A Revolutionary War-Era Diary's Surnames: The Jemima Condict Diary & Her Condict Family

Jemima Condict's Revolutionary War-era journal, housed by the New Jersey Historical Society, reveals Jemima's family surnames  to be spelled just like her's, and not as Condit.

The Jemima Diary talks of colonial life in the 1700's in New Jersey, of the Boston Tea Party, and Jemima Condict's now famous diary that has been referenced by others in recent times to write Revolutionary War era spin-off books with references to Jemima's  life depicted in her 1772 diary, but  the surnames seem to have been overlooked and misspelled, as the diary shows Jemima did possess the same surname as those of her Condict (with the second "c") family Jemima writes about. It is well documented at the New Jersey Historical Society that Jemima Condict's family surname was Condict, and not Condit or Cundict as historical books show, like this one, documenting Jemima's father, Daniel Condict:   https://archive.org/details/documentsrelatin35newj at pages 89-90    documenting Daniel in his will at this source: Documents Relating to the Colonial, Revolutionary, and Post Revolutionary History of the State of New Jersey, Vol 35, (1880).

For those endeared to genealogy, and tracing their ancestors, it is  Jemima's family surnames in her 1772 diary  that perhaps only those of the lines may find important, to ensure the name is historically accurate, and with the true spelling of the surname.
One can find many links referencing the New jersey Historical Society's manuscript and 1930 book transcript of the Jemima Condict diary, and all seem to indicate that Jemima's family surname was Condict, not Condit nor Cundict as some in the Condit lines now state.
We find this link with info from source materials of the New Jersey Historical Society's manuscript and transcription of  the Jemima Diary:  http://njahgp.genealogyvillage.com/death-records-from-an-okd-diary-1772-1778.html


The Condit (without the second "c") reference could be likely confusing,  by the Condit Family Association 1885/1916 genealogy books by its two Condit authors, Eben and Jotham Condit, who indexed nearly all descendants in the tree as Condit. The books' indexing of descendants occurred even though the first and foremost historical family cenotaph and memorial was  erected some 50 years earlier by the ancestor John's great, great grandson, the Honorable Silas Condict, and named the first three generations (Jemima's great, great grandfather and great grandfather and grandfather), as Condict.
 Apparently no Condicts were involved with the Condit written genealogy books design, even though the Condit authors seem to allude  that all accepted the Condit surname used in the genealogy books, and that those with the Condict surname were actually descendants of Peter, John's son.

The Condit books have since been used as source material by genealogists who may have overlooked the authors' book introductions noting the Condict surname, and the authors' Condit descendant indexing system.  Perhaps the confusion of the early generations of the family tree of Condits and Condicts began with the Condit family genealogy authors who stated:  " To preserve uniformity in the work, we have adopted the generally accepted form of spelling the name, believing that it will meet with approval."  And, that would seem approval of the Condit Family Association of which all appear as Condits in the Condit written and researched books.Their work goes one to mention the Condict name confusing it in the same sentence with references to the surname Cundict.
In the 1885 and 1916 Condit Family Association's genealogy books, there is also the two Condit authors' mention of Samuel's (Jemima's grandfather)gravestone inscribed as Conduit, along with his son, Samuel, Jr.'s headstone as Conduit, whether or not some of the lineage today claim the name was Cundict, yet since around 1885 have claimed Condit for the early generations.

