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Overview
Biographical Note
Scope and Content
Arrangement
Preferred Citation
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| Record Creator: | Fort, Jacob Platt |
| Title: | Jacob Platt Fort Papers |
| Date Span: | 1838-1908 |
| Abstract: | Jacob Platt Fort (1818 - 1893), American Minister, was born at Pemberton, New Jersey on February 20, 1818. His brother, George, also a minister, was governor of New Jersey from 1851 to 1854. Jacob pastored 21 New Jersey churches in 44 years, and wrote an autobiography that deals with his ministry and sheds light on his brother's career, and on the social and political conditions of their time. |
| Quantity: | 0.36 cu. feet |
| Resource ID: | drew.ms.2384 |
Jacob Platt Fort (1818 - 1893), American Minister, was born at Pemberton, New Jersey on February 20, 1818. His parents, Andrew H. and Nancy Platt Fort, gave two sons to the ministry of the church, and one son, George F. Fort, became Governor of New Jersey. Jacob learned the carpentry trade and spent ten years in this occupation. In 1842, he answered the call to the ministry and was licensed as a local preacher. In 1844 he was admitted on trial in the New Jersey Conference. From that date until 1888 he served as pastor in twenty-one churches. In 1850, he married Margaret Force of Arcola, New Jersey. They had ten children. In 1889, Fort was retired from the ministry, and died on November 23, 1893. He is buried in Pemberton, New Jersey.
The Jacob Platt Fort Papers are varied in its scope. It includes a very complete Fort genealogy beginning with the early 17th century. The collection also includes many references to the twenty-one churches he served. In addition there are two diaries he kept for 1855 and 1850 which further enhance his notes on his ministry. There are also numerous family photos, as well as his deacon and elder ordination certificates signed by Bishop Edmund Janes, dated 1844 and 1846 respectively.
Fort also wrote an autobiography. Of significance is the correspondence related to his brother, George, who was governor of New Jersey from 1851 to 1854. A substantial part of the autobiography includes many letters the governor wrote to Jacob. They offer insight into New Jersey social and political affairs at that time.
A final item of note is the original minutes of the Newark Conference Historical Society for 1889. Fort was the secretary, and Henry Anson Buttz, president.
Materials have been arranged in the following manner.
This collection is arranged by record type.
When citing material from this collection please use the following format: Direct reference to the item or its file folder, Jacob Platt Fort Collection, Methodist Collection - Drew University, Madison, New Jersey. Do not make use of the item's call number as that is not a stable descriptor.
There are no restrictions regarding this collection. Copyright still owned by Drew. Permissions to publish must be directed to Drew.
Detailed use restrictions relating to our collections can be requested from the office of the archivist at the General Commission on Archives and History. Photocopying is handled by the staff and may be limited in certain instances. Before using any material for publication from this collection a formal request for permission to publish is expected and required.
| Call Number | Folder Title | Date(s) |
| 2131-3-9: 1 | Memoir | 1884 |
| 2131-3-9: 2 | Diaries | 1850,1855 |
| 2131-3-9: 3 | Ordination Certificates | 1846-1848 |
| 2131-3-9: 4 | Photographs | 1874 |
| 2131-3-9: 5 | Autobiography | 1874 |
| 2131-3-9: 6 | Scrapbook: Closed to the public. View Scrapbook 2 | 1847-1908 |
| 2131-3-9: 7 | Scapbook 2 | 1847-1908 |
| 2131-3-9: 8 | Mount Holly Young Men's Debating Society By- Laws | 1838 |
