GoElizabethNJ250 presents a special online conversation with descendants of families tied to Elizabeth’s Old First Cemetery. This unique monthly gathering brings together historians, community leaders, and family members to share stories of lineage, healing, and living history as we prepare for the 250th Anniversary Celebration.
These virtual meetings support ongoing outreach, genealogy research, speaker coordination, and the collective planning required for the in-person Descendants Reunion in 2026. Whether you’re a longtime researcher or newly exploring your family’s ties to early Elizabethtown, this series helps preserve and uplift the stories that shaped both Elizabeth and the American experience.
Featured Descendant Panelists
- Joanne Rajoppi – Union County Clerk, President, Union County Historical Society, Daughters of the American Revolution
- Linda Caldwell-Epps – Historian, President/CEO 1804 Consultants
- Nancy Benz – Descendant of the Crane Family, Daughters of the American Revolution
- Danny & Patty Woodruff – Descendants of the Woodruff Family
- Jocelyn Francis-White – Descendant of the VanDeVere Family, 1719 William Trent House Museum Trustee
- Pamela Thoms – Descendant of the Ogden Family, The National Society Colonial Dames 17th Century
- Bob Gula – Descendant of the Harriman and Whitehead Families, Sons of the American Revolution
Presented By
GoElizabethNJ250 Planning Committee
Mayor J. Christian Bollwage (Co-Chair)
Rev. Dr. Wanda M. Lundy (Co-Chair)
Aimee Fernandez-Puente (Co-Chair)
What We Cover Each Month
- Descendant outreach updates & new family connections
- Speaker planning & topic development
- Research coordination & historical documentation
- Planning for the 2026 in-person Descendants Reunion
- Community storytelling initiatives tied to Elizabeth’s 250th
Who Should Attend
These gatherings are open to all known descendants of individuals interred at Old First Cemetery and those actively researching a family connection. Historians, community partners, and invited members of the GoElizabethNJ250 initiative also participate.
Zoom Access
Meeting Time: 4 PM PST / 7 PM EST
Zoom Meeting ID: 838 8723 7991
Join us each month as we work together to honor the legacy of the families who shaped Elizabethtown’s earliest history, strengthen community ties, and prepare for the upcoming 250th Anniversary celebration.
