Just getting started researching a Connecticut ancestor? Here are five of my favorite research “secrets.” There’s no such thing as “New England genealogy”: Yes, there are some common patterns among the different New England states due to shared heritage (many originated from MA Bay Colony), but they are different states. If you assume common recordContinue reading “5 Secrets of Connecticut Genealogy from a Professional Genealogist”
Category Archives: Resources
5 Tips for Connecting With Cousins: Finding Descendants of a Connecticut Ancestor
Connecting with cousins can be one of the best parts of genealogy research. Building a connection can not only help you find new family artifacts, but also meet new people interested in the same topics you are. So how do you find cousins who also share your Connecticut ancestors?1. Take advantage of queries: Popular inContinue reading “5 Tips for Connecting With Cousins: Finding Descendants of a Connecticut Ancestor”
5 Tips for a Successful Town Hall Trip
If a town hall is on your next onsite Connecticut research trip “to visit” list, these five tips can make the process a little easier: Explore FamilySearch, Ancestry, the Connecticut State Library and the town’s website first: Many Connecticut vital records; probate records; land records; newspapers and gravestone transcriptions have already been digitized. A reviewContinue reading “5 Tips for a Successful Town Hall Trip”
Need help to better understand the sources used in Connecticut genealogy?
Finding the sources that discuss your ancestor is only part of the puzzle. To use them effectively, you need to understand how the source was created and why so that you understand what was put, in what was left out, and more. Four websites can be especially helpful for developing context. ConnecticutHistory.org: A product ofContinue reading “Need help to better understand the sources used in Connecticut genealogy?”
Is treating Connecticut genealogy as “New England genealogy” really the best approach?
Regional genealogy is becoming increasingly popular in professional genealogy, both as a way to establish professional expertise and to teach. While not a new concept, the idea has begun to supplant a state centered focus over the last decade or so. Instead of focusing on Connecticut, the genealogist using regional genealogy focuses on New EnglandContinue reading “Is treating Connecticut genealogy as “New England genealogy” really the best approach?”
5 Tips for Using FamilySearch for Researching Connecticut Ancestors
I hear often from researchers that they’ve started researching their Connecticut family on specific genealogy websites and skipped FamilySearch because it feels hard to use. They’ve accidentally missed one of the best resources for digitized Connecticut genealogy records (and more). While FamilySearch is a challenging to navigate website, learning how to use it can makeContinue reading “5 Tips for Using FamilySearch for Researching Connecticut Ancestors”
5 Websites to Try for Researching Connecticut Genealogy
When you’re getting started researching ancestors living in a new area, it can be easy to stick to familiar websites and databases. That may serve you well in some cases. In others, it may result in missing out on valuable educational opportunities and family records. Here are five new websites to try for researching ConnecticutContinue reading “5 Websites to Try for Researching Connecticut Genealogy”
How do I find my Connecticut ancestor’s obituary?
An obituary can be a valuable resource for genealogical research. Obituaries often list information on major life events, family relationships, and more. How do you find one for your Connecticut ancestor? Obituaries as we think of them today begin in the late 19th century. Prior to that, Connecticut newspapers tended to provide what are calledContinue reading “How do I find my Connecticut ancestor’s obituary?”
Connecticut County Records: What do genealogists need to know?
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: operate homes for neglected and abandoned children, administer widow’s aid, grant liquor licenses and collect fees,Continue reading “Connecticut County Records: What do genealogists need to know?”
5 Common Mistakes Genealogists Make When Researching Connecticut Families
Not paying attention to who holds what records and how to access them. If you’ve started your research outside of New England, Connecticut’s records storage system is going to seem strange. From vital records to be stored on the town level to district probate courts, Connecticut has its own unique systems. Taking some time learnContinue reading “5 Common Mistakes Genealogists Make When Researching Connecticut Families”
