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.
Tag Archives: Connecticut
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?”
What were the English Civil Wars, and how did they impact Connecticut?
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?”
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”
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”
Connecticut Roots by Charter Oak Genealogy 