Connecticut Genealogical Records

Connecticut Birth & Baptism Records

United Methodist Church Records (1787-1922)

Baptism, marriage, death, membership, and other religious records from congregations throughout New England.

Connecticut Church Record Abstracts (1630-1920)

Transcripts of over 760,000 admission, baptisms, deaths, dismissions, marriages and other events from Connecticut church records.

Mayflower Births & Deaths (1620-1890)

This database contains birth and death details for descendants of passengers on the Mayflower, the first ship brining settlers to the region. There are close to 50,000 names included, in some cases extending to 8th generation descendants.

The New England Historical & Genealogical Register (1847-2011)

Searchable editions of a distinguished family history journal. It covers histories, compiled genealogies, indexes, biographical sketches, abstracts of wills, birth records, marriage records, death records, lists of early settlers, memoirs and remembrances, pedigrees, entries from journals, letters, descendant reports, copied church records, inscriptions from headstones, proceedings of historical societies, and notifications of books recently published on genealogy, among other items.

Connecticut Town Birth Records (1635-1870)

A finding aid, listing vital details from over 250,000 Connecticut town birth records.

Connecticut Marriage & Divorce Records

Connecticut Divorce Index (1968-1997)

An index to around 325,000 divorces filed in the state, including the names of the husband and wife, their: number of marriages, education level, date and place of birth, date and place of marriage, date of separation, number of children, plaintiff, to whom custody of the children was granted, court, grounds for divorce and more.

United Methodist Church Records (1787-1922)

Baptism, marriage, death, membership, and other religious records from congregations throughout New England.

Connecticut Church Record Abstracts (1630-1920)

Transcripts of over 760,000 admission, baptisms, deaths, dismissions, marriages and other events from Connecticut church records.

Early New England Marriages (1620-1700)

A work listing the names of most married couples living in New England before 1700, including their marriage date, date of birth of first child, maiden name of wife, years of death, previous or latter marriages and residence.

Connecticut Divorce Index (1960-2010)

Abstracts of records concerning around 85,000 divorces, including names, dates and places of birth, residences, number of marriages, date of divorce, particulars of marriage, particulars of separation, grounds for divorce, number of children, who gained custody of children and a reference which can be used to order original records.

Connecticut Death & Burial Records

United Methodist Church Records (1787-1922)

Baptism, marriage, death, membership, and other religious records from congregations throughout New England.

Connecticut Deaths and Burials Index (1650-1934)

An index of 1.9 million death and burial records, which may include name, gender, race, date and place of birth, occupation, residence, spouse's name, date and place of death/burial, parents' names and parents' birthplaces.

Connecticut Church Record Abstracts (1630-1920)

Transcripts of over 760,000 admission, baptisms, deaths, dismissions, marriages and other events from Connecticut church records.

Mayflower Births & Deaths (1620-1890)

This database contains birth and death details for descendants of passengers on the Mayflower, the first ship brining settlers to the region. There are close to 50,000 names included, in some cases extending to 8th generation descendants.

Connecticut Death Index (1949-2012)

An index of over 1.7 million deaths recorded in Connecticut, including name, gender, race, date and place of death, residence, age, marital status and more. The index can be used to locate original records, which will contain further details.

Connecticut Census & Population Lists

Connecticut Military Census (1917-1918)

Questionnaires filled out by Connecticut men aged 16+, including name, PO address, occupation, age, marital status, number of dependants, citizenship, military service and disabilities.

Connecticut Census & Substitutes Index (1790-1890)

An index to names extracted from federal censuses, a pensioners list and a veterans list.

US WWII Old Man's Draft Registration (1942)

Records registering over 15 million men born between 1877 and 1897, including name, age, birth date and place, residence, employer, and physical description.

1940 United States Census (1940)

A name index and digital images of registers recording almost 135 million people living in the United States. The registers record age, place of birth, relationships, occupations and more.

1930 United States Census (1930)

An index to 125 million people living in the United States, linked to registers recording their age, place of birth, family relationships and more.

Newspapers Covering Connecticut

Connecticut Newspaper Notices (1832-1867)

An index to several hundred-thousand names appearing in Connecticut newspapers.

Newspaper Archive: US (1753-Present)

Text-searchable editions of over 7,500 newspaper titles from the United States, containing 2 billion articles and over 100 million obituaries.

Newspapers.com (1728-Present)

A growing collection of text-searchable, digitalised newspapers from the United States of America. Contains thousands of titles and over 100 million pages.

Genealogy Bank Newspapers (1690-Present)

Text-searchable editions of and over 250 million obituaries and death notices extracted from over 7,500 United States newspaper titles.

US Quaker Periodicals (1828-1929)

This database contains digitized volumes of more than 60 Quaker publications, including some foreign-language periodicals. Names have been indexed from a variety of articles including births, marriage notices, obituaries, officers, missionaries, committee members, names of people who have moved, and other references to members of the Society of Friends.

Connecticut Wills & Probate Records

Connecticut Wills & Probate Records (1609-1999)

An index to and images of more than 320,000 wills and probate documents. They typically record details of the deceased's relatives; and sometimes describe real and personal property, sentiments, convictions, intended places of burial and more.

The New England Historical & Genealogical Register (1847-2011)

Searchable editions of a distinguished family history journal. It covers histories, compiled genealogies, indexes, biographical sketches, abstracts of wills, birth records, marriage records, death records, lists of early settlers, memoirs and remembrances, pedigrees, entries from journals, letters, descendant reports, copied church records, inscriptions from headstones, proceedings of historical societies, and notifications of books recently published on genealogy, among other items.

Mayflower Deeds and Probates (1660-1850)

Transcriptions from wills, deeds, probates, and inventories of Mayflower (and other) colonists and their descendants.

British Inheritance Disputes Index (1574-1714)

An index to almost 78,000 wills that were disputed. The index can lead you to documents that may shed a great deal of genealogical information as disputes often arose between siblings and cousins.

Genealogical Gleanings in England Vol. I (1400-1650)

Abstracts of English wills that are connected to early American families. In addition, it contains genealogical notes and pedigrees, maps, tabular charts, illustrations, and an index of 30,000 names as well as a fifty-one page index of places, with details of where many of the early families settled.

