Country Genealogy

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New Jersey Genealogy Links

Many New Jersey Libraries and Historical Societies provide links to both local and general links of valuable to family tree researchers.

I'm providing a few of them here.

New Jersey State Library: Genealogy & Local History Collection

Rutgers University, John Cotton Dana Library: Genealogy

Burlington County Library System - Genealogy Links

Internet Public Library: Genealogy

Historic & Genealogy Society Libraries a Must-Visit

In these days of high-tech research, amateur genealogists sometimes neglect to use one of their most valuable resources -- the library. This includes both the local facility, and also the libraries that are often available in conjunction with a historic or genealogical society.

In most cases, where the ancestor you are seeking lived, is where you should be locating the nearest historical society. Many of these small libraries are just now creating web sites in order to promote their valuable archives. Most do not have their data online.

If their web site has an email address, try writing to see if they will perform research for you. Some charge up front by the hour, and others offer it freely (one historical society send me a huge packet of information on my family, free of charge. Of course I sent them a donation that more than adequately covered the postage).

A Google search, or a USGenWeb site should help you locate these facilities.

Got Library Card and Home Computer?

If you are a New Jersey resident with a local library card, and you own a home computer, you can access HeritageQuest (its online history books and U.S. Census records) from home.

This is good news for genealogy researchers.

The New Jersey State Library is now making HeritageQuest available for FREE to all New Jersey residents with a library card.

For those not familiar with HeritageQuest, it is a service that provides historical books online (family histories, town histories, etc.) and also access to the United States Census records (1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 (partial)

Steps for access...

1) Have your library card handy.

2) Go to URL: http://www.jerseyclicks.org

3) Choose "Custom Search/Choose Your Database" (middle right of screen)

4) On the next screen, enter your library card bar code number to sign in.

5) The next page is the main menu of databases that are available to you.

Scroll to the Genealogy heading; click on "ProQuest HeritageQuest."

It will launch in a new browser window (tab).
It is all the way down and on the left side of the page.

NJGenWeb - New Jersey GenWeb

New Jersey is one of the most difficult states in which to research your genealogy.

Several of the early census records are not available. Many early vital records were kept by the churches rather than civil servants, and so a great deal of hunting often precedes discovery.

The perfect resource for both the beginning and the advanced genealogy researcher is the NJGenWeb Project web site.

Individuals within a volunteer group have adopted each county in New Jersey.

In addition the state web site offers valuable links to general research information state-wide, including Quaker-specific, and African-American specific research.

This site is a must-see.

New Jersey Archives: Images Online

A much overlooked portion of the New Jersey Archives are their "Imaged Collections."

Over 3,000 images from the Archives photograph and manuscript collection are available free online.

The topics include:

-Portraits of Soldiers -- Civil War & Spanish American War, mostly officers
-Historic Structures, Sites and Parks New Jersey -Institutions Transportation and Public Works
-Military Activities & Monuments
-Military Service Records Governors' Documents
-Slave Records
-Lindbergh Kidnapping
-Cleveland Family Papers

Trust me, this collection is amazing and gives you insight into New Jersey's history and people.

Most of these individual topics are indexed, but unfortunately there is no search engine provided to search them all at once.

Genealogy Volunteers are Angels!

Do you have extra time on your hands? Has a friendly stranger ever helped you with your own family tree research? Can you type, and do you have access to email?

If you've said yes to most of these questions, then do I have the job for you!

The NJGenWeb, a volunteer project helping people research their family trees, by offering FREE information would encourage you to join us.

You don't need to own a single genealogy book! We will provide the resources.

Or perhaps you HAVE the genealogy book, a town or city history, or a listing of cemetery inscriptions. You could perform "look-ups" by email for people seeking specific information from those sources.

Contact the state coordinator or assistant state coordinator at NJGenWeb today!