Windham County, Connecticut Genealogy

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

United States Connecticut  Windham County

County Courthouse

 * There is no county government.
 * The government is at the town level.

Quick Facts

 * Named for Windham, Sussex, England.

Parent County
12 May 1726: Formed from east part of Hartford County

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

Record Loss

 * Lost census: 1890

Archives and Libraries

 * 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 Windham 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,

Cemeteries

 * Elizabeth Prather Ellsberry, Cemetery records of Windham County, Connecticut, Typescript (photocopy). Includes index.  Available at the Family History Library,  or FHL US/CAN Film 874014 Item 2.
 * William Applebie Daniel Eardeley, Connecticut cemeteries, 1673-1911, (Stamford, Connecticut : Stamford Genealogical Society (Connecticut), [19--]). Microfilm of typescripts.  Includes indexes. Contains inscriptions from cemeteries in Fairfield, Windham, and Hartford counties, with emphasis on cemeteries of Stamford.  Available at the Family History Library,
 * Charles R. Hale Collection of Connecticut Cemeteries and Inscriptions, Windham County Cemetery Records, (accessed 25 Feb 2011). This website has a collection of cemetery links, organized by town.
 * Windham County Cemetery Records, (accessed 2 Mar 2011). Links to cemetery transcriptions.

Census

 * 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,

Church History and Records

 * 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

 * 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,
 * 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)

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

History

 * Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Genealogical Society. Volunteer workers, Index to Richard M. Bayles History of Windham County, Connecticut, with illustrations, Manuscript/With Film. Available at the Family History Library,  or FHL US/CAN Film 908965 Item 1.
 * Ellen D. Larned, History of Windham County, Connecticut. (Worcester, Massachusetts : E.D. Larned, 1874-1880).  Photocopy of original.  Includes indexes. Contents: v. 1. 1600-1760 -- v. 2. 1760-1880.  Volume 2 is available online at Internet Archives, (accessed 2 Mar 2011).  A database for this book is available at ancestry.com$, (accessed 2 Mar 2011).   Also available at the Family History Library,  or FHL US/CAN Film 1000153 Items 1-2.
 * Ellen D. Larned, Historic gleanings in Windham County, Connecticut, (Ann Arbor, Michigan : University Microfilms, 1987). Includes index.  Available online at Google Books, (accessed 2 Mar 2011), or Internet Archives, (accessed 2 Mar 2011).  Also available at the Family History Library,  or
 * Richard M. Bayles, History of Windham County, Connecticut with illustrations, (New York, New York : W.W. Preston, 1889). Available online at Internet Archives, (accessed 2 Mar 2011).  Also available at the Family History Library,  or FHL US/CAN Film 1000153 Item 3.
 * William L. Weaver, History of ancient Windham, Ct.--genealogy containing a genealogical record of all the early families of ancient Windham, embracing the present towns of Windham, Mansfield, Hampton, Chaplin and Scotland : part 1: A--BIL, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1982). Includes indexes.  Includes Abbe, Allen, Babcock, Backus, Baldwin, Barrows, Bennett and other families. Brief family histories for those with surnames between ABBE and BILLINGS, living in various towns in Windham County, Connecticut.  Available online at Internet Archives, (accessed 2 Mar 2011).  Also available at the Family History Library,
 * History of Windham County, Connecticut (1874)
 * Google Timeline, Windham County, Connecticut History 1600-2011, (accessed 2 Mar 2011).

Land and Property

 * 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,

Maps

 * 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.

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

Internet Sources

 * 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.

Newspapers

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

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

Vital Records

 * 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).

Societies, Libraries and Museums

 * Connecticut Society of Genealogists, (accessed 2 Mar 2011).

Web Sites

 * Census Finder, Connecticut Vital Records, (accessed 28 Feb 2011).  Online transcriptions are listed by county.
 * Connecticut Genealogy, Windham Countywide Sources, (accessed 1 Mar 2011).
 * Cyndi's List, (accessed 28 Feb 2011).  Windham County, Connecticut General Resource List
 * epodunk, (accessed 28 Feb 2011).  Windham County, Connecticut Quick Links
 * FamilyHistory101, (accessed 28 Feb 2011). Windham County, Connecticut History, Records, Facts, Genealogy and Ancestry.
 * Linkpendium, (accessed 28 Feb 2011).  Windham County, Connecticut Genealogy and Family History
 * MyGenealogist, (accessed 28 Feb 2011). Windham County, Connecticut Genealogy Resources
 * The Windham County CTGenWeb Project, a member of The CTGenWeb Project
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project (backup site)
 * Web Sites at RootsWeb for Windham County, (accessed 4 Mar 2011).
 * Family History Library catalog for Windham County