Connecticut Immigration & Travel Records

New England: The Great Migration (1620-1635)

Over one-thousand detailed biographies of early migrants to New England.

New England Passenger and Crew Lists (1911-1954)

An index to and images of passenger lists recording the arrival of 180,000 passengers at New England ports. May include details such as age, gender, race, physical description and more.

New England Petitions for Naturalisation Index (1791-1906)

An index to 100,000 records detailing the naturalisation of immigrants by New England courts. Original records will contain further details.

Hartford, Connecticut, Passenger and Crew Lists (1957-1962)

An index to and images of lists recording the arrival of around 4,000 passengers and crew arriving in Hartford by ship or plane. Details may include name, age, gender, physical description, occupation, birthplace, citizen of what country, and residence.

New York Passenger and Crew Lists (1909-1957)

Digital images of registers recording the arrival of passengers and crew at New York harbour. Varying details are included, such as name, age, gender, occupation, nationality, race, last place of residence, intended place of residence and more. The registers can be searched by a name index of over 28 million names.

Connecticut Military Records

Connecticut Military Census (1917-1918)

Questionnaires filled out by Connecticut men aged 16+, including name, PO address, occupation, age, marital status, number of dependants, citizenship, military service and disabilities.

Connecticut, Military Questionnaires (1919-1920)

An index to and images of over 13,000 questionnaires filled out by Connecticut soldiers (or their families) who served in World War I. They may include name, date and place of birth, country of citizenship, church affiliation, parents' places of birth, name of spouse, details of children, occupation prior to service, employer, address, prior residence, date and place of induction, unit, rank, service history and personal experiences of the war in Europe.

Connecticut WWI Service Rosters (1917-1919)

Details of over 65,000 Connecticut men and women who served in the military, including name, service history, birth date, rank, where they served, and notes regarding discharge or death.

Registers of Deaths of Union Volunteers (1861-1865)

An index and digital images of registers listing the deaths of around 250,000 Union soldiers. The registers list name, rank, company, date and place of death, cause of death and miscellaneous notes.

Connecticut Servicemen in the Spanish American War (1898-1904)

This database lists the men who served from Connecticut in the war, the Philippine Insurrection and the China Relief Expedition between 21 April 1898 and 4 July 1904.

US Passport Applications (1795-1925)

Digital images of applications for passports, which list name, date and place of birth, father's particulars, immigration and naturalisation details, residence, occupation, photograph and more. Searchable by a name index.

US Social Security Applications & Claims Index (1936-2007)

An index to 49 million applications and claims for social security. The index includes name, SSN, date and place of birth, nation of citizenship, gender, father's name, mother's maiden name and race.

FBI Case Files (1908-1922)

Over 2.3 million records from investigations of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

US Pension Office Correspondence (1889-1904)

Name index and images of the name and subject index to correspondence of the Records and Pension office. Searchable by an index of almost 800,000 names.

US Freed Slaves to Liberia Records (1817-1964)

An index to and images of correspondence, account books, annual reports, news clippings and other documents relating to freed slaves in the US who settled in Liberia.

Connecticut Taxation Records

IRS Tax Assessment Lists (1862-1918)

An index to and digital images of registers recording 8.8 million instances of taxation. The records list the name of the person or business being taxed: their address and details tax assessed and paid.

Connecticut Land & Property Records

Mayflower Deeds and Probates (1660-1850)

Transcriptions from wills, deeds, probates, and inventories of Mayflower (and other) colonists and their descendants.

County Land Ownership Maps (1860-1918)

Various maps and documents listing and delineating around 7 million land plots and their owners. Searchable by a name index.

Historic Land Ownership and Reference Atlases (1507-2000)

This database is a collection of maps and atlases detailing land areas that comprise the present-day United States and Canada, as well as various other parts of the world.

Union Army Provost Marshals' Papers (1861-1867)

Over 235,000 documents relating to Union prisoners, legal proceedings, oaths, land forfeitures and more.

Revolutionary War Pension & Bounty-Land Applications (1800-1900)

An index to and digital images of around 80,000 applications for pensions or grants to public lands in lieu of military service. Some applications may contain over 200 pages of information.

Connecticut Directories & Gazetteers

Connecticut State Register (1924)

A listing of over thirty-one thousand state and municipal employees of the State of Connecticut for the year of 1924.

Conn River Valley Commercial & Tourist Guide (1875)

Images from a book, searchable by a text index, that lists important information about the area and the names of residents and businesses.

Connecticut Bus Directory (1874)

A directory listing information about buses in the state.

Merwin's Connecticut River Business Directory (1867)

A searchable book containing information relating to the area, its residents and businesses.

Connecticut Business Directory (1866-1873)

Images from books, searchable by a text index, that lists important information about the area and the names of residents and businesses.

Connecticut Cemeteries

Connecticut Cemetery Inscriptions (1629-1934)

Transcriptions of around 1 million headstones in Connecticut.

The New England Historical & Genealogical Register (1847-2011)

Searchable editions of a distinguished family history journal. It covers histories, compiled genealogies, indexes, biographical sketches, abstracts of wills, birth records, marriage records, death records, lists of early settlers, memoirs and remembrances, pedigrees, entries from journals, letters, descendant reports, copied church records, inscriptions from headstones, proceedings of historical societies, and notifications of books recently published on genealogy, among other items.

US Veteran's Gravesites (1775-2008)

A database containing details of the burial of 7.6 million US military veterans. Entries may contain details of birth, next of kin and more.

Billion Graves (1200-Present)

Photographs and transcriptions of millions of gravestones from cemeteries around the world.

US Cemetery & Funeral Home Collection (1777-Present)

A growing collection of millions of funeral and cemetery record transcriptions, including obituaries and names of relatives.

Connecticut Obituaries

Newspaper Archive: US (1753-Present)

Text-searchable editions of over 7,500 newspaper titles from the United States, containing 2 billion articles and over 100 million obituaries.

US Cemetery & Funeral Home Collection (1777-Present)

A growing collection of millions of funeral and cemetery record transcriptions, including obituaries and names of relatives.

