Connecticut Research Tips and Strategies: Difference between revisions

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=== Connecticut Research Strategies  ===
== Connecticut Research Strategies  ==
Below are links to different research strategy pages to help you locate your ancestors in Connecticut:<br>


Below are links to different research strategy pages to help you locate your ancestors in Connecticut<br>
===Finding Connecticut Birth, Marriage or Death Records===
*[[GuidedResearch:Connecticut|Finding Connecticut Births, Marriages, and Deaths using Guided Research]]


:[[Connecticut Online Genealogy Records|Connecticut Online Genealogy Records]]
===Finding Connecticut Records===
:[[How to Find Connecticut Birth Records|How to find Connecticut Birth Records]]
*[[Connecticut Record Finder]]
:[[How to Find Connecticut Marriage Records|How to find Connecticut Marriage Records]]
:[[How to Find Connecticut Death Records|How to find Connecticut Death Records]]


=== Connecticut Research Tips  ===
===Connecticut Statewide Databases===
*[[Connecticut Online Genealogy Records|Connecticut Online Genealogy Records]]


These tips will help you as you research your ancestors in Connecticut.
===Connecticut Research Process===
*[[Step-by-Step Connecticut Research, 1880-Present]]
*[[Step-by-Step Connecticut Research, 1850-1910]]
*[[Connecticut Descendancy Research]]
*[[How to Find Connecticut Birth Records|How to Find Birth Records]]
*[[How to Find Connecticut Marriage Records|How to Find Marriage Records]]
*[[How to Find Connecticut Death Records|How to Find Death Records]]


*'''Birth information:''' Birth records in Connecticut start on the state level in 1897 and was generally complied with by 1919. A helpful substitute record to find birth information is a death record. However, date and place of birth on a death record is considered secondary information, as it was not recorded at the time of the birth event. The birth information should be corroborated with other [[Substitute Records For United States Birth Information|substitute records]] to improve accuracy.
== Connecticut Research Tips  ==
*'''Finding Parents:''' The State of Connecticut began recording deaths in 1897. They often will list the parents of the deceased and their birth information. [[How to Find United States Death Records|Search Connecticut death records]]  
These tips will help you as you research your ancestors in Connecticut:<br>
*'''Look in all censuses:''' Always look for your ancestor in every possible census. There are clues regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records. Sometimes parents can be found living with their children later in life. [[United States Census Online|Search U.S. Censuses]].
<br>
'''Birth and Death information:'''<br>
----
*'''''Statewide registration:''''' Birth and Death records in Connecticut on the state level (but still recorded by the town) start in 1866 and was generally complied with by 1901. The New Hampshire Bureau of Vital Records began registering births and deaths in 1905.
*'''''Town Records:''''' Town records starting as early as the 1600s included information about birth, marriage, and death, but little information about parents and their birthplaces.  
*'''''Access to records:''''' See [[Connecticut Vital Records]] for more information about birth, marriages, and deaths in Connecticut.
<br>
'''Substitute Records:'''
----
*'''''Secondary source:''''' Substitute records are used when primary sources do not exist for an event, such as birth, marriage, and deaths. Secondary sources list information about the event but they were not recorded at the time of the event and they are not an official record of the event.
*'''''Accuracy:''''' Because the information about an event in substitute records was not the official recording of the event (such as, cemetery or obituary records) inaccuracy may occur. Use other substitute records to help verify information.
*'''''List of substitute records:''''' See [[Connecticut Substitute Records|Connecticut Substitute Records]] for more information.
<br>
'''Finding Parents:''' 
----
*'''''Death records:''''' Early death records do not contain information about parents. However in 1905, the state required birth and parent information for the deceased. Information was not always provided and the accuracy of the information was limited by the grieving relatives' memory.  
*'''''Obituaries:''''' Official obituaries can also include the names of parents and other family members. See [[Connecticut Newspapers]] and [[Connecticut Obituaries]] for more information.
*'''''Church records:''''' Knowing the denomination of the church the family belonged to helps in locating information about the parents. See [[Connecticut Church Records]] for more information.
<br>
'''Census Records:'''
----
*'''''Check all census years:''''' Always look for your ancestor in every possible census to learn more about them and their family members. See [[Connecticut Census|Connecticut Census Records]] for more information.
*'''''Clues to other records:''''' There are clues in censuses regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records.  
*'''''Finding families:''''' Starting in 1850, all members of the household were listed in the census. By 1880, relationship to the head of household was added.


