Help 120 East State Solve Two Trenton History Mysteries

History lives in the people, stories, and memories of our community,  and we’re inviting you to help us bring important chapters to light.

120 East State continues its community history initiative to uncover the stories connected to the people and place of historic First Presbyterian Church. We are seeking photos, family stories, documents, and artifacts to help us uncover information specifically about the two 120 East State History Mysteries listed below.

The First Presbyterian 13 – Honoring Early Black Trentonians Laid to Rest

On the burial list of the cemetery of First Presbyterian Church are 13 African American residents of Trenton, dating back to the early 1800s, a time when Trenton was a much smaller city and New Jersey had just begun abolishing slavery. We are grateful for our community members who have already shared discoveries about these people. In 2026, we hope to dig deeper, and so are asking again for any information about them.

Their names are:

  • Mary Price (d. Oct. 1841)
  • William Ryerson (d. June 1843)
  • Mary Bristol (1800/1801 – January 1864)
  • Sally Hulicks (d. November 1865)
  • Jane Fisher (c. January 1866)
  • Leah Vandyke (d. January 1867)
  • Ann Johnson (1799/1800 – September 1867)
  • Jane Williams (d. April 1870)
  • Tamar Smith (d. January 1871)
  • Nancy Brown (d. January 1872)
  • Theresa Jones (d. March 1872)
  • Sarah Smith (d. April 1876)
  • Myra Miller (1819/1820 – March 1880).

Trenton’s history leads us to Rev. Henry D. Wood, a man born in Trenton whose life bridged faith, education, military service, and community leadership. Dr. Wood was born in Trenton in February 1847 to Albert Wood, a hotel waiter, and Lucy Ann Wood; he attended the Higbee School. His family worshiped at the Presbyterian Church. As a young man of 16 he joined Company H of the Massachusetts 54th and survived the assault on Fort Wagner in only four months later.

We want to know more about Rev. Wood’s life, especially his ties to Trenton and his earlier personal journey.

Read more and learn what we know about him here.

Get Involved

If you or your family have stories, letters, records, or memories connected to either of our History Mysteries, we invite you to send them to us at hello@120eaststate.org. Your contributions will help preserve our city’s rich history for future generations.