US Obituary Collection (1700-Present)

A growing database containing 10s of millions of abstract obituaries with a reference to the publication it occurred in and a link to the full obituary if available online.

Genealogy Bank Newspapers (1690-Present)

Text-searchable editions of and over 250 million obituaries and death notices extracted from over 7,500 United States newspaper titles.

Daily Obituary Digest (1995-Present)

A growing index to more than 16 million obituaries, citing name, age, residence and source publication.

Connecticut Histories & Books

The New England Historical & Genealogical Register (1847-2011)

Searchable editions of a distinguished family history journal. It covers histories, compiled genealogies, indexes, biographical sketches, abstracts of wills, birth records, marriage records, death records, lists of early settlers, memoirs and remembrances, pedigrees, entries from journals, letters, descendant reports, copied church records, inscriptions from headstones, proceedings of historical societies, and notifications of books recently published on genealogy, among other items.

The American Gazetteer (1798)

One of the earliest attempt to form a comprehensive dictionary of places in The Americas.

Mary Evans Picture Library (2000 BC-Present)

A database of over 300,000 photos, etchings, engravings and other mediums depicting places and events in the British Isles and the rest of the world.

Ancestry Member Stories (6000 BC-Present)

Over 7 million remembrances and historic details submitted by Ancestry members. Useful for local historians.

Ancestry Member Photos & Documents (6000 BC-Present)

Over 60 million historic photographs and documents submitted to Ancestry. This rich collection contains many rare sources of interest to local historians and will be relevant to most genealogical research.

Connecticut School & Education Records

Annals of Yale College With Biographical Sketches (1701-1815)

A detailed chronological history of the College with biographies of graduates from the first 114 years of the institution.

US School Yearbooks (1880-2012)

A growing index to over 300 million entries in middle school, junior high, high school, and college yearbooks linked to digital images of the yearbook pages. Yearbooks usually include name and photo, but may include biographical data, such as family relations, academic achievements and hobbies.

US School Yearbooks (1880-2012)

An index to and digital images of over 20,000 year books, listing details of schools, students and staff. Many contain photographs.

US School Catalogues (1765-1935)

A variety of publications listing names of students, faculty, alumni, and others associated with US universities, seminaries and theological institutes, normal schools, medical schools, academies, military schools, etc. Records include catalogues, obituary records and necrologies, class histories, speeches and addresses, commencement exercises, class reports, registers, prospectus, circulars, proceedings, annual reports, magazines and other documents.

High School Student Lists (1821-1923)

Digital images of a variety of publications listing the names of students, faculty, alumni, and others associated primarily with preparatory and similar schools, including academies, high schools, seminaries, reform schools, institutes, industrial schools, military academies, dance schools, grammar schools, Latin schools and others. Searchable by an index of around 650,000 names.

Connecticut Occupation & Business Records

Connecticut State Register (1924)

A listing of over thirty-one thousand state and municipal employees of the State of Connecticut for the year of 1924.

Connecticut School Age Certificates (1904-1911)

An index and images of close to 11,000 certificates of proof of age, including name, date and town of issue, date and place of birth, parents' names and evidence provided as proof of age.

FBI Case Files (1908-1922)

Over 2.3 million records from investigations of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

US Federal Census Non-Population Schedules (1850-1880)

An index and digital images of schedules recording statistical data concerning agriculture, industry, social and other areas. Includes many people and businesses.

Register of Civil Military & Naval Service (1863-1959)

Registers include the name of each government employee, office held, where employed, where born, whence appointed, and pay received, as well as information regarding the Navy, such as names and conditions of all ships and vessels belonging to the United States and when and where they were built.

Pedigrees & Family Trees Covering Connecticut

Mayflower Births & Deaths (1620-1890)

This database contains birth and death details for descendants of passengers on the Mayflower, the first ship brining settlers to the region. There are close to 50,000 names included, in some cases extending to 8th generation descendants.

The New England Historical & Genealogical Register (1847-2011)

Searchable editions of a distinguished family history journal. It covers histories, compiled genealogies, indexes, biographical sketches, abstracts of wills, birth records, marriage records, death records, lists of early settlers, memoirs and remembrances, pedigrees, entries from journals, letters, descendant reports, copied church records, inscriptions from headstones, proceedings of historical societies, and notifications of books recently published on genealogy, among other items.

Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage Books (1620-1938)

Pedigrees of women who were descendants of one or more servicemen of The American Revolutionary War. Contains 100,000s of names.

FamilySearch Community Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.

Colonial Families in the US (1600-1920)

Genealogical charts, and coats of arms where appropriate, of prominent families in America's early history.

Connecticut Royalty, Nobility & Heraldry Records

FamilySearch Community Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.

History of England Society & Government (56 BC-1867)

A lengthy history of England detailing the country's connection to the U.S.A. Includes much detail on royalty, nobility and other historical figures of note.

Connecticut Church Records

United Methodist Church Records (1787-1922)

Baptism, marriage, death, membership, and other religious records from congregations throughout New England.

Connecticut Church Record Abstracts (1630-1920)

Transcripts of over 760,000 admission, baptisms, deaths, dismissions, marriages and other events from Connecticut church records.

The New England Historical & Genealogical Register (1847-2011)

Searchable editions of a distinguished family history journal. It covers histories, compiled genealogies, indexes, biographical sketches, abstracts of wills, birth records, marriage records, death records, lists of early settlers, memoirs and remembrances, pedigrees, entries from journals, letters, descendant reports, copied church records, inscriptions from headstones, proceedings of historical societies, and notifications of books recently published on genealogy, among other items.

CN, NY, NJ & PA Church Records Survey (1900)

Details of records held by selected churches in the states on Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

US Quaker Meeting Records (1681-1935)

An index to and digital images of documents recording almost 6 million names. They include registers of births, marriages and deaths; lists of members; movement of members between congregations; records of discipline; disownment; burials and more.

Biographical Directories Covering Connecticut

New England: The Great Migration (1620-1635)

Over one-thousand detailed biographies of early migrants to New England.

Annals of Yale College With Biographical Sketches (1701-1815)

A detailed chronological history of the College with biographies of graduates from the first 114 years of the institution.

