TO MY SWEETHEART

 

RECLAIM THE RECORDS FOR NEW JERSEY

RECLAIM THE RECORDS- NEW JERSEY SEARCH

New Jersey - so near New York - is what I call a difficult state.  I do believe in privacy laws and I know there is good reason to have them. However, I have come to think that some town librarians in that state have basically been stubborn about allowing collections that should be available to be filmed or digitalized. New Jersey is a historically important Colonial state, involved in the American Revolution and the Civil War. Those records seem to be available. But more modern ones - not so!

Have fun with RECLAIM THE RECORDS and see what's new!

*** As a note. New Jersey research often links to New York and Pennsylvania, as well as some other states. Check especially when your ancestors lived hear state borders!  For instance, one ancestor who lived their life in New Jersey, spent their last years in a Pennsylvania retirement home and their death certificate was from Pennsylvania.

*** The New Jersey State Archives may be helpful.

C 2026 Ancestry Worship - Genealogy

USING NEW JERSEY AS AN EXAMPLE : THE HISTORIC STATE : STATE CENSUS ADVENTURE #5

  Some of my ancestry lived in New Jersey. New Jersey is a rather difficult state due to privacy laws and such. I remember years ago sending money orders to New Jersey for the death and other records that would "prove" what I had come up with and they were returned. Basically, if I didn't already know the information, then I could not have that information. Other researchers have told me about dealing with New Jersey (as well as New Mexico) and basically this is why I check certain paid databases every few months to see what, if anything, has shown up.

Here is our list of state census.

New Jersey - 1855, 1865, 1875, 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915.

History of New Jersey : Lenape Native Americans first, then Dutch and Swedish settlements.

NJ GOV STATE ARCHIVES START PAGE

Excerpt: State Censuses (1855 – 1915)

 • Taken every 10 years on years that ended with a 5 (1855, 1865, and 1875 are incomplete).

 • Certain individual counties have been indexed: Hunterdon County in 1875; Monmouth County in 1875 (available on-line at the Monmouth County Archives web site); and 1885 Camden (excluding city)

• Searchable database for Atlantic and Passaic Counties in 1885 available on our web site. These counties are the only ones we search through the mail. 

• Complete 1895 State Census is available on www.ancestry.com.

• The indexes to 1885, 1905 and 1915 State Censuses are available on www.familysearch.com.

C 2026 Ancestry Worship - Genealogy  All Rights Reserved including Internet and International Rights

OTHER RESOURCES FOR NEW JERSEY might be found through the genealogy activist group RECLAIM THE RECORDS:

C 2026 Ancestry Worship - Genealogy BlogSpot

ANCESTRY WORSHIP GENEALOGY

 

CONFUSING LISTING OF GREAT-GREAT GRANDMA'S SURNAME(S) : QUESTIONS FROM READERS of ANCESTRY WORSHIP - GENEALOGY

Readers please note that I've changed the names given by this reader due to a need for privacy.

Q: I'm looking at some information on the Internet that was added to a genealogy database by someone else, someone I don't know. This concerns my great-great grandmother in Arkansas. My great-great grandmother is listed as Mary Johnson, Formerly Marie Smith. Someone else posted Mary Johnson was Formerly Marie Walker. What does this mean?

Thanks,

Alice

A: Hello Alice. 

I find the way that information was posted as a bit strange - and confusing - as if the postings came from stories or rumors rather than genealogy research. "Formerly" could mean this was a previous surname or previous married name. And as you found the same woman also listed by someone else as "Formerly" with yet another surname, it could be that your great-great grandmother was married twice. Also this could indicate an informal or formal name change. Or an adoption.

Let's go over this:

First, we cannot believe everything that is posted on the Internet or on databases that offer individuals to post their research (or family stories or rumors), especially when no documents are attached, especially because I see these errors uploaded to multiple genealogy sites.

Secondly, the history of name changes in Arkansas is that informal (common law) name changes were recognized for some time, even when the process of legal (court ordered) name changes was introduced in 1851. In other words, she could have changed her name because she wanted to, without being married, widowed, or divorced, and without a legal proceeding.

