Colchester, New London County, Connecticut Genealogy

United States

New England

Connecticut

New London

Colchester

Town Information

Description

Colchester, Connecticut at Wikipedia

Colchester is a rural town in New London County, Connecticut, United States.

The villages of Westchester and North Westchester are located within Colchester, as is the reservation of the Golden Hill Paugussett Indian Nation. The town center village, which was previously incorporated as a borough, is a census-designated place.

Parent Towns

• 1661 - original European settlement on a 340 acre of land; the land was a gift from Uncas, Sachem of the Mohegan tribe
• 1699 - Colchester incorporated into the colony of New London

Populated Places

Includes Neighborhoods, Villages, Unincorporated Communities,
Districts, and Census-Designated Places:

Town Records

In New England most original vital records of birth, marriage, and death can be found at the town clerk's office

Colchester Town Clerk
127 Norwich Avenue
Colchester, CT 06415
Phone: 860-537-7215
Email: https://www.colchesterct.gov/user/52/contact
Colchester Town Clerk

Vital Records

Births

• 1600s-1850 Barbour Collection: Connecticut Vital Records Prior to 1850(*) at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images; some towns maybe missing
• 1600s-1850 The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records This collection of bound typescripts is available at the listed libraries; some towns may be missing
• 1600s-1870 Connecticut, U.S., Town Birth Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection) at Ancestry - index & images ($); some towns maybe missing
• 1639-1941 Connecticut, Births and Baptisms, 1639-1941 at FamilySearch — index
• 1701-1731 : Extracts from the records of Colchester : with some transcripts from the recording of Michaell Taintor of "Brainford," Conn.(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• 1703-1932 Deeds, 1703-1909; General Index, 1703-1932, (Includes: Births, Marriages, and Deaths)(*); Colchester Town Clerk at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
• 1712-1932 Records of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1712-1932(*); Colchester Registrar of Vital Statistics at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
• Index to Births, Marriages, and Deaths, Colchester, Connecticut(*); at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
• 1897-1917 The Connecticut Genealogy Index - Births at Reclaim the Records - index; Also at: Ancestry ($)
• 1897-1917 Connecticut, Births at MyHeritage — index ($)

Marriages

• 1600s-1700s U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
• 1600s-1850 Barbour Collection: Connecticut Vital Records Prior to 1850(*) at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images; some towns maybe missing
• 1600s-1850 The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records This collection of bound typescripts is available at the listed libraries; some towns may be missing
• 1600s-1870 Connecticut, U.S., Town Marriage Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection) at Ancestry - index & images ($); some towns maybe missing
• 1701-1731 : Extracts from the records of Colchester : with some transcripts from the recording of Michaell Taintor of "Brainford," Conn.(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• 1703-1932 Deeds, 1703-1909; General Index, 1703-1932, (Includes: Births, Marriages, and Deaths)(*); Colchester Town Clerk at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
• Index to Births, Marriages, and Deaths, Colchester, Connecticut(*); at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
• 1790-1833 Connecticut: Marriages and Deaths, 1790-1833 at American Ancestors — index & images ($)
• 1897-1968 Web: Connecticut, U.S., Marriage Records, 1897-1968 at Ancestry - index ($); Also at: Connecticut State Library
• 1897-2017 The Connecticut Genealogy Index - Marriages at Reclaim the Records - index; Also at: Ancestry ($)
• 1959-2012 Connecticut, U.S., Marriage Index, 1959-2012 at Ancestry - index ($)

Deaths

• 1600s-1850 Barbour Collection: Connecticut Vital Records Prior to 1850(*) at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images; some towns maybe missing
• 1600s-1850 The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records This collection of bound typescripts is available at the listed libraries; some towns may be missing
• 1600s-1870 Connecticut, U.S., Town Death Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection) at Ancestry - index & images ($); some towns maybe missing
• 1640-1955 Connecticut, Deaths, 1640-1955 at FamilySearch — index
• 1650-1934 Connecticut, U.S., Deaths and Burials Index, 1650-1934 at Ancestry - index ($)
• 1701-1731 : Extracts from the records of Colchester : with some transcripts from the recording of Michaell Taintor of "Brainford," Conn.(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• 1703-1932 Deeds, 1703-1909; General Index, 1703-1932, (Includes: Births, Marriages, and Deaths)(*); Colchester Town Clerk at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
• 1712-1932 Records of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1712-1932(*); Colchester Registrar of Vital Statistics at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
• Index to Births, Marriages, and Deaths, Colchester, Connecticut(*); at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
• 1790-1833 Connecticut: Marriages and Deaths, 1790-1833 at American Ancestors — index & images ($)
• 1897-1968 Web: Connecticut, U.S., Death Records, 1897-1968 at Ancestry - index ($); Also at: Connecticut State Library
• 1897-2017 The Connecticut Genealogy Index - Deaths at Reclaim the Records - index
• 1917-2017 Connecticut, U.S., Death Index, 1917-2017 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1949-2012 Connecticut Death Index, 1949-2012 at Ancestry - index ($)

