First Families of Old Monmouth County
The application form in PDF format or MS Word format and the application instructions (in PDF format) are available for printing and download. You can also fill it out through the forms below. However, FIRST read our source guidelines and requirements document in PDF format.
In addition the following aids for completing the application are available for download in .pdf format:
"Guidelines" contains suggestions for those filling out the lineage application. While the application-specific instructions are downloaded as a separate file, this guideline contains background information about acceptable sources, evidence and proof. This material should be reviewed before filling out the application and will be especially useful to those filling out lineage papers for the first time.
Cite Sources Handout contains examples of various kinds of sources with accompanying source citations. While the sources in each lineage application will vary, this handout provides examples of citations to assist in including complete citations with your application.
FFOMC lineage chart is a chart that can be used as a worksheet for the application. The generation numbers on the chart correspond to the application. The pages of this worksheet can be taped end-to-end so that the lineage is apparent at a glance.
Objectives
To honor the memory of the settlers of Monmouth County, New Jersey.
To encourage the preservation of family records, manuscripts, documents, and any other items which are connected with the development of the county.
To foster interest in the people who contributed so much to building Monmouth County.
To inspire people to compile their family history and to pass it down to their children and grandchildren.
To instill great pride in the descendants of the early settlers of the New Jersey counties of Monmouth and Ocean for the role their ancestors played in the history of the state and the nation.
Levels of Membership
First Family ancestors resided in Monmouth County in 1725 or before .
Federal Family ancestors resided in Monmouth County in 1800 or before.
Eligibility
Any individual who can prove direct descent from a person who resided in the area now encompassed by the counties of Monmouth and Ocean either in 1725 or before and before or in 1800 may become a member of the First Families of Old Monmouth County upon acceptance of the application and payment of the fee.
Payment of a one-time, non-refundable fee of $40.00 must accompany the application. The fee for members of the Monmouth County Genealogy Society is $30.00.
Supplemental Applications
Individuals having more than one qualifying ancestor may file supplemental applications for $20 as long as the file was accepted after January 1, 2007. A supplemental file must connect to an existing file within the first one or two generations.
If you extend your lineage from a Federal Family ancestor back to First Family level, there is an additional $10 fee.
The application and instructions can be printed or downloaded to your computer from this website as described above or you can request a copy of the form from:
Coordinator, FFOMC
Monmouth County Genealogy Society
P.O. Box 5
Lincroft, NJ 07738-0005
A MCGS membership form can be found here. The dues are $26 a year, $36 for a family membership. By joining MCGS you can save $10 on the application fee for First Families of Old Monmouth County.
Old Monmouth County
Monmouth County is said to have been sighted in 1524 by Giovanni da Verrazzano. Henry Hudson's vessel, the Half Moon, anchored at Sandy Hook on September 2, 1609. He wrote: "This is a very good land to fall in with and a pleasant land to see." So it has been ever since!
Home to the Lenape Indians, the County was left mostly unsettled until 1663 when a party of Englishmen from Gravesend, Long Island crossed the bay to Sandy Hook and bought land from the Indians.
In April 1665, soon after the British took control of New Amsterdam, Governor Nicolls issued a patent for the territory purchased from the Indians.
This patent listed among the rights of the patentees "free liberty of conscience, without any molestation or disturbance whatsoever in their way or worship."
This is believed to be the first instance that complete freedom of worship became official in the English colonies. This may well be what attracted so many Baptists and Quakers fleeing religious persecution in New England.
The county of Monmouth became one of the four original counties of New Jersey in 1683. Its borders extended to the "extreme bounds of the Province" in what is now Ocean County.
The descendants of the pioneers can be found in Monmouth County and all over the world. We hope that they will want to honor their ancestors by joining First Families of Old Monmouth County.
First Families of Old Monmouth Application Summaries
The following are blurbs for each application approved in First Families of Old Monmouth County since its inception in 2001. These blurbs give some information on the original Monmouth ancestor and the family line the application has proven. This information may help others who are planning to honor their ancestors by applying to First Families. You can read through these blurbs to learn what has been done on some early settlers. Perhaps you have another Monmouth ancestor you would like to learn about and honor in this way. Consider applying to First Families of Old Monmouth. See further application information on this website. Application blurbs