New Jersey, U.S., Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey, Church Records, 1700-1970

Source Information

Ancestry.com. New Jersey, U.S., Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey, Church Records, 1700-1970 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2021.
Original data: Various Church Records. Trenton, New Jersey: Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey.

About New Jersey, U.S., Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey, Church Records, 1700-1970

About the New Jersey, U.S., Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey, Church Records, 1700-1970

General collection information

This collection contains church records from the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey between 1700 and 1970. Records included in this collection cover many types of church events; including: baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and burials. Records may also include church minutes and lists of parishioners. Most of the records in this collection are handwritten in ledgers, however newer or transcribed records may be typed.

Using this collection

Records in the collection may include the following information:

  • Name
  • Event
  • Age at time of event
  • Birth date and place
  • Baptism date and place
  • Confirmation date and place
  • Marital status
  • Marriage date and place
  • Death date and place
  • Burial date and place
  • Name of cemetery
  • Names of family members, including spouses
  • Birth places of family members
  • Spouse's marital status prior to the marriage
  • Spouse's birth date

    • Please note that every record is unique and the information contained within will vary, depending on the event type and time period.

    While most baptisms occur while the person is in infancy, a baptism may be performed at any age. Unless a birth date is listed on a record, it isn't recommended to assume the person is an infant. Adult baptisms usually occur when a person converts faiths, often at marriage.

    Because there are many different types of records in this collection, individuals may be found in multiple records. For example, a baby may be listed in a baptismal record, again at confirmation, married in adulthood, or mentioned in records concerning their spouse or parents.

    Collection in context

    The Episcopal Church in America began as an offshoot of the Church of England. During the American Revolution, many Anglicans lost their connection to the Church of England. By 1784, most states had begun the process of rebuilding and reorganizing. States began forming individual dioceses. In 1789, a conference was held to unify the Episcopalian church in the US.

    The Diocese of New Jersey was founded in 1785. By 1874, the church had grown so much that the northern top third split off to form the Diocese of Northern New Jersey. Currently, the Diocese of New Jersey consists of 144 congregations.

    Bibliography

    Diocese of New Jersey. "Archives." Last Modified August 16, 2022. https://dioceseofnj.org/archives/.

    Episcopal Asset Map. "Diocese of New Jersey." Last Modified February 4, 2022. https://www.episcopalassetmap.org/dioceses/diocese-new-jersey#:~:text=The%20Diocese%20of%20New%20Jersey,Brunswick%20prior%20to%20his%20election.

    Episcopal Church. "Who We Are." Last Modified April 7, 2021. https://www.episcopalchurch.org/who-we-are/history-episcopal-church/american-church/.