Irvington Family History Records
Irvington Township is in Essex County, New Jersey. It borders Newark and has a population of about 54,000. Genealogy records for Irvington include birth, marriage, and death certificates held by the local registrar. Essex County maintains land deeds, property records, and probate files. State archives and online databases add even more depth for anyone searching Irvington genealogy records. This guide walks you through the key sources and how to access them.
Irvington Quick Facts
Irvington Vital Records
The Irvington Township Registrar handles vital records for events that happened in the township. The registrar is Cheryl Lesane. The office is at the Municipal Building, 1 Civic Square, Room 109, Irvington, NJ 07111. You can call (973) 399-6645 for questions about birth, marriage, or death records. Each certified copy costs $25, with extra copies at $2 each when ordered the same day.
For older records, you need to go to the state. The New Jersey State Archives in Trenton has birth records from 1848 to 1923, marriage records from 1848 to 1948, and death records from 1848 to 1963. These are on microfilm and free to use in the Search Room. The New Jersey Department of Health handles more recent records. They keep births from 1925, marriages from 1951, and deaths from 1951 onward. You can order by mail, online, or at the walk-in center at 140 East Front Street in Trenton. Mail orders take 10 to 12 weeks.
Genealogical requests are limited by age. Births must be over 80 years old. Marriages over 50. Deaths over 40. You need the full name on the record and the year of the event.
Note: The New Jersey State Archives has colonial marriage bonds and licenses from 1666 to 1799 in a searchable online database.
Irvington Library Genealogy Resources
The Irvington Public Library supports genealogy research with database access and local history materials.
Public libraries in New Jersey often provide free access to Ancestry Library Edition and HeritageQuest Online. These databases let you search census records, vital records, immigration files, military records, and more. Ancestry Library Edition must be used on a library computer. HeritageQuest may be available from home with a valid library card. The Irvington library connects researchers to these tools and to interlibrary loan services that bring in materials from across the state.
Newspaper archives are also available through many New Jersey libraries. Old newspapers carry birth announcements, obituaries, marriage notices, and community news. These informal records often name family members, churches, and hometowns that official records leave out. The New Jersey State Library in Trenton has a large newspaper collection on microfilm. They also maintain 6,000 family histories, 1,000 city directories, and free on-site access to Ancestry and HeritageQuest.
Essex County Records for Irvington
The Essex County Clerk's Office is at the Dr. Martin Luther King Justice Building, 495 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Newark, NJ 07102. The main phone number is 973-621-4920. The clerk handles elections, passport services, and notary applications. For Irvington genealogy, the clerk's records connect you to the broader Essex County system.
The Essex County Register of Deeds and Mortgages preserves property records for all 22 municipalities in Essex County, including Irvington. They hold a copy of every deed and mortgage recorded since 1637. That is nearly 400 years of land records. There are over 17,741 books of records. The Public Records Electronic Search System covers transactions from May 2001 to present. Older records are available in the Public Vault for in-person viewing. The office is in Newark and open Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm.
The New Jersey State Archives has over 37,000 cubic feet of paper records and 32,000 reels of microfilm. Their holdings include county deed and mortgage microfilm, probate records from 1670 to 1952, military records, naturalization records, and tax ratables. For Irvington genealogy, the Archives is the best source for records that predate modern record keeping. All collections are free and open to the public.
Online Irvington Genealogy Records
FamilySearch provides free access to New Jersey births and christenings from 1660 to 1980, marriages from 1670 to 1980, deaths from 1798 to 1971, state census records, and probate files from 1678 to 1980. Create a free account. Browse the Essex County catalog for Irvington records that may not appear in indexed searches.
Ancestry.com has New Jersey vital records from 1711, all federal census years from 1790 to 1950, wills and probate from 1656 to 1999, and military records from the Revolution through World War II. A subscription is required, but the Irvington library and other Essex County libraries offer free in-branch access to the library edition. The Reclaim the Records project provides free vital records indices from the early 1900s at the Internet Archive.
- FamilySearch: free births, marriages, deaths, census, and probate
- Ancestry.com: paid vital records, census, wills, and military files
- Reclaim the Records: free 1901-1903 vital records indices
- Essex County Register: land records from 1637 to present
- NJ State Archives: on-site microfilm research in Trenton
Irvington and Essex County History
Irvington was named after author Washington Irving. It grew rapidly in the late 1800s and early 1900s as families moved from Newark and New York. Many of these families came from Europe. Immigration records, naturalization files, and census data are essential for tracing these roots. The National Archives at New York City holds passenger lists and naturalization records for the region.
The New Jersey Historical Society at 52 Park Place in Newark is one of the state's oldest cultural institutions. They hold about 1,200 family files, a collection of published family histories, and the New Jersey Biographical Card Index with 75,000 entries. Their manuscript collection spans 3,200 linear feet. Church records from various denominations are also part of their holdings. For Irvington genealogy, the Historical Society can fill in details that government records miss. The library is open Tuesday through Saturday by appointment. Admission to the library is $7 for non-members.
The Genealogical Society of New Jersey publishes the Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, which has covered family histories since 1925. Their cemetery transcriptions are available online. Their collections are housed at the Rutgers Alexander Library in New Brunswick. The society also maintains a list of professional genealogists who can help with New Jersey research.
Note: The Essex County Register of Deeds holds property records dating back to 1637, making it one of the oldest collections in the United States.
Essex County Genealogy Records
Irvington is part of Essex County. The county clerk, register of deeds, and local historical societies all hold records that cover Irvington families. For a full overview of county-level genealogy resources, office locations, and research guides, visit the Essex County genealogy records page.