=== Connecticut Record Finder ===
== Further Connecticut Research ==
 
*[https://files.lib.byu.edu/family-history-library/research-outlines/US/Connecticut.pdf Connecticut Family History Library Research Outline]
This brief Record Finder is designed to help you determine the best record to search for the type of information you are looking for. It is most helpful for post-1850 research. '''For a more complete Record Finder, covering additional research needs, see [[Connecticut Record Finder]].'''
*[http://www.ctgenweb.org/ CTGenWeb] - Connecticut GenWeb Project
 
*[http://www.cyndislist.com/us/ct/ Cyndi's List] - Connecticut genealogy websites
{| width="70%" border="1"
*[http://genealogytrails.com/conn/ Connecticut Genealogy Trails] - collection of transcribed data for the state of Connecticut  
|-
*[http://www.raogk.org/connecticut-genealogy/ Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness] - State of Connecticut Records Guide
| style="padding:10px"| '''1. What you are looking for:'''
| style="padding:10px"| '''2. Try these records first:'''
| style="padding:10px"|'''3. Other useful records'''
|-
| style="padding:10px"|
Birth information
| style="padding:10px; vertical-align:top"|
*[[How to Find Connecticut Birth Records|Birth records]]
*[[How to Find Connecticut Death Records|Death records]]
*[[Connecticut Obituaries|Obituaries]]
*[[Connecticut Church Records|Church records]]
| style="padding:10px"|
*[[Connecticut Cemeteries|Cemeteries]]
*[[Connecticut Naturalization and Citizenship|Naturalization and Citizenship]]<br>(after 1906)
*[[Connecticut Bible Records|Bible records]]
*[[Connecticut Military Records|Military records]]
|-
| style="padding:10px"|Marriage information
| style="padding:10px"|
*[[How to Find Connecticut Marriage Records|Marriage records]]
*[[Connecticut Obituaries|Obituaries]]
*[[Connecticut Bible Records|Bible records]]
| style="padding:10px"|
*[[Connecticut Church Records|Church records]]
*[[Connecticut Probate Records|Probate records]]
*[[Connecticut Military Records|Military records]]
|-
| style="padding:10px"|Death information
| style="padding:10px"|
*[[How to Find Connecticut Death Records|Death Records]]
*[[Connecticut Cemeteries|Cemeteries]]
*[[Connecticut Obituaries|Obituaries]]
| style="padding:10px"|
*[[Connecticut Probate Records|Probate Records]]
*[[Connecticut Church Records|Church Records]]
*[[Connecticut Bible Records|Bible Records]]
|-
| style="padding:10px"|Parents
| style="padding:10px"|
*[[How to Find Connecticut Birth Records|Birth records]]
*[[How to Find Connecticut Death Records|Death records]]
*[[Connecticut Obituaries|Obituaries]]
*[[Connecticut Census|Census]]
*[[Connecticut Church Records|Church records]]
| style="padding:10px; vertical-align:top"|
*[[Connecticut Biography|Biography]]
*[[Connecticut, United States Genealogy|Genealogy]]
|-
| style="padding:10px"|
Maiden name
| style="padding:10px"|
*[[How to Find Connecticut Marriage Records|Marriage Records]]
*[[Connecticut Obituaries|Obituaries]]
*[[Connecticut Probate Records|Probate records]]
| style="padding:10px; vertical-align:top"|
*[[Connecticut Church Records|Church Records]]
*[[Connecticut Military Records|Military Records]]
|-
| style="padding:10px"|
Immigration date
| style="padding:10px"|
*[[Connecticut Emigration and Immigration|Emigration and Immigration]]
*[[Connecticut Naturalization and Citizenship|Naturalization and Citizenship]]<br>(after 1906)
*[[Connecticut Census|Census]]
| style="padding:10px"|
*[[Connecticut Obituaries|Obituaries]]
*[[Connecticut Biography|Biography]]
*[[Connecticut History|History]]
|-
| style="padding:10px"|
Naturalization
| style="padding:10px"|
*[[Connecticut Naturalization and Citizenship|Naturalization and Citizenship]]<br>(after 1906)
*[[Connecticut Census|Census]]
*[[Connecticut Court Records|Court Records]]
| style="padding:10px"|
*[[Connecticut Voting Records|Voting Records]]
*[[Connecticut Biography|Biography]]
*[[Connecticut Periodicals|Periodicals]]
|-
| style="padding:10px"|
Physical description
| style="padding:10px"|
*[[Connecticut Military Records|Military Records]]
*[[Connecticut Naturalization and Citizenship|Naturalization and Citizenship]]<br>(after 1906) (after 1906)
| style="padding:10px; vertical-align:top"|
*[[Connecticut Biography|Biography]]
*[[Connecticut History|History]]
|}
 
