Step-by-Step New Jersey Research, 1880-Present

Step 1. Find out everything possible from living relatives and their family records.
Every good genealogy project starts with finding all the clues that can be gathered from living relatives — both from their memories and from documents or memorabilia in their homes.

What are the best questions to ask?
In order to extend research, ask for names, dates, and places. Everything about who a relative was and when and where they lived is a clue to a new record search. For ideas, see :
 * 50 Questions to Ask Relatives About Family History


 * Creating Oral Histories

What documents should be collected or copied?
Because these records cover names, dates, places, and relationships, they are a valuable source of clues. Look for them in your home, your parents' home, and ask living grandparents to check for them.

Step 2. Find ancestors in every possible census record, 1850-1950, online.

 * A census is a count and description of the population for a given date. A census took a "snapshot" of a family on a certain day.
 * For each person living in a household (depending on the year), their name, age, birthplace, relationship to head of household, place of birth for father and mother, citizenship status, year of immigration, mother of how many children and number of children living, native language, and whether they were a veteran of the military can be listed.
 * Searching for a family in census records every ten years can identify all the children in a family.
 * Searching in earlier census records to find someone as a child can identify parents.

Using clues to lead to census record searches.
'''Here are the census records found for this family. Normally searches to find Marcello living in his father's would be the next goal. However, the census shows that he immigrated from Italy in 1898. -



New Jersey State Censuses

 * New Jersey, State Census, 1895
 * Index and Images.
 * Index and Images.

- For more information, see New Jersey Census and United States Census.

Step 3: Find birth, marriage, and death certificates for ancestors and their children.
States, counties, or (even towns in some states) recorded births, marriages, and deaths.
 * In addition to the child's name, birth date, and place of birth, a birth certificate may give the birthplaces of the parents, their ages, and occupations.
 * A marriage certificate might list the parents of the bride and groom.
 * A death certificate may give the person's birth date and place, parents' names and birthplaces, and spouse's name.

Using census clues to lead to a birth certificate.
Census information gives approximate birth years and probable birth places, and that information leads to finding important birth records. In addition to basic birth date and place, a birth certificate can give age, birthplace, occupation, etc. about the parents. Example of an index to a birth record.

Using census clues to lead to a marriage certificate.
Finding marriage records can:
 * establish the full identity of the wife, with her maiden name and possible birth details.
 * find the names of the parents of the bride and groom.

Using the census clues to lead to a death certificate.
Moving forward in time, older generations stop showing up in the census. That is a clue that they probably died in the last 10 years. The death certificate is important because of all the possible secondary data beyond just the date and place of death: Example of a death certificate.
 * birth date and place of the deceased
 * maiden name of the wife
 * names of the deceased's parents
 * birth places of the deceased's parents.

'Some of the examples shown above are index entries''. That means for each of them an actual, original, full certificate exists'''. It is highly advisable to order the original certificate. It will contain many details not given in the index. Instructions are given below on obtaining the original certificate. -

How to Find the Records
There are basically three ways to find these indexes or full original certificates:
 * online databases
 * writing to a town clerk
 * purchasing them through the mail

Writing to a Town Clerk
New Jersey's vital records start the following years:

Vital records were first kept in New Jersey from the earliest permanent settlement, about 1675, with very low compliance. All original records are maintained by the town or city and can be viewed at the town or city clerk’s office or requested in writing. The present vital registration law was enacted in 1848. This statute required that all vital events be recorded in the town where they occurred. A centralized registration system was established in 1921.

Order Certificates from New Jersey Vital Records Department.
Almost always the full original certificate will contain information not contained in the index. Although it costs money, consider sending for the full original certificates, particularly for direct line ancestors (grandparents, great-grandparents, etc).


 * Where to Write for New Jersey Birth, Marriage, Death and Divorce Records

For more information on birth, marriage, and death records in New Jersey, see How to Find New Jersey Birth Records, How to Find New Jersey Marriage Records, and How to Find New Jersey Death Records.

Step 4: Try to find additional details about ancestors in obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records online.
There are additional record collections available, based upon a person's death: obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records. These are a great source for more details about a person. Here are some examples; notice the level of details.

