Middlesex County, Connecticut Genealogy

United States Connecticut Middlesex County

Guide to Middlesex County Connecticut genealogy. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Middlesex County, Connecticut
Map
Location in the state of Connecticut
Facts
Founded	May 2, 1785
County Seat	Middletown
Courthouse
Address	265 DeKoven Drive Middletown, CT 06457 Phone: 860.344.2966 Middlesex County Website

County Courthouse

Town Clerks  have birth, marriage, death and land records; Clerk of the Superior Court  has divorce and court records from 1800; Probate Judge  has probate records.

Towns Organized Before 1800:
Chatham 1767,
Durham 1704,
East Haddam 1734,
Haddam 1668,
Killingsworth 1667,
Middletown 1651,
Saybrook 1635

• There is no county government.
• The government is at the town level.
• Probate records may be kept at regional courthouses. For example, Middletown's probate court includes records for the immediate area.

Quick Facts

Template:Adoption CTGenWeb

• Named for County of Middlesex, England (now part of Greater London, England.)

Parent County

• Created 2 May 1785 from the parts of Hartford, New Haven and New London counties.

Boundary Changes

For animated maps illustrating Connecticut county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Connecticut County Boundary Maps" (1643-1960) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss

No records kept at county level except in very rare cases. For specific losses, please visit town pages.

Places / Localities

Template:CTMidCoTownsMap
City:  ▪ Middletown

Towns

Chester Clinton Cromwell Deep River Durham East Haddam East Hampton

Essex Haddam Killingworth Middlefield Old Saybrook Portland Westbrook

Borough:  Fenwick

Unincorporated communities:  Centerbrook | Essex Village | Higganum | Ivoryton | Lake Pocotopaug | Leesville | Little Haddam | Middle Haddam | Millington | Moodus | Saybrook Manor

Neighboring counties:  Hartford | New Haven | New London | New York counties:  Suffolk

Resources

Archives and Libraries

• Middlesex County Public Libraries, (accessed 16 Dec 2011).  This site lists the addresses and websites of the public libraries in Connecticut.
• USGenWeb Connecticut Archives, Middlesex County, (accessed 1 Mar 2011).

Biographies

• Wright, Benjamin 1610 - March 26, 1677, USGenWeb CTArchives
• History of Middlesex County, Connecticut with biographical sketches of its prominent men, (New York :J.B. Beers, 1884).  Available online at Internet Libraries, (accessed 2 Mar 2011).  Also available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Film 982491 Item 3.
• Elaine F. Staplins, The Founders of Saybrook Colony and their descendants, 1635-1985, ([S.l. : s.n.], 1985).  Includes index.  Available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Book 974.66 D3f.  Also see Saybrook Colony Founders Association, (accessed 2 Mar 2011).
• Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, (Chicago, Illinois : J.H. Beers, 1903).  Includes index.  Available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Book 974.66 D3c, or FHL US/CAN Film 982492 Item 4. Also see The Society of Middletown First Settlers Descendants, (accessed 2 Mar 2011).

Indexes

• J.A. McKenzie for the Southern California Genealogical Society, An every name index to History of Middlesex County, Connecticut with biographical sketches of its prominent men, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 2005).  Available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Film 1783640 Item 4.

Cemeteries

• Cemeteries, USGenWeb CTArchives has links to transcriptions.
• Charles R. Hale Collection of Connecticut Cemeteries and Inscriptions, Middlesex County Cemetery Records, (accessed 25 Feb 2011).  This website has a collection of cemetery links, organized by town.
• findagrave, Middlesex County Cemeteries, (accessed 6 Mar 2011). (169 listings)
• Interment, Middlesex County Cemetery Records, (accessed 6 Mar 2011).  This site has published burial records for several Middlesex County Cemeteries.
• Linkpendium, Middlesex County Cemeteries, (accessed 8 Mar 2011).
• The Political Graveyard, (accessed 4 Mar 2011).  Cemeteries and Memorial Sites of Politicians in Middlesex County.
• The Tombstone Transcription Project, (accessed 4 Mar 2011).  Middlesex County, Connecticut.

Individual cemeteries:

• Marcomas Cemetery, Middletown BillionGraves
• Upper Cemetery, Old Saybrook Center BillionGraves

Census

• Census Finder, Connecticut Census Records, (accessed 28 Feb 2011).  Online links by county.
• Connecticut Genealogy, Middlesex County Census Records, (accessed 6 Mar 2011).
• Linkpendium, Census Records and Indexes, (accessed 6 Mar 2011). Middlesex County, Connecticut.
• US Census Collection, (accessed 8 Mar 2011), FamilySearch.
• US Federal Census Collection, ancestry.com$, (accessed 6 Mar 2011).
• USGenWeb Census Project, Middlesex County, Connecticut Federal Census Index, (accessed 6 Mar 2011). Transcriptions in progress.
• Lowell M. Volkel, An index to the 1800 federal census of Fairfield and Hartford counties, state of Connecticut, ([S.l.] : L.M. Volkel, c1968).   Available at the Family History Center, FHL US/CAN Book 974.6 X22v 1800.

