Guide to the Jemima Condict Diary 1772-1779 MG 123

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

Container List

Diary

Guide to the Jemima Condict Diary
1772-1779
MG 123
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, PublisherInventory prepared by Kim Charlton 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. January 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

Creator: Condict, Jemima, 1754-1779.
Title: Jemima Condict Diary
Dates: 1772-1779
Abstract: Kept by a young girl who lived in the village of Pleasantdale (now part of West Orange), Essex County, New Jersey, and was married to Aaron Harrison. Published as Jemima Condict Her Book, Being a Transcript of the Diary of and Essex County Maid during the Revolutionary War (Newark, 1930) (call# R.B. Car 13); also in Elizabeth Evans, Weathering the Storm: Women of the American Revolution (New York, ca. 1975) (call# 973.315 Ev15), pgs. 33-51.
Quantity: .2 linear feet
Collection Number: MG 123

Biographical Note

Daniel Condit, the eldest son of Samuel Condit and his wife Ruth Harrison, produced eight children, one of whom was Jemima Condict. Although her name by birth was Condit, she added a “c” to her name against her parents behest.

Jemima was born on August 24, 1754 and lived in the town of Pleasantdale, a section of West Orange. In 1779, at the age of 25 she married her first cousin Aaron Harrison, who would later become mayor. Both were grandchildren of Samuel Harrison, one of the first settlers in that area.

Jemima Condict Harrison died on November 14, 1779 after bearing one child, Ira, who died before his twelfth birthday.

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Scope and Content Note

The Jemima Condict Diary contains entries detailing her own and her family life, along with notes pertaining to local townspeople and events. The diary begins in 1772 and contains entries midway through the year 1779.

Condict’s diary illustrates incidents of the time, methods of household life, enjoyments and fears of the day, and religious piety. Jemima relates local events such as deaths, diseases, and relates both public and personal opinions during the Revolutionary War. She reflects on her personal experiences and aspirations, which reflect upon the consciousness of a young adult in revolutionary America.

Throughout her diary she keeps track of those who succumb to death in various ways, and this, combined with her less morbid entries, allows the development of her family tree. This diary also provides an excellent example of the effects of religion on a youth and community during the late 18th century.

This diary has been published under two separate titles: Jemima Condict Her Book, Being a Transcript of the Diary of an Essex County Maid During the Revolutionary War (Newark, 1930) (call# R.B. Car 13); and by Elizabeth Evans in Weathering the Storm: Women of the American Revolution (New York, ca. 1975) (call# 973.315 Ev15), pgs. 33-51.

There is also an index of people, place, and event names which has been attached to this finding aid for easy reference.

The original diary is fragile and requires special handling. It is recommended that researchers take advantage of the published versions in order to preserve the original diary for future generations.

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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:
Condict, Jemima, 1754-1779.
Subject Topics:
Family life–New Jersey–West Orange.
Religious life–New Jersey–West Orange.
Women–New Jersey–West Orange.
Subject Places:
Essex County (N.J.)
United States–History–Revolution, 1775-1779.
West Orange (N.J.)
Document Types:
Diaries.
Transcripts.

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Related Material

Manuscript Group 67, Lewis Condict (1773-1862) Papers

Manuscript Group 108, Samuel Harrison (1684-1776) Records

Manuscript Group 291, Baldwin-Brown-Coe Family (Newark, NJ) Papers

Manuscript Group 324, Ruth W. Condict (1798-1815) Diary

Manuscript Group 348, Lewis Condict (1773-1862) Diary

Manuscript Group 454, Condit-Dodd Family Papers

Manuscript Group 540, Samuel Baldwin (1754-1850) Papers

Manuscript Group 1359, Condit Family Papers

Manuscript Group 1481, Harrison Family Scrapbook

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

This collection should be cited as: Manuscript Group 123, Jemima Condict Diary, The New Jersey Historical Society.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Samuel W. Baldwin, 1922.

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Container List

Diary

Box Title Date
1 Diary 1772-1779
Box Title Date
2 Legal-sized, typed edited version of the diary ca. 1925

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