Windham County, Connecticut Genealogy

Guide to Windham County, Connecticut ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
 * This is about a county in Connecticut. For other uses, see Windham (disambiguation).

Description
The county was named for Windham, Sussex, England. The County is located in the northeastern corner of the state.

County Courthouse
Windham County Courthouse 155 Church Street Putnam, CT 06260 Phone: 860-928-7749 Windham County Website

There is no county government and no county seat today. The government is at the town level. 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.

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this 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,

Census Records
Territory and State Census Records
 * Census Online - Windham County Records.
 * Census Finder, Connecticut Census Records - Online links by county.
 * Linkpendium, Census Records and Indexes - Windham County, Connecticut.

Federal Census Records
 * US Federal Census Collection, ancestry.com($),
 * USGenWeb Census Project, Windham County, Connecticut Federal Census Index, 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, Includes church and vital records.
 * Linkpendium, Church Records, Windham County,
 * 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,

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Court Records
Online Court Indexes and Records
 * Windham County Connecticut Court Records Directory,
 * 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,
 * 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.

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1804-1959 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection - index/images
 * 1966-2002 Connecticut, Marriages, 1966-2002 at MyHeritage - index ($)

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
Native and African Americans
 * 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.

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: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * William L. Weaver, History of Ancient Windham--Genealogy, parts XC through XCVII--Elderkin. Lakeland, Florida : R.D. Elderkin, c1. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library; or FHL US/CAN Fiche 6017293.

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 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, 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: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive,  Ancestry($);.
 * History of Windham County, Connecticut. 2 Vols. By Ellen D. Larned. 1874. Worcester, Massachusetts : E.D. Larned. Online at: Vol. 1 - FamilySearch Digital Library,  Internet Archive; Vol. 1, Pt. 2 - FamilySearch Digital Library; Vol. 2 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive; Vols. 1 & 2 - Hathitrust;.
 * History of Windham County, Connecticut. Edited by Richard M. Bayles. 1889. New York, New York : W.W. Preston. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive, Ancestry($); . 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 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive; Vol. 2 -  FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive; Vols. 1 & 2 - Hathitrust;.
 * Connecticut Indexes at EveryNameIndex.com — Select the county.

Maps and Gazetteers
Windham County, Gazetteer,
 * Maps of Connecticut (1643-1960)
 * Department of Economic and Community Development, Connecticut Maps Organized by State and County.Links to road maps, county outlines, colored outlines and lists of towns.
 * Linkpendium, Maps and Gazetteers Windham County,
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
Civil War


 * Civl War Research Database ($),
 * 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, 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, 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,  Town of Chaplin, Windham County, Connecticut.Lists names, regiment, death date and age.

Regiments. 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.
 * -7th Regiment, Connecticut Infantry - Company K
 * -18th Regiment, Connecticut Infantry - Company H and K
 * -21st Regiment, Connecticut Infantry - Company K

World War I
 * 1917-1918 U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection - index/images

World War II
 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index/images
 * 1942 U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1942 of men age 45-64 (born 1877-1897), at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection - index and images

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1851-1992 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index/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

 * 1800s-1999 Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry ($)
 * Windham County, Connecticut Obituaries, A directory of obituary databases and archives on the internet.

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

School Records
Online School Indexes and 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.

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch — How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

Birth

 * Pre 1850 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index/images
 * 1639-1941 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection - index/images
 * 1640-1955 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection - index/images

Marriage

 * Pre 1850 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index/images
 * 1640-1939 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection - Index/images
 * 1640-1955 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection - index/images
 * 1966-2002 Connecticut, Marriages, 1966-2002 at MyHeritage - index ($)

Death

 * Pre 1850 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index/images
 * 1640-1955 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection - index/images
 * 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
 * 1640-1955 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection - index/images
 * 1949-2012 Connecticut Death Index, 1949-2012 at MyHeritage - index ($)

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)

Archives

 * USGenWeb Connecticut Archives, Windham County,

Family History Centers

 * Hartford Connecticut Family History Center
 * Manchester Connecticut Family History Center
 * Providence Rhode Island Family History Center
 * Southington Connecticut Family History Center
 * Berlin-Peck Memorial Library - an affiliate library
 * Connecticut Society of Genealogists, Inc. - an affiliate library
 * Cora J.Belden Library - an affiliate library
 * Godfrey Memorial Library - an affiliate library
 * Russell Library - an affiliate library

Libraries
Windham County Public Libraries This site lists the addresses and websites of the public libraries in Connecticut.

