Sussex County, New Jersey Genealogy

Sussex County, New Jersey ancestry, family history, and genealogy research page. Guide to genealogy, history, and courthouse sources including birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, wills, deeds and land records, Civil War records, Revolutionary War records, family histories, cemeteries, churches, tax records, newspapers, and obituaries.



Description
Sussex County is located in the northern region of the state. It was created in 1753. Newton is the county seat. The county was named for the county of Sussex in England.

Sussex County, New Jersey Historical Facts

 * Named for Sussex County, England by the Royal Governor of New Jersey, Jonathan Belcher because it was the ancient seat of His Grace Thoams Pelham-Holles, the first Duke of Newcastle-upon-Trent and first Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne who at the time was the Secretary for the Northern Department, and later the Prime Minster of the United Kingdom. He was Governor Belcher's political supervisor.
 * The area was originally inhabited by a subgroup of the Lenape tribe. European settlement started in the late 1600’s and early 1700’s, with the arrival of Dutch and French Huguenot colonists moving southwest from the Hudson River area, who were later joined by Palatine Germans and British settlers.

Parent County

 * 16 May 1753, set off from Morris County.

Boundary Changes
The area of Sussex county has historically belonged to : At the time of its creation, Sussex County included current Sussex and Warren Counties, as well as part of New York State. A boundary dispute between New York and New Jersey after the French and Indian War settled the border between the two states (and, in the process, also the northern border of the county) in 1769.
 * 1694 – 1714 - Burlington County
 * 1714 – 1739 - Hunterdon County
 * 1739 – 1753 – Morris County
 * 1753 – present – Sussex County
 * 20 November 1824, Warren County set off.

For animated maps illustrating New Jersey county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation New Jersey County Boundary Maps" (1683-1928) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. For information on which federal censuses for the entire state of New Jersey have survived, see this list of available and lost census schedules.

Federal Census

 * See the New Jersey federal census collection page for availability.

State Census

 * 1671 Census of New Castle County, Delaware, Philadelphia and Delaware Counties, PA, and Burlington County, NJ – published in Peter Stebbins Craig, 1671 Census of the Delaware (Philadelphia, Pa.: Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, 1999)[FHL Book 974 X2c 1671].
 * 1693 a special census of Swedes associated with the Swedish Lutheran Church also included the area of Burlington County, NJ – published in in Craig, Peter Stebbins. The 1693 Census of the Swedes on the Delaware. Winter Park, Florida: SAG Publications, 1993. (Family History Library book 973 X4c)


 * 1855 at FamilySearch — index and images (incomplete)
 * 1865 at FamilySearch — images (incomplete)
 * 1885 New Jersey, State Census, 1885 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1895 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1895 New Jersey State Census, 1895 at Ancestry ($) – index and images
 * 1905 New Jersey State Census, 1905 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1915 at FamilySearch — index and images

Church Record

 * 1675-1970 - at FamilySearch — index and images

For information on churches in Sussex County, see:

New Jersey Historical Records Survey. ''Directory of churches in New Jersey, vol. XIX. Sussex County''. Newark, N.J.: The Historical Records Survey, 1940. (FHL 974.976 E4h)

For information on church records held by the Sussex County Historical Society, see:

Sussex County Historical Society (New Jersey) available church records. Unpublished manuscript. (FHL 974.976 C4s)

Specific Congregations:
 * 1741-1830 - "Church Register of the Walpeck Congregation," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Baptisms 1741-1753: Vol. 40, No. 3 (Jul. 1909):193-205; Baptisms 1753-1772: Vol. 40, No. 4 (Oct. 1909):264-275; Baptisms 1772-1791: Vol. 41, No. 1 (Jan. 1910):28-43; Baptisms 1791-1807: Vol. 41, No. 2 (Apr. 1910):83-98; Baptisms 1807-1816: Vol. 41, No. 3 (Jul. 1910):200-215; Baptisms 1817-1830, Marriages 1741-1769: Vol. 41, No. 4 (Oct. 1910):345-366. Digital version at New York Family History ($); . Internet Archive has digitized Vol. 40 and Vol. 41 - free.


 * 1785-1819 - Canfield, Amos. "The Clove Dutch Reformed Church of Clove Valley, Wantage, Sussex Co., N.J.," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Baptisms 1785-1801: Vol. 57, No. 4 (Oct. 1926):355-364; Baptisms 1801-1818, Marriages 1798-1812, Membership Lists 1793-1819, 1787 Petition, List of Elders and Deacons 1788-1806: Vol. 58, No. 1 (Jan. 1927):45-55. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.

