NJ Genealogy Records Roundup – First Edition

At April 27, 2016
By admin
In archives, family history, genealogy, new jersey
0

Welcome to the first edition of a blog series we created to highlight the latest updates and additions to online New Jersey genealogy records and databases. Knowing which New Jersey genealogy records you want to search for is always the first step, but knowing where to look for those records can prove challenging.

The good news: more and more New Jersey genealogy records and New Jersey genealogy databases are being regularly updated and launched online among the big genealogy providers like Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org. You also should not overlook the efforts of New Jersey’s archives, historical and genealogy societies who provide online access to genealogy databases specific to their area or their holdings.

We’ve searched online for all things related to New Jersey genealogy and created this list of recently updated or recently launched New Jersey genealogy records and genealogy databases. We hope this list of New Jersey genealogy resources helps you further your New Jersey family history research and maybe break down a brick wall or two.

Don’t see a specific New Jersey genealogy record collection or database in the list that you know was recently updated or launched? CONTACT US HERE and let us know. We’ll update this blog post or hold it for an upcoming NJ GENEALOGY RECORDS ROUNDUP.

NEW ONLINE NEW JERSEY GENEALOGY DATABASES & COLLECTIONS

New Jersey, Births, 1670-1980
Site: FamilySearch.org; Added 8 Apr 2016; Index of birth records from various locations in New Jersey for the years 1670 to 1980. Though the title of this collection lists 1670-1980 as the date range, these record indexes really cover births from 1848 to 1900. The original source for this database appears to be the New Jersey index to records of births, marriages, and deaths, 1848-1900 with various Family History Library (FHL) microfilm numbers. These microfilmed indexes are viewable online at your local Family History Center. The original registers and certificates are available at the New Jersey State Archives in Trenton, NJ.

New Jersey, Deaths, 1670-1988
Site: FamilySearch.org; Added 8 Apr 2016; Index of death records from various places in New Jersey for the years 1670 to 1988. Similar to the New Jersey, Births, 1670-1980 database listed above, these record indexes really cover deaths from 1848 to 1900. Their original source also appears to be the New Jersey index to records of births, marriages, and deaths, 1848-1900 with various FHL microfilm numbers. These microfilmed indexes are viewable online at your local Family History Center. The original registers and certificates are available at the New Jersey State Archives in Trenton, NJ.

New Jersey, Marriages, 1670-1980
Site: FamilySearch.org; Added 4 Apr 2016; this database is described as an index to selected marriage records located at the New Jersey State Library and to marriage card indexes created by the Gloucester County Historical Society, the Salem County Historical Society and the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania. One of the main sources of this database appears to be the New Jersey index to records of births, marriages, and deaths, 1848-1900 with various microfilm numbers. Another collection also included in this database is the Vital statistics index from Trenton newspapers, 1800-1900, FHL microfilm no. 542512-542529.

New Jersey, Church Records, 1675-1970
Site: FamilySearch.org; Added 7 Mar 2016; the Wiki for this indexed collection describes it as containing church records from various denominations in New Jersey. Currently, it appears as if this database only includes an index and images for one Roman Catholic Church in New Jersey – St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Rahway, NJ, FHL microfilm no. 1398807. The original records are viewable online at your local Family History Center, or you can order the microfilms from the FHL. You also have the option of viewing the microfilm at Seton Hall University Library – Special Collections.

New Jersey, State Census, 1855
Site: FamilySearch.org; Added 4 Mar 2016; image only collection of the 1855 NJ State Census. Microfilms of this census are also available for viewing at the New Jersey State Archives in Trenton, NJ.

New Jersey, State Census, 1865
Site: FamilySearch.org; Added 4 Mar 2016; image only collection of the 1865 NJ State Census. Microfilms of this census are also available for viewing at the New Jersey State Archives in Trenton, NJ.

New Jersey, United Methodist Church Records, 1800-1970
Site: Ancestry.com; Added 22 Feb 2016; an index and images of United Methodist Church records in New Jersey. The original source is listed as church books held by the Greater New Jersey United Methodist Church Commission on Archives and History located in Madison, NJ. The majority of these records consist of member lists from various New Jersey churches.

UPDATED ONLINE NEW JERSEY GENEALOGY DATABASES & COLLECTIONS

New Jersey, Wills and Probate Records, 1739-1991
Site: Ancestry.com; Updated 14 Apr 2016; described as an index and images of probate records for all counties in New Jersey. The original source for these records is loosely described as New Jersey County, District and Probate Courts. The more specific source of for these records is a series of microfilms from the FHL:, who in turn filmed the original records held by the New Jersey State Archives.