So, I would suggest that you try to get a birth certificate or church record of her birth/baptism and see what it says. I would also suggest you try to get a death certificate or cemetery/funeral home document. And of course, any evidence of her marriage or marriages through marriage certificates. I trust you have traced her back as far as you can go with census records as well. 

1830 is the first Federal Census for that state and you can also check the State Census' which were done in 1823,1829.1865, and 1911. 

There are better ways to indicate that a woman is being listed by her maiden name.

Instead of the word "formerly"

Marie "Mary" Johnson née Marie Smith

Marie "Mary" Johnson born Marie Smith

Marie "Mary" Smith - Johnson

Marie "Mary" Smith, wife of Jed Johnson

Mrs. Marie "Mary" Johnson, born Marie Walker

Ask yourself, which of these forms is least confusing and most informative!

Keep Researching!

Christine

C 2026 Ancestry Worship - Genealogy All Rights Reserved

PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE

 

USING PENNSYLVANIA AS AN EXAMPLE : WHAT IS AVAILABLE AS CENSUS SUBSTITUTES? : STATE CENSUS ADVENTURE" #4

As we learned from the previous post on CALIFORNIA, what may be available when a state census is not available or the "state" was not a state when your ancestors lived there, could be birth/baptismal, marriage, or burial records. And from the previous post that lists the STATE CENSUS we read PENNSYLVANIA - No state census records are known to exist.

IS IT TRUE?

Historical research :  Dutch there 1641. Founded 1667 as a colony of England - British took control. 1681 Colony of William Penn; King Charles gave it to him as Province of Pennsylvania. 1776 Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. December 1787 Pennsylvania ratified the United States Constitution and becomes the second state to join the United States.  FEDERAL CENSUS TAKEN WAS FROM 1790 and every ten years... but you will encounter the 1890 being lost. Note that the majority of the population was near the eastern seaboard - Philadelphia for some time. Also note that if you look at the maps of early Pennsylvania you'll see that the present map with the straight western line is not what Pennsylvania looked like at the time. There is no West Virginia and much of what is Western Pennsylvania today was Virginia. 

OK - so now what we are going to do is find out what, if anything, there is available. 

PENNSYLVANIA STATE ARCHIVES

Excerpt: There were some non-federal censuses, such as a colonial census in 1671 and taxpayer enumerations known as the Septennial Census Returns from 1779 to 1863, which are also held by the Pennsylvania State Archives.

Excerpt:  

Record Group 7: Records of the General Assembly

Septennial Census Returns, 1779-1863 - This series contains returns for a census conducted every seven years, enumerating taxpayers for the purpose of determining representation in the General Assembly. Only about 11% of the original records have survived and the only information provided in most of the surviving returns is the name of the taxpayer, though occasionally the occupation is also given. The style and details of enumeration varies for the different counties and in different periods of time. All counties have lists of "Taxable inhabitants" and "freemen", while others also include "inmates". Commencing in 1800, the age, name, gender and place of residence of each slave is also frequently given and occasionally the name of the slave's owner. Last names of slaves are usually not given because changes in ownership would have altered these over time. A few returns for Franklin County (1828, 1835, 1842), Columbia County (1821), Mifflin County (1821), and Philadelphia City (1863) provide the name, age and gender of deaf, dumb and blind inhabitants.

Manuscript Group 262: Special Collections Microfilm

United States Direct Tax of 1798: Tax Lists for the State of Pennsylvania - Compiled to facilitate the first federal tax based on wealth (Act of July 14, 1798), these lists and summary abstracts not only document property owners but also the number and types of buildings and slaves that they owned. The 1798 Act established nine divisions in Pennsylvania. The National Archives arranged the volumes by divisions and thereunder by district, county, township, or other subdivision.

HERE IS AN INTERESTING ARTICLE ON EARLY MAPPING OF PENNSYLVANIA

D HAYTON HAVERFORD EDU : MARKETING A COLONY WILLIAM PENN

This is going to be a SERIES of POSTS and so I'm going to designate a TAG that will (eventually) bring them ALL up!