County-Level Records
Available from the New Jersey State Archives:
 * Colonial Marriage Bonds, ca. 1666-1799 (it is important to note that most marriages did not use the bonds  – free to search, $ for photocopies)
 * County Clerks' Marriage Record Search (State Archives own the original original books kept by the clerks of Sussex County for 1817-1878, and will provide mail reference from them ($); some Sussex County marriage records – 1795 onwards; for 1898-1910, there is also a register of non-resident marriage license applications.)
 * Marriage Records, May 1848 - May 1878 (free to search, $ for photocopies)
 * Death Records, June 1878 - June 1895 (free to search, $ for photocopies)

Court Records
On the website of the New Jersey State Archives, users can search for and order photocopies ($) of the following types of records:
 * Stark, Brad and Carol Stark. [Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace (Sussex County)]. The minute book of Sussex County, New Jersey, court records, 1764-1766. Bowie, Maryland : Heritage Books, 1993.
 * New Jersey. Court of Common Pleas (Sussex County). Court records, 1778-1902 [Sussex County, New Jersey]. FHL microfilm 961012. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. (Includes naturalizations (1808-1902), slaves' births (1804-1833), and officers' oaths of office and allegiance (1778-1856). Parts indexed. Also browsable online.
 * New Jersey. Orphans' Court (Sussex County). Minutes, 1804-1903. FHL microfilms 960526 - 960533. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
 * New Jersey. Circuit Court (Sussex County). Circuit Court judgements, 1838-1907. FHL microfilms 959881, 959882, 961008-961011. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
 * Meeker, Sharon. Sussex County, New Jersey marriages from Justice-of-the-Peace dockets 1773-1828. Budd Lake, NJ : Legacy of America, 1999. (Please note that this includes only the marriages performed by the justices of the peace.)
 * Supreme Court Case Files, 1704-1844 (54,959 case files, over 193,953 names - data entry ongoing)
 * Legal Name Changes, 1847-1947 (12,253 name changes, 46,0008 names)

Directories
Some Sussex County towns and villages are included in the following:
 * Ancestry.com. „U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995.“ Database. Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com . Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. ($)
 * Ancestry.com. „U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993.“ Vol. 1-2. Database. Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com . Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. ($)

Emigration and Immigration
New Jersey State Archives hold Sussex County naturalization records for 1817-1952, and will perform searches with 5-year-time spans ($). Naturalization records from NJ federal district courts are located at the Northeast Branch of the National Archives, One Bowling Green, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10004.

Gazetteers

 * Webb, Edward A.„The historical directory of Sussex County, N.J. : containing a brief summary of events from its first settlement, with descriptive and historical notices of each town : also, the name and post office address of each freeholder.“ Database. Ancestry.com . http://www.ancestry.com  : 2005. Extracted from Webb, Edward A. The historical directory of Sussex County, N.J. : containing a brief summary of events from its first settlement, with descriptive and historical notices of each town : also, the name and post office address of each freeholder. Andover, N.J.: [unknown]. 1872. ($)

Genealogy

 * Agthe, Claire Keenan. Research in New Jersey. Special publications of the National Genealogical Society. Research in the States Series. No. 94. Arlington, VA: National Genealogical Society, 2009.


 * Biographical and genealogical history of Morris and Sussex Counties, New Jersey. Vol. I. Chicago, IL: Lewis Publishing Company. 1899. Image copy. Hathitrust. : 2016.  Vol. II. Chicago, IL: Lewis Publishing Company. 1899. Image copy. Hathitrust. : 2016
 * Daughters of the American Revolution. Chinckchewunska Chapter (New Jersey). “Articles copied from old newspapers, Unionville, New York records and pioneer families of northwestern New Jersey.” 1 Vol. Bound manuscript. 1937. National Library of the Daughters of American Revolution, Washington, DC. FHL microfilm 860298 (item 7, image 589). Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. (Please note: also browsable online.)
 * Molé, Deborah L., David A. Ranzan, Janette Maria Pardo and Sarah J. Lambert. Sussex County (N.J) marriage and obituary dates : (1814-1903) : information for the years spanning 1814-1895. Apollo, Pennsylvania : Closson Press, 2006.
 * Stickney, Charles E. Old Sussex families of the Minisink region. Washington, New Jersey : Genealogical Researchers, 1988. FHL microfilm 6101286. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