For example, one collection included in this database is Probate records, 1780-1930; indexes, 1803-1971 [Middlesex County, New Jersey], FHL microfilm no. 861168-940362. Although not indexed, these records are available online at FamilySearch.org and are available on microfilm at the New Jersey State Archives in Trenton, NJ. Be sure to check FamilySearch.org and the New Jersey State Archives’ collections of wills and probate records – the Ancestry.com database may not be complete.

New Jersey Births and Christenings, 1660-1980
Site: FamilySearch.org; Updated 4 Apr 2016; this collection is described as a name index to birth, baptism and christening records from the state of New Jersey. For a full description of this collection check out its Wiki article at: New Jersey Births and Christenings (FamilySearch Historical Records). There is an overlap between this database and the New Jersey, Births, 1670-1980 database listed above.

Caution when using this database: due to an oversight, the years were not accurately indexed for some of the state records. Per the Wiki article: “most of the events from the months of January, February, March, April, May, and June during the 1878-1900 period are shown in your databases with the wrong year, the date is generally one year too early.”

This collection also includes indexes of various church records in New Jersey that were microfilmed by the FHL. For example: St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Jersey City, NJ, FHL microfilm no. 1403369 is included in the database as well as Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bloomfield, NJ, FHL microfilm no. 1378248. Many of these microfilmed church records come from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. They are viewable online at your local Family History Center, or you can order the microfilms from the FHL. You also have the option of viewing copies of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark microfilms at Seton Hall University Library – Special Collections.

New Jersey Marriages, 1678-1985
Site: FamilySearch.org; Updated 4 Apr 2016; Index of marriage records from various places in New Jersey for the years 1670 to 1988. Similar to the New Jersey, Births, 1670-1980 database listed above, these record indexes really cover marriages from 1848 to 1900. Their original source also appears to be the New Jersey index to records of births, marriages, and deaths, 1848-1900 with various FHL microfilm numbers. These microfilmed indexes are viewable online at your local Family History Center. The original registers and certificates are available at the New Jersey State Archives in Trenton, NJ.

Similar to the New Jersey Births and Christenings, 1660-1980 database listed above, this database also includes various church records in New Jersey that were microfilmed by the FHL.

STILL NOT FINDING THOSE GENEALOGY RECORDS?

While there are New Jersey genealogy resources available online, a good majority of genealogy records – especially vital records – are still only available in New Jersey archives, historical societies or libraries. If you’ve run out of options online and need someone on the ground, we’re here to help. We regularly visit repositories like the New Jersey State Archives, the New Jersey State Library, Rutgers University’s Alexander Library & Special Collections, and Seton Hall University Library – Special Collections, to name a few.

CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF ALL THE NEW JERSEY ARCHIVES & REPOSITORIES WE VISIT FOR GENEALOGY RESEARCH & FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH.

One Family Tradition Returns with the Bloom of Spring

At March 25, 2016
By admin
In family history, genealogy, new jersey
0

Every family has its traditions — some outlive their originators and are passed down through the generations, while others are relegated to memories and old photographs stored in that dusty box in the attic.

As genealogists we seek out those photographs and especially those traditions – when possible – to unearth aspects of the day-to-day life of our ancestors. Continuing those traditions helps us feel connected to our ancestors and reminds us that we are but one link in a very long chain that spans decades, eras and continents.

There also is a great joy in discovering a family tradition and reviving it – to create your own memories and your own photographs — that may one day find their way to a dusty digital box in a hard drive in the attic.

Now that Spring has returned once again and the final vestiges of winter have been shrugged off, I am reminded of one of my family’s traditions — the annual Easter pilgrimage to the sea of cherry blossoms at Branch Brook Park in Essex County, NJ.

Branch Brook Park, located within Newark and Belleville, New Jersey, is the nation’s first county park — created in 1895.¹ Designed by the Olmsted brothers in 1900, the park’s famous cherry blossoms arrived in 1927 as a gift from Caroline Bamberger Fuld, of the department store Bambergers.²Thousands of people each year visit Branch Brook Park in April for its Annual Cherry Blossom Festival.

