Category Archives: Uncategorized

My French-Canadian ancestor isn’t recorded in Connecticut vital records. How do I document their birth, marriage, or death?

Connecticut’s statewide “compliance date” for birth, death, and marriage records is 1 July 1897. Yet, it’s not unheard of to have a hard time finding vital records after that time period for an immigrant ancestor and can be very hard before, even though records were technically required. Why? There are two common reasons for missingContinue reading “My French-Canadian ancestor isn’t recorded in Connecticut vital records. How do I document their birth, marriage, or death?”

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”

Connecticut Statutes: Resources for Genealogy

Understanding the law that lead to the creation of genealogical records can be crucial in understanding the record. The law can help explain who was named in a record, why, and how. It can explain who was left out. It can also point us to records we may not have seen yet. So how doContinue reading “Connecticut Statutes: Resources for Genealogy”

Should tax records be a part of a reasonably exhaustive search in colonial Connecticut research?

Tax records are considered an “important record type” for New England according to ICAPGEN’s New England Regional Guide. Yet, they’re often skipped by researchers. Should tax records be considered a part of a reasonably exhaustive search in colonial Connecticut? In many states, tax records are referenced because they can help determine the structure of theContinue reading “Should tax records be a part of a reasonably exhaustive search in colonial Connecticut research?”

Is ChatGPT reliable for locating Connecticut genealogical records?

ChatGPT has become a popular topic of discussion in genealogy fields. Many genealogists are trying to use it locate historical context or determine where to look for ancestral records. But does it actually work? I ran a test case using the free version as of 25 June 2025. Some of this material is right. SomeContinue reading “Is ChatGPT reliable for locating Connecticut genealogical records?”

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?”

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?”