New Jersey State Archives
225 West State Street-Level 2
P.O. Box 307
Trenton, NJ 08625-0307
Contact Information
Email: Feedback@sos.state.nj.us
|

Essex County - Clerk's and Register's Offices
Essex County was formed 7 March 1683 as an original county in the Province of East Jersey. Portions of old Essex County became Passaic (1837) and Union (1857) counties.
County clerks were required by law to file copies of deeds beginning in 1785 and mortgages beginning in 1766. Essex County also filed earlier deeds beginning in 1683. See the Secretary of State page linked below for additional colonial land records.
The State Archives' holdings vary from county to county. Consult the Collecting Policy for additional information about our accessioning guidelines.
|
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Clerk's Office
Manumissions of Slaves - Book A, 1804-1817, and Deed of Sale, 1787
|
Control #:
|
CESCL001
|
Format:
|
0.1 c.f. (1 vol.); 0.33 reel (35-mm)
|
Arrangement:
|
Chronological
|
Notes:
|
Contains a loose deed of sale of a slave named Harry by John [Mange?] to Aaron Crane.
|
Finding Aid:
|
Click here!
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Clerk's Office
Birth Certificates of Children of Slaves, 1804-1843
|
Control #:
|
CESCL002
|
Format:
|
0.1 c.f. (1 vol.); 0.33 reel (35-mm)
|
Arrangement:
|
Chronological
|
Finding Aid:
|
Click here!
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Clerk's Office
Record of Volunteers in the Civil War, 1861-1865
|
Control #:
|
CESCL003
|
Format:
|
1 c.f. (2 vols.); 1 reel (35-mm)
|
Arrangement:
|
By regiment,then company
|
Finding Aid:
|
Click here!
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Clerk's Office
Marriage Records, 1795-1893 (recorded 1795-1940)
|
Control #:
|
CESCL004
|
Format:
|
6 c.f. (11 vols., 5 boxes); 9 reels (35-mm)
|
Arrangement:
|
Returns are numbered by recording date
|
Finding Aid:
|
Click here!
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Clerk's Office
Name-Change Papers, 1877-1922 and Index, 1881-1967
|
Control #:
|
CESCL005
|
Format:
|
7 reels (35-mm)
|
Arrangement:
|
Generally chronological
|
Notes:
|
Most are name-change petitions from the Court of Common Pleas and Circuit Court.
|
Finding Aid:
|
Click here!
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Clerk's Office
Mill Brook Sewer Records, 1880s
|
Control #:
|
CESCL006
|
Format:
|
2 c.f. (2 oversized boxes)
|
Arrangement:
|
By block number
|
Finding Aid:
|
Click here!
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Clerk's Office
Circular Letters of the New Jersey Department of Local Government, 1941-1966
|
Control #:
|
CESCL007
|
Format:
|
1 c.f. (2 boxes)
|
Arrangement:
|
Chronological
|
Finding Aid:
|
Click here!
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Clerk's Office
1875 State Census Schedules for Essex County
|
Control #:
|
CESCL008
|
Format:
|
7 c.f. (14 boxes)
|
Arrangement:
|
By municipality
|
Notes:
|
Film cataloged under Department of State/ Census Bureau/ 1875 State Census of New Jersey.
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Clerk's Office
Voter List, no date
|
Control #:
|
CESCL009
|
Format:
|
0.2 c.f. (1 box)
|
Arrangement:
|
By surname first letter
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Clerk's Office
Minutes of the Court of Oyer and Terminer, 1827-1906
|
Control #:
|
CESCL010
|
Format:
|
4 c.f. (4 boxes)
|
Arrangement:
|
Chronological
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Clerk's Office
Incorporations of Religious and Non-Profit Organizations, 1802-1950s
|
Control #:
|
CESCL011
|
Format:
|
3.25 c.f. (7 boxes)
|
Arrangement:
|
Chronological or (unprocessed)
|
Notes:
|
Only the first two boxes of this material have been arranged in file number order; the remainder is unprocessed.
|
Finding Aid:
|
Click here!
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Clerk's Office
Justice of the Peace Dockets, 1756-1920
|
Control #:
|
CESCL012
|
Format:
|
66.5 c.f. (104 boxes, 32 oversized vols.); 67 reels (35-mm)
|
Arrangement:
|
Alphabetical by justice
|
Finding Aid:
|
Click here!
