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This index compiles records of approximately 179,000 people who married in New Jersey between 1680 and 1900.
If your family history research takes you into New Jersey between 1680 and 1900, you’re in luck—many marriage records from that era are still accessible today. But unlike modern marriage certificates, early New Jersey records weren’t always standardized or centrally filed. Knowing how these records were created—and where to find them—can make all the difference in your research.
In the colonial period (1680–1776), marriages were usually recorded by churches or local government officials. Denominations like the Dutch Reformed Church, Anglican parishes, Quaker meetings, and early Presbyterian congregations maintained their own records. Quaker records, in particular, can be incredibly detailed, often including information on parents, witnesses, and the approval process for the couple’s union.
From 1776 to the early 1800s, counties began assuming more responsibility for civil recordkeeping. However, there was no statewide standard. Records from this era are most often found in county clerk’s offices, private collections, or church archives. Local newspapers also began printing marriage announcements—another good resource for names, dates, and details.
New Jersey passed a law in 1848 requiring the local registration of marriages, but it wasn’t until the 1870s that registration became consistent across the state. These later 19th-century marriage records are more likely to include both spouses’ parents’ names, occupations, birthplaces, and the name of the officiant—useful details for tracing earlier generations.
It helps to understand the geographic and political changes in New Jersey during this time. Some modern counties didn’t exist until the mid-1800s. For example, if your ancestors married in what is now Passaic County before 1837, their marriage record might be filed in Bergen or Essex County instead. Studying historical maps can help guide your searches.
Many researchers begin with compiled marriage indexes. These collections—available through genealogy websites, historical societies, and local libraries—can help you locate a record before searching for the original source. From there, try looking into:
- County clerk records
- Church books and parish registers
- Diocesan or synagogue archives
- Local newspaper archives
Always check for marriages recorded in more than one place. A couple may have had a church wedding, filed a civil license, and appeared in a newspaper—all offering different clues.
As you follow the trail of New Jersey marriages, you’re also uncovering layers of your family’s story. From colonial settlements and revolutionary upheaval to waves of immigration and industrial expansion, marriage records from this period reflect the social changes that shaped the Garden State. Understanding those shifts will help you not only find the right records but also place your ancestors in the world they knew.