History

 * Haines, Alanson A. Hardyston memorial: a history of the township and the North Presbyterian Church, Hardyston, Sussex County, New Jersey. Newton, N.J.: New Jersey Herald Print. 1888. Image copy. Internet Archive. : 2016
 * Kanouse, Peter. „A historical sermon designed as a memorial to the inhabitants of Wantage, Sussex County, N.J. : containing an account of the first emigrants, their pedigree, dangers, deliverance, habits, religion, means of instruction, increase, improvements, and the present state of society amoung their descendants.“ Database. Ancestry.com. : 2005. Extracted from: Kanouse, Peter. A historical sermon designed as a memorial to the inhabitants of Wantage, Sussex County, N.J. : containing an account of the first emigrants, their pedigree, dangers, deliverance, habits, religion, means of instruction, increase, improvements, and the present state of society amoung their descendants. Newton, N.J.: New Jersey Herald. 1878. ($)


 * Lanning, Nathan H. „ A history of the Yellow Frame Presbyterian Church, Fredon Township, Sussex County, New Jersey.“ Database. Ancestry.com .:  2004. Extracted from: Lanning, Nathan H. A history of the Yellow Frame Presbyterian Church, Fredon Township, Sussex County, New Jersey. [unknown]: [unknown]. [1984?]. ($)
 * Schaeffer, Casper, and William M. Johnson. Memoirs and reminiscences together with sketches of the early history of Sussex County, New Jersey. Hackensack, NJ: [self-published]. 1907. Image copy. Internet Archive. : 2016.


 * Snell, James P., and W. W. Clayton. History of Sussex and Warren Counties, New Jersey: with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers. Philadelphia: Everts & Peck. 1881. Image copy. Internet Archive. : 2016.  See also:
 * „Index, Snell [sic] history of Sussex Co., N.J.“ Database. Ancestry.com. : 2005. Extracted from Beatrice Mitten Adams, Index, Snell history of Sussex County, N.J..[unpublished] : photocopy (typescript). 1964.($)


 * „Sussex County sesqui-centennial, September 2, 1903 : including centennial address of Benjamin B. Edsall.“ Database. Ancestry.com. http:// www.ancestry.com : 2005. Extracted from Sussex County sesqui-centennial, September 2, 1903 : including centennial address of Benjamin B. Edsall. [Newton, N.J.?]: The Sesqui-Centennial Committee. [1903?]. ($)
 * Webb, Edward A.„The historical directory of Sussex County, N.J. : containing a brief summary of events from its first settlement, with descriptive and historical notices of each town : also, the name and post office address of each freeholder.“ Database. Ancestry.com . http://www.ancestry.com : 2005. Extracted from Webb, Edward A. The historical directory of Sussex County, N.J. : containing a brief summary of events from its first settlement, with descriptive and historical notices of each town : also, the name and post office address of each freeholder. Andover, N.J.: [unknown]. 1872. ($)

Land and Property

 * New Jersey State Archives can provide ($) Probate Record Search (wills and inventories ca. 1660-1952)


 * „Abstracts of divisions of Warren and Sussex County estates filed at Sussex County courthouse, Newton, New Jersey, from 1789-1918.“ Database. Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com : 2005. Extracted from Frederick R. Alleman, Abstracts of divisions of Warren and Sussex County estates filed at Sussex County courthouse, Newton, New Jersey, from 1789-1918.[unpublished] : photocopy (typescript). 1978.
 * „Maps of divisions of Warren and Sussex County estates filed at Newton, New Jersey between 1789-1918.“ Database. Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com : 2005. Extracted from Virginia Alleman Brown, Maps of divisions of Warren and Sussex County estates filed at Newton, New Jersey between 1789-1918. [manuscript] : [unpublished]. 1978.

Maps
„Maps of divisions of Warren and Sussex County estates filed at Newton, New Jersey between 1789-1918.“ Database. Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com : 2005. Extracted from Virginia Alleman Brown, Maps of divisions of Warren and Sussex County estates filed at Newton, New Jersey between 1789-1918. [manuscript] : [unpublished]. 1978.