The New England Historical & Genealogical Register (1847-2011)

Searchable editions of a distinguished family history journal. It covers histories, compiled genealogies, indexes, biographical sketches, abstracts of wills, birth records, marriage records, death records, lists of early settlers, memoirs and remembrances, pedigrees, entries from journals, letters, descendant reports, copied church records, inscriptions from headstones, proceedings of historical societies, and notifications of books recently published on genealogy, among other items.

Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans (1904)

A ten volume work containing close to 20,000 biographies of notable Americans.

American Biographical Library (1774-1949)

Over 75,000 biographies covering congressmen, women, military and other notable individuals.

Connecticut Maps

US Enumeration District Maps & Descriptions (1940)

Maps recording districts used to allot areas in which census takers would operate. Searchable by street name and more.

County Land Ownership Maps (1860-1918)

Various maps and documents listing and delineating around 7 million land plots and their owners. Searchable by a name index.

Historic Land Ownership and Reference Atlases (1507-2000)

This database is a collection of maps and atlases detailing land areas that comprise the present-day United States and Canada, as well as various other parts of the world.

Old Maps Online (1497-2010)

An interactive index to thousands of maps covering the world, continents, countries and regions. The majority of maps cover Britain and Ireland.

Civil War Maps (1861-1865)

A collection of around 2,000 reconnaissance, sketch, and theater-of-war maps.

Connecticut Reference Works

CN, NY, NJ & PA Church Records Survey (1900)

Details of records held by selected churches in the states on Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Periodical Source Index (1825-Present)

An index to over 2.7 million articles published in various genealogical, historical and ethnographic publications.

US Free Genealogical Data Search Engine (1513-Present)

A search engine that covers over 2.5 million pages of vital records, family trees, biographies and other genealogical resources.

A Guide to the NARA Field Branches (1988)

Details of record collections held by numerous sub-branches of The National Archives.

Spanish-American Family History Guide (1514-1990)

Detailed guides for researchers with Spanish-American ancestors. It includes biographies and genealogical charts for over 700 noted Spanish-American families.

Historical Description

CONNECTICUT is one of the original thirteen United States, and the most southern of that division of the country known as the New England States. The territory now constituting this state was granted to the Earl of Warwick, in 1630, by the Plymouth Company in England, and by him, in 1631, was assigned to a number of active Puritans, who were on the parliamentary side in the quarrel with Charles I. It was shortly afterwards settled, in part, by persons from various towns in Massachusetts. A few of the Dutch people of New York also established one or two small settlements, with the intention of appropriating the whole territory to themselves. This occasioned disputes, which continued until 1637, when the Pequot Indians made war upon all New England —an event that united the people for their common defence, and soon enabled them to overcome their savage assailants. Purchases of large tracts were made from time to time of the Indian occupants; and, in 1650, the Dutch abandoned their pretensions, except to the lands they had actually settled upon. In 1664, Connecticut was included in the charter from Charles II., granting the New Netherlands to the Duke of York; but the attempt to take possession under this authority was resisted by the local government of Connecticut, as were further encroachments under James II. and King William. The territory originally comprised two colonies, Connecticut and New Haven; the former settled by Massachusetts people in 1633, at Windsor, and, in 1635-6, at Hartford and Wethersfield; the latter by the English in 1638. These were combined into one colony by virtue of the charter from Charles II., in 1665; which charter formed the basis of the government until 1818, when the present constitution was established. The state took a very active and efficient part in the American revolution, furnishing nearly 40,000 soldiers out of a population of 230,000.

Boundaries and Extent

This state is bounded north by Massachusetts, east by Rhode Island, south by Long Island Sound, and west by New York. Situated between 40° 58' and 42° 1' north latitude, and 71° 43' and 72° 37' west longitude. Area, 4674 square miles.

Government

The executive power is vested in a governor and lieutenant governor, the latter being also president of the Senate. The legislature, called the General Assembly, consists of a Senate, of not less than eighteen nor more than twenty-four members, and a House of Representatives; most of the towns choosing two members each, and the residue but one. All state officers are elected annually by the people; and the General Assembly convenes once in each year, alternately at Hartford and New Haven. All white male citizens, twenty-one years of age, resident in the place where voting for six months next preceding, and having a freehold estate of the value of seven dollars; or having performed regulal military duty in such town for one year immediately previous to voting; or having paid a tax within said year, are entitled to the right of suffrage, on taking the oath prescribed by law.

Judiciary

The judicial department embraces the Supreme Court of Errors, the Superior Court, a County Court in each county, a City Court in each city, a Court of Probate in each probate district, and, as in other states in New England, an indefinite number of justices of the peace in each county. The Court of Errors consists of five judges, appointed by the General Assembly, and holding their offices during their good behavior, but not beyond the age of seventy. It holds one term in each county annually, and has final jurisdiction of writs of error brought to revise judgments on decrees of the Superior Court. Two terms of the latter are held in each county annually, by some judge of the Supreme Court of Errors, designated for the purpose; and these tribunals have cognizance of civil suits brought by appeal from any lower court, or brought for relief in chancery, where the sum at issue exceeds $335. They also have exclusive jurisdiction in capital cases of crime; and, concurrent with the inferior courts, of all other offences not within the control of justices of the peace. They have cognizance, likewise, of writs of error, brought to revise decisions of lower courts; of petitions for divorce, and for new trials relative to matters in or issuing from these courts, and of writs of scire facias, &c. In trials for capital offences, one or more of the other judges of the Supreme Court must be called to assist. The County Courts consist of one chief judge, and two associate judges, appointed annually by the legislature. They have original jurisdiction of all civil actions at law, wherein the demand exceeds $35; and of all criminal cases, where the penalty does not exceed a fine of $7, or an imprisonment of 30 days, or both. Actions involving smaller sums or penalties than the foregoing come within the special jurisdiction of justices of the peace. The City Courts, composed of the mayor and two senior aldermen, have cognizance of all civil actions not involving land titles.

Finances

The expenditures of the state for the financial year ending 1850 were $118,392.09, and the income $122,346.73. The banking capital, April 1, 1850, amounted to about $10,000,000.