Obituary Collections

 * Online New Jersey Death Records &amp; Indexes
 * Archives.com Obituaries ($)
 * Ancestry.com United States Obituary Collection for New Jersey ($)
 * ObitsArchive.com - New Jersey, index ($)
 * ObituariesHelp.org - New Jersey Newspaper Obituaries Listings, index
 * Obituary Link Page - New Jersey Obituary Links, index ($)
 * USGenWeb Archives Obituary Project, index ($)
 * New Jersey Obituaries
 * — index and images
 * Search for obituaries in ProQuest Newspapers.com Library ($)

Cemeteries

 * Find-A-Grave
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use This Collection
 * U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current at Ancestry
 * Billion Graves
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use This Collection
 * BillionGraves Index at Findmypast ($)
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use This Collection
 * New Jersey Cemeteries at The Cemetery Site
 * New Jersey Cemetery Records at AccessGenealogy
 * New Jersey Cemetery Records at Interment
 * New Jersey Cemetery Records at New Horizons Genealogy
 * New Jersey, Deaths and Burials Index, 1798-1971 at Ancestry ($)
 * Cemetery Transcriptions from the NEHGS Manuscript Collections, 1650-2000 at American Ancestors ($)
 * New Jersey Tombstone Transcription Project at USGenWeb Transcription Project
 * Online New Jersey Obituary and Cemetery Indexes at DeathIndexes

U.S. Social Security Death Index and Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

 * The U.S. Social Security program began in 1935 but most deaths recorded in the index happened after 1962.
 * The Social Security Death index includes those who had a Social Security number and/or applied for benefits.
 * You can search these records online at
 * Also at Ancestry.com, ($), index.
 * The Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 picks up where the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) leaves off, by providing information filed in the application or claims process.
 * The Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 picks up where the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) leaves off, by providing information filed in the application or claims process.


 * If you find an ancestor in the SSDI index, you can order a copy of their original Social Security application (SS-5). If you can prove the individual has died (by sending an obituary or copy of their cemetery headstone), the application will also give the deceased's parents' names, if listed.

For more information, see New Jersey Obituaries and New Jersey Cemeteries.

Step 5: Search military records: World War I and II draft cards.
There are many different types of military records: draft records, enlistment records, service records, pension records, etc. Information in military records can vary from a simple lists of name, age, and residence, to more detailed records including name, residence, age, occupation, marital status, birthplace, physical description, number of dependents, pensions received, disabled veterans, needy veterans, widows or orphans of veterans, and other information. - Example of a World War I draft card. - Example of a World War II draft card.



'''Search the World War I and World War II Draft Collections for male relatives.
- For more information and additional collections, see New Jersey Military Records.
 * , index and images.
 * , index and images.

Step 6: Look for church records online.
Church records function as vital records. Church records are particularly helpful prior to the advent of civil registration.
 * An infant christening or baptism record documents a birth.
 * Many, if not most, people are married in a church, and then a record is created by the minister.
 * Likewise, ministers presided over funerals, then creating a burial record, which documents a death.



FamilySearch Indexes

 * 1675-1970 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * An Index to some churches in New Jersey, arranged by denomination, index cards.
 * 1660-1980 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1678-1985 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1720-1988 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Ancestry.com Indexes

 * Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985($) index/images
 * New Jersey, Births and Christenings Index, 1660-1931 ($)
 * New Jersey, Marriage Records, 1683-1802 ($)
 * New Jersey Marriages, 1684-1895 ($)
 * American Marriages Before 1699 ($)
 * New Jersey, Deaths and Burials Index, 1798-1971($), index

Catholic

 * 1700-1970 New Jersey, church records, 1675-1970(*) at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1700-1970 New Jersey, U.S., Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey, Church Records, 1700-1970 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
 * ''American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia Records. Volumes 1-4, 8. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: American Catholic Historical Society, 1886-1889, 1893. Marriages of some New Jersey Catholics from 1758 to 1800.

