Essex County - New Jersey Genealogy - Ancestry Research & Family History

Archives and Libraries

New Jersey Counties

Belleville Free Public Library

Bloomfield Public Library - Bloomfield, NJ

Caldwell Free Public Library

Cedar Grove Public Library

East Orange Public Library

East Orange Public Library - Ampere Branch

East Orange Public Library - Elmwood Branch

East Orange Public Library - Franklin Branch

Elmwood Park Public Library

Essex County Public Libraries

FamilySearch Catalog

FamilySearch - Family History Center Locator: Essex County

FamilySearch Wiki - Essex County, New Jersey

Fairfield Free Public Library

Glen Ridge Public Library

Irvington Public Library

Livingston Public Library

Madison Public Library

Maplewood Library

Maplewood Library - Hilton Branch

Millburn Free Public Library

Millburn-Short Hills Historical Society Archives

Montclair Public Library - Montclair, NJ

The Newark Public Library

The Newark Public Library - Branch Brook

The Newark Public Library - Clinton Branch

The Newark Public Library - North End Branch

The Newark Public Library - Roseville Branch

The Newark Public Library - Springfield Branch

The Newark Public Library - Vailsburg Branch

The Newark Public Library - Van Buren Branch

The Newark Public Library - Weequahic Branch

The New Jersey Information Center - Newark Public Library

New Jersey State Archives - Trenton, NJ

New Jersey State Library - Trenton, NJ

Newark Museum - Newark, NJ

Nutley Public Library

Orange Public Library

South Orange Public Library

USGenWeb Archives - Essex County, NJ

Verona Public Library

West Caldwell Public Library

West Orange Public Library

Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center - Little Falls, NJ

Biographies

American History and Genealogy - Essex County, NJ Biographies

Biographies - Essex County New Jersey

Genealogy Trails History Group - Essex County, NJ Biographies

USGenWeb Archives - Essex County, NJ Biographies

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Biographies

Wikipedia.org - List of people from New Jersey

Cemeteries

Cemetery at White Oak Ridge - Millburn Twp, NJ

Cemetery Records - Essex County New Jersey

Cemetery Transcription & Photo Project - Essex County, NJ

Epodunk - Essex County, NJ Cemeteries

Find a Grave - Essex County, NJ Cemeteries

First Presbyterian Church Graveyard - Caldwell, NJ

The Genealogical Society of New Jersey - Inventory of Essex County Cemeteries

Genealogy Trails History Group - Essex County, NJ Cemeteries

Interment.net - Essex County, NJ Cemeteries

LDS Genealogy - Essex County Cemetery Records

NJGenWeb Project - Essex County Cemeteries

The Old Newark Burying Ground

Old Newark Cemeteries

The Political Graveyard - Essex County, NJ

Roseland Methodist Church Graveyard - Roseland, NJ

Tombstone Inscriptions of Essex County, NJ

Tombstone Transcription Project - Essex County, NJ

USGenWeb Archives - Essex County, NJ Cemeteries

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Cemeteries

Census Records

American History and Genealogy - Essex County, NJ Census Records

Essex Co. Census Records - Census Online

Essex County Federal Census Index

Genealogy Trails History Group - Essex County, NJ Census Index

LDS Genealogy - Essex County Census Records

NJGenWeb Project - Essex County Census Records

Some Early Census Records from Newark, New Jersey 1670 - 1789

USGenWeb Archives - Essex County, NJ Census Records

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Census

1830 Census of Essex County, NJ - Ancestry.com

1840 Census of Essex County, NJ - Ancestry.com

1850 Census of Essex County, NJ - Ancestry.com

1860 Census of Essex County, NJ - Ancestry.com

1870 Census of Essex County, NJ - Ancestry.com

1880 Census of Essex County, NJ - Ancestry.com

1880 Census of Essex County, NJ - FamilySearch.org

1900 Census of Essex County, NJ - Ancestry.com

1910 Census of Essex County, NJ - Ancestry.com

1920 Census of Essex County, NJ - Ancestry.com

1930 Census of Essex County, NJ - Ancestry.com

Church Records

LDS Genealogy - Essex County Church Records

NJGenWeb Project - Essex County Church Archives

New Jersey Reformed Dutch Churches

USGenWeb Archives - Essex County, NJ Bibles

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Religion

Court Records

Court Records - Essex County New Jersey

Essex County Jail Index of Prisoners 1880

Essex County, NJ Surrogate’s Court

LDS Genealogy - Essex County Court Records

Livingston's Law Register 1851 - Essex County, NJ

Directories

1851-1852 Newark City Directory - Internet Archive

American History and Genealogy - Essex County, NJ Directories

City Directories in Special Collections

Essex County, New Jersey City, County and Rural Directories

LDS Genealogy - Essex County City Directories

NJGenWeb Project - Essex County Funeral Directors

USGenWeb Archives - Essex County, NJ Directories

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Newark City Directories

History

Essex county, N.J., Illustrated (Volume 1) - Internet Archive

Essex county, N.J., Illustrated (Volume 2) - Internet Archive

The First County Park System - Essex County, NJ

Genealogy Trails History Group - Essex County, NJ History

The Historic Wallkill and Hudson River Valleys 1907 - Internet Archive

The Historical Marker Database - Essex County, NJ

History of Essex and Hudson Counties, New Jersey

History of Essex County, NJ

LDS Genealogy - Essex County Histories and Genealogies

The Legacy of the Early Founders of the New Haven Colony Who Came to Newark, New Jersey in 1666

