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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:

  • That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
  • We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
  • On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.

By learning about Toms River (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.

As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Toms River. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.

Name Variations for Toms River ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might have occurred.

  • A typical abbreviation for Toms River: Toms Riv.
  • While the name of this community is Toms River, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Toms River may originally have been Tom's River.

    Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Toms River might be written as Tom River.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

Neighboring Counties ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.

So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived:  their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the west contained birth and death records; the county to the south contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Toms River is located in Ocean County and is the County Seat.

To see how the shape of New Jersey's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Ocean County: Atlantic, Burlington & Monmouth.

Below are the counties that are near Toms River. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Toms River:

  • Ocean County     (The home county of Toms River)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Toms River, with the one closest to Toms River listed first.
    • Silver Ridge
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Silver Ridge have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Ridge
      • Silver Ridge is located in Ocean County
    • Holiday Heights
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Holiday Heights have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holiday Heights
      • Holiday Heights is located in Ocean County
    • Glen Cedar City
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Glen Cedar City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Cedar City
      • Glen Cedar City is located in Ocean County
    • Double Trouble ‑ Historic
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Holiday City
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Holiday City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holiday City
      • Holiday City is located in Ocean County
    • Leisure Village East
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Leisure Village East have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leisure Village East
      • Leisure Village East is located in Ocean County
    • Dover Forge
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Dover Beaches South
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dover Beaches South have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover Beaches South
      • Dover Beaches South is located in Ocean County
    • Leisure Knoll
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Leisure Knoll have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leisure Knoll
      • Leisure Knoll is located in Ocean County
    • Pine Ridge at Crestwood
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pine Ridge at Crestwood have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Ridge at Crestwood
      • Pine Ridge at Crestwood is located in Ocean County
    • Dover Beaches North
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dover Beaches North have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover Beaches North
      • Dover Beaches North is located in Ocean County
    • Cedar Glen West
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cedar Glen West have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Glen West
      • Cedar Glen West is located in Ocean County
    • Davenport ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Davenport have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davenport
      • Davenport is located in Ocean County
  • Burlington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Toms River, with the one closest to Toms River listed first.
    • Country Lake Estates
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Country Lake Estates have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Country Lake Estates
      • Country Lake Estates is located in Burlington County
    • Presidential Lakes Estates
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Presidential Lakes Estates have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Presidential Lakes Estates
      • Presidential Lakes Estates is located in Burlington County
    • Chatsworth
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Browns Mills
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Speedwell
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Fort Dix
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Jacobstown
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Ellisdale
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Sooy Place
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Juliustown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Pemberton Heights
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pemberton Heights have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pemberton Heights
      • Pemberton Heights is located in Burlington County
    • Washington
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Washington have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washington
      • Washington is located in Burlington County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,459 people
    • Chambers Corners
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
  • Mercer County
  • Middlesex County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Toms River, with the one closest to Toms River listed first.
    • Concordia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Concordia have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concordia
      • Concordia is located in Middlesex County
    • Moerls Corner
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Clearbrook Park
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Clearbrook Park have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clearbrook Park
      • Clearbrook Park is located in Middlesex County
    • Cranbury Station
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Whittingham
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Cranbury
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Jamesburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Jamesburg. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamesburg
      • Jamesburg is located in Middlesex County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Jamesburg
      • From Toms River to Jamesburg
    • Rossmoor
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Monmouth County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Toms River, with the one closest to Toms River listed first.
    • Ramtown
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ramtown have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramtown
      • Ramtown is located in Monmouth County
    • Maxim
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Allaire Village ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Allenwood
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Squankum
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • West Belmar
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Belmar have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Belmar
      • West Belmar is located in Monmouth County
    • Belmar
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Shark River Hills
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Shark River Hills have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shark River Hills
      • Shark River Hills is located in Monmouth County
    • Prospertown
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Neptune City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • West Grove
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Hornerstown
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Asbury Park
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Toms River, see our County-by-County Page for Toms River.

Cemeteries Near Toms River ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Toms River.

This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Toms River covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Toms River, with the one closest to Toms River listed first.

Nearby Communities in 1895 ...

We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Toms River had a population of 1,425 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Toms River, with the one closest to Toms River listed first.

  • Bayville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bayville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayville
    • Bayville is located in Ocean County
  • Silverton
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Silverton have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silverton
    • Silverton is located in Ocean County
  • Davenport ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Davenport have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davenport
    • Davenport is located in Ocean County
  • Forked River
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Chadwick
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Chadwick have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chadwick
    • Chadwick is located in Ocean County
  • Osbornsville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Osbornsville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osbornsville
    • Osbornsville is located in Ocean County
  • Whitesville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Whitesville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitesville
    • Whitesville is located in Ocean County
  • Lakewood
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Whiting
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Waretown
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Waretown have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waretown
    • Waretown is located in Ocean County
  • Bay Head Junction
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • West Point Pleasant
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Point Pleasant have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Point Pleasant
    • West Point Pleasant is located in Ocean County
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Herbertsville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Bennetts Mills
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Southard
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Southard have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southard
      • Southard is located in Monmouth County

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Toms River. See our List of 1890's Communities around Toms River.

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Toms River ...

An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).

To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.

Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 21 newspapers that have been published in the area around Toms River.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Toms River. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Toms River and those printed in the larger area surrounding Toms River.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 9 miles [14.5 km]<6> of Toms River.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer websites offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.

To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Toms River:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Toms River. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Ocean County: www.oceancountygov.com/

The official website for State of New Jersey: https://www.nj.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties).
<2>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<3>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<4>The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com.
<5>We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Toms River, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Toms River) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Toms River. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 39.9534, Longitude: -74.1981    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025