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Following Berkeley's sale of his share of the colony in 1674, the area was divided in 1676 into two separate provinces, West Jersey and East Jersey. Each was governed by its own board of proprietors. The two boards of proprietors sold land to individuals through proprietary deeds. Each board kept separate records of these sales. The records include surveys, deeds, and minutes. These are records of the original sales of the land. Subsequent exchanges were recorded by the secretary of state until 1785 or by the county clerk, primarily since 1785 (see below). | Following Berkeley's sale of his share of the colony in 1674, the area was divided in 1676 into two separate provinces, West Jersey and East Jersey. Each was governed by its own board of proprietors. The two boards of proprietors sold land to individuals through proprietary deeds. Each board kept separate records of these sales. The records include surveys, deeds, and minutes. These are records of the original sales of the land. Subsequent exchanges were recorded by the secretary of state until 1785 or by the county clerk, primarily since 1785 (see below). | ||
'''East Jersey Proprietary Records'''. The proprietary land records for East Jersey have not been microfilmed. The Family History Library has transcripts of surveys for what is now Passaic County, titled ''Perth Amboy Surveys for East Jersey, 1678 to 1814'' ( | '''East Jersey Proprietary Records'''. The proprietary land records for East Jersey have not been microfilmed. The Family History Library has transcripts of surveys for what is now Passaic County, titled ''Perth Amboy Surveys for East Jersey, 1678 to 1814'' (Family History Library films 947881-83, index on film 947881). The Surveyor General's Office, 272 High Street, Perth Amboy, has surveys and warrants, beginning in 1719; surveys, 1783 to the present; returns of surveys; and minutes. You can request a search of these, for a fee, by writing to: | ||
'''General Board of Proprietors of the Eastern Division of New Jersey'''<br>Mr. Frederick A. Gerken, Registrar<br>550 E. Bay Avenue<br>P.O. Box 32<br>Barnegat, NJ 08005 <br>Internet: http://www.njarchives.org/links/webcat/queries/pproprie.html | '''General Board of Proprietors of the Eastern Division of New Jersey'''<br>Mr. Frederick A. Gerken, Registrar<br>550 E. Bay Avenue<br>P.O. Box 32<br>Barnegat, NJ 08005 <br>Internet: http://www.njarchives.org/links/webcat/queries/pproprie.html | ||
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The records since 1901 are closed to the public. The minutes of the proprietors for 1685 to 1794 (missing 1706 to 1723) have been published in: | The records since 1901 are closed to the public. The minutes of the proprietors for 1685 to 1794 (missing 1706 to 1723) have been published in: | ||
*''The Minutes of the Board of Proprietors of the Eastern Division of New Jersey from . . . 1685-1794''. Volumes 1-3. Perth Amboy, New Jersey: ''General Board of Proprietors of the Eastern Division of New Jersey, 1949-1985''. ( | *''The Minutes of the Board of Proprietors of the Eastern Division of New Jersey from . . . 1685-1794''. Volumes 1-3. Perth Amboy, New Jersey: ''General Board of Proprietors of the Eastern Division of New Jersey, 1949-1985''. (Family History Library book 974.9 R2m.) Volume 4. Newark, New Jersey: New Jersey Historical Society, 1985. These include petitions for land grants, warrants for surveys, and quit-rent payments. | ||
'''West Jersey Proprietary Records'''. The records for West Jersey have not been published, but the originals at Rutgers University have been microfilmed. These include: | '''West Jersey Proprietary Records'''. The records for West Jersey have not been published, but the originals at Rutgers University have been microfilmed. These include: | ||
*Minutes, 1688 to 1951 ( | *Minutes, 1688 to 1951 (Family History Library films 888812-14) | ||
*Warrants, 1717 to 1754 ( | *Warrants, 1717 to 1754 (Family History Library film 888815) | ||
*Surveys, 1654 to 1952 ( | *Surveys, 1654 to 1952 (Family History Library films 888803-11 and Family History Library film 888723). | ||
Any additional records still in the possession of the West Jersey proprietors can be searched for a fee by writing to: | Any additional records still in the possession of the West Jersey proprietors can be searched for a fee by writing to: | ||
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From 1664 to 1785, land sales between individuals were recorded as deeds in either the East Jersey capital of Perth Amboy or in the West Jersey capital of Burlington. In 1795 deeds were transferred to Trenton, where they became known as the secretary of state's deeds. It has been estimated that less than half of all land transactions were ever recorded as deeds. The secretary of state's deed books also contain some proprietary deeds, warrants, surveys, powers of attorney, mortgage releases, and other miscellaneous documents. | From 1664 to 1785, land sales between individuals were recorded as deeds in either the East Jersey capital of Perth Amboy or in the West Jersey capital of Burlington. In 1795 deeds were transferred to Trenton, where they became known as the secretary of state's deeds. It has been estimated that less than half of all land transactions were ever recorded as deeds. The secretary of state's deed books also contain some proprietary deeds, warrants, surveys, powers of attorney, mortgage releases, and other miscellaneous documents. | ||
'''East Jersey'''. Deeds recorded by the secretary of state are now at the state archives and on microfilm at the Family History Library. These include deeds and indexes, 1667 to 1783 ( | '''East Jersey'''. Deeds recorded by the secretary of state are now at the state archives and on microfilm at the Family History Library. These include deeds and indexes, 1667 to 1783 (Family History Library films 522742-46 and 460030-39). | ||