National Register of Historic Places - Essex County, NJ

NJGenWeb Project - Brief History of Essex County

NJGenWeb Project - Essex County Historic Sites

NJGenWeb Project - Essex County History of the Horseneck Riots

USGenNet - The First Settlers of Newark, NJ

USGenNet - The History of the Newark Sewer System

USGenWeb Archives - Essex County, NJ Area History

USGenWeb Archives - Essex County, NJ Family History

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Areas/Points of Interest

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Historical Areas

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Historical Odds & Ends

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Old Newark

Wikipedia.org - Essex County, NJ

Wikipedia.org - National Register of Historic Places listings in Essex County, New Jersey

Immigration Records

LDS Genealogy - Essex County Immigration Records

Records & Indexing | Essex County Register of Deeds and Mortgages

USGenWeb Archives - Essex County, NJ Immigration Records

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Immigration & Ship Lists

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Naturalization

Land Records

BLM Land Records

Essex County, NJ Clerk

LDS Genealogy - Essex County Land Records

Essex County, NJ Register of Deeds & Mortgages

Map Records

American History and Genealogy - Essex County, NJ Land/Maps

Historic Map Works - Essex County, New Jersey

LDS Genealogy - Essex County Map Records

NJGenWeb Project - Essex County Map

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Maps

Wikipedia.org - Essex County, NJ Geography

Military Records

Genealogy Trails History Group - Essex County, NJ Military Records

LDS Genealogy - Essex County Military Records

Military Records - Essex County New Jersey

National Archives - WWII Army Casualties: Essex County, New Jersey

National Archives - WWII Army Casualties: Essex County, New Jersey (cont'd)

National Archives - WWII Army Casualties: Essex County, New Jersey (cont'd)

National Archives - WWII Army Casualties: Essex County, New Jersey (cont'd)

National Archives - WWII Army Casualties: Essex County, New Jersey (cont'd)

National Archives - WWII Army Casualties: Essex County, New Jersey (cont'd)

National Archives - WWII Army Casualties: Essex County, New Jersey (cont'd)

National Archives - WWII Army Casualties: Essex County, New Jersey (cont'd)

National Archives - WWII Army Casualties: Essex County, New Jersey (cont'd)

National Archives - WWII Army Casualties: Essex County, New Jersey (cont'd)

National Archives - WWII Army Casualties: Essex County, New Jersey (cont'd)

Revolutionary War New Jersey - The Ultimate Field Guide

USGenWeb Archives - Essex County, NJ Military Records

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Military

Verona Heroes

World War II Casualties Army and Air Force - Essex County, NJ

Minority Records

American History and Genealogy - Essex County, NJ Indian Tribes

LDS Genealogy - Essex County Minority Records

Miscellaneous Records

Essex County, NJ Government

Genealogical Repositories in the New York Metropolitan Area

Genealogical Resources in the New York Metropolitan Area

LDS Genealogy - Essex County Miscellaneous Records

New Jersey Blacksheep Ancestors

NJGenWeb Project - Essex County Locating Records

NJGenWeb Project - Essex County Miscellaneous Information

NJGenWeb Project - Essex County Rosters of Departments & Associations

NJGenWeb Project - Essex County Surname Web Sites

NJGenWeb Project - New Jersey Information Links

Reminiscences of Montclair, New Jersey

The State Board of Mortuary Science

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Bibliography

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Care Facilities (Hospitals & Orphanages)

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Civil Servants (Public Servants)

