Author Archives: Bryna O'Sullivan

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”

5 Crucial Dates in 17th Century Colonial Connecticut History That May Impact Your Genealogy

The records of your ancestors are shaped by what was happening around them. Sometimes that was changes in law; sometimes changes in politics; sometimes warfare; something else. Here are five crucial dates in the history of 17th century colonial Connecticut that may impact your genealogy research: What else was happening in this period? King Philip’sContinue reading “5 Crucial Dates in 17th Century Colonial Connecticut History That May Impact Your Genealogy”

Veteran’s Death Index

A project of the Connecticut State Library, the Veteran’s Death Index can be helpful for documenting service or veteran burial locations through the early 1980s. Cards may include the veteran’s name, war, age, death and burial location, service information, and source of the information. Cards may cover both in state burials and out of stateContinue reading “Veteran’s Death Index”

Land Records: Key Part of Colonial Connecticut Research

Land records are often the last record a genealogist checks. They can be challenging to navigate, and there’s a significant chance they do not indicate relationships. Yet, especially in colonial Connecticut, they are a must check document for one simple reason: land was key to a family’s survival. In an agrarian society, land was aContinue reading “Land Records: Key Part of Colonial Connecticut Research”

What is coverture, and why does it matter?

Coverture or coverture is a legal principle of English common law that was commonly applied in colonial America: it essentially made a married woman a part of her husband’s legal entity. Connecticut did not begin to chip away at the principle until the mid-19th century. Prior to that point, a married woman was subject toContinue reading “What is coverture, and why does it matter?”