Windham County, Connecticut Genealogy


 * This is about a county in Connecticut. For other uses, see Windham (disambiguation).

Guide to Windham County, Connecticut ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description

 * Named for Windham, Sussex, England.
 * The county seat has none since 1960 and the county was created May 12, 1726. The County is located in the northeastern corner of the state.

County Courthouse

 * Town Clerks have birth, marriage and land records from 1692 and burial records from 1900
 * Probate Judge has probate records.
 * Clerk of the Superior Court has divorce records.

Windham County, Connecticut

 * Connecticut no longer has county governments
 * local government is at the town level.

Towns Organized Before 1800:
 * Ashford 1714
 * Brooklyn 1786
 * Canterbury 1703
 * Hampton 1786
 * Killingly 1708
 * Painfield 1699
 * Pomfret 1713
 * Sterling 1794
 * Thompson 1785
 * Windham 1692
 * Woodstock (New Roxbure) 1686

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Boundary Changes

 * 13 October 1786 Tolland County was created from western part of the county.
 * 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.

Populated Places
Towns and cities: 

Extinct city:  Willimantic

Other communities: 

New London Tolland New Haven Massachusetts County Worcester Rhode Island Counties Kent Providence
 * Neighboring Counties

History Timeline
12 May 1726: Formed from east part of Hartford County.

Biographies

 * Commemorative biographical record of Tolland and Windham counties, Connecticut containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families, (Chicago, Illinois : J.H. Beers, 1903). Includes fullname index (in part 1 for pts. 1 and 2).  Available at the Family History Library,  or FHL US/CAN Film 982349.


 * Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Genealogical Society. Volunteer Aids, Index to Commemorative biographical record of Tolland and Windham counties, Connecticut, part 1, Manuscript. Includes fullname index to part 1 but only through pt. 1's page 602.  Available online at ancestry.com$.  Available in the Family History Library,

Territory and State Census Records

 * Census Online, (accessed 6 Mar 2011), Windham County Records.
 * Census Finder, Connecticut Census Records, (accessed 6 Mar 2011). Online links by county.
 * Linkpendium, Census Records and Indexes, (accessed 6 Mar 2011). Windham County, Connecticut.
 * US Census Collection, (accessed 8 Mar 2011), FamilySearch.

Federal Census Records

 * US Federal Census Collection, ancestry.com$, (accessed 6 Mar 2011).
 * USGenWeb Census Project, Windham County, Connecticut Federal Census Index, (accessed 6 Mar 2011). Transcriptions in progress.
 * Lowell M. Volkel, An index to the 1800 federal census of Litchfield, New Haven, Tolland and Windham counties, state of Connecticut, ([S.l.] : L.M. Volkel, c1969).  Available at the Family History Center,

Church Records

 * Connecticut Genealogy, Windham County Church Records, (accessed 6 Mar 2011). Includes church and vital records.
 * Linkpendium, Church Records, Windham County, (accessed 8 Mar 2011).
 * John Sherman, A view of ecclesiastical proceedings in the county of Windham, Connecticut in which the original association of the county and a few members of the First Church in Mansfield were concerned; containing public documents, letters &amp;c. relative to the subject; to which are annexed, the result of council, and addresses to the society, the church, the youth of Mansfield and others, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1993).  Available at the Family History Library,
 * Woodstock Methodist Episcopal Church (Woodstock, Connecticut), Church records, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1987). Includes baptisms 1850-1863, marriages 1850-1861, and membership 1849-1865.  Also includes records of East Woodstock Methodist Episcopal Church, West Woodstock Methodist Episcopal Church, and North Woodstock Methodist Episcopal Church.  Available at the Family History Library,

Court Records

 * Windham County Connecticut Court Records Directory, (accessed 8 Mar 2011).
 * Connecticut. Superior Court (Windham County), Court expenses, 1826-1883, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1990). Available at the Family History Library,
 * Grace Louise Knox &amp; Barbara B. Ferris, Connecticut divorces Superior Court records for the counties of New London, Tolland &amp; Windham, 1719-1910, (Bowie, Maryland : Heritage Books, c1987). Includes index.  Available at the Family History Library,
 * Marcella Houle Pasay, Family secrets 18th &amp; 19th century birth records found in the Windham County, Ct., County Court records &amp; files, at the CT State Library Archives, Hartford, (Bowie, Maryland : Heritage Books, c2000). Includes index.  Includes some records from towns in surrounding counties.  Available at the Family History Library,
 * Marcella Houle Pasay, The Windham County, CT, county court records, (Bowie, Maryland : Heritage Books, c2000-c2002). Includes (v. 1) name/location and case indexes and (v. 2) name, place, and subject indexes. Contents: v. 1. abstracts of volume 1 [1726-1732], CT State Library Archives, Captial Avenue, Hartford, CT -- v. 2. abstracts of volume 2 [1732-1736], Connecticut State Library Archives, Captial Avenue, Hartford, CT. Available at the Family History Library,

