Wilson, Yes, I agree it is not the easiest place to do research. I have deed material for the 1800's but not much earlier. In terms of churches, the Hanover Presbyterian Church has been wonderful. Fortunately a few of my folks were members, primarily Aaron Tompkins' daughter, Sarah, and her husband Ezra Beach in the early 1800's. Other Beaches and Morehouses earlier. The first of Aaron's three marriages has been noted at the First Presbyterian Church of Morristown in 1759. I wish I had the same level of information on the Presbyterian church of Caldwell. I think Aaron played a role in that church in 1779, but I haven't located any marriage records. The early records on my Lutheran families in Hunterdon county were certainly more extensive. Thanks for the comments. Beverly ----- Original Message ----- From: Wilson Brown To: Beverly Porter Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2007 2:03 PM Subject: Re: [NJESSEX] Early Wills 18th Century NJ is one of the most difficult areas to research. Both your Roberts and Tomkins families settled near my Brown family, but I have a pile of questions I can't answer. Causes: (1) the deed book (Deed book A) was stolen, destroyed, lost or something, so all the early deeds through 1790 are pretty much lost. An index survives, and often the deeds were cited in later documents, but that is very partial, (2) Often the deeds themselves were never registered anyway, (3) The early Congregational turned Presbyterian churches would only baptize children of their communicants, who were a restricted group who could somehow demonstrate that they were among the Chosen. (4) Very few old church records remain in any case, but you may luck out if you are after a Dutch family because the Dutch Reformed Church kept records and many of their records were preserved (Belleville or 2nd River). (5) The custom of writing in Bibles is mostly from the late 18th and 19th centuries. Unless the family has reconstructed the past, you are out of luck. Wilson >>> "Beverly Porter" <bporter@comcast.net> 03/01/07 12:04 PM >>> Thanks, Wilson. That's about what I feared, but I thought it was worth a try. John Tomkins had two wives, and I believe my Aaron, born in 1735, was the next to the last child he had with his first wife, Rebecca Roberts, but I keep searching for some proof. ----- Original Message ----- From: Wilson Brown To: bporter@comcast.net ; njessex@rootsweb.com ; NJESSEX-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2007 9:14 PM Subject: Re: [NJESSEX] Early Wills Your hope may be in vain. Generally the abstracts include all the names of the people mentioned. The full will includes the long preamble ("I George Smith, being of sound mind but weak in body....", what is actually bequeathed, "I bequeath unto my daughter, Esmeralda, one pound and the child's chair in the kitchen.", and other details which may give some insight as to the character of the person writing the will, but you won't find any more names. (If you are lucky, you may find a mis-read name.) >>> bporter@comcast.net 02/28/07 6:58 PM >>> In the calendar of New Jersey Wills, 1670-1760, there is a listing for the will of Hugh Roberts, 7 May 1737. It mentions the "children of my daughter, Rebecka Tompkins, deceased". How can I get a copy of the full will? I am hoping that it will include the names of the children, one of whom I am hoping is my "Aaron Tompkins". Any suggestions as to where I should write? I am not close enough to go by the archives. Thanks. Beverly Porter Columbia, Maryland ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to NJESSEX-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message