In spite of the fact that New Jersey was one of the original thirteen colonies, it isn’t one of the easiest places to do genealogical research. Similar to its geographical location between New England the South, New Jersey’s early records are a mix of well-kept documents, like those found in , say, Massachusetts and those that seem to have gone missing for whatever reason, which is comparable to the difficulties in, say, Virginia research.

Added to that difficulty is the fact that New Jersey hasn’t devoted any resources to digitizing its newspapers and the state government doesn’t make accessing records especially easy.

A final hurdle to New Jersey research is the transient nature of many of its residents. Being a Middle Atlantic state, its citizens frequently moved to neighboring states, particularly with the Industrial Revolution immigrants, who made multiple moves, to and from, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Many New Jersey Loyalists during the American Revolution removed to Canada. Given its geographic location, family mobility is to be expected.

In spite of all the obstacles, there are lots of New Jersey records, but it is often necessary to dig for them. New Jersey isn’t a very big state, so I will cover both statewide resources and county level repositories.

Statewide:

Cyndi’s List – New Jersey – There are also county links here.
FamilySearch Wiki – There are also individual wiki pages for each county.
Facebook – there are thousands of genealogy-related groups, including many with New Jersey ties
Linkpendium – New Jersey
Local Libraries – Don’t forget to contact local libraries, which may have vertical files or other collections pertaining to the town.
New Jersey Archives, Historical and Genealogical Societies
New Jersey Department of State
New Jersey State Historical Society
New Jersey State Library
Old Fulton NY Postcards  – There is a newspaper search engine which brings up some items from New Jersey published in NY newspapers. I found the incorporation notice for my grandparents’ Passaic meat market in the New York Times. The digital collection of New Jersey newspapers is sparse, so this is an important alternative.
The Genealogical Society of New Jersey
The Official Website for the State of New Jersey – Genealogy & History

Counties:
Atlantic –
Atlantic County Library System
Atlantic County, New Jersey Genealogy Guide
Egg Harbor City Historical Society
Genealogy Trails – Atlantic County, New Jersey

Bergen –
Bergen County Historical Society
Bergen County New Jersey Genealogy and History
Bergen County, New Jersey Genealogy Guide
Carpathian Connection – Slovak roots in the Garfield area

Genealogical Society of Bergen County, New Jersey
Ridgewood Historical Society
Upper Saddle River Historical Society
Vital Records of Bergen New Jersey

Burlington –
Burlington County Historical Society
Burlington County Newspaper Notices Index
Genealogy Resources in Burlington County
Genealogy Trails – Burlington County

Camden –
Camden County Historical Society
Genealogy Resources in Camden County, New Jersey
Genealogy Trails – Camden County
Historical Society of Haddonfield

Cape May –
Genealogy Trails – Cape May County
Greater Cape May Historical Society
Museum of Cape May County
Newspaper Abstracts – Cape May County

Cumberland –
Cumberland County, New Jersey Genealogy Guide
Cumberland County Historical Society
Genealogy Trails – Cumberland County
LDS Genealogy – Cumberland County

Essex –
Genealogy Trails – Essex County
Linkpendium – Essex County
Millburn-Short Hills Historical Society
Montclair History Center
Newark Public Library – Click on COLLECTIONS & SERVICES tab
Nutley Historical Society and Museum
Verona Historic Society

Gloucester –
Genealogy Resources in Gloucester, County, New Jersey
Genealogy Trails – Gloucester County
Gloucester County, New Jersey History & Genealogy
Gloucester County Historical Society
Gloucester County Library System

Hudson –
Afro-American Historical Society
Genealogy Trails – Hudson County
Hudson County Genealogical & Historical Society
Hudson County, New Jersey Genealogy Guide
Jersey City Public Library – New Jersey Room
LDS Genealogy – Hudson County
Linkpendium – Hudson County
My Genealogist – Hudson County
New York Public Library – Jersey Genealogy

