
GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE
Welcome to the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of New Jersey. We are glad that
you are visiting our website and hope you will take some time to learn about the many
activities of our Society.
I am honored to continue the long line of distinguished governors of the New Jersey
Society. (I am the 67th, to be exact.) Through their efforts and dedication, the New
Jersey Society runs like a well-oiled machine.
Our Grants Committee and its procedures are cited as a model for how such a program
should be run. The other officers and committees are diligent in their areas to keep our
society moving forward.
We are constantly looking for new possibilities to meet the realities of life in the 21st
Century. Take this opportunity to get involved in our society!
The purpose of our Society is to inspire us “with the fraternal and patriotic spirit of (our)
forefathers (and mothers) that it may perpetuate those national characteristics by which
the unity and liberty of our country have been secured and by which alone they can be
maintained and preserved.”
Meanwhile, we are faced with a general population that at best is either unaware of what
we are trying to do as an organization or is outright hostile to it. Abraham Lincoln said
(about the times in which he lived): “The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the
stormy present.” That was true then and is still true now. To survive (let alone thrive)
will be our greatest challenge in the years to come.
Rather than simply read about us in my message, please explore our website. Use the
sampling list below, created by my predecessor, as your starting point.
If you have a colonial lineage and are interested in membership, please see the
Membership page of this website for more information and membership
qualifications. If you think you may have colonial lineage, contact us – you may be
surprised.
Fortiter Pro Patria!
John Edward Idenden
Governor
Here is a sampling of some of the activities sponsored by the SCWNJ:
Historical – We help preserve and commemorate historical events and locations
throughout the state. The Monuments page of this website includes photos of the many
historical markers we have placed throughout nineteen New Jersey counties. Among
the many historical projects, we have supported include helping to preserve and
maintain the Old Barracks in Trenton, which dates from before the Revolutionary War.
Genealogical – We help compile and preserve genealogical information, including
lineage papers and supporting documentation for our members and our colonial period
ancestors.
Charitable – We are a 501(c)(3) organization and are recognized as a tax-exempt public
charity by the Internal Revenue Service. In carrying out our mission, we support various
colonial period historical projects with grants. We also fund an annual scholarship to a
worthy college student who is studying our colonial history.
Social – We gather several times a year in various settings, either for luncheon, dinner,
or other events to enjoy each other’s company and hear speakers discuss a variety of
subjects related to the history of the colonial period.














