What documents should you check when researching a family in colonial Connecticut? Birth, death and marriage records (often people check the Barbour Collection instead); previous literature on the family; gravestone inscriptions (the Hale Collection); probate files; maybe manuscript or court records? There are two more “must check” sources that genealogists often miss.
The first is church records. Connecticut had an establishment or state church until 1818. While requirements about attendance changed over time, the strong presence of the Congregational Church meant many – even most – families were Congregational by default. That means marriages, burials, and baptisms may have also been recorded in church records. Many Congregational records have been digitized. Visit https://connecticutroots.org/church-records/ to learn more.
The second is land records. In a Connecticut that was largely agricultural, land was often the family’s most valuable asset. They may have taken more care in recording those transactions than they would others. While land records are generally not going to list the exact dates and places of birth, death and marriage, they may indicate family relationships or probate sales, providing a rough date of death. To learn more about accessing land records, visit https://connecticutroots.org/land-records/.
Connecticut Roots by Charter Oak Genealogy 