Since at least the 1940s, my dad’s family visited Branch Brook Park at Easter time. These special moments were captured and preserved in a series of photographs taken by my great-uncle, Alexander S. Nowicki, a Bloomfield NJ native and photography hobbyist. Thanks to great-uncle Al, we have many beautiful family photos from those trips to the cherry blossoms.

Here are a few of his photographs.

For several years now I’ve revived that annual trip to Branch Brook Park and just like my great-uncle Al my camera was in tow. The cherry blossoms offer a visual treat for any photography enthusiast. I’m sure we gazed upon the same beautiful tress and stood in some of the same spots trying to get that one perfect shot.

Thankfully, the park has been well preserved and enhanced over the years ensuring that future generations can appreciate it the way so many others have including me and great-uncle Al.

For more on Branch Brook Park Visit:

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1 Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branch_Brook_Park), “Branch Brook Park,” rev. 23:17, 29 November 2015.
2 Ibid.

DURH Researcher Elected as Trustee to Genealogical Society of New Jersey

At December 29, 2015
By admin
In news
0

DiscoverURhistory (DURH) is excited to announce that Joan E. Betancourt, one of DURH’s genealogists and family history researchers, was elected as a trustee of the prestigious Genealogical Society of New Jersey (GSNJ). Joan was elected to a three year term at GSNJ’s 2015 Annual Meeting & Fall Lecture held this past November at Rutgers University’s Alexander Library in New Brunswick, NJ.

The Genealogical Society of New Jersey (GSNJ) was founded in 1921 by a group of genealogical scholars dedicated to the preservation of New Jersey family history. GSNJ’s mission is to discover, procure, preserve and publish information pertaining to families and individuals associated with New Jersey.

The Society is the publisher of The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, a national leader among genealogical journals and recognized as the preeminent resource for transcribed primary source material from New Jersey.

Joan joins GSNJ’s proud tradition of service through volunteering and adherence to the ideals of accuracy and scholarship in genealogical research, which continue to guide the ninety-four year old Society’s endeavors.

“I look forward to working with the other GSNJ trustees to further the Society’s mission to promote New Jersey history and genealogy to an ever broadening audience,” said Joan.

Joan E. Betancourt, a former project leader for a Department of Defense contractor to the US Army, has been researching her own family’s history for close to fifteen years in New Jersey, New York and surrounding areas. She is now a full-time professional genealogist and family historian providing genealogy and house history research services throughout New Jersey.

For more information on the Genealogical Society of New Jersey (GSNJ) visit their site at: http://www.gsnj.org/.

For more information on DiscoverURhistory and its services, check out our About Us page.

10 Great Research Questions To Ask A Genealogist

Interested in Family History? But not sure what to ask a Genealogist?

Then check out this great list we prepared just for You.

10 Great Research Questions To Ask A Genealogist.

Who are my ancestor’s parents?
We all have that one ancestor that no one seems to know where they came from or who their parents were. It’s as if they just appeared one day. Searching for an ancestor’s parents can be a great research project for a genealogist who has the local knowledge and expertise to extend your family tree further back in time and shed light on some of those unanswered questions.

Where did my ancestors come from?
Most of our immigrant ancestors arrived in the US in the 19th and early 20th Century during one of the many waves of immigration. We may know where they lived here in the US, but aren’t exactly sure where they started out in life. You may know an ethnicity, or possibly a country – but maybe the town, commune, townland, parish, or shtetl still remains elusive. Searching for an ancestor’s origins can be immensely rewarding – reconnecting you to a culture and history that may not have made it down through the generations.

How long has my family lived in the US?
Some people have ancestors that arrived as early as the Mayflower and others may only be second generation Americans. Discovering when your ancestors arrived in the US and how long they have been here helps to connect them to the historical events in America’s past. Adding this historical context can broaden your understanding of your ancestors and help paint a picture of the times within which they lived.

What professions did my ancestors have?
What we do for a living is a huge part of our lives. The same was true for our ancestors. Delving into the professions of your ancestors can provide a certain depth to who they were and how they lived. Tales of hardships and struggles or stories of success and fame can make your ancestors more relatable and help you understand how successive generations were influenced. You may even discover interesting connections between your ancestors’ professions and your own.

What did my ancestors die from?
You may have a general idea of how some of your ancestors died, but getting specific details can be intriguing and, even more importantly, life saving. Knowledge of the diseases, ailments, or sicknesses that affected your ancestors could help you take preventive measures for you and your family’s health. Uncovering a pronounced history of heart attack or stroke among your ancestors could make a tremendous difference in your own life.

