Connecticut Genealogy

This page of our website provides links to Connecticut ancestry and historical narratives about Connecticut. These genealogical records may include, vital records (birth, marriage and divorce, death), ethnic records (Native American), court records (land, probate and wills, criminal and civil), church records (Bibles, baptisms, marriages, burials and histories), cemeteries, census records, military records directories and yearbooks.

Connecticut Family Bibles

Connecticut Bible Records
The Connecticut State Library hosts an impressive index of approximately 25,000 transcribed entries from family Bibles and records, encompassing the 1600s to the early 1900s. Researchers can find linked volumes that detail multiple family members, with each entry noting the original source and ownership. The records are accessible online and users are encouraged to utilize the available index for navigation. Please note that Volumes 24-27 remain unindexed, and these are transcriptions rather than original document images, which remain housed in Hartford.

Connecticut Biographies

  • The governors of Connecticut
    Biographies of the chief executives of the commonwealth that gave to the world the first written constitution known to history.
  • History of Derby Connecticut, 1642-1880
    The book titled “History of the Old Town of Derby, Connecticut, 1642-1880” presents a comprehensive account of Derby’s development, including the town’s Indian history, early settlers, and significant events like the Revolutionary War. It emphasizes education, industry, military, and church history, while offering an extensive collection of biographies and genealogies.
  • Windham County Biographies

Connecticut Cemetery Records

Connecticut Census Records

Connecticut Church Records and Histories

History of Bethany Connecticut
Bethany Sketches and Records, was compiled and published by W. C. Sharpe in Seymour, Connecticut, with Part 1 issued in 1908 and Part 2 in 1913. These books aim to present historical sketches, transcripts of records, and other collected data in a convenient form for reference. The compiler acknowledges that errors may exist in names and dates, likely originating from the original records themselves, where spellings varied and dates were not always correctly entered. The content contains the ecclesiastical and civil history of Bethany, Connecticut, including details on its incorporation as a society in 1762 and as a town in 1832, the development of its Congregational and Episcopal churches, vital statistics such as marriages, baptisms, and funerals, and information on local families, schools, and topography.

Connecticut Counties and Towns

Gleanings from English Records about New England Families
The classic work often cited by more contemporaneous authors on early New England families and the records of them found within the Principal Probate Registry, Somerset House, Strand, the Public Record Office, Fetter Lane, and the British Museum, Bloomsbury, while on a visit in London during the summer and fall of 1879.

Bethany

History of Bethany Connecticut
Bethany Sketches and Records, was compiled and published by W. C. Sharpe in Seymour, Connecticut, with Part 1 issued in 1908 and Part 2 in 1913. These books aim to present historical sketches, transcripts of records, and other collected data in a convenient form for reference. The compiler acknowledges that errors may exist in names and dates, likely originating from the original records themselves, where spellings varied and dates were not always correctly entered. The content contains the ecclesiastical and civil history of Bethany, Connecticut, including details on its incorporation as a society in 1762 and as a town in 1832, the development of its Congregational and Episcopal churches, vital statistics such as marriages, baptisms, and funerals, and information on local families, schools, and topography.

Bolton

History of Bolton Connecticut
This history of Bolton, Connecticut, is a commemorative sketch prepared by Samuel Morgan Alvord for the town’s 1920 bicentennial. It emphasizes the role of small New England communities in carrying Pilgrim and Puritan traditions into the broader nation. The narrative outlines the earliest land dealings, shaped by General Court grants and by the complicated claims arising from the large tracts associated with Joshua, son of Uncas, the Mohegan sachem. Following Bolton’s incorporation in 1720, the account turns to the organization of the Congregational Church, including the town’s early call to Jonathan Edwards and the long service of Rev. Thomas White. The work then follows Bolton’s civic, religious, and household development and closes with notes on its industries and leading residents.

Cornwall

History of the Town of Cornwall Connecticut
The History of the Town of Cornwall Connecticut is a comprehensive account of the town’s evolution from colonial organization in 1731 to its involvement in national events like the Civil War. They include detailed geographical descriptions, ecclesiastical histories of local churches, and biographical sketches of families such as the Sedgwicks and Golds. The records also reflect social life, farming, early fashion, and the noteworthy Foreign Mission School.

Coventry

Vital Records of Coventry Connecticut 1711-1844
This volume brings together the vital records of Coventry, Connecticut, covering the years 1711 to 1844. The opening section outlines the early history of Coventry’s settlement, beginning with the land grant from Joshua, son of Uncas, chief of the Mohegans, and the subsequent action by the General Assembly to organize and name the town. The main body of the work arranges the records alphabetically by surname, listing names, dates, and family relationships, with occasional notes on illegitimacy, prior residence, or military service. Together, these records preserve key details of the town’s earliest generations. Included are entries drawn from both town and church sources.

Derby

History of Derby Connecticut, 1642-1880
The book titled “History of the Old Town of Derby, Connecticut, 1642-1880” presents a comprehensive account of Derby’s development, including the town’s Indian history, early settlers, and significant events like the Revolutionary War. It emphasizes education, commerce, and church influences, while offering an extensive collection of biographies and genealogies.

Glastonbury

History of Glastonbury Connecticut, 1653-1853
Glastonbury for two hundred years: a centennial discourse, chronicles an account of its schools, commerce, mills, and ecclesiastical societies. The author, Alonzo Bowen Chapin, balances the general history with personal narratives, making the reading engaging for individuals tracing their ancestry. The work provides valuable insights into the town’s development, the contributions of its early ministers, and the influences of religion and learning that shaped the community. Unfortunately, the work is limited in the depths of the genealogy presented.

