Manuscript Group 292, Guide to the Ogden-Ford Family (Cumberland County, NJ) Papers 1789-1887 (Bulk dates: 1850-1860)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

Container List

Documents

Guide to the Ogden-Ford Family (Cumberland County, NJ) Papers
1789-1887 (Bulk dates: 1850-1860)
MG 292

The New Jersey Historical Society
52 Park Place
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Contact: NJHS Library
Phone: (973) 596-8500 x249
Email: library@jerseyhistory.org
URL: https://www.jerseyhistory.org
© 2006 All rights reserved.
The New Jersey Historical Society, Publisher
Inventory prepared by Kim Charlton, November 1999, 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. April 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

Biographical Note

The extensive Ogden family in New Jersey is descended from John and Jane Ogden, immigrants from England in 1640. The Ogdens in this collection were early residents of Cumberland County, New Jersey.

Joseph Ogden (ca. 1724-1772) owned land at Mill Creek in Fairfield, New Jersey and was a tanner. He married a woman named Abigail, with whom he had five children: Joseph, who was a yeoman; Jonathan, who was a tailor; Ruth Harris; Nathaniel; and George.

Curtis Ogden, Sr. of Bridgeton, possibly Jonathan’s son, was a tailor and the postmaster. He married Ruth B. ( ) and they had at least three children together: Curtis, Jr.; Henry; and Jonathan. Both Ruth and Curtis Ogden were founding members of the Second Cohansey Baptist Church at Bridgeton, later called the First Baptist Church. Ruth B. Ogden died in 1853 and Curtis, Sr. moved to Philadelphia to live with his son, Curtis, Jr. Curtis Ogden, Sr. died in 1867.

Curtis Ogden, Jr. married Elizabeth Ford, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Ford of Philadelphia. William Ford was a merchant and he and his wife had at least one son, William H., and two other daughters, Sarah and Jenny. Curtis and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Ogden lived in Philadelphia and vacationed on Cape Island in Cape May County, New Jersey. They had at least three daughters together: Emma, Helen, and Bertha.

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Scope and Content Note

The collection is made up ofCorrespondence, Business/Legal Documents, Records of Bridgeton Organizations, and Miscellaneous. The collection spans the time period 1789-1887, with bulk dates of 1850-1860.

Most of the letters in the series are those of Elizabeth (Ford) Ogden and her husband Curtis Ogden, Jr. and date from 1850-1860. These mostly pertain to family matters such as births, deaths, sicknesses, trips, and visits. Other letters in the collection refer to the western frontier and the cities of Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, national events such as the 1852 nominating convention in Baltimore, and local events in Philadelphia such as a Missionary Union meeting in 1854 and a railroad accident in 1856. The letters to Elizabeth Ogden from her brother William H. Ford were written while he was at school in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, and later during his travels in Europe. They describe European towns, events, and news.

There are also the bills and receipts of Curtis Ogden, Sr. These records cover thirty years (1808-1838) and document Ogden’s business dealings as a tailor and as a leader of the church. This series also contains two indentures from Joseph and Jonathan Ogden. They pertain to land deals in Cumberland County.

There are records of Bridgeton Organizations which date from 1832-1842 and are made up of the records of two organizations: The Bridgeton Literary Association and the Sunday School Society of Bridgeton. There are two folders of Literary Association letters. The first folder is made up of letters written to the Association’s president that outline arguments to be used in upcoming debates. The president would then use these notes to introduce the speakers at the beginning of the debate. The second group of Association letters is to editors of various publications. Some of the letters pertain to Bridgeton Literary Association business, while others are in regard to current events or to previously published articles or statements. This series also contains the constitution of the Sunday School Society of Bridgeton.

There is also calling cards, a list of daily temperatures, a sketch of property in Bridgeton, and lecture/address notes.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

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:

Ogden, Curtis.
Ogden, Elizabeth Ford
Ogden, Joseph, ca. 1724-1772.

Subject Organizations:

Bridgeton Literary Association (Bridgeton, N.J.)
Sunday School Society of Bridgeton (Bridgeton, N.J.)

Subject Topics:

Debates and debating–New Jersey.
Tailors–New Jersey.

Subject Places:

Bridgeton (N.J.)
Cumberland County (N.J.)

Document Types:

Bills.
Calling cards.
Letters (Correspondence).
Receipts.

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Related Material

Manuscript Group 219, John Ogden, Jr. (1743-1815) Journal
Manuscript Group 386, Ogden Family (Newark and Elizabeth, NJ) Papers
Manuscript Group 897, David Bayard Ogden (1775-1849) Legal notebook
Manuscript Group 905, Ogden Family (Newark and Elizabeth, NJ) Papers
Manuscript Group 1174, Joseph G. Ogden (1780-1817) Daybook
Manuscript Group 1175, John Ogden (1799-1877) and James Crawford Ogden (1831-1916) Daybooks
Manuscript Group 1211, Jennie Ogden (1849-1880) and Jennie Ogden Miller (1880-1938) Papers
Manuscript Group 1379, Maureen B. Ogden Papers

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

This collection should be cited as: Manuscript Group 292, Ogden-Ford Family (Cumberland County, NJ)

Papers, The New Jersey Historical Society.

Acquisition Information

Purchase.

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Container List

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