Babcock Public Library 25 Pompey Hollow Road Ashford, CT 06278 860-487-4420 E-mail: [mailto:babcocklib@gmail.com babcocklib@gmail.com ] Facebook Brooklyn Town Library 10 Canterbury Road PO Box 357 Brooklyn, CT 06234 860-774-0649 E-mail: [mailto:brooklyntownlibrary4@yahoo.com brooklyntownlibrary4@yahoo.com] Facebook Canterbury Public Library 1 Municipal Drive Canterbury, CT 06331 860-546-9022 E-mail: [mailto:canterburypubliclibrary@gmail.com canterburypubliclibrary@gmail.com] Facebook Website Chaplin Town Hall 495 Phoenixville Road Chaplin, CT 06235 (860) 455-0073 E-mail: [mailto:assistant@chaplinct.org assistant@chaplinct.org] Website Chaplin Public Library 130 Chaplin Street Chaplin, CT 06235 (860) 455-9424 E-mail: [mailto:librarydirector@chaplinct.org librarydirector@chaplinct.org] 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 Eastford Public Library 179 Eastford Rd. Eastford, CT 06242 (860) 974-0125 Website Fletcher Memorial Library 257 Main Street PO Box 6 Hampton, CT 06247 860 455-1086 E-mail: [mailto:fletchermemoriallibrary@gmail.com fletchermemoriallibrary@gmail.com] Website Killingly Public Library 25 Westcott Rd Killingly, CT 06239 860-779-5383 E-mail: [mailto:info@killinglypl.org info@killinglypl.org] Facebook Website

Societies
Ashford Historical Society Inc 5 Town Hall Road Ashford CT 06278 860 429-4568 E-Mail: [mailto:joan@ashfordhistoricalsociety.org joan@ashfordhistoricalsociety.org] Website Aspinock Historical Society of Putnam 206 School Street PO Box 465 Putnam, CT 06260 860-963-0092 E-Mail: [mailto:aspinockhistoricalsociety@gmail.com aspinockhistoricalsociety@gmail.com] Facebook Website Brooklyn Historical Society 25 Brooklyn Rd Brooklyn CT 06234 (860) 774-7728 E-mail: https://www.brooklynct.org/users/elaine-knowlton/contact Facebook Website Canterbury Historical Society P.O. Box 2 Canterbury, CT 06331 Facebook Website Eastford Historical Society 16 Westford Road P.O. Box 350 Eastford, CT 06242 E-mail: [mailto:ehsarchives@gmail.com ehsarchives@gmail.com] Facebook Website Hampton Antiquarian and Historical Society P.O. Box 12 Hampton, CT 06247-0012 (860) 455-0783 E-mail: [mailto:suemh35@yahoo.com suemh35@yahoo.com] Facebook Website Killingly Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc. 196 Main St. P. O. Box #265 Danielson, CT 06239 860-779-7250 Website Plainfield Historical Society P.O. Box 104 Central Village, CT 06332 E-Mail: [mailto:Plfdhistory@SBCglobal.net Plfdhistory@SBCglobal.net] Website Pomfret Historical Society P.O. Box 152 17 Town House Dr. Pomfret Center, CT 06259 860 974 1748 E-Mail: [mailto:whinchman@gmail.com whinchman@gmail.com] Website Scotland Connecticut Historical Society P.O. Box 35 Scotland CT, 06264 860-423-1547 E-Mail: [mailto:scotlandhistoricalsociety@gmail.com scotlandhistoricalsociety@gmail.com] Website Sterling Historic Society P.O. Box 157 1183 Plainfield Pike Oneco, CT 06373 (860) 564-2904 E-Mail: [mailto:sterlinghistoricalsocietyct@gmail.com sterlinghistoricalsocietyct@gmail.com] Website Thompson Historical Society P.O. Box 47 Thompson, CT 06277 860-923-3776 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] Facebook 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

 * ancestry.com($), Available databases for Windham County.
 * Windham County Genealogy by LDS Genealogy
 * Cyndi's List, Windham County, Connecticut General Resource List
 * Linkpendium, Windham County, Connecticut Genealogy and Family History
 * The Windham County CTGenWeb Project, a member of The CTGenWeb Project
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project
 * http://www.ctgenweb.org/county/cowindham/ GenWeb Windham County],
 * – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.