=== Further Connecticut Research  ===
*'''Remember, for a more complete Record Finder, covering additional research needs, see [[Connecticut Record Finder]].'''
*For online record collections, go to [[Connecticut Online Genealogy Records|'''Connecticut Online Genealogy Records.''']]
*For more research on Connecticut, including research at the county level, visit the [[Connecticut, United States Genealogy|'''Connecticut''']] page on the Research Wiki.
*Search all of the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/location/31?region=United%20States%20of%20America Connecticut record collections] at FamilySearch.<br>
*{{FSC|216515|item|disp=Ralph J. Crandall. ed. ''Genealogical Research in New England.'' Baltimore, Maryland:Genealogical Publishing Co., 1984. FS Library 974 D27gr}}





Latest revision as of 13:26, 21 February 2025

Connecticut Wiki Topics
Connecticut flag.png
Beginning Research
Record Types
Connecticut Background
Cultural Groups
Local Research Resources

Purpose of Research Tips and Strategies Wiki Page

The Connecticut Research Tips and Strategies page consists of links to specific research strategies for Connecticut. It also contains general tips and other resources for finding your ancestors in this locality.

Connecticut Research Strategies[edit | edit source]

Below are links to different research strategy pages to help you locate your ancestors in Connecticut:

Finding Connecticut Birth, Marriage or Death Records[edit | edit source]

Finding Connecticut Records[edit | edit source]

Connecticut Statewide Databases[edit | edit source]

Connecticut Research Process[edit | edit source]

Connecticut Research Tips[edit | edit source]

These tips will help you as you research your ancestors in Connecticut:

Birth and Death information:


  • Statewide registration: Birth and Death records in Connecticut on the state level (but still recorded by the town) start in 1866 and was generally complied with by 1901. The New Hampshire Bureau of Vital Records began registering births and deaths in 1905.
  • Town Records: Town records starting as early as the 1600s included information about birth, marriage, and death, but little information about parents and their birthplaces.
  • Access to records: See Connecticut Vital Records for more information about birth, marriages, and deaths in Connecticut.


Substitute Records:


  • Secondary source: Substitute records are used when primary sources do not exist for an event, such as birth, marriage, and deaths. Secondary sources list information about the event but they were not recorded at the time of the event and they are not an official record of the event.
  • Accuracy: Because the information about an event in substitute records was not the official recording of the event (such as, cemetery or obituary records) inaccuracy may occur. Use other substitute records to help verify information.
  • List of substitute records: See Connecticut Substitute Records for more information.


Finding Parents:


  • Death records: Early death records do not contain information about parents. However in 1905, the state required birth and parent information for the deceased. Information was not always provided and the accuracy of the information was limited by the grieving relatives' memory.
  • Obituaries: Official obituaries can also include the names of parents and other family members. See Connecticut Newspapers and Connecticut Obituaries for more information.
  • Church records: Knowing the denomination of the church the family belonged to helps in locating information about the parents. See Connecticut Church Records for more information.


Census Records:


  • Check all census years: Always look for your ancestor in every possible census to learn more about them and their family members. See Connecticut Census Records for more information.
  • Clues to other records: There are clues in censuses regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records.
  • Finding families: Starting in 1850, all members of the household were listed in the census. By 1880, relationship to the head of household was added.

Further Connecticut Research[edit | edit source]