Gloucester Township Genealogy
Gloucester Township is in Camden County, New Jersey. It has a population of about 64,000 and a history that goes back to the colonial era. Searching for genealogy records in Gloucester Township connects you to local vital records, county archives, and state-level collections. The township registrar keeps birth, marriage, and death certificates. Camden County holds land deeds, probate records, and historical documents. Together, these sources give you a solid foundation for tracing Gloucester Township family lines.
Gloucester Township Quick Facts
Gloucester Township Vital Records
The Gloucester Township Vital Statistics office handles birth, death, marriage, and civil union records. You can reach them at (856) 228-4000 extension 3247. Marriage and civil union license applications are by appointment only. A certified copy of a birth, death, or marriage certificate costs $25 for the first copy and $5 for each additional copy purchased the same day. A marriage license costs $28.
These local records are your first stop for Gloucester Township genealogy. The registrar can provide certificates for events that happened within the township. For events in other parts of Camden County or New Jersey, you may need to contact the county clerk or the state. The New Jersey Department of Health holds birth records from 1925, marriages from 1951, and deaths from 1951 onward. Older records are at the New Jersey State Archives in Trenton.
Note: Camden County was formed from Gloucester County in 1844, so older records for this area may be filed under Gloucester County.
Gloucester Township Genealogy Records
The Gloucester Township Vital Statistics office is the local point of contact for requesting genealogy-related certificates.
When searching for Gloucester Township genealogy records, keep in mind that the boundaries of this area have changed over time. The original Gloucester County was much larger than it is today. Camden County split off in 1844. Records created before that split may be held by the Gloucester County Clerk in Woodbury rather than the Camden County Clerk. Land records in Gloucester County go back to 1686. If your family was in this area before 1844, check both county systems.
The Camden County Clerk's Office maintains land records and marriage records from 1844 forward. Their registry division offers online property record searches. The clerk also handles trade name certificates, notary applications, and passport services. For genealogy, the land records are the most useful. Deeds and mortgages name parties, witnesses, and often family members. The Camden County Clerk is at 520 Market Street in Camden.
Camden County Resources for Gloucester Township
The Gloucester Township government website provides details on all township departments and services.
The Camden County Historical Society operates the Richard H. Hineline Research Library. This library holds nearly 100,000 items including 20,000 books, cemetery records, city directories, church records, and genealogies. Their cemetery records cover most local cemeteries including Evergreen Cemetery from 1851 to 2000. City directories for Camden date back to 1839. The historical society also has census records from 1830 to 1950 and New Jersey state census records for Camden County from 1885, 1895, and 1905. Research hours are Wednesdays and Fridays by appointment from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm.
The Camden County Surrogate's Court has its main office at Gloucester Township Forrest Hall, 509 Lakeland Road, Blackwood, NJ 08012. They handle probate of wills, estate administration, guardianships, and adoption records. Probate records name heirs and describe property. Estate files list assets and debts. These records can reveal family connections that do not appear in vital records. The surrogate can be reached at (856) 225-7282.
Note: The Camden County Historical Society does not hold vital records but is an excellent source for cemetery records, newspapers, and genealogies.
Online Genealogy Records for Gloucester Township
Several online databases cover Gloucester Township genealogy records. FamilySearch has free New Jersey vital records, census records, and probate files. Their birth records go back to 1660 and marriage records to 1670. State census records for 1855, 1865, 1895, and 1915 are included. Create a free account to search and view records. Browse the Camden County catalog for the full range of available files, since not all records are indexed by town name.
Ancestry.com provides access to New Jersey vital records from 1711, federal census data from 1790 to 1950, and wills and probate from 1656 to 1999. Military records and immigration files are also available. A subscription is required, but the Camden County Library offers Ancestry Library Edition and HeritageQuest Online at all branches. The Reclaim the Records project provides free vital records indices from the early 1900s through the Internet Archive.
- FamilySearch: free births, marriages, deaths, census, and probate
- Ancestry.com: paid vital records, census, wills, and military records
- Camden County Library: free in-branch access to Ancestry and HeritageQuest
- Camden County Historical Society: cemetery records, newspapers, directories
Gloucester Township Family History Tips
Start with what you know. Write down the names, dates, and places of your closest family members. Then use vital records to push back one generation at a time. Each birth certificate names the parents. Each marriage record names the couple and sometimes their parents. Each death record names the deceased and often the surviving spouse.
Because Gloucester Township has been part of both Gloucester County and Camden County, genealogy research here requires checking records in both systems. The Gloucester County Historical Society in Woodbury holds an enormous collection for genealogy work. Their holdings include 8,500 genealogy books, 355,000 vital statistics index cards, 125 volumes of cemetery inscriptions, 115 volumes of church records, and wills from seven counties covering 1686 to 1900. This is one of the strongest genealogy collections in southern New Jersey and is well worth a visit for anyone researching Gloucester Township family history.
Note: The New Jersey State Archives has searchable online marriage indices from 1666 to 1900 and death indices from 1848 to 1900.
Camden County Genealogy Records
Gloucester Township is part of Camden County. The county clerk, surrogate, historical society, and library system all hold records that cover Gloucester Township families. For a complete guide to county-level genealogy resources and office details, visit the Camden County genealogy records page.