New Jersey, Deaths - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
The collection consist of an index to selected death records in New Jersey for the years 1670 to 1988.

Record Content
The index lists the following information:


 * Name of the deceased
 * Death date
 * Death place
 * Gender
 * May list parents names

How to Use the Record
This section provides information on how to search the collection, what to do with information once found, some tips on how to find records, and what to do if no record is found.

When searching the index it is helpful to know the following:


 * The name of the person at the time of death
 * The place where the death occurred
 * The approximate death date

Search the Collection
To search the collection fill in the requested information in the boxes on the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the individuals in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to look at the information on several individuals comparing the information about them to your ancestors to make this determination. Keep in mind:


 * There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name.
 * Your ancestor may have used different names, or variations of their name, throughout their life.
 * If your ancestor used an alias or a nickname, be sure to check for those alternate names.
 * Even though these indexes are very accurate they may still contain inaccuracies, such as altered spellings, misinterpretations, and optical character recognition errors if the information was scanned.

For tips about searching on-line collections see the wiki article FamilySearch Search Tips and Tricks.

Using the Information
When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Download a copy of the record, or extract the genealogical information needed. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details. Add this new information to your records of each family. The information may also lead you to other records about your ancestors. For example:

Use the locator information found in the index (such as page, entry, or certificate number) to obtain a copy of your ancestor's death record from the appropriate county.

Tips to Keep in Mind

 * It is often helpful to extract the information for every person of the same surname. You may be able to identify siblings, parents, and other relatives in the same or other generations who died in the same county or nearby.
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct. You may need to compare the information of more than one family or person to make this determination.
 * Be aware that, as with any index, transcription errors may occur.

Unable to Find Your Ancestor?

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for nicknames and abbreviated names.
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby counties.
 * Try alternative search methods such as only filling in the surname search box (or the given name search box) on the landing page leaving the other box empty and then click on search. This should return a list of everyone with that particular name. You could then browse the list for individuals that may be your ancestor.

Related Websites

 * Archives
 * Online New Jersey Death Records and Indexes

Related Wiki Articles

 * New Jersey
 * New Jersey Vital Records

Citations for This Collection
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information; that is, cite your sources. This will help people find the record again and evaluate the reliability of the source. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records. Citations are available for the collection as a whole and each record or image individually.

Collection Citation: