Women Voted Together
Poll List
Montgomery Township
Somerset County, New Jersey
October 13, 1801
Ink on Paper
This poll list is from an 1801 state election held at the Rocky Hill Inn in Montgomery Township, Somerset County. The election determined annual officeholders for the New Jersey State Assembly and Legislative Council, and for the Somerset County Sheriff and Coroner. The town officers presiding over the election included one judge, Robert Stockton, the town clerk, Frederick Cruser, and two poll inspectors, Hendrick VanDike, also known as Colonel Henry VanDike, and Thomas Skillman.
The poll list includes the names of 343 total voters. At least 46 of these voters are women, accounting for nearly 14 percent of the voters on the list. It also includes the names of at least four free Black male voters, one of whom is identified as Black on the poll list with the word “negro” in parentheses next to his name.
Like the rest of Somerset County, Montgomery Township voted Federalist in 1801. Most voters in the township supported Federalists Peter D. Vroom for Legislative Council; William MacEowen, James Van Duyn, and Frederick Frelinghuysen for General Assembly; and Peter Stryker for sheriff. The voting results for coroner are lost.
Note: The names recorded on this poll list were written by an election official, not by the voters themselves. The spelling of each voter’s name on the poll list may be different compared to how that same person’s name is spelled in other historical records and by the Museum of the American Revolution.
Images: New Jersey State Archives, Department of State
This election took place in Montgomery Township, Somerset County, New Jersey.
Ephraim Hagerman is the only voter on the list identified as “negro.”
Margaret Heaveday and Mary Davis voted together.
Littey VanArsdalen, Mariah Sutton, and Live Eatton voted together.
Henry Lane is listed as Black in similar records from the period.
Jack Hollingshead is listed as Black in similar records from the period.
Hannah Shelton, Eleanor Leonard, and Mary Robertson voted together.
Explore Women Voting TogetherSarah Johnston, Mary McComb, Ann Mershon, and Nancy Oppie voted together.
View Nancy OppieMary McCullough, Caty Fleming, Sarah McMacking, Kesiah Ellis, and Susan Ellis voted together.
Betsy Mattison, Mary Merrit, Pheby Davis, Pheby Wiggins, and Sarah Camble voted together.
View Elizabeth “Betsy” Mattison Explore Widow Women VotersGrace Little, Lidia Scott, Mary Norris, and Hetty (Betty) Gaw voted together.
View Grace Little View Mary NorrisAmy Cheston, Charity Millet Jr., Charity Millet Sr., and Unis Lanning (or Lansing) voted together.
View Amy Cheston Explore Women Voting TogetherMary Vorhees, Jane Stuphen, and Elizabeth Cork voted together.
Caty Stout, Nelly Stout, Mary Beltie(?), Elizabeth Stout, and Ruth Carle voted together.
View Ruthe Carle Explore Our Research ProcessSarah Johnston, Mary McComb, Ann Mershon, and Nancy Oppie voted together.
View Nancy OppieJack Duryea is listed as Black in similar records from the period.
Ann VanDike, Rebeka VanDike, Catherine VanDike, Jane Huneman, and Sarah VanDike voted together.
View the VanDike WomenHenry VanPelt is listed as Black in similar records from the period.
Put your investigative eye to the test. Does this name read Isaac Blue? Jude Blue? Or maybe a different name?
View Isaac or Jude Blue? Explore Free Voters of ColorThomas Blue is listed as Black in similar records from the period. He was born enslaved but obtained his freedom before this election.
View Thomas BlueA total of 343 voters cast their ballots in this election. What happened next?
Robert Stockton, Henry VanDike, Thomas Skillman, and Fred Cruser all served as election officials for this election.