On Saturday, April 18, 2026 I attended an all-day presentation entitled "Revolutionary Roots" hosted by the Monmouth County Genealogy Society. The location was at the Visitor Center at what is now Monmouth Battlefield State Park in Freehold and Manalapan, Monmouth County, New Jersey.
The Battle of Monmouth was fought during the Revolutionary War on June 28, 1778. Friends of the Battlefield reenact annually.
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| On this field in what was known as Monmouth Courthouse many people died in 1778 fighting over the newly formed country called The United States of America |
Here are my takeaways from the presenters:
1. New Jersey's inhabitants were not overwhelmingly in support of one side or the other. From a research standpoint, this means that you need to check records of those who supported the British and those who supported the newly formed United States. Records of Loyalists are located across the pond in The United Kingdom's National Archives, Canada, as well as the United States. In New Jersey, those who sided with the crown were called "volunteers;" Stryker compiled their information into a book.
2. Monmouth County maintains digital archives. Below is an example of a page of confiscations on their website. A trial would have preceded this order to confiscate.
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| Order to confiscate property of Thomas Thorn for aligning with the King of Great Britain January 6, 1779 |
3. New Jersey kept created its own records about activities during the Revolutionary War.
a. While federal pensions became available to certain soldiers in 1818, New Jersey granted its own pensions to soldiers in some circumstances. These were official Acts and are recorded with the rest of the Acts (Laws) of the legislative term.
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| The New Jersey State Legislature could enact an Act to provide a pension to a veteran of the Revolutionary War |
b. New Jersey Council of Safety Records 1776-1778 are digitized online at this site on the New Jersey State Archives website. They include testimonials of those aligned with the United States testifying against Loyalists.
In the papers included below, William Imlay of Upper Freehold, Monmouth County, testified on April 12, 1777 that two individuals, Jesse Woodward and Richard Robins, took his property for use in the British service.
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| William Imlay's deposition against Jesse Woodward. |
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| William Imlay's deposition against Richard Robins. |
c. For those whose property was damaged, lost, or stolen, a claim could be submitted. You can search this collection on the Archives' website, but copies of claims are $5 by mail. The claims were not paid.
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| Search page of Revolutionary War Damage Claims New Jersey State Archives You can select a file to receive a paper copy of the contents. |
d. Taxes were paid during the War. You can view them at the Archives' website. The names of towns might seem unfamiliar and some counties might appear missing, but this is because these are from the late 1700s and early 1800s.
Paying taxes during the Revolutionary War could qualify that person as a Patriot, making a descendant eligible for membership in Daughters of the American Revolution or Sons of the American Revolution.
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| Tax ratables in Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey for the year 1779. Page 1. |
Thank you to all of the participants and presenters who made this educational experience possible.