The TAG WILL BE  "STATE CENSUS ADVENTURE"

C 2026 Ancestry Worship - Genealogy  All Rights Reserved including Internet and International Rights.

WHITE BARN

 

THE DEFINITIVE LIST OF STATE CENSUS' : WHAT STATES HAVE NEVER HAD A STATE CENSUS? : STATE CENSUS INSTEAD OF THE FEDERAL 1890 : STATE CENSUS ADVENTURE #3

UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU : LIST OF STATE CENSUS'  go to the full list which is referenced from the Ann S. Lainhart's Sate Census Records * book. I've highlighted where the census would bridge between the Federal 1880 and Federal 1900. However, I think if a state census is available, a researcher should look at every census that would provide information on the family.

These state census may help you determine WHERE AND WHEN A FAMILY MOVED ADDRESSES and, depending on the census may provide information that is interesting or important.

Again, do the historical research so you know WHEN THE STATE BECAME A STATE! 

And consider ALTERNATIVES TO FEDERAL OR STATE CENSUS: ie SPECIAL CENSUS

****

Alabama - 1818, 1820, 1821, 1823, 1850, 1855, 1866, 1907.

Alaska - 1870, 1878, 1879, 1881, 1885, 1887, 1890-95, 1904-07, 1914, 1917.

Arizona - 1866, 1867, 1869, 1872, 1874, 1876, 1880, 1882.

Arkansas - 1823, 1829, 1865, 1911.

California - 1788, 1790, 1796, 1797-98, 1816, 1836, 1844, 1852.

Colorado - 1861, 1866, 1885.

Connecticut - No state census records are known to exist.

Delaware - 1782.

District of Columbia - 1803, 1867, 1878

Florida - 1825, 1855, 1866, 1867, 1868, 1875, 1885, 1895, 1935, 1945.

Georgia - 1798, 1800, 1810, 1827, 1834, 1838, 1845, 1852, 1853, 1859, 1865, 1879.

Hawaii - 1878, 1890, 1896.

Idaho - No state census records are known to exist.

Illinois - 1810, 1818, 1820, 1825, 1830, 1835, 1840, 1845, 1855, 1865.

Indiana - 1807, 1853, 1857, 1871, 1877, 1883, 1889, 1901, 1913, 1919, 1931.

Iowa - 1836, 1838, 1844, 1846, 1847, 1849, 1851, 1852, 1854, 1856, 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915, 1925.

Kansas - 1855, 1865, 1875, 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915, 1925.

Kentucky - No state census records are known to exist.

Louisiana - 1853, 1858.

Maine - 1837.

Maryland - 1776, 1778.

Massachusetts - 1855, 1865.

Michigan - 1837, 1845, 1854, 1864, 1874, 1884, 1888, 1894, 1904.

Minnesota - 1849, 1853, 1855, 1857, 1865, 1875, 1885, 1895, 1905.

Mississippi - 1801, 1805, 1808, 1810, 1816, 1818, 1820, 1822, 1823, 1824, 1825, 1830, 1833, 1837, 1840, 1841, 1845, 1850, 1853, 1860, 1866.

Missouri - 1797, 1803, 1817, 1819, 1840, 1844, 1852, 1856, 1860, 1864, 1876, 1880.

Montana - No state census records are known to exist.

Nebraska - 1854, 1855, 1856, 1865, 1869, 1885.

Nevada - 1862, 1863, 1875

New Hampshire - No state census records are known to exist.

New Jersey - 1855, 1865, 1875, 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915.

New Mexico - 1790, 1823, 1845, 1885.

New York - 1790, 1825, 1835, 1845, 1855, 1865, 1875, 1892, 1905, 1915, 1925.

North Carolina - 1786.

North Dakota - 1885, 1915, 1925.

Ohio - No state census records are known to exist.

Oklahoma - 1890, 1907.

Oregon - 1842, 1843, 1845, 1849, 1850, 1853, 1854, 1855, 1856, 1857, 1858, 1859, 1865, 1870, 1875, 1885, 1895 1905.