Military

 * „Sussex County residents who have died in the service of their country during wartime.„ Database. Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com  : 2004. Extracted from Jeffrey S. Muti. Sussex County residents who have died in the service of their country during wartime. [manuscript]: [unpublished], 1982. ($)
 * Rutgers University’s Alexander Library’s genealogy collection houses the Chester N. Jones Collection of 30,000 cards on New Jersey soldiers in the Revolution.


 * New Jersey State Archives offers the following searchable databases that contain military information (all are free to search, $ for copies of records):
 * Revolutionary War Damage Claims, 1776-1782
 * Civil War Service Records, 1861-1865
 * Civil War Payment Vouchers, 1861-1865
 * World War I Deaths (payment by check or money order only)
 * New Jersey National Guard Photographs  - see under “Photographs.”

Searches for the following types of records can be requested from the New Jersey State Archives (all $, payment by check or money order only):
 * Revolutionary War Record Search
 * World War I Record Search
 * Military Service Records Request Form (covers War of 1812, Spanish-American War, Punitive Expedition to Mexico in 1916, National Guard records 1869-1917, records from the New Jersey Home for Disabled Soldiers)

Naturalization and Citizenship
(See also Emigration and Immigration above)
 * 1796-1991 - at FamilySearch — index

Newspapers

 * „[Newspaper clippings from the Sussex Register].“ Database. Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com : 2005. Extracted from [Newspaper clippings from the Sussex register]. Newton, N.J.: The Register, 1897-1899.


 * „One hundred years of the Sussex register and county of Sussex, 1813-1913 : record of historical, biographical, industrial and statistical events during a century.“ Database. Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com : 2005. Extracted from: One hundred years of the Sussex register and county of Sussex, 1813-1913 : record of historical, biographical, industrial and statistical events during a century. Newton, N.J.: The Register. [1932?]. ($)
 * Back runs of Lake Hopatcong Breeze (Lake Hopatcong) for 1894-1924, Sussex Register (Newton) for 1814-1828 (complete run), and Wantage Recorder (Wantage) for 1894-1923 can be purchased in microform from the New Jersey State Library. ($)

Photographs
New Jersey State Archives has a number of searchable photograph collections. Researchers can then order copies of images ($, check or money order only). The following collections are available:
 * World War I Deaths (3,427 names, 9,310 scanned images – includes descriptive cards, photographs and correspondence. This database includes an information card (and often a photograph) of 3,427 fallen soldiers from New Jersey. Each card includes the following: name; service number; race; residence; place and date of enlistment; place and date of birth; organizations served in and dates of assignment/transfer; date killed or otherwise died (if not killed in action, cause of death); wounds or injuries received; and the name and address of the person notified of the death. Many cards include a photograph.)
 * Department of Agriculture Photographs (7,111 photographs  - 4,036 scanned images (which can be ordered in digital format)); this series consists of over 14,000 prints and dating from about 1920 to1983, with a few images from as early as the 1880s. The photographs were originally taken to illustrate the publications of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.)
 * New Jersey National Guard Photographs (1,316 images, dating from the mid-19th century through the 1980s, with the majority (759 images) taken before 1945; also includes scrapbooks etc)
 * Federal Writers' Project Photographs (3,911 images of sites, people and activities collected in the 1930ies)

Obtaining Copies of County Probate Records
Copies of recorded probate records and the estate files can be obtained from the surrogate's offices for a fee. Addresses of surrogate's offices are found in:


 * Eichholz, Alice, Editor. Ancestry's Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources. Revised Edition. Salt Lake City, Utah: Ancestry, 1992. (.) Explains state-by-state history, vital records, census, background sources, periodicals, archives, libraries, societies, maps, land, probate, court, tax, cemetery, church, and military records. Includes county boundary map and table which shows when each county was created and the parent counties.

In addition, copies of the original wills, administrations, inventories, and guardianships sent to Trenton since 1901 can be ordered from:

Clerk of the Superior Court Records Information Center P.O. Box 967 Trenton, NJ 08625-0967 Phone: (609) 292-4978 Fax: (609) 777-0094

Online Probate Records
 * 1656 - 1999 New Jersey Wills and Probate Records 1656-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1670 – 1760 Calendar of New Jersey Wills 1670-1760 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1670 – 1817 New Jersey Abstract of Wills 1670-1817 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1678 - 1980 at FamilySearch — images

Archives
New Jersey Historical Records Survey. „Inventory of the county archives of New Jersey. No. 19 : Sussex County (Newton).„ Database. Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com : 2004. Extracted from New Jersey Historical Records Survey ''Inventory of the county archives of New Jersey. No. 19 : Sussex County (Newton)''. Newark, N.J.: The Historical Records Survey, 1941. ($)

Libraries
Rutgers University’s Alexander Library is an invaluable repository for any New Jersey researchers, as it houses collections deposited by the Genealogical Society of New Jersey and the New Jersey State Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Family Bible records and extensive notes and collected compilations by professional genealogists make up the most unique part of this collection. The genealogical collections are open to the public during the regular opening hours, and a university affiliation or special membership is not necessary to use them.