For tips on accessing Middlesex County, Connecticut Genealogy census records online, see: Connecticut Census.

Federal 1890

Church Records

• See Texas Church Records for more information.

• Connecticut Genealogy, Middlesex County Church Records, (accessed 6 Mar 2011). Includes church and vital records.

Court Records

• Deeds and Land Records, USGenWeb CTArchives
• Middlesex County Connecticut Court Records Directory, (accessed 8 Mar 2011).
• Connecticut.  Superior Court, Middlesex County, Court Records, 1786-1797, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1989).  Microfilm of original records in the Connecticut State Archives, Hartford.  Court papers are arranged in several files: miscellaneous, partition of land, jurors, court expense, costs, travel and inquest.  Available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Film 1639454 Items 2-8.

Directories

• Linkpendium, Directories, Middlesex County, (accessed 8 Mar 2011).
• Old Saybrook city directory including Chester, Deep River, Essex, Westbrook, (New Haven [Connecticut] : Price & Lee, 1972-).  Available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Book 974.66 E4po.
• Middletown, Portland directory, (New Haven [Connecticut] : Price & Lee, 1931-). Includes index. Available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Book 974.66 E4p.
• Durham (Middlesex County, Conn.) city directory including Haddam, Higganum, Middlefield, Rockfall, (New Haven [Connecticut] : Price & Lee, 1973-). Available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Book 974.66 E4pd.
• Connecticut River Valley directories, (Woodbridge, Connecticut : Research Publications, 1995). Available at the Family History Library, 1913-14 FHL US/CAN Film 2308483 Item 1, continues through Item 5 (1928).

Divorce Records

• Connecticut.  Superior Court, Middlesex County, Divorce Records, 1786-1797, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1989).  Microfilm of original records in the Connecticut State Archives, Hartford.  Records are in two chronological groupings, 1786 to 1789, 1790 to 1797.   Available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Film 1639454 Item 1.

Gazetteers

Middlesex County, Gazetteer, (accessed 2 Mar 2011).

History

• Town Poor, USGenWeb CTArchives
• History - Books, USGenWeb CTArchives,   The Old Chimney Stacks Of East Haddam - 1887
• Linkpendium, History, Middlesex County, (accessed 8 Mar 2011).
• Saybrook Tercentenary Committee (Connecticut), In the land of the patentees, Saybrook in Connecticut, ([S.l.] : Saybrook Tercentenary Committee, 1935).  Available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Book 974.66 H2s, or FHL US/CAN Fiche 6093954.
• David Dudley Field, Centennial address with historical sketches of Cromwell, Portland, Chatham, Middle-Haddam, Middletown and its parishes, (Middletown, Connecticut : W.B. Casey, 1853).  The town of Chatham became East Hampton in 1915.  Available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Book 974.66 H2f, or FHL US/CAN Film 1036820 Item 3.  Also found at the Family History Library on the Desktop, Computer US/CAN Desktop CD-ROM no. 2630 v. 1.
• David D. Field, A statistical account of the county of Middlesex in Connecticut, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1990).  Available online at Google Books, (accessed 2 Mar 2011), or Internet Libraries, (accessed 2 Mar 2011).  Also available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Film 1730852.
• Google Timeline, Middlesex County, Connecticut History 1600-2011, (accessed 2 Mar 2011).
  

See the Biography section for further sources.

Indexes

• J.A. McKenzie, Southern California Genealogical Society (Burbank, California), An every name index to History of Middlesex County, Connecticut with biographical sketches of its prominent men, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 2005).   Available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Film 1783640 Item 4.

Land and Property

Deeds, mortgages, releases, and other related documents were recorded by the town clerk and are at the town halls. Most are indexed by grantor and grantee. There is no statewide index.

The Family History Library and the Connecticut State Library have microfilm copies of many proprietors' and town records from the earliest years to the mid or late 1800s. Some are as recent as the 1900s. They are listed in the FamilySearch Catalog under the name of the town.

• Library of Congress. Geography and Map Division, Middlesex County, Connecticut land ownership map, 1859, (Washington, District of Columbia : Library of Congress, 1983).  Available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Fiche 6079300. Also available online at flickr from Yahoo, (accessed 2 Mar 2011).

Maps

• Maps of Connecticut (1643-1960)
• Department of Economic and Community Development, Connecticut Maps, (accessed 2 Mar 2011).  Organized by State and County.  Links to road maps, county outlines, colored outlines and lists of towns.
• Linkpendium, Maps and Gazetteers, Middlesex County, (accessed 8 Mar 2011).
• F.W. Beers & Co., County Atlas of Middlesex, Connecticut : from actual surveys / by and under the direction of F.W. Beers. (1874), (New York:  F.W. Beers & Co., (1874).  Available online at Internet Archives, (accessed 2 Mar 2011).  Also available at the Family History Library, FHL Vault US/CAN Film 1783410 Item 5.

Military Records

Civil War

Service men from Middlesex County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Most of the men in the following companies were from Middlesex County.

