Connecticut required vital records beginning in the 1640s on the town level and on the state level beginning on 1 July 1897. Yet, for some families, you may not find birth records until the 1910s. Where do you look next?
Church records.
Connecticut had a state church until 1818, so many colonial families were Congregational by default. The Church Record Abstract Collection can help you pinpoint the correct church. Not every church was included in the collection, as it covers only about 25% of what was received by the State Library. The records of other churches that were received by the State Library have been digitized by FamilySearch and can be accessed by searching the relevant town in the catalog. For a list of those churches, see https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/108575-list-of-church-records-in-the-connecticut-state-library. (If your ancestor’s church is not included, the records may be still held locally.)
By about 1750, Episcopal and Baptist churches had a presence in the state. Some records are held by the State Library. The remainder are likely still at the churches. The Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut has an archives, which may be able to assist with questions.
The Catholic Church becomes active in the 1840s. Access policies will depend on the diocese. (More to follow…)
Connecticut Roots by Charter Oak Genealogy 