Of particular interest to Sussex County researchers:
 * Warren P. Coon Collection, comprised of 20,000 cards on (primarily 19th century) families of Sussex and Warren Counties. (Filed alphabetically by surname.)
 * Helen P. Alleman / Patricia A. Weibezahl Collection - materials (in both notebooks and folders) on families in northwestern New Jersey.

Sussex County Public Library (both main library and the branches) have amassed unique genealogy and local history collections, and the library has created a surname index which allows researchers to pinpoint specific resources. (Please note that some materials are only accessible by appointment, so contact the library ahead of time.)

Highlights of the collection of the Main Library: Sussex-Wantage Branch
 * Perlee Collection – Files and notes by noted local genealogist Alfred Perlee. (This collection is in closed stacks – please identify the surnames of interest, and library staff will pull the necessary files.)
 * Crawn Collection – Files and notes by Sussex County genealogist Francis S. Crawn. (Records are on microfilm, arranged alphabetically by family name.)
 * Decker Scrapbooks – 14 scrapbooks of clippings collected by members of the Decker family. Topics include history of New Jersey and Sussex County in particular. (Consult reference librarian on duty for the index.)
 * Cemetery & Church Vertical File – transcripts and lists.
 * Genealogy Vertical File – miscellaneous notes and files on local families, donated by researchers.
 * Local History Vertical Files – various materials on local history, institutions organizations, schools, etc. List of vertical file subjects can be found here.

Sussex-Wantage Branch Library has its own genealogy and local history vertical files, as well as family Charts and materials on Wantage Township Cemeteries prepared and donated by local researcher Muriel Robertson.

Dorothy Henry Branch

Dorothy Henry Branch Library also has its own genealogy and local history vertical files’ collection (see the list of subjects), as well as articles, clippings and interview transcripts collected by local historian Dr. Roswell S. Coles (the Roswell Coles Scrapbooks).

Franklin Branch

Franklin Branch Library has many materials on the history of Franklin High School, including yearbooks and other Franklin HS material, as well as a unique collection of materials related to early mining in Sussex County, collected by the late Mr. Frederic J. Stephens (The Stephens Collection) - maps, books, pictures, letters and articles. (Viewing by appointment only – contact the library to schedule.)

Societies
Sussex County Historical Society 82 Main Street, Box 913 Newton, NJ 07860 Telephone:973-383-6010 E-mail:[mailto:sussexcountyhs@gmail.com sussexcountyhs@gmail.com] Website

Wallpack Historical Society PO Box 212 Layton, N.J. 07851 Telephone: 973-948-6671 Website

Schools

 * „Catalogue of the officers and students of Newton Collegiate Institute, Newton, Sussex County, New Jersey, for the year 1874 : with the course of study.“ Database. Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com  : 2004. Extracted from Catalogue of the officers and students of Newton Collegiate Institute, Newton, Sussex County, New Jersey, for the year 1874 : with the course of study. [Newton, N.J.?]: „Sussex Register“ Job Office. 1874. ($)
 * Smith, Minnie D. „Sussex County school sojourn in the 1890's.“ Database. Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com  :  2005. Extracted from: Smith, Minnie D.. Sussex County school sojourn in the 1890's. Belvidere, N.J.: Poyer Press. 1964. ($)

Birth

 * 1901-1903, at FamilySearch — index

Marriage
Online Marriage Indexes and Records

1606-1981 - New Jersey, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1670-1980 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1930-1938 - at FamilySearch — index

Death

 * 1901-1903 - at FamilySearch — index

Sussex County, New Jersey Websites

 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Sussex County, New Jersey History, Records, Facts and Genealogy (Familytree101)
 * Sussex County NJ Genealogy

Sussex County, New Jersey Neighboring counties



 * Morris
 * Passaic
 * Warren
 * Orange, New York
 * Monroe, Pennsylvania
 * Pike, Pennsylvania