Dear Donna, The 1793 census for the military list was in response to the law of 1792. The count previous to that was the 1790 census. The preface to the book you mentioned (page ii) has a very good introduction as to what the list was, why it was taken and how it has come to replace the lost 1790 census. It is not complete as a census because it only lists men of military age. It is, however, the closest thing to the 1790 census available for NJ. I hope this is of somel help. Georgia Whitson