There are many others (not family) in history who appear to have likely not written the true surname, and instead guessed at it based upon pronunciation, and therefore misspelled the surname. This seems demonstrated by the contradictory names for John the Norman ancestor, and his son Peter (Jemima's great, great grand father and great grandfather Peter, respectively), in their 1700's wills and land deeds. Here it seems highly illogical a father and son would have different surnames where the names ranged from Cundit, Cundict, Conduit, and to Condit-- a name many descendants later would use.  A logical person might conclude John did not understand English,  even after being in America since 1678. The Condit genealogy books show an excerpt of John's 1709 will. Ironically, John signed with his "mark", NOT a signature showing  a surname of Cunditt for himself, and Cundit for his son Peter and John's seven grandchildren :  Samuel (Jemima's great, great grandfather),  Peter, John, Nathaniel, Mary (Gould?),Philip & Isaac)  all as Cundit-- a name that appears briefly in some church records but then disappears in other records of marriage and burials, and shows up as Condict for the early generations when recorded by family members, but as Condit, Cundit, Cunditt, Conduitt, & Cundict when written by others.
Yet another surname surfaces with the Condit genealogy books' excerpt of Peter's will (Jemima's great grandfather),  before his 1714 death, showing Peter named, in 1709, as Cundit in his father John's will, but  named as Cundict in Peter's will (1714).  Yet, ironically, the books authors seem to have little or no mention of the Condict cenotaph and memorial erected 50 years earlier by the Honorable Silas Condict that the authors likely knew about.

 Jemima documents her family surname as Condict, and other family members did as well, as noted at the first and foremost historical cenotaph and memorial for the Norman ancestor, John, and his son Peter, who arrived from Wales 1678 to Newark, NJ noted here:  http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=12179447
 The Honorable Silas Condict erected, early1800's cenotaph for John and Peter, also memorializes the first three generations and beyond as Condict, with last name being Anna Byram, great, great granddaughter of Priscilla Mullins and John Alden.  The Alden/ Condict lines are made direct descendants three times via John Alden's great daughter, Abigail Alden Byram's (Ebenezer) daughters Huldah (Col. Ebenezer), Anna (Peter Condict), and Abigail (Silas Condict).

http://www.jerseyhistory.org/findingaid.php?aid=0108

Ancestry.com Surname Meanings

Looking at Ancestry.com's surname finder, I found the following on my family names:

http://www.ancestry.com/learn/facts
According to Ancestry.com here are two very differing surname meanings for Condict, Condit, while the surnames of Cunditt, Cundict, Cundit ( seen in history, although possibly misspelled by others not family), do not seem to exist in ancestry.com's surname database:

Condict Name Meaning

Variant of Irish Connick, a patronymic from Gaelic Mac Conmhaic. The closing of palatalized n and c can sound like an excrescent d or t to non-Gaelic speakers.

 

Condit Name Meaning

Southern French: from the past participle of condir from Latin conditio ‘seasoning’, ‘flavoring’, hence probably an occupational name or nickname for a cook.

 

Dodd Name Meaning

English and Scottish: from the Middle English personal name Dodde, Dudde, Old English Dodda, Dudda, which remained in fairly widespread and frequent use in England until the 14th century. It seems to have been originally a byname, but the meaning is not clear; it may come from a Germanic root used to describe something round and lumpish—hence a short, plump man. Irish: of English origin, taken to Sligo in the 16th century by a Shropshire family; also sometimes adopted by bearers of the Gaelic name Ó Dubhda (see Dowd).

 

 

 

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press

And of the surname condit: 

Jemima Condict, Revolutionary War Journalist , 1774-1779

Other sources for Jemima;s family:
http://firstreformedchurch.net/whos-in-that-grave-2/

the surname of Jemima's family, her father Daniel's, Daniel, and Samuel of Peter of John Condict, who was Jemima's grandfather:

http://njahgp.genealogyvillage.com/death-records-from-an-okd-diary-1772-1778.html

 Jemima Condict Revolutionary War Journalist:  http://revolutionarynj.org/neighbor/jemima-condict/

 Text from the source link above: 
I was born in 1754 to farmer Daniel Condict in Pleasantdale, Essex County. In 1772 When I 
 was 17, I began a diary and while most of my entries concerned religious matters, sicknesses and deaths, I was also very aware of the growing anger with Great Britain. On October 1, 1774 I commented that, “It seams we have troublesome times a Coming for there is great Disturbance a Broad in the earth & they say it is tea that caused it.” One day in 1775, I rode down with my father to see our militiamen training and it worried me to hear people saying that “All hopes of Conciliation Between Briten & her Colonies are at an end.” Soon after, on April 23, we heard about the fighting at Lexington and Concord. After the British landed on Staten Island in July 1776 our militia, including my future husband Aaron Harrison, was out on active duty almost constantly. By November our army was in retreat and I wrote “Wat (what) a time is this! A Sickly time & a very Dicing time & the People fleeing before there enemies.” Aaron was one of those fleeing the British army as it marched across our state. In 1777 and 1778 we continued to have problems with the Green Coats and our militia had to contend with them. I stopped my diary in 1779, not long before I married Aaron. Tragically, I died giving birth to our son on November 14, 1779. Aaron continued in the militia throughout the war.

