cory,
Abner, Rahway Twp., 12 April 1781
(Click image to enlarge)8.
Crane,
Joseph, Cranetown, 10 April 1781
(Click image to enlarge)9.
Drake,
Abraham, Scotch Plains Twp., 6 Janaury 1781
(Click image to enlarge)10.
Easton,
David, [no location given], 26 June 1781
(Click image to enlarge)11.
Fleming,
Edward, [no location given], 10 April 1781 [2 items]
(Click image to enlarge)
12.
Garritse,
Garrat H., Acquackanonk Twp., 10 April 1781
[2 items]
(Click image to enlarge)13.
Gillam,
James, Elizabeth Twp., 9 January 1781
(Click image to enlarge)14.
Gillman,
Charles, Westfield Twp., 2 January 1781
(Click image to enlarge)15.
Halsted,
Matthias, Elizabeth Twp., 8 January 1781
(Click image to enlarge)16.
Hedden,
Israel, Newark, 7 April 1781
(Click image to enlarge)
17.
Helme,
Arthur, Acquackanonk Twp., 8 January 1781
18.
Hews,
Alpheus, Newark, 9 January 1781 [2 items]
(Click image to enlarge)19.
Hill,
Martin, [no location given], 10 April 1781
(Click image to enlarge)
20.
Johnston,
Robert, Newark, no date
(Click image to enlarge)21.
Kip,
James H., [no location given], 9 April 1781
(Click image to enlarge)22.
Lyon,
Daniel, Elizabeth Twp., 9 January 1781
(Click image to enlarge)23.
Marsh,
Noah, [no location given], no date
(Click image to enlarge)24.
Meeker,
Capt. Samuel, Springfield Twp., 8 January 1781, oversized
(Click image to enlarge)25.
Morrell,
Thomas, Elizabeth Twp., 8 January 1781, oversized
(Click image to enlarge)26.
Nichols/Nicolls,
Abigail, Connecticut Farms, 23 & 26 June 1781 [2 items]
27.
Niel,
Robert, Newark, no date
(Click image to enlarge)28.
Nixsen,
William, Acquackanonk Twp., 8 January 1781
29.
Ogden,
Capt. John, Wardsesson, 11 January 1781
(Click image to enlarge)30.
Ogden,
Lewis, Newark, no date
(Click image to enlarge)31.
Ogden,
Moses, Newark, 27 June 1781
(Click image to enlarge)32.
Post,
Francis, Acquackanonk Twp., 4 June 1781
(Click image to enlarge)33.
Ray,
John, Newark, 8 January 1781
(Click image to enlarge)34.
Sayre/Sayer,
Matthias, Elizabeth Twp., 2 Janaury 1781, oversized
(Click image to enlarge)35.
Sayr/Sears,
Anthony, Elizabeth Twp., 6 January 1781
(Click image to enlarge)Smith,
Jacob, Acquackanonk Twp., April 1781
(Click image to enlarge)
37.
Smith,
John, Newark, April 1781
(Click image to enlarge)38.
Ten
Brook, Henry, Newark, April 1781
(Click image to enlarge)39.
Thompson,
James, Wardsesson, 5 & 9 Janaury 1781
[2 items]
(Click image to enlarge)40.
Turell,
Ebenezer, Newark, 26 June 1781
(Click image to enlarge)41.
Van
Vleck, Isaac, Newark, 8 January 1781
(Click image to enlarge)
42.
Wilson,
James, Connecticut Farms, no date
(Click image to enlarge)43.
Winans,
Jacob, [no location given], 27 March 1781
(Click image to enlarge)
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images included in this collection.
Created
July 2009
