OCEAN COUNTY, NJ HISTORY AND LOOKUPS

County History Books

Centennial History of Ocean County by Centennial History of Ocean County, (1878) – 96 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2023.12.12.2357.CD.AR

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Ocean County, New Jersey: A Genealogical Overview

Stretching from the dense Pine Barrens to the sandy beaches of the Atlantic, Ocean County, New Jersey, has a history defined by its relationship with its natural resources. Its past is rooted in maritime trades, bog iron furnaces, and cranberry farming, which gave way to a new identity in the 20th century as a major center for tourism, suburban development, and retirement communities. For genealogists, researching Ocean County requires a two-pronged approach: exploring the county’s own records after its 1850 formation and delving into the extensive colonial and early American records of its parent county, Monmouth.

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I. County Formation and Evolution

Understanding Ocean County’s mid-19th century creation is fundamental to any successful genealogical project in the region, as all records for its early European inhabitants are located in a different jurisdiction.

• 1850: County Formed: Ocean County was officially established on February 15, 1850.
• Parent County: The county was created entirely from the southern portion of Monmouth County. Therefore, all colonial and early American records—including deeds, wills, and court documents—for ancestors living in what is now Ocean County prior to 1850 are located at the Monmouth County Archives in Freehold.
• Subsequent Formations: The county’s boundaries have been largely stable, with one notable change: in 1891, Little Egg Harbor Township was transferred from Burlington County to Ocean County, completing the county’s modern configuration.
• Name Origin: The county was named for its prominent geographical feature: its long coastline along the Atlantic Ocean.
• County Seat History: Upon its formation in 1850, the village of Toms River (then located within Dover Township, now the independent municipality of Toms River Township) was designated as the county seat, and it has remained so ever since. The first courthouse was built there in the early 1850s.

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II. Settlement and Early History

• Early Inhabitants: The original inhabitants of the region were various bands of the Lenape (also known as the Delaware) people, who lived a semi-nomadic life hunting in the Pine Barrens and fishing in the bay and ocean.
• Colonial Settlement and Economy: European settlement began in the late 17th century. The county developed two distinct economies:
  • Coastal Economy: Life along the Barnegat Bay and the Atlantic coast revolved around the sea. Whaling, fishing, shipbuilding, and salvaging shipwrecks (“wrecking”) were the primary industries in towns like Tuckerton, Waretown, and Forked River.
  • Inland Economy: The interior Pine Barrens were rich in bog iron. This led to the development of a thriving iron industry, with furnaces and forges producing iron goods from the colonial era until the mid-19th century. Charcoal production, logging, and glassmaking were also vital inland industries.
• Key Historical Events:
  • American Revolution: The area’s many inlets made it a haven for American privateers. In retaliation, British and Loyalist forces attacked several settlements, most famously burning the Toms River Blockhouse and the surrounding village in March 1782.
  • Rise of Tourism: Following the decline of the bog iron and whaling industries, the arrival of railroads in the 1870s and 1880s transformed the county. Coastal towns like Point Pleasant Beach, Bay Head, and Seaside Park grew into popular seaside resorts.
  • 20th Century Expansion: The construction of the Garden State Parkway in the 1950s opened the county to unprecedented growth, making it one of America’s fastest-growing suburbs and a premier destination for retirees.

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III. Genealogical Records and Resources

This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records, keeping the 1850 formation date as a critical dividing line.

• County Government Offices: The primary repositories for county-level records from 1850 onward are located in Toms River.
  • Ocean County Clerk’s Office: Holds all land records (deeds, mortgages), business and trade name filings, and some court documents. Located at the Ocean County Courthouse, 118 Washington Street, Toms River, NJ 08753.
  • Ocean County Surrogate’s Court: Maintains all probate records, including wills, estate administrations, and guardianship papers, from 1850 to the present.
• Vital Records:
  • Birth, Marriage, and Death Records: New Jersey implemented statewide civil registration of vital statistics in May 1848.
    • Pre-1850 Records: For events in the area before Ocean County was formed (May 1848 – Feb 1850), vital records were filed in Monmouth County. Before May 1848, researchers must rely on church, cemetery, and private records.
    • Records from 1848-1920: The official state copies are held by the New Jersey State Archives in Trenton. This is the best first stop for records in this time frame.
    • Post-1920 Records: Held by the New Jersey Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry. Copies can also be obtained from the municipal registrar in the town where the event occurred.
• Libraries and Societies:
  • Ocean County Library: The main branch in Toms River houses an outstanding Genealogy and Local History Collection with extensive microfilm of newspapers, census records, city directories, and a large collection of published genealogies and local histories.
  • Ocean County Historical Society: Located in Toms River, this society operates a museum and a research center containing valuable manuscripts, family files, photographs, maps, and other primary source documents.
• Bordering Jurisdictions:
  • Monmouth County (north)
  • Burlington County (west)
  • Atlantic County (south)