Guide to the Female Cent Society, Hopewell, New Jersey Records

The first meeting of the Female Cent Society was held in the home of Abigail Van Doren in 1814. The Society's purposes were twofold; to provide financial assistance to young men matriculating at the newly founded Princeton Theological Seminary, and to develop a circulating library among its members. In order to maintain memberships, women paid six cents immediately and thereafter one cent per week. Some of the money was used to expand the library, and the rest was sent to Princeton for the aid of needy students.