'''West Jersey'''. The state archives has the original West Jersey deeds. They are also on microfilm at the Family History Library: | '''West Jersey'''. The state archives has the original West Jersey deeds. They are also on microfilm at the Family History Library: | ||
*Deeds and surveys, 1677 to 1854 ( | *Deeds and surveys, 1677 to 1854 (Family History Library films 460045-71) | ||
*Grantor and grantee indexes ( | *Grantor and grantee indexes (Family History Library films 460043- 44) | ||
*Salem deeds and surveys, 1672 to 1703 ( | *Salem deeds and surveys, 1672 to 1703 (Family History Library films 460074-75) | ||
*Gloucester deeds and surveys, 1682 to 1779 ( | *Gloucester deeds and surveys, 1682 to 1779 (Family History Library films 460077-78) | ||
*Indexes to Proprietary Records and Secretary of State's Deeds | *Indexes to Proprietary Records and Secretary of State's Deeds | ||
There are four major indexes to early provincial and state land records of New Jersey: | There are four major indexes to early provincial and state land records of New Jersey: | ||
*Nelson, William, Editor. ''Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey''. Calendar of Records in the Office of the Secretary of State, 1664-1703. [Archives of the State of New Jersey, First Series, Volume 21]. 1899. Reprinted as ''Patents and Deeds and Other Early Records of New Jersey, 1664-1703''. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1982. ( | *Nelson, William, Editor. ''Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey''. Calendar of Records in the Office of the Secretary of State, 1664-1703. [Archives of the State of New Jersey, First Series, Volume 21]. 1899. Reprinted as ''Patents and Deeds and Other Early Records of New Jersey, 1664-1703''. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1982. (Family History Library book 974.9 B49a Ser. 1 v. 21 1976; film 844843; fiche 6051369.) This book indexes and abstracts most of the earliest deeds and surveys of East and West Jersey through 1703. | ||
All the original records abstracted by this book are at the state archives and on microfilm at the Family History Library. Use this index cautiously as some entire pages in the original records were not transcribed, and some entries that were transcribed were not indexed. A substantial number of pre-1704 records, primarily for West Jersey, were omitted from the book. | All the original records abstracted by this book are at the state archives and on microfilm at the Family History Library. Use this index cautiously as some entire pages in the original records were not transcribed, and some entries that were transcribed were not indexed. A substantial number of pre-1704 records, primarily for West Jersey, were omitted from the book. | ||
*''Index to Powers of Attorney, Surveyor's Reports, Commissions, etc., Referring to Deeds''. This card index is at the state archives and on film at the Family History Library ( | *''Index to Powers of Attorney, Surveyor's Reports, Commissions, etc., Referring to Deeds''. This card index is at the state archives and on film at the Family History Library (Family History Library films 946856-61), filmed in 1972. In addition to secretary of state deeds and West Jersey surveys, it references such diverse types of records as civil and military commissions, naturalizations, oaths of allegiance, marriages, pardons, licenses, and cattle earmarks. It is listed in the Family History Library Catalog as Index of Names to Various Records in Various New Jersey Counties, 1660-1800s. | ||
*''Colonial Conveyances: Provinces of East and West New Jersey, 1664-1794''. Two Volumes. (Summit, New Jersey: Crestview Lawyers Service, 1974; not at | *''Colonial Conveyances: Provinces of East and West New Jersey, 1664-1794''. Two Volumes. (Summit, New Jersey: Crestview Lawyers Service, 1974; not at Family History Library). This is the principal index to use to locate pre-1785 secretary of state's deeds. | ||
*''Index to Deeds, Grantee and Grantor'' is a card index at the New Jersey state archives and on microfilm at the Family History Library ( | *''Index to Deeds, Grantee and Grantor'' is a card index at the New Jersey state archives and on microfilm at the Family History Library (Family History Library films 539948-49, 540239-40, and 540603-605.) This indexes secretary of state deeds for East Jersey, 1667 to 1784, and for West Jersey, 1677 to 1854. | ||
=== County Land Records === | === County Land Records === | ||
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'''Mortgages'''. The earliest mortgages date from 1724. The mortgages often include a schedule of payments, the names of the assignees (persons to whom property is legally transferred), and the name of the mortgagor. New Jersey mortgages were seldom recorded until the date the mortgage was discharged. | '''Mortgages'''. The earliest mortgages date from 1724. The mortgages often include a schedule of payments, the names of the assignees (persons to whom property is legally transferred), and the name of the mortgagor. New Jersey mortgages were seldom recorded until the date the mortgage was discharged. | ||
A card index to county loan office mortgages is at the state archives and the Family History Library ( | A card index to county loan office mortgages is at the state archives and the Family History Library (Family History Library film 913175). This indexes many mortgages of Burlington, Hunterdon, Gloucester, and Somerset Counties. County clerks began recording mortgages in 1766. The Family History Library has microfilm copies of: | ||
*Mortgages to about 1860 or 1870 for all counties except Morris County | *Mortgages to about 1860 or 1870 for all counties except Morris County | ||