Did my ancestors serve in the military?
Military service can reveal a great deal about an ancestor – stories of courage, strength, fortitude and sacrifice. Whether the Revolutionary War or the Vietnam War, these events impacted everyone in the US at the time – both the soldier and their families. Discovering your ancestor’s military service can provide a way for you to honor them and keep their memory and sacrifice alive for future generations to appreciate.

How many siblings did my ancestors have?
Too often beginner family historians only focus on their direct ancestors. Many families had multiple children. Branching out to the siblings of your ancestors can put you in touch with extended members of your family. Second, third, fourth and fifth cousins could be out there right now waiting to be discovered. These new-found cousins could provide you with new family relationships, stories, research leads or even pictures you never knew existed.

Where are my ancestors buried?
Locating the final resting place for ancestors can provide a great opportunity to show your respect, honor and gratitude for all they accomplished, achieved and overcame to pave the way for you to live the life you now have. Visiting that cemetery and seeing that headstone often brings your family’s story full circle and allows for a certain sense of closure.

Did my ancestors own a house or land?
Land ownership was an important goal for most of our ancestors – whether it was several hundred acres in the woods or a small corner lot in town. Tracking the land your ancestors may have bought and sold could reveal a lot about their entrepreneurial spirit and their economic status. Each story we discover can further bring your ancestors to life – stories of success along with the failures. The loss of a house during the depression can be just as interesting as an ancestor who received a 160 acre land grant in the Midwest.

What religion were my ancestors?
You may assume that your ancestors practiced the same religion you currently do, but that may not be the case. Each of us has 32 great-great-great grandparents – that’s a lot of ancestors. It’s likely some of them differing faiths. Determining the religion of your ancestors can reveal a lot about their traditions, culture and even their everyday lives. You may even find ancestors of different faiths who inter-married. Marrying outside your faith at a time when it was frowned upon could say a lot about those ancestors and the love they shared.

Now that you have read through these questions, which one do you want to ask us?

As genealogists we want to provide more than just facts and figures. Our goal is to discover the stories and moments that enrich the narrative of your ancestors’ lives. You are connected to a rich tradition of love, faith, perseverance and survival. Your roots run deep.

You can check out all our genealogy and family history services here: GENEALOGY.

We wish you the greatest success in Discovering UR History!

Genealogy Research in New Jersey

Researching Your New Jersey Family

While access to genealogical information has increased exponentially with the internet, many of the clues needed to find your ancestors aren’t online. They are still waiting to be discovered in archives, historical societies, libraries and special collections.

New Jersey can offer a wealth of information for those researching their recent and more distant ancestors. The trick is knowing where to look and what to look for.

As New Jersey genealogists, our research has taken us everywhere from the New Jersey State Archives in Trenton, to county historical associations, and even to small town public libraries. Each repository offers its own unique resources that can open new research avenues and sometimes break through the hardiest of brick walls.

The main hub of genealogical research in New Jersey is, of course, the New Jersey State Archives in Trenton. Its collections of birth, deaths and marriages are an invaluable resource. Yet, the Archives offers so much more than the standard BDMs. Newspaper collections, court records, divorce records, early colonial records, and a host of county records – deeds, mortgages, naturalizations and wills – are a few of the collections we have searched through first-hand. These additional records can provide important clues and often paint a much broader picture of your ancestors’ lives.

While the Archives is one of the first stops for any researcher, New Jersey also has a network of special collections, archives and historical associations throughout the State. Researchers can access bible and family records at Rutgers’ Special Collections, search through the Archdiocese of Newark’s microfilm collections at Seton Hall, look through early Paterson family files at the Passaic County Historical Society’s Library or locate an early 19th century deed at the Monmouth County Archives in Freehold.

Be sure to familiarize yourself with these great institutions. Many of them provide finding aids and collection descriptions on their website. Knowing ahead of time what you are looking for will make your trip that much easier. Calling ahead or e-mailing the staff before your visit is a great idea too.

One of the most underutilized resources in New Jersey are local public libraries. Many have great collections of obituaries, biographies, city directories, and even high school yearbooks. The New Jersey Rooms at the Newark and Jersey City Public Libraries and the impressive collections at the Plainfield Public Library are just a few examples. There are many more libraries throughout the State with great collections for genealogists and family historians.