Education

In September, 1849, the date of the biennial exhibit, the school fund of the state amounted to $2,076,602.75; and the dividends for 1850 gave $1.50 for every enumerated child between four and sixteen years of age, of which the number is stated at about 92,000. The legislature, in 1849, appropriated $10,000 for the establishment of a state normal school, for “teaching teachers how to teach,” to be placed under the control of one trustee from each of the eight counties. There are three colleges in the state, viz., Yale, founded in 1701, at Saybrook, and removed in 1717 to New Haven; Washington, at Hartford,founded in 1824-ar. Episcopalian institution;-and the Wesleyan University, founded, in 1831, at Middletown, by the Methodists. These are all in a highly flourishing condition. There is an extensive Asylum for deaf mutes at Hartford, which has deservedly attained great celebrity; also, in the same city, a Retreat for the Insane, which was opened in 1824, and is most happily managed. There are also several academies of a high order in various parts of the state. At the taking of the census in 1840, it was found that the number of persons within the state, above the age of twenty, who were unable to read or write, was only 526,-a much smaller proportion than in any other state,-and but very few of these were native citizens. The school fund of Connecticut is larger, compared with the population, than that of any other state of the Union, and the character of her school system is correspondingly excellent.

Surface, Soil, &c.— The state is divided into the following counties, viz.: Hartford, New Haven, New London, Fairfield, Windham, Middlesex, Litchfield, and Tolland. The face of the country is much diversified by hills and valleys, and is so exceedingly undulating as to present an ever-changing variety of objects. There are ranges of mountainous elevations, which take their rise in the north, and terminate near New Haven, but are not remarkable for their great height within this state. The soil varies from a gravelly loam, upon the hilly lands, to a rich and fertile alluvial in the valleys; the former well adapted to grazing, and the latter to tillage. In possession of an industrious class of freemen, the land yields, in great abundance, all the varieties of products common to the climate. Nearly every description of grain, flax, hemp, hay, potatoes, and garden vegetables of all kinds, are among the most profuse of the agricultural products; orchards are also numerous, yielding apples, peaches, cherries, plums, and other fruits peculiar to this region.

Climate. No portion of New England, contiguous to the sea-coast, possesses a more salubrious climate than Connecticut. The raw easterly blasts, which annoy all residents upon the shores of Maine and Massachusetts, become greatly softened before reaching the southerly border of this state. It is true that near the coast the weather is variable, and sudden changes of temperature occur, in accordance with the direction of the sea or land breezes; but, in the interior, these fluctuations are far less frequent, the temperature becomes steady, and the climate healthful in consequence.

Rivers

Connecticut is finely watered by the noble river whence its name is derived, by the Thames, Housatonic, Naugatuck, and numerous smaller streams, affording extraordinary facilities for commercial and manufacturing operations. Numerous bays and creeks penetrate its shore, affording commodious harbors: that at New London, one of the best in the United States, has a depth of 30 feet of water. Brooks and springs, of the purest water, abound throughout the interior. Several mineral springs exist in the state, especially at Stafford and Suffield, which have acquired much celebrity.

Internal Improvements

There are numerous railroads completed within the state, comprising an aggregate extent of somewhat over 500 miles; others extend in various directions, into or out of the state; and others still are in process of construction. Indeed, all requisite means for the extension of intercourse, and the promotion of internal and external commerce, are amply and generously provided, wherever and whenever the necessity becomes apparent; such is the vigilant spirit of enterprise and industry which is constantly stimulating this people to works of general improvement and utility.

Minerals

Iron ore, of various qualities, is obtained in several parts of the state. The town of Salisbury, bordering on Massachusetts and New York, is celebrated for its valuable iron mines. The ore procured in this region possesses a peculiarly tenacious property, admirably adapted to the manufacture of wire, anchors, and other articles wherein firmness and flexibility, without brittleness, are desirable. It has been worked for upwards of one hundred years, and the supply still seems inexhaustible, many thousand tons being extracted annually. Stafford, near the southern line of Massachusetts, abounds in bog-iron ore, of excellent quality, suited to the manufacture of fine hollow-ware, and other castings. Marble of different kinds abounds in Milford, at the junction of the Housatonic with Long Island Sound. A quarry of serpentine, or “verde antique," of very beautiful texture, has been wrought for some time with much success. Vast quantities of reddish sandstone, much used in New York and other cities for building purposes, are quarried in Chatham, Portland, &c., on the Connecticut. Copper ore is found in Granby, in certain caverns about 50 feet in depth, called the Simsbury mines-once employed, for some forty years, as a prison, but now more liberally used for mining purposes. Another copper deposit has been discovered at Orange, near New Haven, where also a vein of silver was struck some years since, which, however, yielded too little to be deemed worth working. But few indications of coal are found in the state.

Manufactures

The citizens of this state enjoy, in an eminent degree, the rare faculty of combining their great home interests-those of agriculture, commerce, and manufactures-in such manner as to make them happily support and advance each other. The products of their fields and forests, their orchards and dairies, their mines and quarries, are all subjects of domestic or foreign trade; or are made to contribute in some way, either as raw material, or as means of exchange, to the improvement and growth of their numerous branches of mechanical industry. Although the traffic of Connecticut, especially the coasting trade, is extensive, in comparison with that of other states of like magnitude, her manufactures are of still greater extent Establishments for the conversion of her unwrought products, of all descriptions, into articles fit for practical use, abound, and are still multiplying, throughout the state, together with others, for operating in like manner upon the imported products of other states and countries. These comprehend woollen, cotton, and silk factories; furnaces, forges, and rolling mills; paper mills; book-printing houses; hat, cap, and bonnet factories; tanneries, and other leather manufactories; glass-houses, potteries, brick and lime kilns, granite and marble yards; powder mills, chandleries, machine shops, furniture, carriage, and wagon manufactories; flour, grist, and saw mills; distilleries, manufactories of hardware, cutlery, tinware, clocks, &c.; ropewalks, ship yards, &c., the whole employing many thousands of operatives, and many millions of capital.

Indians

The once powerful and savage lords of this fair territory were long since swept away; and if their descendants exist at all, it must be only among the dispersed and mixed vestiges of former tribes, of whose organization as nations or communities no traces now remain.