Pennsylvania - No state census records are known to exist.

Rhode Island - 1774, 1777, 1782, 1865, 1875, 1885, 1905, 1915, 1925, 1935.

South Carolina - 1825, 1839, 1869, 1875.

South Dakota - 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915, 1925, 1935, 1945.

Tennessee - 1891.

Texas - 1829-1836.

Utah - 1856.

Vermont - No state census records are known to exist.

Virginia - 1782, 1783, 1784, 1785, 1786.

Washington - 1856, 1857, 1858, 1860, 1871, 1874, 1877, 1878, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1883, 1885, 1887, 1889, 1891, 1892, 1898.

West Virginia - No state census records are known to exist.

Wisconsin - 1836, 1838, 1842, 1846, 1847, 1855, 1865, 1875, 1885, 1895, 1905.

Wyoming - 1875, 1878.

***

We're going to look at some states from here forwards! 

* Genealogy Angel

The TAG FOR THIS SERIES IS  "STATE CENSUS ADVENTURE"

C 2026 Ancestry Worship - Genealogy  All Rights Reserved including Internet and International Rights 

DO YOUR HISTORICAL RESEARCH : WHEN WAS THAT STATE ACTUALLY A STATE? WHAT ABOUT TERRITORIES OR PLACES BARELY POPULATED? STATE CENSUS ADVENTURE # 2 - LET'S LOOK AT CALIFORNIA - NATIVE AMERICANS AND EARLY SETTLERS #2

 IF IT WAS NOT A STATE YET IT WAS NOT SUBJECT TO ANY FEDERAL CENSUS! OR ANY STATE CENSUS.  But other census may exist. Do the HISTORICAL RESEARCH to see exactly WHEN a territory became a state and consider that it might have not been populated enough yet to be considered worth doing a census there... Or, as in the case of  CALIFORNIA, the state might have decided it was worth doing regularly.

California - 1788, 1790, 1796, 1797-98, 1816, 1836, 1844, 1852. (YEARS OF "CENSUS" but note that the first and only STATE CENSUS is 1852.)

California History : 1848 was the Mexican Cession following the Mexican-American War, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Gold Rush 1848. 1849 Constitutional Convention.

Remember that the PURPOSE OF A CENSUS IS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE POPULATION. The Federal Census asks different questions every ten years. Purposes can include : Decisions on FUNDING - how money from taxes will be used for schools and education. How many people rent or own their home?  How many women are employed to earn money for their own or family financial support? What sort of jobs are available in the area? Does the area attract immigrants? How many people are citizens or not?

HERE IS WHAT THE CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY - CENSUS page has to say!

Excerpt: The first federal census conducted in California was taken in 1850, while the Gold Rush was in full swing. Adventurers were pouring into the state, and they were very mobile in their search for the next paydirt. As a result, the accuracy of the count was questionable. Also, records for the counties of Contra Costa, San Francisco, and Santa Clara were lost or destroyed. To obtain a more reliable picture of the population, the State of California conducted its own census in 1852, the only one in the state’s history. The original census is housed at the State Archives, but it is available on microfilm in the California History Room. Because the microfilm is difficult to read, the Daughters of the American Revolution of California created a transcription of the census, as well as an index. The California History Room has both print and microfilm copies of the transcription.

***

OK - so now we're going to find the resource for these earlier-pre-state records which turn out to be baptismal, marriages, and burials!

HUNTINGTON ORG : EARLY CALIFORNIA POPULATION PROJECT - DATABASES

Database of Baptism, Marriage, and Burial Records from California Missions   from 1769 to 1850.

EXCERPT: Welcome to the Early California Population Project (ECPP), a reference database and research project that explores the lives of more than 100,000 individuals who appear in the sacramental records created by California’s Franciscan missionaries between 1769 and 1850. Through a partnership between the University of California, Riverside and The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, the database provides public access to all the information contained in the California mission registers, records that are of unique and vital importance to the study of the people and communities of Native California, the pobladores of Alta California’s presidios and pueblos, and the earliest Anglo-American settlers who came to California. The baptism, marriage and burial records provided here contain a wealth of information on tens of thousands of Native Americans, soldiers and settlers who lived in Spanish and Mexican California.