Divorce

• 1968-1997 Connecticut, U.S., Divorce Index, 1968-1997 at Ancestry - index ($)

Resources

For more County and State resources see:

Biographies

• A Catalogue of the Names of the Early Puritan Settlers of the Colony of Connecticut: With the Time of Their Arrival in the Country and Colony, Their Standing in Society, Place of Residence, Condition of Life, Where From, Business, etc., as Far as is Found on Record. By Royal Ralph Hinman. Hartford, Connecticut: Case, Tiffany Co., 1852. Salt Lake City, Utah: Digitized by FamilySearch International, 2017. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
• Connecticut Historical Collections: Containing a General Collection of Interesting Facts, Traditions, Biographical Sketches, Anecdotes, etc., Relating to the History and Antiquities of Every Town in Connecticut, With Geographical Descriptions, Illustrated by 190 Engravings. By John Warner Barber. 2nd ed. New Haven, Connecticut: Durrie & Peck and J.W. Barber, 1837. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
• Encyclopedia of Connecticut Biography, Genealogical-Memorial: Representative Citizens. By Samuel Hart. Boston, Massachusetts: American Historical Society, 1917-1923. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Vol. 1-8, 11, 13.
• Ye Names & Ages of All Ye Old Folks in Every Hamlet, City and Town in Ye State of Connecticut, Now Living: With Ye Sketches of Twenty Living Centenarians Compiled by Frederick H. Nash. New Haven, Connecticut: Price, Lee & Co., 1884. San Francisco, California: Internet Archive, 2012. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
• Who's Who in Connecticut By Ward E. Duffy. Tucson, Arizona: W.C. Cox & Co., 1975. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
• Connecticut Biography at FamilySearch Research Wiki

Cemeteries

• 1640-1955 Connecticut, Charles R. Hale Collection, Vital Records, 1640-1955 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index to burial records and obituaries
• Colchester Cemeteries List at Find a Grave
• New London County Cemeteries at FamilySearch Catalog
• New London County at FamilySearch Places

Census

• Connecticut Census at FamilySearch Research Wiki

Church Records

At its founding, Congregationalism was the dominant religion in Connecticut and was even the state religion until 1818. Other common Christian denominations include the Methodist, Episcopal, Roman Catholic, and Baptist churches.

To see the churches in Colchester, visit. FamilySearch Places

Many Connecticut churches have deposited their records at the Connecticut State Library. The following are church records available online for the town of Colchester:

• 1630-1920 Connecticut, U.S., Church Record Abstracts, 1630-1920 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
• 1660-1955 Connecticut, Church Records, 1660-1955 at FamilySearch; index — How to Use this Collection
• Connecticut Church Records

City Directories

• 1923 STATE, U.S., City Directories, Colchester at Ancestry - index & images ($), some years may be missing
• Various Dates U.S. City Directories, 1860-1960 at MyHeritage - index & images ($) some towns and years may be missing

Court Records

• 1636-1945 Records of the Judicial Department (Part A): Court Records in the Connecticut State Library, 1636-1945(*) Connecticut State Library at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
• State of Connecticut Judicial Branch-Media-How to Obtain Court Records at jud.ct.gov ($)
• Connecticut Court Records at FamilySearch Research Wiki

Land Records

In Connecticut, most land records are kept at the town level. The following are online land records for the town of Colchester:

• 1640-1846 Colonial Land Records of Connecticut, 1640-1846: Including Patents, Deeds and Surveys of Land(*) at FamilySearch Catalog - images
• 1703-1932 Deeds, 1703-1909; general index, 1703-1932(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• Connecticut Land and Property