Dutch Reformed

 * 1639-1989 U.S., Dutch Reformed Church Records in Selected States, 1639-1989, index and images, incomplete.($)
 * 1701-1995 U.S., Selected States Dutch Reformed Church Membership Records, 1701-1995, index and images, incomplete.($)
 * 1856-1970 U.S., Dutch Christian Reformed Church Vital Records, 1856-1970, index and images, incomplete.($)
 * 1856-1970 U.S., Dutch Christian Reformed Church Membership Records, 1856-1970, index and images, incomplete.($)

Episcopal

 * New Jersey, Episcopal Diocese of Newark Church Records, 1809-1816, 1825-1970, index & images ($).

German Reformed

 * New Jersey German Reformed Church Records, 1763-1802, index

Lutheran

 * Lutheran Church in New York and New Jersey, 1722-1760 : Lutheran records in the ministerial archives of the Staatsarchiv, Hamburg, Germany, e-book.
 * 1781-1969 - U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969, index and images, incomplete.($)
 * Some early records of the Lutheran Church, New York, Holland Society of New York, 1903, p. 1-118

Methodist

 * at FamilySearch; images only; also at Ancestry; images only ($)
 * New Jersey, United Methodist Church Records, 1800-1970, index & images ($)

Presbyterian

 * 1701-1970 U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970, index and images, incomplete.($)
 * Records of meetings, 1874-1952, Presbytery of Monmouth (New Jersey)

Quaker (Society of Friends)

 * U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935, index & images ($).
 * Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy. Vol. II: (New Jersey and Pennsylvania Monthly Meetings)
 * Collection, New Jersey Friends monthly meeting records, images

Other Collections

 * Dunham-Wilcox-Trott-Kirk indexes church, cemetery, probate and other early New England, New York and New Jersey records with links to abstracts of the records.
 * The early Germans of New Jersey : their history, churches, and genealogies, e-book

-
 * For help with church records kept in New Jersey, see New Jersey Church Records.
 * To search records by denomination, if you know your ancestors religion, go to Searching for Church Records by Denomination.

Step 7: Search for online wills and probate packets.

 * County probate records include '''probate proceedings, petitions, affidavits, orders for sales, reports of sales, administrators' and executors' bonds, guardianship papers, wills, and letters of administration.
 * In a will book, usually just a transcription of the will is recorded. But all of these other records are kept in a probate packet.
 * Administrations are probate proceedings that handled an estate if no known will existed.



Search these indexes and images for probate records.

 * United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search: New Jersey
 * New Jersey, Wills and Probate Records, 1785-1924, ($), index and images, incomplete.
 * Images Only.
 * Index of wills, inventories, etc. in the Office of the Secretary of State prior to 1901 ($)

Probate Information in County Wiki Articles
Each New Jersey county Research Wiki page lists additional probate sources, including where to write for records: New Jersey Counties

For more information, see New Jersey Probate Records and United States Probate Records.

Step 8: If any ancestor was an immigrant, search immigration and naturalization records online.
The census records may show that an ancestor was born in another country. It will be necessary to try to find the town or city they were born in to continue research in the country of origin. Searches of immigration records (usually passenger lists) and naturalization (citizenship) records would be the next step.



New Jersey Immigration Records

 * United States Immigration Online Genealogy Records
 * U.S. Passport Applications for New Jersey, 1795-1925 ($)
 * , index.
 * Passenger and Immigration Lists Index for New Jersey, 1500s-1900s ($)

New Jersey Naturalization and Citizenship Online Records

 * United States Naturalization and Citizenship Online Genealogy Records
 * Images Only.
 * New Jersey, County Naturalization Records, 1749-1986 ($)
 * New Jersey, Naturalization Records, 1878-1945, ($), Images and browse.

For more information, see New Jersey Emigration and Immigration and New Jersey Naturalization and Citizenship.

Local Histories

 * Published histories of towns, counties, and states sometimes contain biographies and accounts of early or prominent families.
 * Here are several websites that feature online copies of printed county histories: New Jersey; that will bring up too many hits. Just use the name of the county and "county": for example, "Hyde County"
 * Google Books. Use keywords "New Jersey" and the county name. Hits will list online readable books, lists of libraries that carry the book, and purchasing opportunities.
 * Family History Books
 * County and Town Histories:*Internet Archive.Use keywords "New Jersey" and the county name.
 * Ancestry.com, ($). In the Card Catalog search box, use New Jersey and the name of the county.

