Library & Archives

Manuscript Collections

Collection 18

Forman Family

Papers, 1718-1899

Processed by

Lois R. Densky

Edited by

Gregory J. Plunges

Monmouth County Historical Association
70 Court Street
Freehold, New Jersey

September 1980

INTRODUCTION

The Forman Papers encompass the records of Samuel I. and John S. Forman, wreckmasters on the Monmouth County coast during the nineteenth century. The original Forman anscestor in Monmouth County was John Forman of England who settled in Monmouth County in the mid-seventeenth century.

Samuel I. Forman (1763-1816) was the son of John I. Forman (1731-1811) and Elenor Denise (1734-1769). Samuel married Mary Conover (1768-1802), daughter of Cornelius Conover and Jane Denise, on March 12, 1783. In addition to his work as wreckmaster, Samuel may also have done some minor legal work although he had no formal legal training or degree.

John S. Forman (1793-1874), son of Samuel I. Forman and Elenor Denise, was also married bu the name of his wife has not been determined. John served as a wreckmaster, a judge, and did minor legal work in partnership with Abraham Osborne. Both Samuel and John Forman lived at Squan Beach (now known as Manasquan), New Jersey.

On February 26, 1806, Samuel I. Forman was appointed to the Commission of Wrecks as wreckmaster of Squan Beach, but may have served in that capacity as early as 1802. He remained wreckmaster until 1816. The responsibilities of this position included:

a) Taking immediate charge of all stranded vessels and cargos

b) Acting as agents for the owners

c) Salvaging the craft and cargo when possible, and

d) Assisting with life saving operations.

Salvaged goods were shipped to New York and perishable or damaged goods were disposed of at auction. In addition to wreckmaster responsibilities, Samuel Forman was named inspector under the embargo laws on February 10, 1809 for the District and Port of Perth Amboy.

On August 15, 1818, John S. Forman was appointed deputy inspector of customs for the District and Port of Perth Amboy. He was also commissioned as a lieutenant in the New Jersey Militia on July 20, 1819, and later served as paymaster.

John S. Forman was named inspector of revenue for the District of Perth Amboy on December 3, 1823, and was reappointed in 1829. On April 26, 1826, he became wreckmaster for the Third District in Monmouth County, and served in that capacity intermittently until at least 1852.

Other legal positions which John Forman held included Justice of the Peace for Monmouth County, Master in the Court of Chancery for the State of New Jersey, and Justice of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas for Ocean County. He also served as a trustee for the Methodist Episcopal Church at Pt. Pleasant, and was on the commission which recommended the division of Ocean and Monmouth Counties.

DESCRIPTION OF COLLECTION

The Forman Papers contain shipwreck records, legal and financial documents, Monmouth County Militia records, and railroad papers. The collection documents the business activities of Samuel I. and John S. Forman. The bulk of material dates from 1793 to 1857.

The shipwreck records represent the major portion of the Forman Papers, and are especially noteworthy. They include correspondence, manifests of cargo, inventories, vendue lists, reports, notices, bills and receipts, accounts and account books, other miscellaneous legal and financial documents, certificates, and printed material. These unique manuscripts document the history of maritime disasters on the New Jersey coast prior to, and immediately after, the establishment of the first US lifesaving station in 1848.

The legal and financial documents primarily record the development of John S. Forman's law-related activities, as an administrator of estates, and as a justice. The sereis includes surveys, wills, bills and receipts, bonds, notes, estate papers, correspondence, inventories and vendue lists, bills of sale, deeds and indentures, judgements, news clippings, awards, account books, notices, summonses, invitations, warrants, a lease, a ledger, a certificate, an apprasiement, an oath, an affidavit, an election ballot and tally, and an income tax statement.

The Monmouth County Militia records document John S. Forman's service in the New Jersey Militia and his role as paymaster. The material includes receipts, certificates, commissions, lists, and his paymaster's record book. The railroad papers include waybills, a certificate, correspondence, a receipt, and a stock certificate for the Farmingdale and Squan Village Railroad.