Directories

 * Linkpendium, Directories, Windham County, (accessed 8 Mar 2011).
 * Danielson (Connecticut) city directories, (Woodbridge, Connecticut : Research Publications, [199-?]).  Available at the Family History Library, 1913  1921-22, Item 2. 1923-24, Item 3 and 1927-28, Item 4.

Genealogies

 * Windham County Genealogy 858 Windham county genealogy record sources.
 * William L. Weaver, ''History of Ancient Windham, Ct.--Genealogy, part 1: A--BIL. Willimantic, Connecticut : Weaver & Curtiss, 1865. Online at:.
 * William L. Weaver, History of Ancient Windham--Genealogy, parts XC through XCVII--Elderkin. Lakeland, Florida : R.D. Elderkin, c1. Available at the Family History Library, or FHL US/CAN Fiche 6017293.

Land and Property Records
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, Windham County, Connecticut land ownership map, 1856, (Washington, District of Columbia : Library of Congress, 1983). Available online at flickr from yahoo, (accessed 3 Mar 2011).  Also available at the Family History Library,

Local Histories

 * Historic Gleanings in Windham County, Connecticut. By Ellen D. Larned. 1899. Providence, R.I. : Preston and Rounds. Online at: ; Hathitrust; Internet Archive; Google Books; Ancestry($);.
 * History of Windham County, Connecticut. 2 Vols. By Ellen D. Larned. 1874. Worcester, Massachusetts : E.D. Larned. Online at: - Vol. 1; Hathitrust; Internet Archive - Vol. 1; Internet Archive - Vol. 2; Google Books - Vol. 1; Google Books - Vol. 2;.
 * History of Windham County, Connecticut. Edited by Richard M. Bayles. 1889. New York, New York : W.W. Preston. Online at: ; Hathitrust; Internet Archive; Ancestry($); . Index not online but available at: Index to Richard M. Bayles History of Windham County, Connecticut. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Genealogical Society. Volunteer workers. 1974. or FHL US/CAN Film 908965 Item 1.
 * Modern History of Windham County. 2 Vols. Edited by Allen B. Lincoln. 1920. Chicago : The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company. Online at: - Vol. 1;  - Vol. 2; Hathitrust; Internet Archive - Vol. 1; Internet Archive - Vol. 2; Google Books - Vol. 1; Google Books - Vol. 2;.

Maps and Gazetteers
Windham County, Gazetteer, (accessed 2 Mar 2011).


 * 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, Windham County, (accessed 8 Mar 2011).

Civil War
Service men from Windham 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 Windham County.


 * 1) 7th Regiment, Connecticut Infantry - Company K
 * 2) 18th Regiment, Connecticut Infantry - Company H and K
 * 3) 21st Regiment, Connecticut Infantry - Company K


 * Civl War Research Database $, (accessed 8 Mar 2011).
 * Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Database;
 * Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Grave Database;
 * Chaplin Military Records, Men in the Army and Navy during the Civil War, (accessed 25 Feb 2011). Source: Connecticut. General Assembly. Record of Service of Connecticut Men in the Army and Navy of the United States During the War of the Rebellion, (Hartford: Case, Lockwood, &amp; Brainard,1889).
 * Scotland Military Records, Men in the Army and Navy during the Civil War, (accessed 25 Feb 2011). Source: Connecticut. General Assembly. Record of Service of Connecticut Men in the Army and Navy of the United States During the War of the Rebellion. (Hartford: Case, Lockwood, &amp; Brainard, 1889).
 * Richard M. Bayles, History of Windham County, Connecticut, Chapter VIII, The Civil War, (New York: W.W. Preston and Company, 1889). Online Book at Internet Libraries.
 * The Hale Collection, Veteran Burial Records, (accessed 25 Feb 2011). Town of Chaplin, Windham County, Connecticut.  Lists names, regiment, death date and age.

World War I

 * World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 $, (accessed 8 Mar 2011).

