Connecticut’s county system was abolished 1 October 1960, meaning that no functions are currently managed by the county within the state. In a 1998 memo, Judy A. Watson listed 9 functions of the county government system at its peak: Genealogists will most likely run into county records when researching ancestors who a) interacted with theContinue reading “Connecticut County Records: What do genealogists need to know?”
Author Archives: Bryna O'Sullivan
Is this service right?: Connecticut Revolutionary War ancestor with service from a different town…
This is one of the most common errors I see with Connecticut Revolutionary War service – most often when someone is looking for lineage society membership. They’ve found DAR or SAR qualifying service for an ancestor of that name in Connecticut, somewhere, and believe that service must be for their ancestor. Unfortunately, it’s not thatContinue reading “Is this service right?: Connecticut Revolutionary War ancestor with service from a different town…”
Why do families from Connecticut appear in Presbyterian records when they move to other states?
This had long been a point of confusion. Connecticut families tend to be Congregationalist by default prior to 1818; if they were not, they were often Baptist or Episcopal. Yet, when families migrated to new regions they often ended up in the Presbyterian Church. As it turns out, there’s a reason for the switch. InContinue reading “Why do families from Connecticut appear in Presbyterian records when they move to other states?”
Should tax records be a part of a reasonably exhaustive search in colonial Connecticut research?
Tax records are considered an “important record type” for New England according to ICAPGEN’s New England Regional Guide. Yet, they’re often skipped by researchers. Should tax records be considered a part of a reasonably exhaustive search in colonial Connecticut? In many states, tax records are referenced because they can help determine the structure of theContinue reading “Should tax records be a part of a reasonably exhaustive search in colonial Connecticut research?”
5 Common Mistakes Genealogists Make When Researching Connecticut Families
What collections host Connecticut historic maps?
Historic maps can be a valuable resource for envisioning our ancestors’ worlds, from helping us to see the placements of their residence to envisioning their neighbors. Here are a few of the collections that host Connecticut historic maps:
Connecticut Genealogy on a Budget
Yes, genealogy is never a cheap hobby, but there are affordable resources.
Is ChatGPT reliable for locating Connecticut genealogical records?
ChatGPT has become a popular topic of discussion in genealogy fields. Many genealogists are trying to use it locate historical context or determine where to look for ancestral records. But does it actually work? I ran a test case using the free version as of 25 June 2025. Some of this material is right. SomeContinue reading “Is ChatGPT reliable for locating Connecticut genealogical records?”
My Connecticut immigrant ancestor seems to be missing a vital record. What’s going on?
Connecticut began recording births, deaths, and marriages on the state level on 1 July 1897. In theory that means that any birth, death, or marriage on or after that date should be recorded in both the state vital records office and in the town clerk or health department in the town in which the eventContinue reading “My Connecticut immigrant ancestor seems to be missing a vital record. What’s going on?”
1850-1897: The Years without a Connecticut Vital Records Index
The Barbour Collection covers vital records up to 1850; statewide recording of vital records (and subsequent indexes) starts on 1 July 1897. Between 1850 and 1897, however, you need to know the town where the birth, death or marriage occurred to find the record. These sources can help:
Connecticut Roots by Charter Oak Genealogy 