Arrangement of the Forman Papers is first by topic then chronologically. The only items removed from the collection are oversize materials.

The Forman Papers will be of interest to researchers of the Forman family, maritime history, and the development of the US lifesaving station in New Jersey. The lifesaving stations were the forerunners of the US Coast Guard. The collection will also be useful for the history of the New Jersey Militia, and for the history of railroads in New Jersey.

Additional Forman family manuscripts are located in the Monmouth County Historical Association library. The collection also contains further manuscripts and photographs on whipwrecks, as well as printed material pertaining to William A. Newall, a prime mover for the establishment of the US life saving station in New Jersey.

The John S. Forman Papers at the Rutgers University Library in New Brunswick relate to this collection.

PROVENANCE: Collection purchased prior to 1934.

RESTRICTIONS: None.

SIZE OF COLLECTION: 1 Linear Foot

CONTAINER LIST

BOX / FOLDER # / CONTENTS

1 / 1 / Shipwreck Records, 1793 - 1818

1 / 2 / Shipwreck Records, 1821 - 1829

1 / 3 / Shipwreck Records, 1830 - 1831

1 / 4 / Shipwreck Records, 1832

1 / 5 / Shipwreck Records, 1833 - 1835

1 / 6 / Shipwreck Records, 1836 - 1839

1 / 7 / Shipwreck Records, 1840 - 1849

1 / 8 / Shipwreck Records, 1850 - 1857; n.d.

2 / 1 / Legal & Financial Documents - Deeds, 1785 - 1858; n.d.

2 / 2 / Legal & Financial Documents, 1718 - 1809

2 / 3 / Legal & Financial Documents, 1810 - 1819

2 / 4 / Legal & Financial Documents, 1820 - 1829

2 / 5 / Legal & Financial Documents, 1830 - 1839

2 / 6 / Legal & Financial Documents, 1840 - 1849

2 / 7 / Legal & Financial Documents, 1850 - 1869

2 / 8 / Legal & Financial Documents, 1872 - 1899; n.d.

2 / 9 / Monmouth County Militia Records, 1803 - 1830

2 / 10 / Railroad Papers, 1841 - 1872

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Forman, William P. Records of the Descendants of John Forman who Settled in Monmouth County, New Jersey about the Year AD 1685. Cleveland: Short & Forman, 1885

Horner, William S. This Old Monmouth of Ours. New Orleans: Polyanthos, 1974

Longstreet, Elias S. "Graveyard of the Sea" Asbury Park Press, The Shore Press, February 24, 1934

New Jersey. Commission to Investigate Charges Concerning Wrecks on the Monmouth Coast. Communicated to the Assembly, March 20, 1846... Trenton: Sherman & Harron, 1846

SHIPWRECK NAMES REPRESENTED IN COLLECTION

Aetna, Agenoria, AJ Donaldson, Alabama, Amity, Amphitrite, Andrew, Anjola, Argonot, Argyle, Astros, Ayreshire, Benjamin and Elizabeth, Cannon, Cape Henry, Catherine, Champion, Christine Louisa, Citizen, Conrad Lindsey, Criterian, Daniel M. Smith, Day, Dusaisal, Eagle, Eliza, Enterprise, Etna, Execution, Florida, General Putnam, Covernor Coddington, Grampus, Hannah Ann, Harriet Anderson, Harriet Frances Hallowell, Harrison, Hellen, Henry Clay, Hope, Hunter, Huntress, James Fisher, James Monroe, Jane, Jerome, John Minturn, John Myers, Joseph, Joseph Fisher, Julia, La Fouvette, Lewis, Little William, Lotty, Lydia, Madison, Mary, Mary and Eliza, Mary Ann, Matilda, Mentor, Merced, Mobile, Naomiann, North America, Orbit, Pilgrim, Polly, Post Boy, Potomac, Rebecca, Robert Gordon, Senate, Solid, Solon, Sovereign, Surprise, Thankfull Winslow, Three Friends, Triton, Washington.

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