World War II

 * 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

 * 1851-1992 at FamilySearch — index and images


 * Connecticut. County Court (Windham County), Naturalizations, 1855, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1983). Includes index.  Available at the Family History Library,
 * Connecticut. Superior Court and County Court (Windham County), Declarations of intentions, 1855-1906, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1983). Indexes are found within each volume.  Includes records of the County Court, 1855-1856.  Available at the Famiy History Library, 1855-1892  and 1892-1906 FHL US/CAN Film 1378201 Item 1.
 * Connecticut. Superior Court (Windham County), Naturalization records (Windham County, Connecticut), 1906-1945, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1983-2008). Includes index.  Available at the Family History Library,  (12 Films)
 * Connecticut. Superior Court (Windham County), Naturalizations, 1855-1906, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1983). Indexes included within each volume.  Available at the Family History Library, 1855-1863  and 1866-1888 Item 3-4 and 1888-1906 FHL US/CAN Film 1378200 Items 1 - 3.


 * Connecticut. Superior Court (Windham County), Index to naturalization records 1927-1974 (Windham County, Connecticut - Superior Court), (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 2003).  Available at the Family History Library,

Newspapers

 * Windham County, Connecticut Obituaries, (accessed 1 Mar 2011). A directory of obituary databases and archives on the internet.

Minorities

 * Marcella Houle Pasay, Full circle a directory of Native and African Americans in Windham County, CT, and vicinity, 1650-1900, (Bowie, Maryland : Heritage Books, c2002). Includes index.  Available at the Family History Library,  and FHL US/CAN Book 974.645 F2p v. 2.

Probate Records
Connecticut State Library Research Guide to Connecticut Probate Records. Online Probate Records
 * 1609 – 1999 Connecticut Wills and Probate Records 1609-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

School Records

 * John Keep, Adin Webb and Baptist Church in Homer, New York, Miscellaneous records of Homer, New York, 1794-1860, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1941). Available at the Family History Library,  or FHL US/CAN Film 1421103 Items 2-4.

Marriage

 * 1640-1939 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Death

 * 1883-1932 - Windham County (Connecticut). Coroner, Coroner's records, 1883-1932, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1988). Indexes are included within each volume. Available at the Family History Library,  (first of 5 films).
 * Linkpendium, Vital Records, Windham County.

Divorce

 * Connecticut. Superior Court (Windham County), Divorce papers, 1726-1907, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1990). Available at the Family History Library beginning with,  (27 films)

See also How to order Connecticut Vital Records

Archives

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

Societies, Libraries, and Museums
The Ashford Historical Society Inc 5 Town Hall Road Ashford CT 06278 860 429-4568 E-Mail: [mailto:joan@ashfordhistoricalsociety.org joan@ashfordhistoricalsociety.org] Website

Canterbury Historical Society P.O. Box 2 Canterbury, CT 06331 Facebook Website

Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU) J. Eugene Smith Library 83 Windham Street Willimantic, Connecticut 06226 860 465-5563 E-Mail: [mailto:hurtt@easternct.edu hurtt@easternct.edu] Website

Killingly Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc. 196 Main St. P. O. Box #265 Danielson, CT 06239 860-779-7250 Website

Windham Historical Society/Jillson House Museum P.O. Box 105 627 Main Street Willimantic, CT 06226 860.456.2316 Email: [mailto:jillson@windhamhistory.org jillson@windhamhistory.org] Website

Woodstock Historical Society P.O. Box 65 523 CT-169 Woodstock CT 06281 860.928.1035 E-Mail: [mailto:collectionsWHS@gmail.com collectionsWHS@gmail.com] Website

Websites

 * Windham 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 Windham County.
 * Census Finder, Connecticut Vital Records, (accessed 28 Feb 2011).  Online transcriptions are listed by county.
 * Connecticut Genealogy, Windham County Genealogy
 * Cyndi's List, (accessed 28 Feb 2011).  Windham County, Connecticut General Resource List
 * epodunk, (accessed 28 Feb 2011).  Windham County, Connecticut Quick Links
 * Linkpendium, (accessed 28 Feb 2011).  Windham County, Connecticut Genealogy and Family History
 * MyGenealogist; Windham County, Connecticut, Genealogy Resources
 * The Windham County CTGenWeb Project, a member of The CTGenWeb Project
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project
 * Websites at RootsWeb for Windham County, (accessed 4 Mar 2011).
 * Windham County Subjects.