Tuesday's Tip - Genealogy Resources in Newtown, Connecticut

“The libraries of the world also constitute a vast resource of information that is totally ignored by genealogists.”  James Tanner, Genealogy’s Star blog.

James Tanner’s recent blog, “Non-Traditional Genealogy Data Sources” reminded me of the wealth of resources that reside in the genealogy room of the C.H. Booth Library in Newtown, Connecticut.  Listed below are just some of the items in the collection. There is also a large number of “How-to” books, as well as availability to Ancestry.com, help with Newtown research through the Genealogy Club of Newtown website's Random Acts link, our local professional genealogist, and our town historian.

Specific to Newtown ancestor research there is:

·      1890 Census Substitute for Newtown

·      1890-1899 Newtown Death Database

·      Cemetery Inscriptions: St. Paul’s Church, Huntington, CT

·      Genealogy Room Historic Papers

·      Hale Collection of Headstone Inscriptions for Newtown

·      Irish Tombstone Transcriptions for St. Rose Cemetery

·      Irish Tombstone Transcriptions for Old St. Peter’s Cemetery, Danbury, CT

·      Julia Brush Collection – Family Files

·      Newtown Bee Vital Records Index 1889-1953, 1960, 1980, and Newtown Bee Obits Index 2004-2011.

·      Newtown Congregational Church Records 1715-1946

·      Newtown Supplementary Vital Records

·      Newtown: Births, Marriages, Deaths, 1711-1852

·      Stratford: Births, Marriages, Deaths, 1639-1840

For those searching New England and beyond is:

·      New England Historical and Genealogical Register Mayflower Families

·      Great Migration books

·      Family Histories

·      Rhode Island Vital Records

·      Rhode Island Colonial Records

·      Revolutionary War materials

·      Military Service books

·      Genealogies of Connecticut Families

·      Census books (1850)

·      Heads of Families

·      New England states, towns, localities. Starting with Maine, ending with Connecticut.

·      Settlers of the Beekman Patent (NY)

·      DAR Lineage Books with Index

·      Connecticut Nutmegger with Index

·      Connecticut Ancestry Magazine

·      New York Genealogical and Biographical Record

·      American Genealogy

·      Long Island church books

·      Great Migration books

·      Reference books on individual states

·      Index: George Budke Tombstone inscriptions, Bergen County, NJ and Rockland County, NY

·      Ethnic group how-to books (Scottish roots, German-American ancestry, Jewish roots, Irish, English, Swedish and Polish roots)

After a trip to the state library in Hartford for some research I thought was only there, I then discovered what I needed was only four miles away at the C.H. Booth Library in Newtown!  As James Tanner suggests, take advantage of the materials in your own local library, historical society, and state library.  

Connecticut Historical Society

On April 13, the Genealogy Club of Newtown learned about the holdings of the Connecticut Historical Society Museum and Library.  I, for one, was amazed at the amount of genealogical information housed there and accessible for easy research access.

They have family genealogies, the Hale Tombstone index, local histories, the complete Hartford Courant, with the issues 1764-1820 indexed by Doris Cook. They have recent Hartford Courants online, NEGH Register, the Rhode Island Arnold Collection. They also house the Colonial Dames Church Records 1700-1800 of 106 Connecticut parishes.  They have the Lucius Barnes Barbour Probate Abstracts, the Camp Collection of the Smith family, diaries, journals, account books, Revolutionary War and bible records.  Just to name a few.

If you cannot visit their beautiful facility located in West Hartford, CT, they have staff on hand to give you the assistance you need. They will discuss your research goals, provide a list of the sources that will be examined, and provide an estimate of how many hours it will take to conduct the research.  You will then receive a comprehensive report listing all sources consulted, including photocopies of relevant materials. Their rates are $30/hr for members; $50/hour for non-members.  For research, call 860 236 5621 x 212, or research_center@chs.org.  The Connecticut Historical Society address is: One Elizabeth Street, Hartford, CT 06105. 

Anyone with Connecticut ancestors should have the Connecticut Historical Society in their genealogical toolbox.  Stop by their web site, search their online catalog for your ancestor, but keep in mind, only a portion of their collection is indexed online at this time. So if in doubt, contact them. They are waiting to help you! The Society is sustained by its membership dues and its annual fund; it is not state funded. So any financial assistance they receive is most welcome.