New Brunswick Genealogy Database
New Brunswick sits at the heart of Middlesex County and serves as the county seat. The city has a rich history tied to Rutgers University and the Raritan River. Genealogy records in New Brunswick go back generations, with the city clerk holding vital records and the county offices nearby for land and probate files. Searching for New Brunswick genealogy records can connect you to family lines that stretch across centuries of New Jersey history.
New Brunswick Quick Facts
New Brunswick City Clerk Records
The New Brunswick City Clerk handles vital records for the city. The office is at 78 Bayard Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901. You can call (732) 745-5040 or (732) 745-5015. The fax number is (732) 745-5009. Certified copies cost $5.00 each. The clerk keeps records of births, marriages, and deaths that took place in New Brunswick. These are the most direct source for New Brunswick genealogy research.
The New Brunswick City Clerk's office handles requests for vital records both in person and by mail.
Visit their website for current hours, forms, and instructions on how to request genealogy records from the city.
When you request a record from the New Brunswick clerk, bring a valid photo ID. You will need the full name of the person on the record and the approximate date of the event. If you are requesting by mail, include a check or money order for $5.00 per copy. Mail requests should go to the city clerk at 78 Bayard Street. Allow time for processing, especially for older records that may need to be pulled from storage.
Note: New Brunswick is the Middlesex County seat, so both city and county records offices are within walking distance of each other.
Middlesex County Genealogy Resources
The Middlesex County Clerk's Office is also at 75 Bayard Street in New Brunswick. Phone is (732) 745-3827. The county clerk maintains land records, deeds, mortgages, liens, and historical newspapers on microfilm. These records cover all of Middlesex County, including New Brunswick. Land records are especially useful for genealogy since they show where your ancestors lived and what property they owned. The county also has an online search portal for property records.
The Middlesex County Surrogate's Office handles probate records. It is in the same building at 75 Bayard Street. Phone is (732) 745-3055. Surrogate Claribel Cortes oversees the office. They have a free online index of estates that you can search by last name, first name, docket number, or death date. An estate search costs $10. Copies are $3 per page. Certified copies start at $50 for the first two pages. Wills and probate files from New Brunswick and all Middlesex County towns are held here. These records often list heirs, family members, and property, making them a strong tool for New Brunswick genealogy research.
Online Genealogy Records for New Brunswick
Several online platforms hold records that cover New Brunswick. FamilySearch offers free access to New Jersey vital record indexes. Their collections include births and christenings from 1660 to 1980, marriages from 1670 to 1985, and deaths from 1798 to 1971. You can search these for New Brunswick ancestors at no cost after creating a free account.
The New Jersey State Archives in Trenton is a major resource for New Brunswick genealogy research. They hold birth records on microfilm from 1848, marriage records from 1848 to 1948, and death records from 1848 to 1963. The archives also has colonial marriage bonds from 1666 to 1799, divorce records from 1743 to 1947, and probate records going back to 1670. All of these are open to the public free of charge at the search room in Trenton.
The Genealogical Society of New Jersey keeps its collections at the Alexander Library on the Rutgers campus right in New Brunswick. Founded in 1925, they have cemetery transcriptions, state census guides, and locality guides for Middlesex County. Their quarterly journal covers family histories and transcriptions of original records. Being based in New Brunswick, their resources are especially relevant for local genealogy work.
The New Jersey State Library in Trenton has a genealogy collection of about 18,000 items. This includes 6,000 family histories and 1,000 New Jersey city directories.
City directories are helpful for tracking New Brunswick ancestors between census years. The collection is non-circulating, so you must visit in person to use it.
New Brunswick Family History
New Brunswick was chartered in 1730. It sits on the south bank of the Raritan River. The city grew as a hub for trade and travel between New York and Philadelphia. Rutgers University, founded in 1766, brought scholars and workers to the area for over 250 years. That long history means genealogy records in New Brunswick span a wide range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
During the 1800s and early 1900s, waves of immigrants settled in New Brunswick. Hungarian, Irish, Italian, and African American communities grew in the city. Church records from this era are an important source for New Brunswick genealogy. The New Jersey Historical Society in Newark holds church records from many denominations across the state. Their collection includes baptismal, marriage, and burial registers that may fill in gaps where civil records are missing or incomplete for New Brunswick families.
The Reclaim The Records project has made New Jersey vital record indexes from 1901 onward available for free at the Internet Archive. These indexes cover births, marriages, and deaths statewide. You can use them to find the exact record number for a New Brunswick ancestor, then order a certified copy from the city clerk or state office.
Note: The Genealogical Society of New Jersey at the Rutgers Alexander Library in New Brunswick is one of the most accessible genealogy resources in the state.
Searching New Brunswick Records
When you search for New Brunswick genealogy records, keep these points in mind:
- The city clerk at 78 Bayard Street handles local vital records
- The county clerk at 75 Bayard Street has land and property records
- The county surrogate at the same address holds wills and probate files
- The State Archives in Trenton has microfilm records going back to 1848
- FamilySearch and Ancestry offer online indexes for New Jersey records
Always check multiple sources for New Brunswick genealogy. A birth record from the city clerk can confirm a date and parents' names. A probate record from the county can show family connections. A church record from a historical society can fill in details that no government office recorded. Using all of these together gives you the fullest picture of your New Brunswick family history.
The Library of Congress New Jersey research guide provides a timeline of vital record keeping in the state.
The guide shows when different types of records began and where they are stored, which helps plan your New Brunswick genealogy search.
New Jersey Vital Records for New Brunswick
The New Jersey Department of Health maintains statewide vital records in Trenton. They hold birth records from 1925, marriage records from 1951, and death records from 1951. For genealogy requests, births over 80 years old, marriages over 50 years old, and deaths over 40 years old qualify. The fee is $25 for the first copy and $2 for each extra copy of the same record. You can order by mail, through VitalChek online, or in person at 140 East Front Street in Trenton.
For older records not held by the city clerk, the state archives is your best option. They have records going back to 1848 for births and even earlier for colonial-era documents. New Brunswick genealogy researchers often need to check both the city office and the state office to build a complete family record. The state archives also holds naturalization records, military files, and tax records that can add detail to your research.
Middlesex County Genealogy
New Brunswick is the county seat of Middlesex County. All county-level genealogy records are stored here, including land records, probate files, and historical documents. For full details on Middlesex County genealogy resources, record access, and fees, visit the county page.