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Clerk's Office
Slave Receipts, ca. 1787-1805
|
Control #:
|
CESCL013
|
Format:
|
0.33 reel (35-mm)
|
Arrangement:
|
Chronological by filing date
|
Finding Aid:
|
Click here!
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Clerk's Office
Record of Justice of the Peace Commissions, 1878-1920
|
Control #:
|
CESCL014
|
Format:
|
1 c.f. (1 oversized box)
|
Arrangement:
|
By surname first letter, then chrono.
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Clerk's Office
Miscellaneous Court Indexes, 1839-1906
|
Control #:
|
CESCL015
|
Format:
|
6.5 c.f. (7 boxes)
|
Notes:
|
Includes indexes to Court of Quarter Session criminal cases.
|
Finding Aid:
|
Click here!
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Clerk's Office
Grand Jury Minutes and Index to Witnesses, 1864-1882
|
Control #:
|
CESCL016
|
Format:
|
3.25 c.f. (7 boxes)
|
Arrangement:
|
Chronological
|
Notes:
|
23 Minute Books & 8 Witness Indexes
|
Finding Aid:
|
Click here!
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Clerk's Office
Lis Pendens, 1876-1902 and Indexes, 1876-1972
|
Control #:
|
CESCL017
|
Format:
|
5 reels (35-mm)
|
Arrangement:
|
Chronological by filing date
|
Finding Aid:
|
Click here!
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Clerk's Office
Tax Assessments, 1854-1855
|
Control #:
|
CESCL018
|
Format:
|
0.2 c.f. (2 vols.)
|
Arrangement:
|
Alphabetical
|
Notes:
|
The assessment for 1855 is for land in Rahway, Essex County and Woodbridge, Middlesex County.
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Clerk's Office
Veterans Grave Records, ca. 1776-1980
|
Control #:
|
CESCL019
|
Format:
|
30 reels (35-mm)
|
Arrangement:
|
Various
|
Notes:
|
Includes several subgroups; see reel list.
|
Finding Aid:
|
Click here!
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Clerk's Office
Non-Resident Marriage License Applications, 1897-1910
|
Control #:
|
CESCL020
|
Format:
|
1 c.f. (2 boxes); 1 reel (35-mm)
|
Arrangement:
|
Chronological by filing date
|
Notes:
|
Applications are numbered continuing from loose marriage returns included in series Marriage Records, 1795-1920.
|
Finding Aid:
|
Click here!
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Clerk's Office
Miscellaneous Records, 1802-1922 and Index, 1802-1980
|
Control #:
|
CESCL021
|
Format:
|
9 reels (35-mm)
|
Arrangement:
|
Chronological by filing date
|
Notes:
|
Labeled "Miscellaneous Corporations"; include incorporations, oaths of identity, powers of attorney, draft exceptions, sheriff bonds.
|
Finding Aid:
|
Click here!
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Clerk's Office
Index of Corporations, 1934
|
Control #:
|
CESCL022
|
Format:
|
0.25 c.f. (1 vol.)
|
Arrangement:
|
By initial letter of corporate name
|
Notes:
|
Volume mislabeled as index to Religious Incorporations; however, indexes corporate filings of some kind for January-April 1934.
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Clerk's Office
1880 Federal Census Schedules for Essex County
|
Control #:
|
CESCL023
|
Format:
|
3 c.f. (10 vols.)
|
Arrangement:
|
By municipality
|
Notes:
|
Volume 10 was missing at the time of accession. Another copy of this schedule is available on film with federal the census reels.
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Clerk's Office
Notarial Protests against Promissory Notes, 1814-1861
|
Control #:
|
CESCL024
|
Format:
|
0.6 c.f. (4 vols.)
|
Arrangement:
|
Chronological
|
Notes:
|
Includes protests for 1814, 1823-1825 & 1860-1861
|
Finding Aid:
|
Click here!
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Clerk's Office
1850 Federal Census Schedules for Essex County
|
Control #:
|
CESCL025
|
Format:
|
1 c.f. (2 vols.)
|
Arrangement:
|
By municipality
|
Notes:
|
Another copy of this schedule is available on film with the federal census reels.
