On 30 November 1792, a law was passed requiring the reorganization of the New Jersey State Militia, prompting a Census of all eligible white males between the ages of 18 and 45. The Militia Census is the closest thing we have to a 1790 Federal Census for New Jersey. While it doesn’t list every head of household, it does enumerate adult males who normally would not be listed on census. Additionally, the Census was a door to door effort, so if you find a non-alphabetized list and see the same surname together, those individuals may have been members of the same household. The original records are located at the New Jersey State Archives. Before attacking the originals, I suggest using a New Jersey in 1793, by James S. Norton. The book is a transcription of the surviving records. [i]
New Jersey in 1793, contains copies of the law, and an overview of the existing records. In some cases, the records no longer exist, and the author instead used Tax Ratables for those locales. This book is out of print, but it found at some libraries. I scored a copy on eBay, and it’s one of my favorite occupants of my home library.
Besides the names and location of the men, there isn’t too much other data, but it is variable. Some lists are broken out by villages, or military unit. The inclusion of women may be the result of Tax Ratables used as a replacement (Thanks, Michelle Chubenko). Some lists have exempt individuals, and others do not. While not perfect, it is a unique snapshot of males between the ages of 18-45 in a state where the Census is not available until 1830.
Back to my research question. Who was the father of Peter Teeple? We know that he was born in 1785, in either Warren County, New Jersey, or perhaps near Warren Township, Somerset County, New Jersey.[ii] He married Catherine Clawson (Clauson) in Bedminster, Somerset County in 1820, most likely at the Bedminster Reformed Church.[iii] The couple settled in a village in Piscataway Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey. His son George mentioned that his Grandfather lived in Pluckemin, and was 101 years old when he passed away.[iv] So if Peter was born in 1785, and his father had an extremely long life, then he would have likely been enumerated in 1793, when Peter was 8.
I begin with a strength rating as I did in the past. For this derivative source, the results may be different, as the age range is quite broad. In our last post, analysis of the 1830 Census, there was only one man in the entire state who could have been Peter’s father, based on his age; George Teeple of Bridgewater, Somerset County, New Jersey. In this Census the age grouping is vast 18-45 so, it could be men born as early as 1748, or as late as 1775.* In theory, the list could contain his father and possibly siblings or cousins; in other words, the list will be longer, and I will have more people to eliminate.
The potential list has grown. I am happy to see a George in Bridgewater, well actually multiple, but it is a Tax Ratable, which must be kept in mind. We also now have men named Teaple [Teeple] in towns, which someday will be Warren County. I will begin my process of elimination (research the individuals) with a strength of one and two but may expand as needed. Let’s hope they all left wills!
New Jersey Tax Ratables (Census substitute) up next.
Related Posts:
https://once-removed.com/2020/03/14/census-analysis-newjersey-style-part-1/
https://once-removed.com/2020/03/15/census-analysis-new-jersey-style-part-2/
[i] Norton, James S. New Jersey in 1793. Salt Lake City: James S. Norton.1974.
[ii] Pellicane, Elizabeth. “Census Analysis, Jersey Style; Part 1,” Elizabeth Pellicane, Once-Removed; Blog,14 March 2020. https://once-removed.com/2020/03/14/census-analysis-newjersey-style-part-1/ : 2020.
[iii] “New Jersey, County Marriages, 1682-1956,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/: accessed 14 December 2018), image 103 of 366; New Jersey State Archives, Trenton.
[iv] “85 Years Young; Guns For Rabbits George Teeple Enjoys Hunting Tells How to Live Many Years,” Trenton Evening Times, 30 November 1909, page 3, column 5; GenealogyBank (accessed : 14 December 2018).
Figure 2 –
James S. Norton, New Jersey in 1793, entries for Teaple, Teeple; Salt Lake City: James S. Norton.1974. Pages 154, 205, 206, 262, 274, 276, 283, 287, 385, 388, 390, 392 and 295.
Note* – Somerset County was missing from the Militia enumeration, and the author substituted Tax Ratables. It should be known that for Somerset County, there is no guarantee that the people enumerated were aged 45 and under or counted only once.