1. 1st Regiment, Connecticut Heavy Artillery -  Company G and H, (Middletown)
2. 2nd Regiment, Connecticut Infantry - Infantry Company A
3. 14th Regiment, Connecticut Infantry - Company B
4. 20th Regiment, Connecticut Infantry - Company D
5. 21st Regiment, Connecticut Infantry - Company I
6. 24th Regiment, Connecticut Infantry - Company A, B, D, F and G.

• Civl War Research Database $, (accessed 8 Mar 2011). 
• Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, (accessed 8 Mar 2011).
• Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, (accessed 8 Mar 2011).  Grave Database 
• Middlesex County In The Civil War, (accessed 8; Mar 2011).  Chapter VIII, History of Middlesex County, by J.B. Beers & Co., publishers; Henry Whittemore; New York, 1884. American Libraries Online Book. A list of volunteers by town starts on page 44.

World War I and World War II

• World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 $, (accessed 8 Mar 2011). 
• U. S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 $, (accessed 8 Mar 2011).
• U. S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 $, (accessed 8 Mar 2011). 
• United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942, (accessed 8 Mar 2011).  Collection Description: Images of cards for men, age 45-64 (born 1877-1897), included in the fourth draft conducted on Arpil 27, 1942.

Naturalization and Citizenship

• Connecticut. County Court and Superior Court, (Middlesex County), Naturalization records, 1844-1871, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1984).  Contains declarations of intent, and records of naturalization. Includes records of the County Court and the Superior Court.  For index to naturalizations in these records see: Connecticut. Superior Court (Middlesex County). Naturalization index, 1844- 1955.  Available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Film 1398618 Items 4-5.
• Connecticut. Superior Court (Middlesex County), Naturalization records, 1844-1909, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1984).  Indexes are found with most volumes.  Naturalization records 1847-1859, includes also declarations of intent 1844-1856.  For general index to these records see: Connecticut. Superior Court (Middlesex County). Naturalization index, 1844-1955.  Available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Film 1398618 Item 3. (4 films)
• Connecticut. Superior Court (Middlesex County), Naturalization records (Middlesex County, Connecticut), 1841-1945, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1984-2008).  Indexes are found within each volume.  Vol. 1, 1906-1909, Declarations of intention is missing and was not filmed.  The records are filmed in certificate number order.  Available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Film 1398618 Item 2. (12 films)

Index

• Connecticut. Superior Court (Middlesex County), Naturalization index, 1844-1955, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1984).   Available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Film 1398614, 1st of 5 films.

Newspapers

• Middlesex County Newspaper List, (accessed 1 Mar 2011).

Obituaries

• Linkpendium, Obituaries and Funeral Homes, Middlesex County, (accessed 8 Mar 2011).
• Middlesex County, Connecticut Obituaries, (accessed 1 Mar 2011).  A directory of obituary databases and archives on the internet.
• Obits, USGenWeb CTArchives

Probate Records

Connecticut State Library, Research Guide to Connecticut Probate Districts, (accessed 28 Feb 2011).

Taxation

Vital Records

See also How to order Connecticut Vital Records

• Births, Deaths, Marriages, USGenWeb CTArchives
• Linkpendium, Vital Records, Middlesex County, (accessed 8 Mar 2011).
• Elizabeth B. Plimpton, The Vital records of Saybrook Colony, 1635-1860 including the towns of Chester, Deep River, Essex, Old Saybrook, and Westbrook, Connecticut, ([S.l.] : Connecticut Valley Shore Research Group, c1985).  Includes index.  Available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Book 974.66 V2v.

Societies, Libraries, Museums

• List of Connecticut Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical & Genealogical Societies
• Connecticut Society of Genealogists, (accessed 2 Mar 2011).
• Middlesex County Historical Society, (accessed 2 Mar 2011).
• Linkpendium, Libraries, Museums and Archives, (accessed 8 Mar 2011), and Societies, Middlesex County, (accessed 8 Mar 2011).

Family History Centers

• Introduction to LDS Family History Centers
• Goshen Connecticut Family History Center
  • Goshen, Connecticut

Websites

• Middlesex County, CT History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
• Connecticut Genealogy Network Community on Google+
• Connecticut Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
• ancestry.com$, (accessed 8 Mar 2011). Available databases for Middlesex County.
• Census Finder, Connecticut Vital Records, (accessed 28 Feb 2011).   Online transcriptions are listed by county.
• Connecticut Genealogy, Middlesex Countywide Sources, (accessed 1 Mar 2011).
• Cyndi's List, (accessed 28 Feb 2011).  General Resource Sites
• epodunk, (accessed 28 Feb 2011).  Middlesex County Quick Links
• Linkpendium, (accessed 28 Feb 2011).   Middlesex County Genealogy and Family History
• The Middlesex County CTGenWeb Project, a member of The CTGenWeb Project
• MyGenealogist, (accessed 28 Feb 2011).  Middlesex County, Connecticut Genealogy Resources
• The USGenWeb Archives Project 
• Web Sites at RootsWeb for Middlesex County, (accessed 4 Mar 2011).
• FamilySearch Catalog Middlesex County Subjects.

References

Family History Library (FHL); now called, FamilySearch Library (FSL)