Maps

This selection incudes town, county, state, and historical maps

• Boundary Map of Colchester at HomeTownLocator
• Colchester, Connecticut Town Guides at CT State Library
• Colchester at FamilySearch Places
• Colchester at Google Maps
• Colchester at Mapcarta
• McConnell's Historical Maps of the United States at Library of Congress
• Old Maps of Connecticut at Old-Maps.com
• Connecticut Maps State Page

Military

Some Records are Searchable by Town

Revolutionary War, 1775-1783

For more Revolutionary War Military Records see:

• Connecticut Military Records - Revolutionary War, 1775-1783
• United States Military Records - Revolutionary War, 1775-1783

Civil War, 1861-1865

For more Civil War Military Records see:

• Connecticut Military Records - Civil War, 1861-1865
• United States Military Records - Civil War, 1861-1865

World War I, 1917-1918

For more World War I Military Records see:

• Connecticut Military Records - World War I, 1917-1918
• United States Military Records - World War I, 1917-1918

World War II, 1941-1945

For more World War II Military Records see:

• Connecticut Military Records - World War II, 1941-1945
• United States Military Records - World War II, 1941-1945

Naturalization and Citizenship

• For more databases, see Connecticut Naturalization and Citizenship and U.S. Naturalization Online Genealogy Records
• 1791-1906 US Naturalization Records, New England, 1791-1906 at MyHeritage - index & images ($)
• 1793-1975 Connecticut Naturalization Records, 1795-1942 New London Court of Common Pleas, City Court, and Superior Court at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; List of Records Included in Collection; index & images
• 1893-1906 Connecticut, Federal Naturalization Records, 1790-1996 Connecticut Circuit Court at Ancestry - index & images ($)
• 1893-1911 Connecticut Naturalization Records, 1795-1942 U.S. Circuit Court at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1910-1975 Connecticut, Federal Naturalization Records, 1790-1996 New London County Superior Court at Ancestry - index & images ($)

Newspapers

• 1700s Connecticut Newspapers in the Eighteenth Century(*) by Jarvis Means Morse, 1899 at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
• List of Newspapers in Connecticut at Wikipedia
• The Press of Connecticut - Newspapers at portal.ct.gov
• Connecticut Newspapers at FamilySearch Research Wiki

Obituaries

• 1629-1934 Connecticut, U.S., Hale Collection of Cemetery Inscriptions and Newspaper Notices, 1629-1934 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
• 1640-1955 Connecticut, Charles R. Hale Collection, Vital Records, 1640-1955 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index to burial records and obituaries
• 1977-2014 Connecticut Obituaries, 1977-2014(*) NewsBank (Naples, Florida) at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
• Connecticut Obituaries at FamilySearch Research Wiki
• United States Obituaries at FamilySearch Research Wiki

Other Town Records

Burials Appointments Earmarks Estrays (stray animals) Freemens' oaths (men eligible to vote) Land records Mortgages Name changes Care of the poor School records Surveys Tax lists Town meeting minutes Voter registrations Warning outs (of town)

Probate Records

In Connecticut, most probate records are kept at the town level. Colchester Probate Court covers Colchester. Constituted May 29, 1832 from East Haddam. Contains the records of East Haddam from October session, 1741 to May 29, 1832. The following are online probate records for the town of Colchester:

• 1635-1750 Connecticut: Early Probate Records, 1635-1750 at American Ancestors — index & images ($)
• 1741-1922 : Probate records, 1741-1922(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Tax Records

• 1862-1866 Internal Revenue Assessment Lists for Connecticut, 1862-1866(*) United States. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, United States. National Archives and Records Administration (Repository), at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
• 1865-1874 Connecticut, U.S., Excise Tax Lists, 1865-1874 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1915-1926 Estate Record Card Index, 1915-1926(*) Connecticut. Inheritance Tax Division at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
• Connecticut Taxation at FamilySearch Research Wiki

Research Facilities

Libraries

Cragin Memorial Library
8 Linwood Avenue
Colchester, CT 06415
Phone: 860-537-5752
Email: https://www.colchesterct.gov/user/47/contact
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Website

FamilySearch Centers & Affiliate Libraries

FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries

• FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
• FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.
  

Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries

• Groton Connecticut FamilySearch Center
• Madison Connecticut FamilySearch Center
• Groton Public Library - an affiliate library
• Otis Library of Norwich, Connecticut - an affiliate library
• Waterford Public Library - Connecticut - an affiliate library

Societies

Colchester Historical Society
24 Linwood Avenue
PO Box 13
Colchester, CT 06415
Email: mail@colchesterhistory.org
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Website