Thank you to Regina Fitzpatrick for a jam-packed program looking at the different ways and record groups we should consider as we try to trace our female ancestors throughout New Jersey’s history. In some cases, women are absent from certain record groups due to laws or how records were recorded. In addition, vital records only became require in May 1848, which can make tracing older female ancestors even more difficult. So let’s explore this fascinating aspect of New Jersey genealogy and see if we can uncover where our female ancestors may be hiding.
Where to Look
Women ancestors are represented in records collections throughout New Jersey, but may need some helpful tips and tricks to find! She reviewed the following collections, and how these collections can be used in combination to discover more about women:
- New Jersey Vital Records
- Pre-May 1848 Marriage Records
- County Naturalization Records
- Census and City Directories
- Estate Papers
- Early Deeds
Important Takeaways
- Start with Vital Records May 1848-present. If your ancestor lived before 1848, check County Marriages, Colonial Marriage Bonds, or Estate Papers.
- Use collections from the same time period to try to find more information about your woman ancestor. For example, if she is listed as someone’s mother on an early 20th Century vital record, find her on the census and check to see how many years she has been married. You may be able to get her marriage record, which would list more of her family’s information.
- Even if a woman does not appear in a collection index, check for relatives or a spouse. She might be mentioned in a bequest or the contents of the record might pertain to her or to her family.
- For pre-1848, check Deeds and Court Cases, which can be surprising genealogical gold mines, especially when they deal with inheritance. At the very least, they help to establish residency!
- Post May 1848, use censuses and city directories to help establish address and residency.
Women and Citizenship in the United States
When it comes to immigration and naturalization, things can be very complex. She extensively discussed County Naturalization Records and some of the legal background as to why women might not be represented in naturalization records prior to 1907, even though their spouse or parent’s naturalization might make them a citizen as well. She also reviewed the Cable Act, and how this granted women their own citizenship status, rather than deriving their status from their husbands. The National Archives has two excellent blog posts:
- Women and Naturalization ca. 1802-1940-which discusses in detail how the law and certain individual courts affected whether or not a woman could naturalize
- Race, Nationality, and Reality-we can’t ignore the role racism played in the development of these laws. This is a fantastic overview of how perceptions of race and nationality appeared in laws over the years.
More Information
For all of your genealogy questions, please contact Regina Fitzpatrick at rfitzpatrick@njstatelib.org. You can find genealogy information and help 24/7 on our Genealogy Research Guide at https://libguides.njstatelib.org/genealogynjsl, including past programs and helpful handouts. You can view a recording of this webinar on our YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/QUhADW50rYk. You can also download a copy of the presentation slides at https://www.njstatelib.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Presentation-Slides.pdf.