Revolutionary War patriots, Continental Congress members, Whigs, & a Presidential Elector

Dr. John Condict (spelled with a second "c"), is one of my ancestors, and his name was spelled Condict not Condit like that of his cousin branch surname adopted by others and by later generations of the family tree. John's surname is so noted and documented in numerous congressional and historical publications, including the following:

Congressional Directory of 1903:  https://archive.org/stream/cu31924096059690#page/n475/mode/2up @ page 467 (actually page 476 of 916 pages in the directory), shows Condict (not the Condit surname), for historical and patriotic Condict congressmen : Silas,  Silas, Dr. Lewis and Dr. John Condict.

The Condict surname has apparently been misspelled by others on the internet who have likely relied upon the 1885 & 1916 family genealogy books from its Condit Family Association and Condit authors who numbered and named nearly all CondiCt descendants with their surname Condit.

 Dr. John Condict descended from Samuel, from Samuel, from Peter, to John, the Norman ancestor of  Wales (1678 to America), and whose cenotaph/memorial erected by the Honorable Silas Condict ( http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=16024602 ), names the first three generations of the family as Condict (with the second "c"). Find A Grave link to cenotaph for John, and his son Peter, and memorial to first three generations of family known as Condict and Condit: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=12179447 .

Dr. John Condict, surgeon of the Revolutionary War, under Col Van Cortland's battalion (Heards Brigade, June 29,1776), is also historically documented in the "History of Essex and Hudson County of New Jersey" by William Shaw, 1884, Philadelphia, (source:  Strykers Officers and Men of New Jersey in the Revolutionary War), at Chapter XI, at page 31: https://archive.org/stream/historyofessexhu01shaw_0#page/n43/mode/2up

First Major and Lt. Col. David Condict is also noted at the same source above, at page 31 of the Second Regiment of Militia from Essex County, New Jersey. His name has also been misspelled as Condit in many sources who likely relied up the old Condit Family Association genealogy books as their source for the surname.

Dr. Lewis Condict: b. 1773-1862, Morristown, NJ; He was a practicing MD; He was a Whig in NJ legislature, and served as Speaker of the House, NJ, 1808-1810,his last 2 years, serving as state leg. 1805-1810; He was a NJ Rep. in its 12,13,14,17-22nd Legislatures; In 1840, he was a presidential elector on the Harrison/Tyler ticket (source: page cited above at page 467 in Congressional Directory of 1903)http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=12179485
and at wikipedia:   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Condict

Nathaniel Dickinson, American ancestor (1600), of Viking bloodlines of King of Norway

Nearly eleven centuries ago, there appeared at the court of Halfdan Huilbein, King of Norway, a soldier of fortune named Ivar. He was said to have been originally a shepherd. One day he was captured by a roving band of Northmen and carried off. After a series of adventures he made his appearance at the Norse King's Court about 700. Being of handsome presence he became a favorite of the King, who made him a general of his army, Prince of the Uplands, and in 725 bestowed upon him in marriage his daughter Eurittea, the heiress of the realm. King Halfdan died in 725, leaving his crown to his grandson Eystein, son of Ivar, who served as Regent during the King's minority. King Eystein reigned until 755 and left Harold Harfgar, successor, and another son Rogenwald who left a son Rolf or Rollo, the most adventurous prince of his day, who overran Normandy in 910. His sixth and youngest son, Walter, received the town and castle of Caen as his inheritance. His great-grandson, Walter de Caen, accompanied William the Conqueror to England. To this nobleman the line of Dickinson descended from the emigrant ancestor, Nathaniel, may be traced. The family name is found spelled with varying time, location, and circumstance in many ways de Kengon, Dykenson, Dykonson, Diconson, Dickoson, Dickion, Dickason, Dickeison, Dickingson, and Dickinson. From Walter de Caen, later Walter de Kengon (taking the name of his manor in Yorkshire, England) comes:

(II) Johnne Dykonson, freeholder, Kingston-upon-Hull, Yorkshire, married, 1260, Margaret Lambert, and died 1316.

