Local History: License to Sell

On December 22, 1780, the General Assembly of the new state of New Jersey passed a law to prevent inhabitants of the state from trading with the British forces. By section 18 of this law, merchants in counties bordering enemy territory -- New York, in this case -- and selling goods produced outside New Jersey or neighboring states, were required to apply to the county court for a license to open a shop or store. Petitioners needed to solicit signatures from fifteen "reputable and well-affected" freeholders from the same county, certifying the applicant to also be of good repute and "well-affected" to the government of the state.

The penalty for selling foreign goods without a license was six pounds per offense--half of which was to go to the support of the poor in the township where the offense was committed. The courts were allowed to charge six shillings for the the licence. They were also permitted to revoke any shopkeeper's license if a legitimate complaint was made against him -- or, in the case of two local applicants -- her.

New Jersey's Department of State maintains a collection of photographic images of applications from Essex County. Most of the shopkeepers who applied note Newark as their base of operations. Of course, Newark then emcompassed what we know now as South Orange and Maplewood, and a number of the names -- such as Halsted, , , , and -- are familiar in this community.

Take a look at the documents here and tell us who we've missed. Or share your own memories of local shopping: marciaw@patch.com.