Goshen

Goshen Connecticut History 1738-1838
On 28 September 1838, 100 years after the settlement of their small town, the current citizens and some past residents gathered to celebrate the centennial of Goshen, Connecticut. On that day Grant Powers stood before then and addressed them concerning the history of their fine village. This pamphlet is that history in its published form, which was done the following year and at the request of the town proprietors.

Lisbon

Historical Sketch of Lisbon Connecticut, 1786-1900
Though the work, Historical sketch of Lisbon, Conn., from 1786-1900, forms a modest octavo volume of only eighty-four pages, this book condenses within that limit the ecclesiastical and narrative history of the town, together with brief biographies and genealogies of its sons and daughters. The ecclesiastical history covers the sixty-eight years from 1718 to 1786 when Lisbon was a part of Norwich, and brings the record down to the 1900, embracing the Hanover parish, which celebrated its 125th anniversary in 1891. The narrative and descriptive history commences with Lisbon’s independent existence as a town, and comes down to the present day; and the brief biographical and genealogical sketches which follow occupy the last half of the book, and include lists of town officers, members of the General Assembly, and soldiers and sailors who served in the various wars of our country.

Mansfield

Vital Records of Mansfield Connecticut 1703-1850
This volume contains a carefully prepared transcription of the vital records of Mansfield, Connecticut, covering the years 1703 to 1850. Compiled by Susan W. Dimock, its purpose is to preserve and make accessible the town’s early historical data. That information includes lists of births, baptisms, marriages, and deaths drawn from both town and church records. The introductory section outlines Mansfield’s early history, beginning with its origins in land once held by a Mohegan chief. The main body of the work arranges the records alphabetically by surname, listing names, dates, and family relationships, with occasional notes on illegitimacy, prior residence, or military service.

Montville

History of Montville, Connecticut 1640-1896
This history of Montville, Connecticut spans from 1640 to 1896, highlighting the interactions between early colonial settlers and the Mohegan tribe, particularly regarding land disputes and legal challenges. The text, largely genealogical, traces the ancestry of local families across over 500 pages while detailing the region’s evolution from native subsistence to a burgeoning colonial industry economy complete with colonial industries like grist-mills, saw-mills, and the manufacture of bog-iron and textiles.

Norfolk

Brief History of Norfolk, Connecticut, 1738-1844
A brief history of the town of Norfolk, Connecticut, from 1738 to 1844: and a summary of events and transactions which have occurred in this town, from its first settlement, chronologically arranged. Faithfully collected from the public records of the town and other correct documents, with the dates accurately annexed. To which is added a description of the town, incidents, list of officers, and other interesting matter.

Windham County

Windham County Biographies

Connecticut Directories

The South Berkshire Massachusetts directory
A general directory of the towns of Alford, Egremont (North and South), Great Barrington (including Housatonic), Monterey, Mount Washington (including Alandar), New Marlboro (including Clayton, Hartsville, Mill River and Southfield), North Canaan, Conn. (including Canaan and East Canaan), Sheffield (including Ashley Falls), Stockbridge (including Interlaken and Glendale), West Stockbridge (including State Line) (Volume 6)

Connecticut Genealogy

A genealogy of the descendants of Alexander Alvord
This volume presents an extensive genealogy of the descendants of Alexander Alvord, an early settler of Windsor, Connecticut, and Northampton, Massachusetts. Its preparation rests upon more than forty years of intermittent research, revision, and expansion, drawing together the efforts of several generations of family historians.

William Patten of Cambridge 1635 and his descendants
The Patten genealogy is quite expansive in its 290 pages, as it presents known descendants of William Patten of Cambridge down through nine generation. Published in 1908 it lacks the source and quality control of more recent professional genealogies, but still provides Patten descendants with plenty of material for their genealogical research. Early descendants of William Patten resided in Amesbury, Billerica, Cambridge, and Tewksbury, Massachusetts; as well as Killingly, Stafford, and Windham, Connecticut and Lincoln County, Maine.

The Winchell Genealogy
The Winchell Genealogy was first published in 1869 by Professor Alexander Winchell and expanded until his death in 1891. His brother N. H. Winchell continued the genealogical work, distributing inquiries for more data until 1909. Despite delays from travel and illness, N. H. Winchell prepared to publish the material before his unexpected death in 1914. The manuscript was completed and expanded by another writer, incorporating insights on the Winchell name’s origin and its connections to the Wincoll family.

United States Genealogy

American History and Genealogy Project

Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, New London, Tolland, Windham

United States GenWeb Project

Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, New London, Tolland, Windham

Connecticut History

Connecticut Military Records

Connecticut Native American Records

Connecticut Newspapers

  • Online Connecticut Newspapers by Town
    Connecticut has a rich newspaper history, with over 2,000 distinct publications since 1755, beginning with the Connecticut Gazette. While they serve genealogists through vital announcements, newspapers also document local events, legal matters, and business updates. A comprehensive list of 258 historical and current newspapers is available online, organized by town and publication date. Some papers, like the Norwich Bulletin, are especially valuable for family history research. For towns without digitized newspapers, exploring nearby options is advised.

Connecticut Vital Records

Online Connecticut Vital Records
Our page links to a variety of sources, both primary and secondary where you may obtain vital records facts about your Connecticut ancestors.

Connecticut Yearbooks

Newington High School Yearbooks 1938-2016
The Sequin, Newington High School yearbook, began with the first graduating class from Newington High School with the edition of the senior high school on Mill Street. The first graduating class of 1938 started many traditions, the Sequin being one of them. The class of 1938 named the yearbook after Sequin, the Sachem of the Wangucks, who sold the land on which Newington stands to the early settlers.