FamilySearch Collected Local Histories

 * Local histories are extensively collected by the FamilySearch Library, public and university libraries, and state and local historical societies.
 * If you have access to the FamilySearch Library or a FamilySearch center, you can find local histories by:
 * Go to the FamilySearch Catalog.
 * In the "Place" field, type the name of your county and click "Search".
 * A list of subheadings for the county will appear. Local histories containing genealogies and biographies will be found under Biography, Genealogy, History, or History - Indexes.

Biography Collections
These collections of biographies can be searched online. Most have a table of contents and an index. Or use the "Find" function on a computer.
 * County and Town Histories, with biographies
 * American Biographical Library for New Jersey ($), index
 * The Story of New Jersey ($), index
 * Genealogical and memorial history of the state of New Jersey : a book of the achievements of her people in the making of a comm ($), index
 * New Jersey Biographical Sketches ($), index
 * Biographical, genealogical and descriptive history of the First Congressional District of New Jersey ($), index
 * New Jersey Biographical Index. ($), index
 * The Early Germans of New Jersey; Their History, Churches and Genealogies ($), index
 * Biographical, genealogical and descriptive history of the state of New Jersey : containing portraits and biographies.... ($), index
 * Prominent Families of New Jersey Vol. II ($), index
 * Pioneer Families of Northwestern New Jersey ($), index
 * Cyclopedia of New Jersey biography, 1916, e-book, index/images
 * Cyclopedia of New Jersey biography, memorial and biographical v.1, 1921, e-boook, index/images
 * Memorial cyclopedia of New Jersey, under the editorial supervision, v. 4, e-book
 * Nelson's biographical cyclopedia of New Jersey, e-book,
 * Vol.2,
 * Vol. 3
 * Past and promise : lives of New Jersey women, e-book, index
 * Scannell's New Jersey's first citizens and state guide ... genealogies and biographies of citizens of New Jersey Vol. 1, Vol. 2, 1919/20, e-book
 * The biographical encyclopaedia of New Jersey of the nineteenth century, e-book
 * New Jersey biographical and genealogical notes from the volumes of the New Jersey archives, with additions and supplements. William Nelson. v.9, e-book
 * Biographical sketches of distinguished Jerseymen. By S.G. Arnold., 1845, e-book
 * A New Jersey biographical index, e-book

Step 10: Contact a local historical or genealogical society.
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 * Historical societies have collections that are frequently little known and often overlooked.
 * Many have a surname file, where they have collected genealogies, newspaper clippings, old photographs, etc.
 * Many have a sort of "pioneer ancestor" program, where people can submit pedigrees to prove they are the descendants of an early resident of the area.
 * Most keep track of queries about families that once lived in the area from other distant relatives who may actually have more family memorabilia.
 * Most keep track of queries about families that once lived in the area from other distant relatives who may actually have more family memorabilia.


 * Find the society on the internet, and they may list their holdings. Or call them on the phone, find out what they have, and find out what arrangements can be made to search their collection. Frequently, one of their members can be hired to search the collection for you.

This online directory by GenealogyInc. lists historical and genealogical societies by county: Click on the map to select a county, then scroll down to the historical or genealogical society listings. Here is an example of an internet website for a local genealogical society.

Historical Images
Records collected and digitized by FamilySearch can all be found through their Historical Images feature.
 * New Jersey, United States Historical Images, New Version
 * New Jersey, United States Historical Images, Old Version

New Jersey Online Genealogy Records
Search any other online records listed in New Jersey Online Genealogy Records. The steps given here are intended to list record sources which can most efficiently identify descendants. Many other online records which might or might not mention descendants are listed in the New Jersey Online Genealogy Records page, including immigration records, land records, military records, newspapers, and probate records, and others. These can be records that cover a smaller group within the population, such as men who served in the military, etc.
 * New Jersey Online Genealogy Records

Step 12: Study the Research Wiki pages for any county in New Jersey.
This article focused more on New Jersey state or state-wide records. There is a separate Wiki article for each county in New Jersey. These articles give information, office addresses, and links to county records.