Religion

The people of Connecticut, from the earliest settlement of its territory, have been distinguished for their religious character. In the primitive days of the colony, they were preeminently renowned for their strict adherence to, and enforcement of, the doctrine of church and state unity. Their statutes were based upon the Levitical code; but the character of that system, and of the sentiments, feelings, and practices of those who administered it, has become materially changed. The people of Connecticut still maintain a high position in the religious world. Religious denominations, of almost every variety, flourish in all quarters. Congregationalists, Baptists, Methodists, and Episcopalians, are the most numerous; Universalists, Romanists, and Unitarians follow in order; and there are a few Shakers.

Curiosities

Connecticut abounds less in natural curiosities than in interesting antiquities. Old superstitions and traditions, romantic and supernatural events in the early colonial times, and reports of revolutionary marvels, are illustrated, in numerous localities, by alleged relics, and sometimes by actual documentary and topographical demonstrations. But these are matters belonging rather to speculation than to facts and realities.

A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States (1854) by Thomas Baldwin

Most Common Surnames in Connecticut

RankSurnameIncidenceFrequencyPercent of ParentRank in United States
1Smith20,6201:1790.71%1
2Johnson12,9941:2830.59%2
3Brown12,7151:2900.72%4
4Williams11,4951:3200.60%3
5Miller9,3021:3960.68%7
6Jones8,8891:4140.53%5
7Davis8,1481:4520.58%6
8Anderson7,9711:4620.79%8
9Rodriguez7,9291:4640.93%14
10Rivera6,9081:5332.03%68
11Wilson6,3331:5810.65%9
12White6,0431:6090.74%18
13Martin5,9281:6210.72%17
14Sullivan5,9101:6232.01%83
15Clark5,8221:6320.81%22
16Murphy5,3391:6901.39%58
17Thomas5,1941:7090.60%12
18Taylor5,1871:7100.58%11
19Moore4,9241:7480.57%13
20Gonzalez4,9111:7500.79%29
21Kelly4,9081:7501.49%72
22Thompson4,8901:7530.62%20
23Lee4,8771:7550.58%15
24Lewis4,6821:7860.73%25
25Robinson4,4521:8270.71%27
26Harris4,4331:8310.58%21
27King4,2421:8680.76%32
28Jackson4,2191:8730.51%16
29Allen4,1731:8820.67%28
30Young4,0211:9160.67%31
31Lopez4,0041:9200.60%24
32Nelson3,9951:9220.74%39
33Hall3,9081:9420.63%30
34Torres3,8851:9481.09%65
35Garcia3,8251:9630.42%10
36Martinez3,7951:9700.47%19
37Adams3,7751:9750.68%34
38Perez3,7651:9780.71%40
39Green3,7401:9840.70%37
40Mitchell3,7051:9940.81%45
41Walker3,6151:1,0180.57%26
42Roberts3,5641:1,0330.75%43
43Walsh3,4391:1,0712.40%251
44Collins3,4091:1,0800.81%50
45Campbell3,3781:1,0900.69%41
46Ortiz3,3381:1,1031.35%113
47Hernandez3,3351:1,1040.47%23
48Baker3,2581:1,1300.60%36
49Ryan3,2291:1,1401.69%170
50Scott3,1921:1,1530.59%38
51Hill3,1681:1,1620.58%35
52Wright3,1621:1,1640.57%33
53Cruz3,0701:1,1991.10%93
54Rogers3,0371:1,2120.79%57
55Peterson2,9691:1,2400.81%59
56Edwards2,9501:1,2480.69%49
57McCarthy2,8701:1,2832.51%320
58Diaz2,8371:1,2980.97%85
59Murray2,7671:1,3311.20%124
60Russo2,7181:1,3554.05%622
61Evans2,6861:1,3710.59%46
62Bennett2,6741:1,3770.82%74
63Carlson2,6711:1,3781.58%207
64Stewart2,6691:1,3790.66%54
65Sanchez2,6681:1,3800.56%44
66Lynch2,6221:1,4041.71%236
67Perry2,5911:1,4210.94%98
68Reynolds2,5891:1,4221.01%105
69Patel2,5771:1,4291.11%123
70Morgan2,5721:1,4310.71%60
71Kennedy2,5541:1,4421.12%129
72Santiago2,5531:1,4422.43%362
73Russell2,5501:1,4440.92%95
74Ross2,5261:1,4580.86%80
75Ramos2,5221:1,4601.10%125
76Cohen2,5111:1,4661.73%247
77Grant2,5041:1,4701.38%183
78Burke2,4891:1,4791.49%214
79Roy2,4841:1,4823.61%601
80Parker2,4821:1,4830.60%51
81Burns2,3821:1,5461.08%131
82Ward2,3731:1,5510.72%71
83Morris2,3371:1,5750.58%55
83Silva2,3371:1,5751.52%232
85Butler2,3291:1,5810.82%88
86Griffin2,3181:1,5880.92%111
87Gordon2,3161:1,5901.08%136
88Wood2,3021:1,5990.68%69
89Stevens2,2971:1,6030.97%119
90Bailey2,2841:1,6120.64%64
91Cooper2,2711:1,6210.62%61
92Morales2,2521:1,6350.91%112
93Turner2,2401:1,6440.52%48
94Palmer2,2381:1,6451.13%159
95Bell2,2201:1,6580.61%62
96Santos2,2191:1,6591.97%329
97Obrien2,2121:1,6641.91%315
98Pelletier2,2041:1,6709.83%2,050
99Cook2,1861:1,6840.55%56
100Gray2,1831:1,6870.68%75
