Middletown, Middlesex County, Connecticut Genealogy

Description
Middletown, Connecticut at Wikipedia

Middletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles (26 km) south of Hartford. In 1650, it was incorporated as a town under its original Indian name, Mattabeseck. It received its present name in 1653.

The land on the western bank of the Connecticut River where Middletown now lies was home to the Mattabesett Native Americans (also spelled Mattabesec, Mattabeseck, and Mattabesek); the area they inhabited—now Middletown and the surrounding area—was named after them. At the time the first European settlers arrived in the region, the Mattabesetts were a part of the group of tribes in the Connecticut Valley, under a single chief named Sowheag

In 1784, the central settlement was incorporated as a city distinct from the town.

In 1923, the City of Middletown was consolidated with the Town, making the city limits of the city quite extensive. Originally a busy sailing port and then an industrial center, it is now largely residential with its downtown serving as a college town for Wesleyan University. Middletown was the county seat of Middlesex County from its creation in 1785 until the elimination of county government in 1960.

Populated Places
Includes Neighborhoods, Villages, Unincorporated Communities, Districts, and Census-Designated Places:

Town Records
In New England most original vital records of birth, marriage, and death can be found at the town clerk's office Middletown Town Clerk 245 deKoven Drive Middletown, CT 06457 Phone: 860-638-4910 E-mail: [mailto:ashley.flynn@middletownct.gov ] Middletown Town Clerk

Births

 * 1600s-1850 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - index and images; some towns maybe missing
 * 1600s-1850 The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records This collection of bound typescripts is available at the listed libraries; some towns may be missing
 * 1600s-1870 Connecticut, U.S., Town Birth Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection) at Ancestry - index and images ($); some towns maybe missing
 * 1639-1941 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1640-1955 — index
 * 1640-1921 : at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Marriages

 * 1600s-1850 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - index and images; some towns maybe missing
 * 1600s-1850 The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records This collection of bound typescripts is available at the listed libraries; some towns may be missing
 * 1600s-1870 Connecticut, U.S., Town Marriage Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection) at Ancestry - index and images ($); some towns maybe missing
 * 1640-1955 — index
 * 1640-1921 : at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Deaths

 * 1600s-1850 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - index and images; some towns maybe missing
 * 1600s-1850 The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records This collection of bound typescripts is available at the listed libraries; some towns may be missing
 * 1600s-1870 Connecticut, U.S., Town Death Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection) at Ancestry - index and images ($); some towns maybe missing
 * 1640-1955 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1640-1955 — index
 * 1640-1921 : at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Divorce
For more resources see:

Resources
For more County and State resources see:

Cemeteries

 * Middletown Cemeteries List at FindAGrave
 * at FamilySearch Catalog
 * at FamilySearch Catalog
 * Middlesex County Cemeteries at FamilySearch Places

Church Records
At its founding, Congregationalism was the dominant religion in Connecticut and was even the state religion until 1818. Other common Christian denominations include the Methodist, Episcopal, Roman Catholic, and Baptist churches. To see the churches in Middletown, visit. FamilySearch Places Many Connecticut churches have deposited their records at the Connecticut State Library. The following are church records available online for the town of Middletown:

City Directories

 * 1868-1981 U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 at Ancestry ($) - index and images, some years may be missing

Maps
This selection incudes town, county, state, and historical maps

Military
Searchable by Town

Newspapers
The Hartford Courant : The statewide newspaper, The Courant is the most widely read local newspaper.

Middletown Patch : A branch of Patch.com, the Middletown Patch has a regular Middletown history column.

The Middletown Press : The major local newspaper, the Press is also available on microfilm at the Russell Library.

Probate Records
In Connecticut, most probate records are kept at the town level. Middletown Probate District covers Towns of Cromwell, Durham, Middlefield and Middletown. Constituted May session 1752, from Hartford, Guilford and East Haddam. Part of Town of Berlin was set off to form the Town of Berlin and subsequently Berlin Probate District 2 June 1824. The following are online probate records for the town of Middletown:
 * 1752-1917 : at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Libraries
Russell Library 123 Broad Street Middletown, CT 06457 Phone: 860-347-2528 E-mail: [mailto:infodept@russelllibrary.org linfodept@russelllibrary.org] Facebook Website Russell Library(accessed 12 February 2012): The public library for Middletown, Russell Library has a significant local history collection.

Wesleyan University Special Collections &amp; Archives (accessed 19 April 2012): Wesleyan University's Archives also stores local records.

Godfrey Memorial Library - Genealogy and History Library. Site has databases for a subscription fee.

Nearest Family History Center
Nearest Family History Centers to the town of Middletown: Nearest Affiliate Libraries to the town of Middletown:

Societies
The Society of Middletown First Settlers Descendants Middletown, CT 06457 Hal Whitmore, Registrar 1301 North Harrison Street, Apt. 201 Wilimington, DE 19806 E-mail: [mailto:hbwhitmore@yahoo.com hbwhitmore@yahoo.com] Website