NJ Genealogy Records Roundup – First Edition

genealogy records

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.

 

new jersey genealogy records

 

Find of the Day – A Warren County NJ Naturalization Record

Naturalization records can provide a wealth of information on an ancestor including their birth date, birthplace or place of origin, when they immigrated, their port of departure and/or arrival, and possibly the ship’s name. Some petitions for naturalization also include important details, such as birth dates and birthplaces, on an ancestor’s spouse and children. This information can be extremely helpful when continuing your family research.

However, this rich detail is often absent in New Jersey naturalization records that pre-date 1906. Very often researchers are disappointed by the lack of information and specificity in early naturalization records. Pre-1906 naturalization records typically include the petitioner or declarant’s age, country of origin, year of immigration, maybe a port of arrival, but not much else.

Here is an example of our great-great-grandfather’s petition for naturalization filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Middlesex County, New Jersey, on 24 September 1856.

Middlesex County Naturalization Record

The record, of course, is not without great merit. We learn that Robert Gillis was a native of Ireland, he arrived in 1849 and filed his declaration of intention to become a citizen with the Clerk of the Superior Court of New York City on 12 January 1852. But, we’re out of luck if we’re searching for where specifically in Ireland he originated. Irish genealogy research is heavily dependent on identifying where in Ireland an immigrant ancestor originated – the county, parish and/or townland.

The difference in the information available in naturalization records is partly due to changes in the naturalization process that occurred in 1906. Citizenship could be granted by municipal, county, state, or federal courts before 1906. These varying courts often had their own forms and processes. The Federal Government was unhappy with this inherent lack of standardization and sought greater control and centralization of all naturalization records.1 The Federal Government’s instrument of change was the Naturalization Act of 1906 – signed into law by President Theodore Roosevelt.2 The Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization – now known as the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) – was created to support and enforce these new standards.3

See the following resources for more information on the naturalization process and its evolution:

A Hidden Gem in a Genealogical Haystack

Genealogy is one of the greatest examples of the validity of the well known proverb: “there is an exception to every rule.”

There were courts in other jurisdictions that required more detailed information prior to 1906. The records these courts generated have trickled into New Jersey record sets when an immigrant ancestor declared his intention to become a citizen in one jurisdiction and filed his petition in another. A copy of the declaration of intention, or other prior documentation, was often included with the applicant’s petition for naturalization.

I recently came across a prime example of this situation while researching Warren County naturalization records at the New Jersey State Archives in Trenton, NJ. Thomas Brady filed a petition for naturalization in the Court of Common Pleas of Warren County on 3 October 1851. Included with the petition was a copy of his declaration of intention – also referred to in the documents as a Report and Registry – filed with the Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Northampton County, PA.

Here is a snapshot of his declaration filed 6 February 1849 in Easton, Northampton County, PA:

Waren County Naturalization Record

As you can see, it has a gold-mine of information. We learn that Thomas Brady was not only born in Ireland, but he was born in County Cavan, Ireland. He departed from the Port of Liverpool in 1846 and arrived in the Port of New York in June 1846. Thomas was destined for South Easton, Pennsylvania – once a separate borough, but now part of the City of Easton.4

While the record fails to provide a specific parish or townland in Ireland, we have at the very least narrowed down Thomas’ origins to County Cavan. We also have opened up new research avenues for a potential passenger list for Thomas. If the information provided was accurate, a search could be done for passenger lists with a departure from Liverpool and arrival in June 1846 in New York.

Naturalization records can be a great resource of genealogical information. Pre-1906 records may not contain all the valuable information found in later documents, but every now and then you might just get lucky and discover a hidden gem. This is a good reminder to not overlook any records. Exhaustive searches are an absolute must when trying to answer important questions related to our ancestors. You never know where one bit of information could lead – possibly breaking down that long-standing brick wall.

Interested in finding your ancestor’s New Jersey naturalization records? Check out these important resources:

Need a little extra help? We regularly search for the origins of our clients’ ancestors. Contact us today to find out more about our genealogy and family history research services.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR GENEALOGY SERVICES!

Genealogy Research

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1Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org), “Naturalization Act of 1906,” rev. 22:49, 30 December 2015.
2 Ibid.
3 FamilySearch Wiki (https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/index.php), ” United States Naturalization and Citizenship,” rev. 17:47, 6 March 2016.
4 Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org), “Easton, Pennsylvania,” rev. 19:11, 11 April 2016.

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.

1Who 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.

2Where 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.

3How 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.

4What 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.

5What 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.

6Did 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.

7How 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.

8Where 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.

9Did 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.

10What 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

New Jersey Genealogy

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.

To get you started here are links to a few New Jersey archives, societies and libraries:

New Jersey State Archives

New Jersey Historical Society

New Jersey State Library

Rutgers Special Collections and University Archives

Seton Hall Archives & Special Collections

Jersey City Public Library

Newark Public Library

Their collections are just waiting to be discovered. Happy hunting!

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