John Longstaff was born in Lincolnshire, Englandⁱ around 1828. There is a record of a John Longstaff coming to America, September 22, 1851 on the Mary Ward which had sailed from Liverpool.ⁱⁱ Longstaff had attended the College of Pharmacy in London and was a successful pharmacist there. Longstaff married Jane E. Nott, who was born in New Jersey around 1856. In the 1860 US Census, John is 32 years old, occupation druggist, and he and his family are living in Jersey City, Ward 2 in the house of two other druggists, Charles C. Thompson and Charles Nott. His family consists of his wife , Jane, and their three children: William, age 4, John, 2, and Edwin, age 1.ⁱⁱⁱ 

According to the History of Jersey City, Longstaff opened a drug store at 649 Communipaw Avenue which was bought by James Wilkinson and then sold to Dr. E.S. Wells sometime between 1861-63. Longstaff at that time was the proprietor of another pharmacy at “61 Montgomery Street, Downtown” around 1861-62. His home is listed at 59 Montgomery. A large advertisement in the local paper, attested to the fact that you could purchase “Biokrene, a life rejuvenator, at Longstaff’s pharmacy. 

When the Civil War started, John joined the 2^nd New Jersey Militia, a three month unit with the title of Surgeon’s mate; he enlisted on April 26, 1861. There are no details of his service discovered at this time. Upon finishing three months service, he was mustered out 7/31/61 and returned to Jersey City and to his business and family. 

He died on December 8, 1864 after a brief illness. As a Mason, his funeral at Grace Church in Jersey City was attended by the many lodge members. He was buried in the Cypress Hill Cemetery. In the 1870 US Census, however his wife, Jane, occupation: druggist, and two children, William, age 14, and John, age 12, are still residing in Ward 2. The Index of NJ Wills shows a listing for John Longstaff in 1864. 

The 1900 census reports his son, John Longstaff, living at 58 Bright Street with his wife, Margarita, three children (Edward, James H and Cornellia) and his mother, Jane, who is listed as a widow. In 1917, William Washington Longstaff enrolled in the World War I registration program, living at 55 Bright Street, Jersey City, employed as a Junior pharmacist with O.J. McCloskey at 351 Montgomery St. The family continues to be listed in Jersey City through the 1930 census, when sons William and Harry are listed as “Chemist, drugs”. 

John Longstaff’s experience is similar to many recent immigrants, they joined the Army to show loyalty to their new country. John was 33 when he enlisted and died three years later. One wonders if his early death was service related. 

i. Obituary, American Standard, Dec. 10, 1864, page 2.
ii  ancestry.com
iii US Census, 1860

Submitted by: V. Josephson rev 07/16/20008