Passaic County, New Jersey Genealogy

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

Description
Passaic County is located in the northeast region of the state. It was created in 1837. Paterson is the county seat. The county was named for "Pasaeck", a Lenape word meaning "valley".

County Courthouse
Passaic County Courthouse 77 Hamilton Street Paterson, NJ 07505-2017 Phone: 973-653-2910 Passaic County Courthouse

County Clerk has divorce records from 1947, court records from 1900 and land records. County Surrogate has probate 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

 * 1907 part back to Essex County.

Bible Records
Courtesy of the Passaic County Historical Society Genealogy Club:
 * Index of Surnames
 * ACKERMAN Family Bible Records
 * BENJAMIN / FURDUN Family Bible Records
 * BURHANS Family Bible Records
 * CAMPBELL Family Bible Records
 * CRANE Family Bible Records
 * DERROM Family Bible Records
 * Family Bible Records
 * GARRABRANT Family Bible Records
 * GARRABRANT (James) Family Bible Records
 * GOULD / VAN HOUTEN Family Bible Records
 * HINCHMAN Family Bible Records
 * KING Family Bible Records
 * POST Family Bible Records
 * POST / SPEAR Family Bible Records
 * PULIS Family Bible Records
 * ROMAINE Family Bible Records
 * ROSE Family Bible Records
 * SLINGERLAND Family Bible Records
 * SMITH (Hophni) Family Bible Records
 * SMITH (John) Family Bible Records
 * SPEAR / HINDLE Family Bible Records
 * STANLEY Family Bible Records
 * STORM Family Bible Records
 * VAN BLARCOM Family Bible Records
 * ZABRISKIE Family Bible Records

Census Records

 * 1855 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1895 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

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

Directories
Courtesy of the Passaic County Historical Society Genealogy Club:
 * 1853 Paterson City Directory online
 * Passaic County Directory Holdings ( for assistance with any item in this list contact them though their email: [mailto:info@lambertcastle.org info@lambertcastle.org]

Genealogies
Betts, Enid. A Sanderson Family and Its Branches. History of Stepen Sanderson born 1811, and his wife Elizabeth Aisbitt and descendants. According to the IGI the Sandersons were in Houghton le Spring, from the late 1500's. Other areas the descendants were in: Eighton Banks, Gateshead Pelaw, Bishop Wearmouth, with a branch going to USA, Patterson, New Jersey,and another branch to Australia. Surnames mention: Liddell, Fenwick, Wynn, Armstrong, Hunter, Best, Murray, Reay, Lockey, Wanless and Smith. Article dated 1560-1985, and is found in The Northumberland &amp; Durham Family History Society Journal, vol.27, no.3,pages 92-95. Family History Library Reference 942.8 B2jo v.27.no.3.(autumn 2002)

Local Histories

 * New Jersey Indexes at EveryNameIndex.com — Select the county.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Map of Townships in Passaic County
 * Outline of Passaic County over Google Map-- Home Town Locator
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
Courtesy of the Passaic County Historical Society Genealogy Club: Civil War Regiments. Civil War service men in Passaic County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (part of a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in this county:
 * Revolutionary Soldiers buried in the rear of Belleville Reformed Church, Belleville, New Jersey
 * Passaic County Soldiers and Saiilors Monument
 * Passaic County Soldiers for the Union
 * Jerseymen for the Union, Passaic City Volunteers: A-H, I-R, S-Z
 * Paterson: WW1 Veterans of the Barbour Flax Spinning Co. 1918
 * Totowa Borough Veterans Memorial
 * Wayne Township Veterans Memorial
 * - 70th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A and I.

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1796-1991 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

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 Courtesy of the Passaic County Historical Society Genealogy Club:
 * Passaic - High School Graduates, 1873 - 1895
 * Passaic - High School Graduates, 1896 - 1908
 * Passaic - High School Graduates, 1909 - 1916
 * Passaic - High School Graduates, 1917 - 1921
 * Paterson - Assoc. of Exempt Firemen, 1882-1892
 * Paterson - Candidates for Admission to High School, 1890
 * Paterson - DAR Applications, Garret A. Hobart Chapter
 * Paterson - Hamilton Club, 1905 Membership Roster
 * Paterson - High School Graduates, 1880
 * Paterson - High School Graduates, 1903
 * Paterson - High School Graduates, 1904
 * Paterson - High School Graduates, 1905
 * Paterson - High School Graduates, 1907
 * Paterson - High School Graduates, 1909
 * Paterson - High School Graduates, 1910
 * Paterson - Normal School Graduates, 1905
 * Paterson - Normal School Graduates, 1906
 * Paterson - Old Ladies' Home of Passaic Cty., Resident List 1927-1934
 * Paterson - Rambling Club, Inc., 1908
 * Paterson - Riverside Athletic and Singing Club, Inc., 1933

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

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

Family History Centers

 * Caldwell New Jersey Family History Center
 * Emerson New Jersey Family History Center
 * Fardale New Jersey Family History Center
 * Passaic New Jersey Family History Center
 * Paterson New Jersey Family History Center
 * Sparta New Jersey Family History Center
 * Bloomfield Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Ridgewood Public Library - an affiliate library

Societies
Passaic County Historical Society Genealogy Club Lambert Castle 3 Valley Road Paterson NJ 07509 Telephone: 973-881-2761 E-mail:[mailto:library@lambertcastle.org library@lambertcastle.org] Website Jefferson Township Historical Society 315 Dover-Milton Road Jefferson Township - Milton, Oak Ridge, NJ 07438 Telephone: 973-697-0258 E-mail:[mailto:info@jthistoricalsociety.org info@jthistoricalsociety.org] Website North Jersey Highlands Historical Society PO Box 248 Ringwood, NJ, 07456 E-mail:[mailto:info@northjerseyhistory.org info@northjerseyhistory.org] Website

Websites

 * Passaic County USGenWeb Project, a member of The NJGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
 * Passaic County Gen Web Archives
 * Passaic 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.