The ECPP encompasses records from all 21 California missions as well as the Los Angeles Plaza Church and the Santa Barbara Presidio. It contains information culled from 104,000 baptisms, 28,000 marriages and 72,000 burials performed in California between 1769 and 1850 as well as cross references and links between individuals’ baptism, marriage, and burial records.

***

This is going to be a SERIES of POSTS and so I'm going to designate a TAG that will (eventually) bring them ALL up!

The TAG WILL BE  "STATE CENSUS ADVENTURE"

C 2026 Ancestry Worship - Genealogy  All Rights Reserved including Internet and International Rights

STATE CENSUS ADVENTURE ! #1 WHAT STATE CENSUS ARE AVAILABLE SINCE THE 1890 IS MOSTLY GONE?

Over the years many people have asked me how to start their research but also, some have come to me because they are blocked in their research.  It happens to me too but I love trying to figure out how to break that block or go around it and am often successful. Often it's simply knowing how to find the resources. - Christine

You may know the saying "The United States Census (meaning FEDERAL) is the BACKBONE of AMERICAN GENEALOGY."  While we wait and wait and wait for the 72 years that must pass before the 1960 census is revealed (April 1, 1960) to the public for the first time because we DO respect privacy (back in the day when privacy rights were understood as rights) very few people lived past 72 years old) we can look back on previous census...

It's true that the FEDERAL CENSUS is the BACKBONE... though the 1890 barely exists... But it depends on what state and county you're researching too. The very LAST United States STATE CENSUS WAS IN 1985, and in Massachusetts. 

State census' certainly can help "fill the gap" when the 1890 census that you need is missing forever. 

So first, let's go to the NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES for the definitive statement about what happened and what still exists! 

Here is the general consensus! : fragments (that offer only a small percentage of the original data) are surviving for specific counties and townships in the states of Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, and Texas, plus a special schedule for Civil War veterans and widows. 

NATIONAL ARCHIVES RESEARCH CENSUS This is in more detail...

Excerpt: On January 10, 1921, a fire in the Commerce Department building, Washington, DC, resulted in the destruction of most of the 1890 census, to the woe of researchers ever since. 

***

If you're researching KENTUCKY or OKLAHOMA you have half a chance! But, interestingly, the census of CIVIL WAR widows and some items of interests to Native Americans and African Americans are available. Forget WEST VIRGINIA! There has never been a state census in that state!

***

This is going to be a SERIES of POSTS and so I'm going to designate a TAG that will (eventually) bring them ALL up!

The TAG WILL BE  "STATE CENSUS ADVENTURE"

C 2026 Ancestry Worship - Genealogy  All Rights Reserved including Internet and International Rights

WELCOME TO ANCESTRY WORSHIP - GENEALOGY !

As the new year begins, I want to welcome new readers and say hello to old readers. When I began this blog I had no idea I would continue with it for so many years! Since I never loose my interest in genealogy - and subjects that go hand in hand with it such as history - I always find researching and writing for this blog to be ever interesting and enjoyable.

ANCESTRY WORSHIP - GENEALOGY BLOGSPOT

is for you if...

You want to learn about professional genealogy standards from someone with many years of experience.

You're interested in history, particularly of the United States and Europe.

You need help breaking through a research block.

Feel free to look through my archives!  There's lots of good information there.

In order to bring up posts of interest, there are a few different ways to do that in Blogger.

First you can click on any TAG (the words at the bottom of a post) and that will bring up all posts that have that TAG.

Secondly, you can use the SEARCH feature embedded in the start page to being up posts using a word.

Thirdly, you can click on the year and month to bring up ARCHIVED POSTS.

If you have any ideas for subjects you'd like me to cover, or if you have any Questions, you can leave a COMMENT.  I read all of them before deciding to publish so this gives you an opportunity to provide information or suggestions without concern that I will publish it; simply write DO NOT PUBLISH when you use COMMENT and I will respect your wishes!

Christine