101Colon2,1761:1,6923.49%677
102Esposito2,1711:1,6966.94%1,446
103Phillips2,1591:1,7050.49%47
104Shaw2,1581:1,7061.03%143
105Carter2,0881:1,7630.43%42
106Shea2,0771:1,7734.37%910
107James2,0761:1,7730.69%79
108Carroll2,0601:1,7871.14%184
108Howard2,0601:1,7870.62%70
110Brooks2,0491:1,7970.63%73
111Fox2,0331:1,8110.99%147
112Fisher2,0321:1,8120.73%94
113Hayes2,0171:1,8250.82%114
114Flynn1,9801:1,8592.27%459
115Foster1,9751:1,8640.67%81
116McDonald1,9711:1,8680.84%122
117Greene1,9621:1,8761.16%210
118Hughes1,9581:1,8800.64%78
119Cyr1,9521:1,88612.77%2,988
120FitzGerald1,9431:1,8951.88%374
121Graham1,9421:1,8960.75%103
122Michaud1,9361:1,90210.54%2,485
123Cote1,9171:1,9216.87%1,619
124Watson1,9021:1,9360.60%76
125Dunn1,8751:1,9640.99%172
126Stone1,8721:1,9670.94%157
127Barrett1,8471:1,9931.37%272
128Moran1,8461:1,9941.81%379
129Coleman1,8441:1,9970.66%92
130Andrews1,8341:2,0071.03%190
131Reilly1,8331:2,0093.16%722
132Hart1,8271:2,0151.02%186
133Rose1,8251:2,0170.91%156
134Gilbert1,8201:2,0231.22%241
135Nguyen1,8111:2,0330.45%53
136Brennan1,8021:2,0432.61%597
137Quinn1,7871:2,0601.70%358
138Richardson1,7861:2,0610.57%77
139Marshall1,7831:2,0650.78%128
140Cole1,7731:2,0770.70%109
141Reyes1,7711:2,0790.64%96
142Reed1,7621:2,0890.51%66
143Barnes1,7601:2,0920.63%89
144Ouellette1,6961:2,1719.40%2,536
145Wallace1,6831:2,1880.66%110
146Harrison1,6811:2,1900.71%120
147Morin1,6751:2,1984.65%1,216
148Jordan1,6731:2,2010.66%108
149Daniels1,6641:2,2130.90%179
150Gagnon1,6521:2,2296.11%1,660
151Lawrence1,6431:2,2411.02%227
152Chapman1,6331:2,2550.98%215
152Reid1,6331:2,2551.14%252
154Hamilton1,6251:2,2660.62%102
155Clarke1,6171:2,2771.70%414
156Marino1,6111:2,2853.79%1,025
157Ford1,6101:2,2870.68%121
157Henry1,6101:2,2870.77%138
159Doyle1,5991:2,3021.56%378
160Riley1,5931:2,3110.94%209
161Kelley1,5801:2,3300.88%185
162Roman1,5771:2,3352.31%605
163MacDonald1,5721:2,3422.54%684
164Schwartz1,5631:2,3561.27%296
165Richards1,5571:2,3650.94%217
166Simmons1,5541:2,3690.61%106
167Oconnor1,5441:2,3852.08%539
168Gallagher1,5421:2,3881.63%418
168Mason1,5421:2,3880.76%151
170Ellis1,5361:2,3970.63%115
171Cunningham1,5321:2,4030.87%197
172Simpson1,5301:2,4060.75%149
173Hunt1,5061:2,4450.75%152
174Perkins1,5001:2,4540.93%226
175Gardner1,4981:2,4580.79%173
176Farrell1,4871:2,4762.05%552
177Powell1,4751:2,4960.54%97
178Hansen1,4701:2,5050.78%174
179West1,4611:2,5200.57%104
180Rosa1,4591:2,5234.15%1,250
181Gomez1,4571:2,5270.50%82
181Holmes1,4571:2,5270.76%168
183Casey1,4531:2,5341.62%443
184Alexander1,4431:2,5510.55%101
185Velez1,4381:2,5602.72%805
186Meyer1,4321:2,5710.69%142
187Freeman1,4221:2,5890.66%133
188Hoffman1,4201:2,5930.77%178
189Wagner1,4181:2,5960.68%139
190Barry1,4171:2,5982.19%653
191Higgins1,4151:2,6021.35%361
192Hunter1,4141:2,6040.71%158
193Foley1,4101:2,6111.97%568
194Bradley1,4091:2,6130.79%188
195Jenkins1,3961:2,6370.51%100
196Warner1,3941:2,6411.26%336
197Morrison1,3931:2,6430.89%231
198Rice1,3911:2,6470.73%169
199McLaughlin1,3801:2,6681.36%384
200Vazquez1,3791:2,6701.52%437
RankSurnameIncidenceFrequencyPercent of ParentRank in United States
1Smith8,7911:711.39%1
2Clark3,9871:1562.39%10
3Brown3,9171:1591.10%3
4Johnson3,2071:1940.84%2
5Sullivan2,7211:2284.05%48
6Williams2,7151:2290.85%4
7Hall2,1931:2831.81%20
8Miller2,1101:2940.75%6
9Murphy2,0971:2962.21%32
10Allen1,9371:3211.61%21
11Davis1,9361:3210.76%7
12Taylor1,8731:3321.10%9
13White1,8391:3381.14%11
14Thompson1,7361:3581.10%13
15Jones1,6991:3660.53%5
16Ryan1,6491:3773.10%69
17O'Brien1,6211:3834.12%119
18Bradley1,5791:3944.99%162
19Lewis1,5371:4041.30%22
20Wilson1,5031:4130.80%8
21Palmer1,4811:4203.56%110
22Chapman1,4331:4344.16%151
22Peck1,4331:4348.13%320
24Kelley1,4221:4373.00%82
25Baldwin1,3991:4445.52%207
26Warner1,3701:4544.73%175
27Burns1,3211:4702.57%74
28Martin1,3181:4710.90%15
29Stevens1,3131:4732.81%85
30Wheeler1,2551:4953.20%120
31King1,2531:4961.18%27
32Cook1,2521:4961.43%33
33Welch1,2441:4993.08%115
34Green1,2231:5081.00%19
35Kelly1,2201:5091.67%44
36Reynolds1,2091:5142.49%81
37Bailey1,2001:5182.18%66
37Collins1,2001:5181.58%41
39Adams1,1931:5211.22%31
40Rogers1,1801:5271.88%55
41Wilcox1,1601:5366.02%283
42Lynch1,1461:5423.13%137
43Spencer1,1321:5493.35%155
