Sussex County, New Jersey Genealogy

Guide to Sussex County, New Jersey ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.

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.

County Courthouse
Sussex County Courthouse 43-47 High Street Newton, NJ 07860 Phone: 862-397-5700 Sussex County Courthouse

County clerk has deeds and mortgages from 1785, birth and manumissions of slaves, divisions, court records from 1760, officers oaths from 1753, freeholders minutes from 1753, road returns from 1764, naturalizations starting 1808 through 1987, marriages from 1795-1850, and corporations from 1822. State Vital Statistics has birth marriage, divorce, land, estate, military, court and county records.

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

History Timeline

 * 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.
 * The area of current day Sussex County has historically belonged to:
 * 1694-1714 - Burlington County
 * 1714-1739 - Hunterdon County
 * 1739-1753 – Morris County
 * 1753 – present – Sussex County


 * 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.

Census Records

 * 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)[FS Library Book 974 X2c 1671].
 * 1855 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1885 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1895 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1895 New Jersey State Census, 1895 at Ancestry ($) – index and images
 * 1905 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1915 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Church Records

 * 1675-1970 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

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 ($);.

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Court Records
Online Court Indexes and Records
 * 1704-1844 Supreme Court Case Files, 1704-1844 at New Jersey State Archives - index; ($) for images
 * 1847-1947 Legal Name Changes, 1847-1947 at New Jersey State Archives - index; ($) for images
 * The Minute Book of Sussex County, New Jersey, Court Records, 1764-1766. [Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace (Sussex County)]. by Brad and Carol Stark. Bowie, Maryland : Heritage Books, 1993.

Directories

 * 1901-1959 U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995, (Newton) at Ancestry - index and images ($)

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.

Genealogies

 * 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
 * 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.

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 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.

Local Histories

 * 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. ($)

Maps and 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." 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. ($)
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
 * "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.

Military Records
Searches for the following types of records can be requested from the New Jersey State Archives (all ($), payment by check or money order only):
 * Sussex County residents who have died in the service of their country during wartime. Database. Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com  : 2004. Extracted from Jeffrey S. Muti. Sussex County residents who have died in the service of their country during wartime. [manuscript]: [unpublished], 1982. ($)
 * 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.”
 * 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
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1796-1991 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

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)

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and 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 — How to Use this Collection; images only; Use the Surrogate's Docket Index 1700-1972 to obtain the Docket Number for the name. Then, use the Docket Number to locate the correct Estate file.

School Records
Online School Indexes and Records
 * "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. ($)
 * Smith, Minnie D. "Sussex County school sojourn in the 1890's.“ Database. Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com  :  2005. Extracted from: Smith, Minnie D.. Sussex County school sojourn in the 1890's. Belvidere, N.J.: Poyer Press. 1964. ($)

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

Birth

 * 1600-1990 New Jersey Vital Records, Historical Society of Pennsylvania at Findmypast — index & images, ($)
 * 1660-1980 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; ''Also at: Ancestry Index ($)
 * 1746-1795 New Jersey Baptisms 1746-1795 at Findmypast — index, ($)
 * 1901-1903 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1901-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index

Marriage

 * 1600s-1900s US Marriages, New Jersey at Findmypast — index, ($)
 * 1670-1965 New Jersey Marriage Records, 1670-1965 at Ancestry — index & images, ($)
 * 1670-1980 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1678-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1683-1802 New Jersey Marriage Records, 1683-1802 at Ancestry — index & images, ($)
 * 1684-1895 New Jersey Compiled Marriage Records, 1684-1895 at Ancestry — index, ($)
 * 1901-1914 New Jersey Marriage License Index, 1901-1914 at MyHeritage — index, ($)
 * 1901-2016 New Jersey Marriage Index, 1901-2016 at Ancestry — index, ($);
 * 1901-2016 New Jersey Marriage Index, 1901-2016 at Findmypast - Browse index ($)
 * 1915-2016 New Jersey Marriage License Index, 1915-2016 at MyHeritage — index, ($)
 * For a complete list of all New Jersey Marriage databases

Death

 * 1600-1990 New Jersey Vital Records, Historical Society of Pennsylvania at Findmypast — index & images, ($)
 * 1798-1971 New Jersey Deaths and Burials Index, 1798-1971 at Ancestry — index, ($)
 * 1848-1878 Death Records, May 1848 - May 1878 at New Jersey State Archives - index, $ for photocopies
 * 1878-1900 Death Records, June 1878 - December 1900 at New Jersey Department of State — index, $ for photocopies
 * 1901-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1901-2017 The New Jersey Death Index at New Jersey Death Index — index; Also at: Ancestry index ($)
 * 1920-2017 New Jersey Death Index, 1920-1929, 1949-2017 at MyHeritage — index, ($)
 * For a complete list of all New Jersey Death databases

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. ($)

FamilySearch Centers

 * Emerson New Jersey FamilySearch Center
 * Fardale New Jersey FamilySearch Center
 * Paterson New Jersey FamilySearch Center
 * Sparta New Jersey FamilySearch Center
 * Barrett Paradise Friendly Library - an affiliate library
 * Eastern Monroe Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Ridgewood Public Library - an affiliate library

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. Website Of particular interest to Sussex County researchers: 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.)Website Highlights of the collection of the Main Library:
 * 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.
 * 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 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 Phone:973-383-6010 E-mail:[mailto:sussexcountyhs@gmail.com sussexcountyhs@gmail.com] Website Wallpack Historical Society PO Box 212 Layton, N.J. 07851 Phone: 973-948-6671 Website

Websites

 * The Sussex County NYGenWeb Project, a member of The NJGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.


 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * LDS Genealogy Sussex County NJ Genealogy


 * – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.