Guide to the Newark, New Jersey Tax Rate Books 1817-1850 MG 266

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Descriptive Summary
Biographical Note
Scope and Content Note
Restrictions
Access Points
Related Material
Administrative Information
Bibliography

Container List

Volumes


Guide to the Newark, New Jersey Tax Rate Books
1817-1850
MG 266
The New Jersey Historical Society
52 Park Place
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Contact: NJHS Library
(973) 596-8500 x249
library@jerseyhistory.org
https://www.jerseyhistory.org
© 2006 All rights reserved.
The New Jersey Historical Society, Publisher
Inventory prepared by Luis Delfino, July 2001, as part of the “Farm to City” project funded by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Finding aid encoded by Julia Telonidis. March 2006. Production of the EAD 2002 version of this finding aid was made possible by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Finding aid written in English.


Descriptive Summary

Title: Newark, New Jersey
Tax Rate Books
Dates: 1817-1850
Abstract: This collection consists of twenty-one tax rate books of Newark, New Jersey, and of Newark’s South Ward dating from 1817-1850.
Quantity: 1.0 linear feet (21 volumes)
Collection Number: MG 265

Biographical Note

Isaac Nichols (1773-1861) was a carpenter and coffin maker, who was also one of the founders of the Newark Banking Company. He was active in local affairs, not only as an elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Newark and as a member and president of the Newark Common Council, but also as an appointed guardian, assignee, or executor for various local estates. Nichols was also Newark’s first town tax assessor and census taker.

On October 18, 1797, Isaac Nichols married Phebe Davis (1779-1834), with whom he had seven children: Eliza (1798-1799), Edwin (1800-1836), Aaron I. (1802-1861), Whitfield (1804-1805), Whitfield (1807-1851), Alexander McWhorter (1809-1881), and James (b.1815). Phebe and Isaac Nichols both died in Newark, she on October 24, 1834, and he on January 24, 1861.

Background Historical Note: When Newark, New Jersey started the process of municipal incorporation in 1833, the town was divided into four separate wards for political purposes, named the East, West, North, and South Wards, which were composed of smaller districts. Prior to this, Isaac Nichols (1773-1861) was the town assessor, however, after the division each ward had its own assessor. The South Ward’s first assessor was Caleb Carter (1781-1847).

Elections in Newark were overseen by an election judge, and a number of election inspectors. Registration and vote counting was done by an election clerk.

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Scope and Content Note

This collection consists of twenty-one tax rate books of Newark, New Jersey, or of Newark’s South Ward dating from 1817-1850. The undated volumes and those dated before 1826 were kept by Isaac Nichols, Newark’s first tax assessor, while the assessor for the remaining volumes is unknown. The volumes dated 1833 and 1850 contain information specifically on the South Ward of Newark, while all the others appear to be for greater Newark.

These volumes contain lists of the heads of households and their properties: houses, livestock and improved property. Although neither income nor investments were taxed, “traders” appear to be taxed for their stock. Some of these volumes contain aggregate property figures, such as the number of horses or the total acreage owned in the town, and some contain itemized lists of city expenditures.These volumes contain lists of the heads of households and their properties: houses, livestock and improved property. Although neither income nor investments were taxed, “traders” appear to be taxed for their stock. Some of these volumes contain aggregate property figures, such as the number of horses or the total acreage owned in the town, and some contain itemized lists of city expenditures.

Within the early volumes, Isaac Nichols groups heads of households by the first letter of the last name. Later volumes group the names by the street on which the main residence is located.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

**A PORTION OF THIS COLLECTION IS AVAILABLE ON MICROFILM. PLEASE CONSULT THE MICROFILM FIRST BEFORE REQUESTING TO VIEW THE ORIGINALS.**

Photocopying of materials is limited and no materials may be photocopied without permission from library staff.

Use Restrictions

Researchers wishing to publish, reproduce, or reprint materials from this collection must obtain permission.

The New Jersey Historical Society complies with the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code), which governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions and protects unpublished materials as well as published materials.

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Access Points

The entries below represent persons, organizations, topics, forms, and occupations documented in this collection.
Subject Names:
Nichols, Isaac, 1773-1861.
Subject Topics:
Heads of households–New Jersey–Newark.
Municipal officials and employees–New Jersey–Newark.
Tax assessment–New Jersey–Newark.
Taxation–Rates and tables.
Subject Places:
Essex County (N.J.)
Newark (N.J.)
Newark (N.J.)–Officials and employees.
Document Types:
Tax records.

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Related Material

Manuscript Group 972, Morris Township, New Jersey Tax rate book

Manuscript Group 1012, Nichols Family (Newark, NJ) Papers

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

This collection should be cited as: Manuscript Group 266, Newark, New Jersey Tax Rate Books, The New Jersey Historical Society.

Acquisition Information

These volumes were the gift of the family of Walter S. Nichols in 1923.

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Bibliography

Atkinson, Joseph. History of Newark. (William B. Guild, Newark N.J., 1878).

Shaw, William H.
History of Essex and Hudson Counties, New Jersey, Vol. 1. (Everts & Peck, Philadelphia, 1884).

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Container List

Volumes

Box Folder Title Date
1 1 Newark tax rate book, Isaac Nichols, assessor 1817
1 2 Newark tax rate book, Isaac Nichols, assessor 1825-1826
1 3 Newark tax rate book 1831
1 4 Newark tax rate book 1834
1 5 Newark tax rate book 1844-1845
1 6 Newark tax rate book, Isaac Nichols, assessor 1850
1 7 Newark tax rate book, Isaac Nichols, assessor n.d.
1 8 Newark tax rate book, Isaac Nichols, assessor n.d.
1 9 Newark tax rate book, Isaac Nichols, assessor n.d.
1 10 Newark tax rate book, Isaac Nichols, assessor n.d.
Box Title Date
2 (OS) Newark tax rate book, Isaac Nichols, assessor 1818; 1821
Box Title Date
3 (OS) South Ward tax rate book; Newark tax rate books, Isaac Nichols, assessor (4 books) 1833; n.d. (4 books)
Box Title Date
4 (OS) Newark tax rate books, Isaac Nichols, assessor 1823 (3 books); 1825

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