44Riley1,1191:5552.60%104
45Moore1,0941:5680.68%12
46Andrews1,0831:5743.20%154
47Hart1,0821:5742.64%112
48Hill1,0811:5751.02%28
49Nichols1,0791:5763.08%146
50Wright1,0731:5791.01%26
51Robinson1,0301:6030.99%30
52Wood1,0261:6061.28%38
53Baker1,0011:6210.90%25
54Bennett9831:6321.85%70
55Morgan9801:6341.52%53
56Perkins9741:6382.67%139
57Gilbert9721:6393.37%176
58Parker9671:6431.20%37
59Carroll9641:6453.22%169
60Kennedy9521:6532.35%114
61Young9491:6550.82%24
62Hayes9291:6692.96%164
63Case9281:6706.15%394
64Griswold9241:67217.11%1,182
65Ward9231:6731.38%50
66Flynn9101:6834.86%292
67Roberts9051:6871.13%39
68Hoyt9021:6899.22%645
69Thomas8991:6910.61%16
70Lee8981:6921.09%35
71Norton8971:6934.08%242
71Hubbard8971:6934.50%272
73Fuller8671:7172.61%157
73Stone8671:7172.16%116
75FitzGerald8641:7193.76%233
76Lockwood8631:7209.97%724
77Bishop8491:7323.03%184
77Harris8491:7320.66%18
79Barnes8481:7331.79%83
80Dunn8461:7342.01%109
81Reed8381:7411.11%42
82Butler8331:7461.59%71
83Jackson8321:7470.56%14
83McCarthy8321:7474.56%307
83Russell8321:7471.78%86
86Scott8311:7480.80%29
87Hull8191:7595.49%402
88Beach8061:7718.30%650
89Potter7931:7843.34%221
90Porter7801:7971.73%95
91Fox7791:7981.96%118
92Kane7781:7994.22%299
93Wells7701:8071.67%92
94Burke7641:8132.73%187
95Hotchkiss7631:81426.52%2,222
96Quinn7621:8153.22%223
97Griffin7511:8271.68%98
98Lyon7461:8335.08%408
99Curtis7431:8362.59%179
100Farrell7341:8474.58%368
101Burr7311:85011.61%1,022
102Walker7291:8520.62%23
102Lane7291:8522.06%145
104Anderson7271:8550.50%17
105Brooks7261:8561.32%68
106Moran7221:8613.75%284
106Ford7221:8611.60%96
108Tuttle7161:8686.18%534
109Brennan7141:8705.96%519
109Shea7141:8706.28%550
111McDonald7091:8761.36%72
112Fowler7081:8782.72%196
113Doyle7071:8792.89%215
114Platt7041:88310.66%972
115Carpenter6891:9021.85%130
116Murray6871:9041.81%128
117Holmes6851:9071.85%132
117Barber6851:9073.10%241
119Sanford6811:9126.71%620
120Foley6791:9153.91%325
121Perry6781:9161.46%87
122Phelps6751:9214.16%362
123Morris6611:9400.95%46
124Loomis6601:9419.32%893
125Arnold6531:9521.80%140
126Pratt6491:9573.01%245
127Miner6481:9597.47%723
128McCarty6331:9822.49%205
129Mead6311:9854.74%457
129Mills6311:9851.73%138
131Higgins6271:9912.49%208
132Carter6221:9990.76%36
133Avery6211:1,0015.49%552
134Beers6201:1,00215.87%1,652
135O'Neil6171:1,0073.83%367
136French6091:1,0202.61%226
136Knapp6091:1,0204.18%411
138Turner6081:1,0220.77%40
139Howard6071:1,0240.98%56
140Mitchell6021:1,0320.94%54
141Casey5971:1,0413.05%279
142Edwards5931:1,0480.91%52
143Curtiss5911:1,05120.18%2,186
144Callahan5901:1,0534.54%475
144Bassett5901:1,0537.76%827
146Tucker5871:1,0591.53%124
147Sherwood5821:1,0687.05%764
148Sherman5811:1,0692.77%252
149Day5791:1,0731.83%163
150Hawley5781:1,0758.60%950
150Barry5781:1,0753.76%387
152Freeman5771:1,0771.66%148
153Parsons5731:1,0843.14%308
154Camp5721:1,0866.37%697
155Hills5691:1,09212.42%1,431
155Foster5691:1,0920.96%62
157Phillips5651:1,1000.94%59
158Morse5621:1,1063.03%294
159Booth5611:1,1083.97%425
159Gray5611:1,1080.94%61
161Daniels5571:1,1162.79%271
162Raymond5541:1,1226.03%683
162Beckwith5541:1,12212.33%1,456
164Austin5521:1,1261.94%182
165Jennings5511:1,1282.61%250
166Donahue5491:1,1326.91%792
167Gardner5471:1,1361.49%136
168Benedict5461:1,1389.08%1,079
169Bates5431:1,1442.08%195
170Buckley5421:1,1463.92%437
171Barrett5411:1,1492.32%229
172Hunt5361:1,1591.24%102
173Rice5341:1,1641.16%91
173Warren5341:1,1641.48%143
175Judd5281:1,17710.20%1,238
176Leonard5261:1,1812.12%209
176Kelsey5261:1,18110.04%1,225
178Cunningham5221:1,1901.51%149
179Webster5191:1,1972.24%230
179Campbell5191:1,1970.60%34
181Fitch5161:1,2047.11%875
181Strong5161:1,2043.88%460
183Blake5151:1,2072.57%268
184Pierce5121:1,2141.39%133
184Beardsley5121:1,21414.82%1,862
184Pease5121:1,2148.47%1,066
184Northrop5121:1,21424.69%3,007
188Hyde5091:1,2215.36%664
189Mason5071:1,2261.17%101
189Osborn5071:1,2263.01%342
191Tyler5041:1,2332.90%326
191Church5041:1,2334.45%551
193Hubbell5011:1,24019.65%2,483
194Weed4981:1,24811.83%1,541
195Tracy4951:1,2554.30%540
195Harrison4951:1,2551.13%100
197Root4921:1,2636.01%773
197Ives4921:1,26313.69%1,791
199Nolan4911:1,2653.49%429
200McMahon4811:1,2924.38%564