Bryna O'Sullivan

My Ancestor should have a Connecticut death record, but I can’t find it. Why?

If your ancestor died after 1900, they should have a death record. Connecticut began statewide recording on 1 July 1897, so compliance improved dramatically at that point. Yet, sometimes you still can’t find a record. Very rarely, there is actually not a record. It’s more common to just miss it. Why? There are two commonContinue reading “My Ancestor should have a Connecticut death record, but I can’t find it. Why?”

House of Hope

A trading fort rather than a colony, the House of Hope still played a major role in the settlement of colonial Connecticut. Established in 1633 by the Dutch under Jacob van Culer, the House of Hope was a trading post at the intersection of the Fresh River and the Little River.[1] The site, in today’sContinue reading “House of Hope”

Five Myths about Connecticut Vital Records (colonial period)

Connecticut required the filing of birth, death, and marriage record by the mid-1600s… Yet, the reality of what was recorded and when is a bit complicated. Here are five common myths about Connecticut vital records in the colonial period.

Junior or Senior?

Today, “junior” and “senior” are used to differentiate between direct line family members of the same name, most often father and son. That was not always the case in colonial Connecticut. In a 1979 article – George E. McCracken, “Terms of Relationship in Colonial Times,” The American Genealogist Vol. 55 (1979): 53; digital images, AmericanContinue reading “Junior or Senior?”

Is the Barbour Collection a Derivative Source?

As an index and abstract to pre-1850 Connecticut vital records, the Barbour Collection is popularly used in lineage society applications as “proof” of birth, death and marriage. (For history of the collection and for information on its three “formats,” visit https://connecticutroots.org/2023/07/28/are-there-multiple-versions-of-the-barbour-collection/.) The collection is generally considered to be reliable. Yet, as genealogists, we want toContinue reading “Is the Barbour Collection a Derivative Source?”

Is it a deed or a mortgage?

While there were banks in the United States as early as 1780, they didn’t become common until the late 19th century. That meant if you needed to borrow money to buy a property, you might do it from a friend, a neighbor, or the prior owner. And that can pose a stumbling block to yourContinue reading “Is it a deed or a mortgage?”

How do I develop historical context for a Connecticut ancestor?

Of the genealogical uses of AI currently being discussed is AI’s purported ability to establish historic context. In reality, LLMs aren’t that great at specifics – they’re looking at predictive patterns, so they’re likely to pull in anything strongly associated with the question you asked. In a recent test, that lead to an LLM extensivelyContinue reading “How do I develop historical context for a Connecticut ancestor?”

What was the Land Army – and how did it function in Connecticut?

The Woman’s Land Army of America was created in an effort to address a farm worker shortage during the First World War (“The Woman’s Land Army of America in World War I,” Digital History 511: Theory & Practice). Formally chartered in December 1917 (Weiss, Fruits of Victory, 67-68), the Land Army received a Connecticut chapterContinue reading “What was the Land Army – and how did it function in Connecticut?”

Looking for books on Connecticut history?

American Revolution: Anderson, Virginia DeJohn. The Martyr and The Traitor: Nathan Hale, Moses Dunbar, and the American Revolution. New York: Oxford University Press, 2017. Rees, John U. ‘They Were Good Soldiers’: African-Americans Serving in the Continental Army, 1775-1783. Warwick, England: Helion & Company, 2019. Biography Mahan, Russell. Thomas Leffingwell: The Connecticut Pioneer Who Rescued ChiefContinue reading “Looking for books on Connecticut history?”

What was Saybrook Colony?

The settlement of Saybrook was part of a trading dispute between the English and the Dutch.[1] Seeking to control trade on the Connecticut River, the Dutch had built a trading point at what is now Saybrook Point by 1632.[2] In 1631, the British Earl of Warwick had issued “the Warwick Patent,” giving control ofContinue reading “What was Saybrook Colony?”