Author Archives: Bryna O'Sullivan

Two “Must Check” Sources Most Genealogists Miss When Researching Colonial Connecticut

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 isContinue reading “Two “Must Check” Sources Most Genealogists Miss When Researching Colonial Connecticut”

What’s a literature search – and why does it matter for researching your Connecticut ancestors?

Literature searches aren’t talked about much in genealogy anymore… A quick internet search returned blog entries from 2012-2015 but not much more recent. Yet, it’s still a valuable starting point for Connecticut genealogy projects, especially for colonial research. … and once you’ve finished your research, perhaps it’s time to consider adding your own literature toContinue reading “What’s a literature search – and why does it matter for researching your Connecticut ancestors?”

Connecticut land record not in land records or probate? It might be a minister’s lease…

Until 1818, the Congregational Church was the established church of the state of Connecticut. As part of the governance of the church, the local community was expected to “settle a minister.” This meant finding a minister, paying their salary, and more. Sometimes, it meant granting or leasing them land. Fowler’s History of Durham, Connecticut recountsContinue reading “Connecticut land record not in land records or probate? It might be a minister’s lease…”

Myth or Truth: Were Connecticut men of color conscripted as body servants under the 1780 quota act?

Based on the available evidence, this is a myth. To learn more about the 1780 quota act, see a prior blog post. In short, the quota act required “classes” or subgroups of militia in each town to provide “a good able-bodied effective recruit” to serve on the Continental Line. The wording of the act stronglyContinue reading “Myth or Truth: Were Connecticut men of color conscripted as body servants under the 1780 quota act?”

Historical Societies and Researching Your Connecticut Ancestor

One of the more frustrating moments in research is when a genealogist contacts a historical society about governmental records. Connecticut’s historical societies don’t typically hold governmental records (although some have ended up with records through transfers, dumpster diving and more)… How can they help with your genealogy research? … and more… While Connecticut’s historical societiesContinue reading “Historical Societies and Researching Your Connecticut Ancestor”

Born in Connecticut, died in New York?: Effectively Researching 18th and early 19th Century Migratory Connecticut Ancestors

Does the death record of your New York, Ohio, or Michigan ancestor list a birth place of Connecticut? Is there a profile in a county history listing a county of birth? It’s common for researchers to use that information to try to leap right into researching in Connecticut records… You shouldn’t. To start, you don’tContinue reading “Born in Connecticut, died in New York?: Effectively Researching 18th and early 19th Century Migratory Connecticut Ancestors”

What did your ancestor’s Connecticut farm look like?

I’ve spent a lot of time explaining why New England farms are different from farms in the Midwest over the last few weeks. Since the reasons are grounded in history and can help you better understand why your ancestor’s farm did or did not look a certain way, I thought a blog post might beContinue reading “What did your ancestor’s Connecticut farm look like?”

Prince Mortimer of Middletown (purportedly 1724-1834): Examining Claims of Revolutionary War Service

                 Since the 2006 release of Denis Caron’s A Century in Captivity: The Life and Trials of Prince Mortimer, a Connecticut Slave, discussion of the life of Prince Mortimer of Middletown has largely centered around the trial for attempted murder that resulted in Mortimer’s imprisonment in Old New-Gate Prison.[1] Yet some studies of Mortimer haveContinue reading “Prince Mortimer of Middletown (purportedly 1724-1834): Examining Claims of Revolutionary War Service”

Rethinking the Historical Approach: Using Genealogy to Tell the Story of a Veteran of Color, Pvt. Sharp Liberty, Connecticut Continental Line

Rethinking the Approach In recent years, scholars of Connecticut history have begun to grapple with the prior discussions of the participation of Connecticut soldiers of color in the American Revolution. As one historiographical study notes, the easy accessibility of two problematic texts on the subject online poses potential issues to future research. The author describesContinue reading “Rethinking the Historical Approach: Using Genealogy to Tell the Story of a Veteran of Color, Pvt. Sharp Liberty, Connecticut Continental Line”