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Developing history
Record industry
Church records: First, try to find out your ancestors’ denomination . Most of northern New Jersey was Dutch, but remember that the Puritans established Newark. For information on early Newark churches, see New Jersey Churchscape.
Toolkit
- The Enduring Community: The Jews of Newark and MetroWest by William B. Helmreich (Transaction Publishers)
- How Newark Became Newark: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of an American City by Brad R. Tuttle (Rutgers University Press)
- Newark (Then and Now) by William Francis (Arcadia Publishing)
- Newark’s Little Italy: The Vanished First Ward by Michael Immerso (Rutgers University Press)
Archives & Organizations
465 Martin Luther King Blvd, Room 405,
Newark, NJ 07102
465 Martin Luther King Blvd, Room 206,
Newark, NJ 07102, (973) 621-4900,
52 Park Place, Newark, NJ 07102, (973) 596-8500,
225 W. State St. Level 2, Box 307, Trenton, NJ 08625, (609) 292-6260
185 W. State St., Box 520, Trenton, NJ 08625, (609) 278-2640
5 Washington St., Newark, NJ 07102, (973) 733-7775
Fast Facts
Incorporated: Oct. 31, 1693 (township); April 11, 1836 (city)
Nicknames: Brick City, Gateway City, Renaissance City
State: New Jersey
County: Essex
County seat: Newark
Area: 26.11 square miles
Primary historical ethnic groups: African-American, German, Irish, Jewish
Primary historical industries: Financial services, insurance, jewelry manufacturing, leather manufacturing, shipping, transportation
Famous residents: Jason Alexander, Aaron Burr, Stephen Crane, Connie Francis, Whitney Houston, Ed Koch, Queen Latifah, Jerry Lewis, Shaquille O’Neal, Eva Marie Saint, Paul Simon, Frankie Valli
Population
Records at a Glance
Birth Records
· Begin: 1848
· Privacy restrictions: Genealogical copies are available for deceased persons whose birth occurred more than 80 years ago.
· Research tips: Order records from May 1848 to 1901 from the New Jersey State Archives. Order later birth records from the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.
Marriage Records
· Begin: 1848 (some available back to 1665)
· Privacy restrictions: Genealogical copies are available for deceased persons whose marriage occurred more than 50 years ago.
· Research tips: Available from the same offices as birth records. See the state archives online indexes to marriages from 1665 to 1799 and 1848 to 1878.
Death Records
· Begin: 1848
· Privacy restrictions: Genealogical copies are available for deceased persons who died more than 40 years ago.
· Research tips: Available from the same offices as birth records. See the state archives’ index to death records covering June 1878 to June 1888.
Church Records
· Begin: 1666
· Research tips: Contact the local parish or national office for the denomination. Find Essex County church information at New Jersey Churchscape.
City directories
· Begin: 1835
· Research tips: Resources include the Newark Public Library and the Fold3 and Online Historical Directories websites.
Deeds
· Begin: 1670
· Research tips: Deeds prior to 1785 are at the New Jersey State Archives. After 1785, contact the Essex County Hall of Records.
Naturalization records
· Begin: 1840
· Research tips: Records prior to 1906 are available on microfilm at the state archives or the FHL. After 1906, use the USCIS Genealogy service.
Top 5 Historic Sites
1. Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart
89 Ridge St., Newark, NJ 07104, (973) 484-4600
Among the largest cathedrals in North America, this Gothic-style church—under construction from 1899 to 1954—is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark.
2. Jewish History Museum of New Jersey
145 Broadway, Newark, NJ 07104, (973) 485-2609
Founded in 2003 and located in the historic Congregation Ahavas Sholom, this museum bears witness to the 400 years of Jewish history in New Jersey.
375 Broadway, Newark, NJ, 07104, (973) 483-0288
Established in 1843, Newark’s oldest cemetery was the vision of jewelry maker Horace Baldwin. The 40 rolling, landscaped acres contain a wide range of monument styles and the graves of many prominent Newark residents.
4. New Jersey Historical Society
52 Park Place, Newark, NJ 07102, (973) 596-8500
Founded in 1845, this museum lets you explore New Jersey’s distinct identity and the historical contributions of New Jerseyans. Click Do History for information on genealogical research here.
49 Washington St., Newark, NJ 07102, (973) 596-6550
Besides viewing the world-class collections in the largest museum in New Jersey, you can tour its Ballantine House. This 1885 Dutch Renaissance mansion once belonging to a beer-brewing family is a National Historic Landmark.
Timeline
1664 | English seize New Netherland—including present-day New Jersey—from the Dutch
1666 | Puritans settle Newark
1746 | Trinity Episcopal Church established, ending Puritan control
1815 | Seth Boyden, inventor of patent leather, arrives from Massachusetts
1831 | Morris Canal connects Newark with rural New Jersey
1836 | Newark incorporated as a city
1845 | Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Co. founded in Newark
1873 | Prudential Insurance Co. founded in Newark.
1886 | Rev. Hannibal Good invents transparent photographic film
1935 | Gangster Dutch Schultz killed at the Palace Bar
1967 | Riots kill 26 and injure hundreds
1970 | Kenneth Gibson elected Newark’s first African-American mayor
1997 | New Jersey Performing Arts Center anchors the cultural district
Related Resources
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