In the 1640s, England fell into Civil War over the rule of Charles I. After much conflict, Charles was executed in January 1649. Oliver Cromwell took over, essentially pushing England into a military dictatorship. The monarchy was restored in May 1660, with Charles II. The Wars impacted Connecticut in two ways. First, some of thoseContinue reading “What were the English Civil Wars, and how did they impact Connecticut?”
Author Archives: Bryna O'Sullivan
Tax list or grand list?
Tax lists of all kinds can provide a valuable resource for documenting residency, particularly in colonial or early American Connecticut. Because Connecticut collects property taxes on the town level, finding someone in the tax lists is a good indication that they lived or at minimum owned property in that area. Yet, it’s important to realizeContinue reading “Tax list or grand list?”
Westmoreland County, Connecticut
Founded in 1753, the Susquehanna Company sought to permit European settlement near the Susquehanna River using an argument that the area was granted in Connecticut’s 1662 charter. (Jackson Kuhl, “The Incredibly Convoluted History of Westmoreland County, Connecticut,” Journal of the American Revolution, 29 October 2014 (https://allthingsliberty.com/2014/10/the-incredibly-convoluted-history-of-westmoreland-county-connecticut/: accessed 18 April 2024). Settlement in the area beganContinue reading “Westmoreland County, Connecticut”
What is historiography, and how might it impact your Connecticut genealogy research?
Historiography’s definition is much debated, but those definitions proposed all have some overlap. In a library guide, Princeton librarian for History and African American Studies Steven Knowlton explains historiography as “In the broadest sense […] the study of the history of history (as it is described by historians). ” In 2007 article, Caroline Hoefferle explainedContinue reading “What is historiography, and how might it impact your Connecticut genealogy research?”
Connecticut Congregational Church Records
Because the Congregational Church was the “state church” of Connecticut until the Constitution of 1818, many Connecticut ancestors were Congregational by default. As a result, Congregational Church records should be part of your search. In the early 20th century, the Connecticut State Library began a project to preserve church records. They asked churches to submitContinue reading “Connecticut Congregational Church Records”
Resources for finding the burial of a veteran ancestor in Connecticut
Looking to discover where a veteran ancestor is buried? Connecticut and national repositories maintain resources that can help. The Nationwide Gravesite Locator lists veterans buried in national cemeteries or in a private cemetery with a military headstone. The SAR has a cemetery search option that includes Revolutionary War ancestors they consider qualifying. The State LibraryContinue reading “Resources for finding the burial of a veteran ancestor in Connecticut”
Do I need an affiliate to access these Connecticut records on FamilySearch?
FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/en/united-states/) has done an amazing job of making images of older Connecticut records accessible for free through the website. However, not everything will be accessible from home. When FamilySearch signs a contract to digitize records, they receive different levels of permission to share. Some of their contracts permit sharing from home, some from an affiliateContinue reading “Do I need an affiliate to access these Connecticut records on FamilySearch?”
How do I find a professional genealogist to assist with my Connecticut genealogy research?
Is one of your New Year’s Resolutions hiring professional help to finish your Connecticut genealogy research project? There are four organizations with directories you can use to find professional genealogists who specialize in Connecticut research. (The membership of the New England Chapter Association of Professional Genealogists overlaps with that of APG.) Things to consider whenContinue reading “How do I find a professional genealogist to assist with my Connecticut genealogy research?”
Connecticut Villages: What do you need to know?
Connecticut historically had a village system. Villages – which often included churches, stores, schools and more – were typically organized either (in the 18th and early 19th century) around a church or later, around industrial centers. As much of life revolved around what they experienced in the villages, our ancestor may have listed the villageContinue reading “Connecticut Villages: What do you need to know?”
The Connecticut town boundaries have changed. How do I find my ancestor’s land records?
Connecticut land records are stored in the town in which the property was located at the time the transaction occurred. They do not move as town lines change. How do you find your ancestor’s land records? If you know where the property is located today, there’s a webpage created by the Connecticut State Library thatContinue reading “The Connecticut town boundaries have changed. How do I find my ancestor’s land records?”
Connecticut Roots by Charter Oak Genealogy 