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Clerk's Office
1855 State Census Schedule, City of Newark, 7th Ward
|
Control #:
|
CESCL026
|
Format:
|
0.1 c.f. (1 vol.)
|
Notes:
|
Film cataloged under Department of State/ Census Bureau/ 1855 State Census of New Jersey.
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Clerk's Office
1870 Federal Census Schedule, 10th Ward, City of Newark
|
Control #:
|
CESCL027
|
Format:
|
0.5 c.f. (1 box)
|
Notes:
|
Another copy of this schedule is available on film with the federal census reels.
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Clerk's Office
1865 State Census Schedules
|
Control #:
|
CESCL028
|
Format:
|
0.5 c.f. (1 box)
|
Arrangement:
|
By municipality
|
Notes:
|
Film cataloged under Department of State/ Census Bureau/ 1865 State Census of New Jersey.
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Clerk's Office
Circuit Court Judgments, 1838-1905
|
Control #:
|
CESCL029
|
Format:
|
22.5 c.f. (23 boxes)
|
Arrangement:
|
Chronological
|
Finding Aid:
|
Click here!
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Clerk's Office
Circuit Court Minutes, 1838-1902
|
Control #:
|
CESCL030
|
Format:
|
11 c.f. (11 boxes)
|
Arrangement:
|
Chronological
|
Finding Aid:
|
Click here!
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Clerk's Office
Record of Registered Nurses, 1903-1945
|
Control #:
|
CESCL031
|
Format:
|
6 c.f. (6 volumes)
|
Arrangement:
|
Chronological
|
Notes:
|
Each volume includes an index.
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Clerk's Office
Medical Certificates, 1840-1882
|
Control #:
|
CESCL032
|
Format:
|
0.5 c.f. (1 box)
|
Notes:
|
Includes copies of diplomas and certificates of physicians and midwives.
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Register of Deeds and Mortgages
Deeds, 1728-1901 and Indexes, 1688-1909
|
Control #:
|
CESRD001
|
Format:
|
533 reels (35-mm)
|
Arrangement:
|
Chronological by filing date
|
Notes:
|
Deed Book A, covering 1688-1728, was destroyed by a fire.
|
Finding Aid:
|
Click here!
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Register of Deeds and Mortgages
Chattel Mortgages [sample], 1887-1893 and Indexes, 1880-1899
|
Control #:
|
CESRD002
|
Format:
|
1 c.f. (2 vols.); 2 reels (35-mm)
|
Arrangement:
|
Chronological
|
Notes:
|
Includes original volumes 21 (1887-1888) and 46 (1893). These are non-permanent records and were accessioned as a sample.
|
Finding Aid:
|
Click here!
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Register of Deeds and Mortgages
Assignments of Mortgages, 1853-1861 and Indexes, 1853-1922
|
Control #:
|
CESRD003
|
Format:
|
14 reels (35-mm)
|
Arrangement:
|
Chronological by filing date
|
Finding Aid:
|
Click here!
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Register of Deeds and Mortgages
Mortgages, 1777-1861 and Indexes, 1765-1909
|
Control #:
|
CESRD004
|
Format:
|
77 reels (35-mm)
|
Arrangement:
|
Chronological
|
Finding Aid:
|
Click here!
|
Series:
|
Essex County
Register of Deeds and Mortgages
Miscellaneous Records, 1859-1903
|
Control #:
|
CESRD005
|
Format:
|
4 reels (35-mm)
|
Arrangement:
|
Chronological by filing date
|
Notes:
|
Includes mostly indentures and chattel mortgages.
Each volume includes an index.
|
Finding Aid:
|
Click here!
|
~ The collections listed on this page represent 150.05 c.f. of paper records and 759.99 reels of microfilm ~
To contact the New Jersey State Archives about research, reference services, records transfers or donations, please email us at njarchives@sos.nj.gov
For additional and/or more recent records relating to this topic, contact:
Essex County Clerk's Office, Hall of Records, Newark, NJ 07101-0690, tel. 973-621-7638, website: www.essexclerk.com
Essex County Register of Deeds & Mortgages, Hall of Records, 465 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Newark, NJ 07102, tel. 973-642-0614, website: www.essexregister.com
This page last updated 04/22/2013
|
|