Durham, Middlesex County, Connecticut Genealogy

United States

New England

Connecticut

Middlesex

Durham

Modern town borders of Durham in Middlesex County, Connecticut.

Town Information

Description

Durham, Connecticut at Wikipedia

Durham is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. Durham is a former farming village on the Coginchaug River in central Connecticut.

First settled in 1699 by Guilford resident Caleb Seward, Durham was originally called Coginchaug by the Native Americans who lived near the swampy area.

Parent Towns

• originally named Coginchaug
• 1672 - deed was written between the native proprietors of the territory and Europeans who wished to purchase it from them
• 1699 - first settled by Caleb Seward and family
• 1704 - town name changed to Durham
• 1708 - Durham incorporated

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

Durham Town Clerk
30 Town House Rd.
Durham, CT 06422
Phone: 860-349-3453
Email: kgarvis@townofdurhamct.org
Durham 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 ($); some towns maybe missing
• 1639-1941 Connecticut, Births and Baptisms, 1639-1941 at FamilySearch — index
• 1662-1866 History of Durham, Connecticut, (Includes: Births, Marriages, and Deaths)(*); Fowler, William C. (William Chauncey), 1793-1881 at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
• 1662-1866 History of Durham, Connecticut, (Includes: Births, Marriages, and Deaths)(*); Fowler, William C. (William Chauncey), 1793-1881 at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
• 1847-1916 Records of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1847-1916(*); Durham Registrar of Vital Statistics at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
• 1897-1917 The Connecticut Genealogy Index - Births at Reclaim the Records - index; Also at: Ancestry ($)
• 1897-1917 Connecticut, Births at MyHeritage — index ($)

Marriages

• 1600s-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 ($); some towns maybe missing
• 1662-1866 History of Durham, Connecticut, (Includes: Births, Marriages, and Deaths)(*); Fowler, William C. (William Chauncey), 1793-1881 at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
• 1662-1866 History of Durham, Connecticut, (Includes: Births, Marriages, and Deaths)(*); Fowler, William C. (William Chauncey), 1793-1881 at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
• 1790-1833 Connecticut: Marriages and Deaths, 1790-1833 at American Ancestors — index & images ($)
• 1847-1916 Records of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1847-1916(*); Durham Registrar of Vital Statistics at FamilySearch Library Catalog — 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 ($)
• 1662-1866 History of Durham, Connecticut, (Includes: Births, Marriages, and Deaths)(*); Fowler, William C. (William Chauncey), 1793-1881 at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
• 1662-1866 History of Durham, Connecticut, (Includes: Births, Marriages, and Deaths)(*); Fowler, William C. (William Chauncey), 1793-1881 at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
• 1790-1833 Connecticut: Marriages and Deaths, 1790-1833 at American Ancestors — index & images ($)
• 1847-1916 Records of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1847-1916(*); Durham Registrar of Vital Statistics at FamilySearch Library Catalog — 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
• Durham Cemeteries List at Find a Grave
• Durham Cemeteries at FamilySearch Catalog
• Middlesex County Cemeteries at FamilySearch Catalog
• Middlesex County Cemeteries 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 Durham, visit. FamilySearch Places

• 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

Church of the Epiphany (accessed 27 November 2012): The town's Episcopal church, Epiphany has been in Durham since the 1800s.

The Church of Notre Dame (accessed 11 July 2012): Durham's Roman Catholic church, the Church of Notre Dame has been an independent parish since 1955.

United Churches of Durham (accessed 11 July 2012): One of Durham's two oldest churches, the community now functions as a member of United Churches.

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

City Directories

• 1977 U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995, Durham at Ancestry - index & images ($), some years may be missing
• 1977 STATE, U.S., City Directories, Durham at Ancestry - index & images ($), 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

• 1640-1846 Colonial Land Records of Connecticut, 1640-1846: Including Patents, Deeds and Surveys of Land(*) at FamilySearch Catalog - images
• Connecticut Land and Property

Maps

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

• Boundary Map of Durham at HomeTownLocator
• Durham, Connecticut Town Guides at CT State Library
• Durham at FamilySearch Places
• Durham at Google Maps
• Durham 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 ($)
• 1803-1926 Connecticut Naturalization Records, 1795-1942 Litchfield County Court of Common Pleas and Superior Court at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; List of Records Included in Collection; index & images
• 1803-1972 Connecticut, Federal Naturalization Records, 1790-1996 Litchfield County and Court of Common Pleas at Ancestry - index & images ($)
• 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

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
• Durham-Middlefield Patch (accessed 27 November 2012): The town's online newspaper, the Patch.com site covers local news and history.
• Middletown Press: The area's major newspaper, the Press can be accessed online and on microfilm.
• The Town Times (accessed 27 November 2012): The town's local newspaper can be accessed online.
• 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 the 1600s, probate records were kept by the Connecticut and New Haven Colonies. In 1666, the two colonies joined and formed four new probate districts and counties: Hartford, New London, New Haven, and Fairfield. More probate districts were formed by 1719.

• 1609-1999 Connecticut, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
• 1635-1750 Connecticut: Early Probate Records, 1635-1750 at American Ancestors — index & images ($)
• 1752-1917 Probate records, 1752-1917(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• 1787-1880 Probate Files Collection, Early to 1880(*) at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
• 1859-1931 Probate Records, 1859-1931(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• 1881-1915 Probate Estate Files, 1881-1915(*) at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
• Connecticut Probate Records

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

Durham Public Library
7 Maple Avenue
Durham, CT 06422
Phone: 860-349-9544
Email: cmichaud@durhamlibrary.org
Facebook
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

• Southington Connecticut FamilySearch Center
• Russell Library - an affiliate library
• North Branford Libraries - multiple locations - an affiliate library

Societies

Durham Historical Society
38 Town House Road
Durham, CT 06422
Phone: 860-716-5497
Email: durhamhistoryct@gmail.com
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Website