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Record Group:
Essex County
SubGroup:
Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace
Series:
Shopkeepers' Petitions and Licenses, 1781
Accession #:
Unknown
Series #:
CESQU001
Guide Date:
4/1992 (JK); rev. 3/2007 (JJ)
Volume:
0.25 c.f. [1 box]

 

Legislative History

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.

Content Note

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.

Contents

Item No.
Description

Images

1.
Anderson, Alexander, [no location given], no date

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2.
Baldwin, Jesse, Newark, 10 April 1781 [2 items]
 
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3.
Boorback, Garret, [no location given], 10 April 1781

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4.
Camp, Sarah (widow), [no location given], 8 April 1781

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5.
Clark, Aaron, Elizabeth Twp., 9 January 1781

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6.
Clark, John Mersereau, Elizabeth Twp., 9 January 1781 [2 items]
 
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7.
Cory, Abner, Rahway Twp., 12 April 1781

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8.
Crane, Joseph, Cranetown, 10 April 1781

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9.
Drake, Abraham, Scotch Plains Twp., 6 Janaury 1781

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10.
Easton, David, [no location given], 26 June 1781

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11.
Fleming, Edward, [no location given], 10 April 1781 [2 items]
   
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12.
Garritse, Garrat H., Acquackanonk Twp., 10 April 1781
[2 items]
 
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13.
Gillam, James, Elizabeth Twp., 9 January 1781

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14.
Gillman, Charles, Westfield Twp., 2 January 1781

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15.
Halsted, Matthias, Elizabeth Twp., 8 January 1781
 
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16.
Hedden, Israel, Newark, 7 April 1781
     
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17.
Helme, Arthur, Acquackanonk Twp., 8 January 1781
   
 
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18.
Hews, Alpheus, Newark, 9 January 1781 [2 items]
  
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19.
Hill, Martin, [no location given], 10 April 1781
 
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20.
Johnston, Robert, Newark, no date

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21.
Kip, James H., [no location given], 9 April 1781
 
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22.
Lyon, Daniel, Elizabeth Twp., 9 January 1781

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23.
Marsh, Noah, [no location given], no date

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24.
Meeker, Capt. Samuel, Springfield Twp., 8 January 1781, oversized
 
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25.
Morrell, Thomas, Elizabeth Twp., 8 January 1781, oversized

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26.
Nichols/Nicolls, Abigail, Connecticut Farms, 23 & 26 June 1781 [2 items]
 
   
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27.
Niel, Robert, Newark, no date
 
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28.
Nixsen, William, Acquackanonk Twp., 8 January 1781
 

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29.
Ogden, Capt. John, Wardsesson, 11 January 1781
 
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30.
Ogden, Lewis, Newark, no date
  
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31.
Ogden, Moses, Newark, 27 June 1781

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32.
Post, Francis, Acquackanonk Twp., 4 June 1781
 
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33.
Ray, John, Newark, 8 January 1781

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34.
Sayre/Sayer, Matthias, Elizabeth Twp., 2 Janaury 1781, oversized

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35.
Sayr/Sears, Anthony, Elizabeth Twp., 6 January 1781
 
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36.

Smith, Jacob, Acquackanonk Twp., April 1781
 
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37.
Smith, John, Newark, April 1781

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38.
Ten Brook, Henry, Newark, April 1781
  
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39.
Thompson, James, Wardsesson, 5 & 9 Janaury 1781 [2 items]
 
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40.
Turell, Ebenezer, Newark, 26 June 1781
 
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41.
Van Vleck, Isaac, Newark, 8 January 1781
   
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42.
Wilson, James, Connecticut Farms, no date
  
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43.
Winans, Jacob, [no location given], 27 March 1781
 
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Created July 2009