Forms part of the repository's County Clerk's Office subgroup. Certificates (1880-2002), organized alphabetically by town, filed by Monmouth County, N.J., fire departments, to prove the entitlement of volunteer firemen to military, jury, or tax exemptions, as required by state law; lists of firemen (1871-1923); and other records such as correspondence. Includes early membership lists, predating the 1876 legislative act requiring such lists, submitted by fire companies in Matawan, Long Branch, and Red Bank, N.J. Individuals listed are chiefly male, but certificate (1926) of Emma K. Vernell, of the Red Bank fire company is included.

Records transferred by Jane G. Clayton, Monmouth County Clerk to County of Monmouth, Archives and Records Center. Finding aid and index in the repository. The repository also has microfilm of the collection available for public use.

I. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

Eighteenth century New Jersey residents were well aware of the devastating effects of fire, but the State had no involvement in fire fighting until 1826, when a law was passed to encourage the formation of fire companies. Under the December 14, 1826, "Act for the encouragement of fire companies," fire companies were granted charters, provided that the fire company had one fire engine and between sixteen and thirty men. As an incentive to attract volunteers, firemen were exempted from military duty in time of peace. Twenty years later, through an "Act relative to juries and verdicts," passed April 17, 1846, members of fire companies also were declared exempt from jury duty.

Although the laws granted these special privileges for those risking their own lives to protect their communities, they failed to provide any guidelines for record keeping procedures. This lack of defined regulations in monitoring individuals enrolled in a fire company eventually led to abuse of the system. Sometime between 1846 and 1860 (the exact date has not been determined), fire companies began including a five-year eligibility clause within the charter's bylaws. Each fire fighter had to be enrolled in a fire company for five years before eligibility for the exemptions. But the lack of any legislatively mandated, uniform recording procedures resulted in further abuse of the privileges, which was not corrected until 1857.

On March 18, 1857, "A Supplement to the 'Act relative to juries and verdicts, approved April 17, 1846," stated, " Whereas great embarassment and inconveniences have been experienced in conducting the business of the court in several counties within the State from Sheriffs returning of jurors and. . . it is proper that public records should be kept of such citizens to which Sheriffs can have access and information." The 1857 Act also stipulated that any fireman who claimed to be exempt from jury duty had to give proof of membership in a fire company. While the 1857 law also required each fireman to file his name in the office of the County Clerk of the county in which he resided, the earliest extant records in Monmouth County date from 1871.

It was not until 1876 that fire companies, members, and recording procedures came under the strict legislative regulations that had been established for corporations in 1846. Under the "Act for the incorporation of fire companies, approved April 21, 1876," fire companies could become incorporated, "as a body corporate and politic in law. . ." and " be entitled to all the rights, powers and privileges, benefits, advantages and immunities now conferred upon corporations under the laws of this state." The law stated that not less than ten persons could associate themselves together and could incorporate under the name they chose. Fire company incorporations were issued by the legislature through an act of legislation, for a period not to exceed fifty years. The incorporation papers, which were filed with the County Clerk in the county where the incorporated fire company was located, included the purpose of the corporation, the laws and bylaws, and the names of all members.

A year later, a supplement was approved on March 9, 1877, increasing the five-year service requirement for exemptions to seven years. The 1877 Act also made it very clear that each member was required to file, in the office of the Clerk of the county in which he resided, a certificate prepared by the presiding officer of the company. The fireman would not be entitled to his exemptions without the recording of the certificate.

Another benefit was granted to exempt firemen on March 24, 1882, through "An Act Exempting Fireman from Taxes." The act stated that all members of an organized volunteer fire company were exempt from the payment of taxes to the amount of $5. By the early 1900s, the tax exemption privilege was repealed.

Although the law stated that certificates were to be filed, Monmouth County fire companies continued to submit lists of active members to the County Clerk's office. It was not until 1890 that firemen actually began filing their individual certificates in the Clerk's Office.

Although firemen still are required to file their certificates in the County Clerk's office today, they no longer are entitled to military, jury, or tax exemptions.

II. SCOPE AND CONTENT

This record series consists of:

	Exempt Firemen Certificates (1890-1955 [bulk, 1892-1955]
	Lists of Firemen (1871-1923 [bulk, 1871-1911]
	and other records such as correspondence.

Also included in the lists of firemen are four membership lists from 1871 to 1875. These early membership lists, which predate the 1876 Act of Legislation requiring such lists, were submitted to the County Clerk by:

The overwhelming majority of individuals listed in the Exempt Firemen series are male. One woman who received exemption privileges and a certificate was Mrs. Emma K. Vernell, who joined the Red Bank Fire Company in 1926.

The firemen's records are organized alphabetically by town; within town, they are arranged alphabetically by firehouse and, thereunder, chronologically grouped by year. A total of 13,195 names of Monmouth County firemen are recorded, but this figure includes approximately 15% duplication of names appearing on both lists and certificates. Also, some firemen appear on more than one list.

The filing of individual certificates, rather than lists of names submitted by the fire companies, began in 1890. A number of different styles of certificates are included in the record series. Most consist of a purely functional form, providing the name of the fireman and the fire company, the years of service, and the date of the certificate. Some forms also give the date the fireman joined the company and the date of exemption. Most firemen were given the certificate after seven years of service (five years before 1877); however, if they were part time, the waiting period was longer, e.g. nine years for 60% time. A small proportion of the certificates are highly decorated with pictures of firemen, fire fighting equipment and fire houses. A few of these are oversize and are stored separately.

Certificates are granted to provide volunteer firemen with a reward and incentive for serving. Early certificates often reference specific exemptions from jury duty and service in the state militia. Some early certificates mention a reduction in taxes. Others simply state that all exemptions provided by law are granted.

Regardless of the style of the certificate, it is always signed by several officials, such as the officers of the fire company, mayor, and County Clerk. Certificates after 1935 usually cite Chapter 176 of the Laws of 1935, as amended by Chapter 117, Laws of 1936, which standardized their form.

Lists of firemen were often sent to the County Clerk, sometimes as part of a letter or with a cover letter. The lists usually just provide the names of active members, new members, or discontinued members. Occasionally, other information is provided, such as length of service and occupation.

III. USE

The firemen's records are available for use on microfilm. Three indexes are available:

	alphabetical by name of fireman
	alphabetical by town
	alphabetical by fire company within town, and chronologically thereunder

The lists provide the following types of information:

April 1994