Hunterdon –
Genealogy – Hunterdon County marriages 1795-1875
Genealogy Trails – Hunterdon County
Hunterdon County Cultural and Heritage Commission – There is a long list with links on this website.
Hunterdon County Historical Society
Hunterdon County Library
LDS Genealogy – Hunterdon County
Linkpendium – Hunterdon County

Mercer –
Central Jersey Genealogical Club
Genealogy Resources in Mercer County, New Jersey
Genealogy Trails – Mercer County
Hightstown-East Windsor Historical Society
Historical Society of Princeton
Hopewell Valley Historical Society
Linkpendium – Mercer County
Mercer County Culture and Heritage
Princeton University Firestone Library
Township of Hamilton Historical Society
Trenton Historical Society

Middlesex –
Genealogy Resources in Middlesex County, New Jersey
Genealogy Trails – Middlesex County
Middlesex County Office of Culture and Heritage
New Brunswick Free Public Library

Monmouth –
Atlantic Highlands Historical Society
Belmar Historical Society Newspaper Collection 1881-1974
Genealogy Trails – Monmouth County
Genealogy Resources in Monmouth County, New Jersey
Historical Society of Ocean Grove
Keyport Historical Society
Linkpendium – Monmouth County
Matawan Historical Society
Middletown History Digital Archive
Monmouth County Clerk – Searchable Databases
Monmouth County Historical Association
Monmouth County Historical Commission
Spring Lake Historical Society

Morris –
Boonton Historical Society
Chatham Historical Society
Chester Historical Society
Denville Historical Society
Genealogy Resources in Morris County, New Jersey
Genealogy Trails – Morris County
Harding Township Historical Society
Lake Hopatcong History
Morris County Historical Documents Online
Morris County Historical Society
Morris County Library
Morris County, New Jersey Genealogy Guide
North Jersey History and Genealogy Center
Rockaway Township Historical Society

Ocean –
Genealogy Resources in Ocean County, New Jersey
Historical Society of Ocean Grove
Linkpendium – Ocean County
Ocean County Historical Society

Passaic –
Carpathian Connection – Slovak roots in the cities of Passaic/Clifton
Genealogy Resources in Passaic County, New Jersey
Genealogy Trails – Passaic County
LDS Genealogy – Passaic County – not restricted to LDS records!
Linkpendium – Passaic County
North Jersey Highlands Historical Society
Passaic County Historical Society
Passaic County Naturalization Records – free, indexed digital images!
Passaic County, New Jersey Genealogy Guide
Township of Wayne Historical Commission
Wayne Public Library

Salem –
Genealogical Society of Salem County
Genealogy Resources in Salem County, New Jersey
Genealogy Trails – Salem County
Linkpendium – Salem County
Salem County Historical Society

Somerset –
Genealogy Resources in Somerset County, New Jersey
Genealogy Trails – Somerset County
Historical Society of the Somerset Hills
LDS Genealogy – Somerset County
Linkpendium – Somerset County
Somerset County Historical Society
Somerset County Library System

Sussex –
Genealogy Resources in Sussex County, New Jersey
Genealogy Trails – Sussex County
Linkpendium – Sussex County
Sussex County Historical Society
Sussex County Library System
Walpack Historical Society

Union –
Cranford Historical Society
Genealogical Society of the West Fields
Genealogy Resources in Union County, New Jersey
Hillside Historical Society
Linkpendium – Union County
New Providence Historical Society
Plainfield Historical Society
Plainfield Public Library
Rahway Historical Society – Merchants and Drovers Tavern Museum
Springfield Historical Society
Summit Historical Society
Union County Historical Society
Union County, New Jersey Genealogy Guide

Warren –
Genealogy Resources in Warren County, New Jersey
Hackettstown Historical Society
Linkpendium – Warren County
Marriages, Births and Deaths – Warren County Library
Warren County Cultural and Heritage Commission
Warren County Historical and Genealogical Society
Warren County Library
Warren County, New Jersey Genealogy Guide

These links should get you started. If you know of a great New Jersey resource that I’ve missed, please leave a comment. Good luck with your New Jersey research.