(III) William Dykenson, freeholder, Kingston-upon-Hull, Yorkshire, died 1330-31.

(IV) Hugh Dykensonne, freeholder, Kingston-upon-Hull, Yorkshire, died 1376.

(V) Anthoyne Dickensonne, freeholder, Kingston-upon-Hull, Yorkshire, married, 1376 Catheryne De La Pole, and died 1396.

(VI) Richard Dickinson, freeholder, Kingston-upon-Hull, Yorkshire, married, 1399, Margaret Cooper, died 1441.

(VII) Thomas Dickinson, freeholder, Kingston-upon-Hull, Yorkshire, married, 1430, Margaret Lambert, a Kingston woman. He was alderman of Hull, England, from 1443 to 1444, and mayor from 1444 to 14——, and died 1475.

(VIII) Hugh Dickinson, freeholder, removed to Kenson Manor, Yorkshire, married, 1451, Agnes Swillington, died 1509.

(IX) William Dickinson, freeholder, of Kenson Manor, Yorkshire, married, 1475, Isabel Langton, and died 1546.

(X) John Dickinson settled in Leeds, Yorkshire, England. He married, 1499, Elizabeth Danby, was alderman 1525 to 1554, and died in 1554.

(XI) William Dickinson settled at Bradley Hall, Staffordshire; married, in 1520, Rachel Kinge; died in 1590.

(XII) Richard Dickinson, of Bradley Hall, Staffordshire, married, in 1540, Eliza Bagnail, and died in 1605.

(XIII) Thomas Dickinson, clerk of Portsmouth navy yard, England, from 1567 to 1587; removed to Cambridge in 1587; married, 1567, Judith Carey, died 1590.

(XIV) William Dickinson settled at Ely, Cambridge, and married, 1594, Sarah Stacey, of Ely, died 1628.

(XV) Nathaniel Dickinson, the American ancestor, was born in Ely, Cambridge, England, in 1600. He married (first) in January 1630, at East Bergolat, Suffolk, England, Anna, widow of William Gull. They came to Wethersfield, Connecticut, in 1636-37, where Nathaniel became one of the leaders of the colony. He was town clerk in 1645, deputy to the general court in 1646-47. In 1649 he removed to Hadley, Massachusetts, where he was admitted a freeman in 1661. He was the first recorder of the town, selectman, assessor, town magistrate, deacon of the church, member of the Hampshire troop, and on the first board of trustees of Hopkins Academy. He resided also for a few years at Hatfield. He died at Hadley, June 16, 1676. He married (second) Anne ————. Children, all by first wife:

1. John, born in 1630, killed in King Philip's war.
2. Joseph, born in 1632; was slain in King Philip's war with Captain Beers; married, September 4, 1675, Phebe Bracy.
3. Thomas, born 1634, married Hannah Crow.
4. Anna, married (first) John Clarey; (second) Enos Kingsley.
5. Samuel, born July, 1638, married Martha Bridgeman.
6. Obadiah, born April 15, 1641.
7. Nathaniel, born August, 1643, married (first) Hannah ————, (second) Mrs. Elizabeth Gillette.
8. Nehemiah, born 1644, married Sarah Cowles.
9. Hezekiah, born February, 1646, married Abigail Blakeman.
10. Azariah, born October 4, 1648, killed in the swamp fight, August 25, 1675; married Dorcas ————.

 Sources: http://www.schenectadyhistory.org/families/hmgfm/dickinson.html

https://ia902702.us.archive.org/32/items/hudsonmohawkgene02reyn/hudsonmohawkgene02reyn.pdf