Find Somerset County Genealogy

Somerset County is in central New Jersey with its county seat in Somerville. The county was formed in 1688, making it one of the oldest in the state. Genealogy records in Somerset County include birth, death, marriage, land, and probate files held across several offices. Researchers searching for family records can visit the County Clerk, the Surrogate, or the Somerset County Historical Society. Each office holds a different part of the county's long paper trail, and together they cover more than three hundred years of local history.

Somerset County Clerk Genealogy Office

The Somerset County Clerk's Office is at 20 Grove Street, P.O. Box 3000, Somerville, NJ 08876. Steve Peter serves as the County Clerk. Phone the office at 908-231-7017. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. On Wednesdays, the office stays open until 6:00 PM.

The Clerk holds land records, vital records, and other files used in genealogy research. Deeds and mortgages show property ownership across the county over time. Birth and death records from the late 1800s forward are also held here. Marriage licenses and certificates are on file as well. When you search for genealogy records in Somerset County, the Clerk's office is the best place to start for land and vital documents. You can request copies in person during office hours. Under New Jersey's Open Public Records Act, most public documents are available for review.

Note: Wednesday evening hours at the Somerset County Clerk's office extend to 6:00 PM for those who cannot visit during normal business hours.

Somerset County Probate and Estate Records

The Somerset County Surrogate's Office is on the second floor at 20 Grove Street, Somerville, NJ 08876. Bernice Tina Jalloh serves as the Surrogate. Call 908-231-7003 for questions. The Surrogate handles all probate and estate matters for the county.

Somerset County probate records are a rich source for genealogy. Will Books date from 1804 to 1900. The Estate Index covers 1804 to 1972. Applications for Probate span 1878 to 1900. These records name heirs, list property, and describe family ties. A will filed in Somerset County may name children, a spouse, siblings, and even in-laws. Estate inventories can show what a person owned at the time of death. For anyone building a family tree, probate files fill gaps that vital records alone cannot cover.

The Historical Society in Bridgewater also holds genealogy materials that can supplement what you find at the Surrogate's office.

Somerset County Historical Society

The Somerset County Historical Society is at 9 Van Veghten Drive, Bridgewater, NJ 08807. Call 908-218-1281 or email info@somersethistorynj.org. The Society was founded in 1882 and has served as a key genealogy resource ever since. Library hours are Tuesdays from 11 AM to 3 PM and on the second and fourth Saturdays from 12 PM to 3 PM.

A research fee of $30 covers two hours of work and up to ten photocopies. The library holds local history books, family files, and genealogy materials that are not found at the Clerk or Surrogate offices. Old maps, photos, and newspapers add context to your research. If your family lived in Somerset County in the 1700s or 1800s, the Historical Society may have documents that trace their story.

The Society also hosts programs and events on local history. These can connect you with other researchers who may be tracing the same families in Somerset County.

State Archives for Somerset County Research

The New Jersey State Archives in Trenton holds vital records covering Somerset County. Birth records on microfilm run from 1848 to 1923. Marriage records span 1848 to 1948. Death records cover 1848 to 1963. The search room is at 225 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08608. All of these are free to view on site.

Colonial marriage bonds from 1666 to 1799 are in a searchable online database at the Archives. Probate records date from 1670 to 1952 and include Somerset County wills and inventories. The Archives also holds naturalization records, tax ratables from 1773 to 1822, and military service files. For genealogy records not found at the county level, the State Archives is the next step. Call (609) 292-6260 for help.

The State Archives building in Trenton serves researchers from every county in New Jersey.

Note: Birth records under 100 years old are held by the New Jersey Department of Health, not the State Archives.

Online Genealogy Search for Somerset County

Ancestry.com holds New Jersey births, marriages, and deaths going back to 1660. Census records for all federal years through 1950 are available. FamilySearch provides free access to New Jersey vital records from 1660 to 1980. Both databases include records that cover Somerset County families from the colonial era forward.

The Reclaim the Records project made about 445,000 New Jersey vital record indices free to view at the Internet Archive. These cover births, marriages, and deaths from the early 1900s. The NJ GenWeb Project hosts county-level pages with free query boards. The Genealogical Society of New Jersey keeps cemetery transcriptions and locality guides that include Somerset County data.

The New Jersey State Library in Trenton holds about 18,000 genealogy items including 6,000 family histories and 1,000 city directories that may cover Somerset County families.

Cities in Somerset County

Somerset County has 21 municipalities including Bridgewater, Franklin Township, Hillsborough, Bound Brook, and Somerville. All genealogy records for these areas are filed through the Somerset County offices in Somerville.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Somerset County. Families who lived near a county line may have records filed in a neighboring county. Check the town of residence to confirm which county holds the genealogy records you need.