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Events

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Links of Interest

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Parks

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Public Buildings

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Public Housing Projects

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Resources

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Sports

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Streets, Wards & EDs

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Vailsburg

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Waterways & Bridges

Municipalities

Borough of Caldwell, New Jersey

Borough of Essex Fells, New Jersey

Borough of Glen Ridge, New Jersey

Borough of North Caldwell, New Jersey

Borough of Roseland, New Jersey

City of East Orange, New Jersey

City of Newark, New Jersey

LDS Genealogy - Essex County Records by City/Town

NJGenWeb Project - Essex County Town Years

NJGenWeb Project - Towns of Essex County

Township of Belleville, New Jersey

Township of Bloomfield, New Jersey

Township of Cedar Grove, New Jersey

Township of Fairfield, New Jersey

Township of Irvington, New Jersey

Township of Livingston, New Jersey

Township of Maplewood, New Jersey

Township of Millburn, New Jersey

Township of Montclair, New Jersey

Township of Nutley, New Jersey

Township of Orange, New Jersey

Township of South Orange, New Jersey

Township of Verona, New Jersey

Township of West Caldwell, New Jersey

Township of West Orange, New Jersey

Wikipedia.org - Essex County, NJ Municipalities

Newspapers

Essex County - New Jersey Digitized Historic Newspapers

Genealogy Trails History Group - Essex County, NJ Newspaper Stories

LDS Genealogy - Essex County Newspapers

NJGenWeb Project - Essex County Newspapers at the NJ Archives

Newspaper Articles - Essex County New Jersey

USGenWeb Archives - Essex County, NJ Newspaper Articles

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Historic Newspapers

Obituaries

Genealogy Trails History Group - Essex County, NJ Obituaries and Death Notices

LDS Genealogy - Essex County Obituaries

The Montclair Times - Obituaries

NJ.com - Obituaries

Obituaries - Essex County New Jersey

Obituary Index - Essex County, NJ

The Star-Ledger - Obituaries

USGenWeb Archives - Essex County, NJ Obituaries

Photography

Free Genealogy Family History Photo Search by Surname - DeadFred.com

National Archives - Essex County, New Jersey

New Jersey Old Photos - FamilyOldPhotos.com

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Newark Photos

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Photo Essays

Probate Records

Essex County, New Jersey Probate Records

Genealogy Trails History Group - Essex County, NJ Wills

LDS Genealogy - Essex County Probate Records

NJGenWeb Project - Essex County Wills

USGenWeb Archives - Essex County, NJ Wills / Estate Records

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Wills & Inventories

Wills - Essex County New Jersey

School Records

LDS Genealogy - Essex County School Records

USGenWeb Archives - Essex County, NJ School Records

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Education

Wikipedia.org - Essex County, NJ Higher Education

Societies & Museums

Charles Shultz House

Crane House and Historic YWCA

Essex County Cultural & Heritage Commission

Genealogical Society of New Jersey - Trenton, NJ

George Segal Gallery

Grover Cleveland Birthplace Historic Site

Historical Society Bloomfield

Jersey Explorer Children's Museum

The Jewish Museum of New Jersey

Major Joseph Bloomfield Chapter - National Society Daughters of the American Revolution

Millburn-Short Hills Historical Society - Short Hills, NJ

Montclair Art Museum

The Montclair Historical Society - Montclair, NJ

Newark Museum

Nutley Historical Society

New Jersey Historical Society - Newark, NJ

Thomas Edison National Historical Park

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Associations

Tax Records

Essex County, NJ Treasurer

LDS Genealogy - Essex County Tax Records

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Tax

Vital Records

Birth, Marriage, and Death Records - New Jersey Department of Health

Birth, Marriage, and Death Certificates - VitalRec.com

Birth Records - Essex County New Jersey

Death Records - Essex County New Jersey

Gedcom Index - Essex County, New Jersey

Genealogy Trails History Group - Essex County, NJ Births and Birthday

Genealogy Trails History Group - Essex County, NJ Marriage Index

LDS Genealogy - Essex County Birth Records

LDS Genealogy - Essex County Death Records

LDS Genealogy - Essex County Marriage Records

Marriage Records - Essex County New Jersey

Marriages at St. John's Church - Elizabethtown, NJ

NJGenWeb Project - Essex County Clerk's Marriage Records

NJGenWeb Project - Essex County Vital Records

New Jersey Genealogy Trails - Essex County, NJ Marriage Newspaper Notices

USGenWeb Archives - Essex County, NJ Vital Records

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Births

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Deaths

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Marriages

Virtual Newark, New Jersey - Vital Records

New Jersey County Records

Many New Jersey family records can be found online and at various archives and libraries located throughout the state of New Jersey . Many millions of records aren't yet available online, though, and many of these are awaiting your discovery at the local level at county courthouses, historical societies, churches, town clerks' offices, cemeteries, and elsewhere in New Jersey. To find these and other records, click on the links below to find more information about the specific counties where your ancestors lived in New Jersey. You'll find information on these pages that will lead you to the specific documentation you're searching for.

It is important to keep in mind when doing research that the names and boundaries of certain counties in New Jersey have changed over the past few hundred years. Your ancestors may have lived on a certain farm in one county and when borders were redrawn records relating to your family history might have been located in another area entirely. When searching for land, court, tax, and other records it is also a good idea to search for these records in adjacent counties. Following is a complete list of New Jersey's 21 counties along with their formation dates, county seats, and names of parent counties.

Formation Date

1837

1675

1681

1844

1685

1748

1675

1686

1840

1714

1838

1675

1675

1739

1850

1837

1681

1688

1753

1857

1824

County Seat

Mays Landing

Hackensack

Mount Holly Township

Camden

Cape May Courthouse

Bridgeton

Newark

Woodbury

Jersey City

Flemington

Trenton

New Brunswick

Freehold Borough

Morristown

Toms River

Paterson

Salem

Somerville

Newton

Elizabeth

Belvidere

Parent County

Gloucester County

Original county

Original county

Gloucester County

Burlington County

Salem County

Original county

Burlington County

Bergen County

Burlington County

Various counties

Original county

Original county

Hunterdon County

Monmouth County

Bergen & Essex Counties

Original county

Middlesex County

Morris County

Essex County

Sussex County