Connecticut Public Records
| How
To Search Public and Vital Records -
Vital records are records of life events important enough that
some level of government acquires, organizes, and preserves
them. While the term "vital records" is often applied
to a wide variety of life events... Read
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Connecticut Vital Records
Marriages were recorded in Connecticut as early as 1640. In fact registration
of births, marriages, and deaths had become the town clerk's responsibility
by 1650. Following the Revolution to the mid-nineteenth century, the
recording is not as thorough, but by 1870 when the State Board of
Health was established, recording in all towns improved. To the present,
recording of vital events is the town clerk's responsibility. After
1 July 1897, copies were sent to the State Department of Health.
For birth, marriage and death records from July 1897,
write:
Vital Records
150 Washington Street
Hartford, CT 06106
Tel: 860-566-2334
860-566-1124
URL: http://www.state.ct.us/dph/vr-birth.html
("Vital Records (birth, death, and marriage certificates) held
by the Department of Public Health are currently being microfilmed
and are unavailable at this time. In order to obtain a certificate,
please contact the town clerk of the town or city in which the birth,
death or marriage occurred.")
For previous records, write to the clerk of the town
in question.
or: Connecticut State Library
History & Genealogy Unit
231 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106
Tel: 860-566-3692
Fax: 860-566-2133
E-mail: richardr@cslnet.ctstateu.edu
http://www.cslnet.ctstateu.edu/
Connecticut Land Records
Connecticut is a state-land state. Lands were generally acquired
from town proprietors or from other individuals. The Connecticut
General Assembly had first jurisdiction over the colony and established
town proprietors to meet and make decisions regarding community
life in the town. Land was then divided and sold in lots. Registration
of deed transactions in Connecticut, including the purchases from
proprietors, was the responsibility of the town clerk. Deed books
are found in the town level of jurisdiction rather than the county,
and are generally indexed individually. Town clerks also usually
have comprehensive indexes to grantors and grantees. Formerly microfilmed
only to 1850, the books have now been microfilmed to 1900 and can
be consulted either in the central location at the Connecticut State
Library or through the FHL and its branches. There is no state-wide
index to all deeds, however; they must be searched town-by-town.
Unfortunately, few land records in Connecticut have been published.
Connecticut Court Records
Court records entail probate records, guardianship, naturalization,
and a wide variety of other sources. It should be remembered that
there are different levels of jurisdiction for courts in the United
States, all of which should be considered for research under various
circumstances. Court of Common Pleas, Orphan's Court, Probate Court,
District Court, Superior Court, and Supreme Court. See: "Research
in Court Records" by Arlene H. Eakle, found in Loretto Dennis
Szucs and Sandra Hargreaves Luebking, eds., The Source: A Guidebook
to American Genealogy, rev. ed. (Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1997).
Connecticut Military Records
Connecticut's military records, starting with King Philip's War,
have been published and are widely available. The Connecticut Historical
Society has a large collection of military documents and manuscripts,
and the Connecticut State Library maintains a card file on veteran's
deaths with place of burial. Some of the more helpful publications
include:
Shepard, James. Connecticut Soldiers in the Pequot
War of 1637. Meridan, CT: Journal Publishing Company, 1913.
"Rolls of Connecticut Men in the French and
Indian War, 1755–1762." Collections of the Connecticut
Historical Society. Vol. IX and X. Hartford: Connecticut Historical
Society, 1903–05.
Connecticut Adjutant-General. Record of Service of
Connecticut Men in the War of the Revolution, War of 1812, Mexican
War. Hartford: Connecticut General Assembly, 1889.
Connecticut Adjutant-General. Record of Service of
Connecticut Men in the Army and Navy of the United States During
the War of Rebellion. Hartford: Case, Lockwood and Brainard Co.,
1889.
Neagles, James C. U.S. Military Records: A Guide
to Federal and State Sources. Salt Lake City: Ancestry, Inc., 1994.
Additional Sources
Parks, Roger, ed. Connecticut: A Bibliography of its History. Hanover,
CT: University Press of New England, 1986.
Abbe, Elizabeth. "Conneticut Genealogical Research:
Sources and Suggestions," The New England Historical and Genealogical
Register 134 (January 1980): 3-26.
Kemp, Thomas Jay. Connecticut Researcher's Handbook.
Detroit: Gale Research Co., 1981. (This guidebook provides a solid
bibliography by subject and a town-by-town description of resources
available.)
Sperry, Kip. Connecticut Sources for Family Historians
and Genealogists. Logan, UT: Everton Publishers, 1980.
Connecticut Vital
Records:
Event: Birth or death
Cost of copy: $5.00
Address: See remarks
Remarks: Certified copies are not available from
State Office. Requests must be submitted to town where event occurred.
PLEASE NOTE: A photocopy of picture identification
must be submitted with any request for a birth certificate.
Check or money order should be made payable to town
where the event occurred.
Search All Connecticut Records
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Event: Marriage
Cost of copy: $5.00
Address: See remarks
Remarks: Same as above.
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Event: Marriage (city/town)
Address: See remarks
Remarks: Same as above.
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Event: Divorce (court)
Address: See remarks
Remarks: Applicant must contact Clerk of Superior
Court where divorce was granted. State office does not have divorce
decrees and cannot issue certified copies.
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