History – Page 2 – Connecticut Roots by Charter Oak Genealogy

What sources do you need to check to answer a question about an ancestor in colonial Connecticut?

If you’ve done genealogy for long enough, you’ve probably heard mention of the “Genealogical Proof Standard” and the idea of “reasonably exhaustive research.” That standard is designed to help genealogists ensure that their conclusions are well reasoned and based on an accurate reading of the evidence. Reasonably exhaustive research means that you’ve checked all ofContinue reading “What sources do you need to check to answer a question about an ancestor in colonial Connecticut?”

What was the 1780 quota act – and why does it matter?

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the several towns within this State shall forthwith choose a committee who shall divide all the inhabitants thereof, who give in a list or are included in any militia roll, either of the trainband, alarm list or companies of horse, into as many classes accordingContinue reading “What was the 1780 quota act – and why does it matter?”

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”

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?”

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”