Durham, Middlesex County, Connecticut Genealogy

Description
Durham, Connecticut at Wikipedia

Durham is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. Durham is a former farming village on the Coginchaug River in central Connecticut.

First settled in 1699 by Guilford resident Caleb Seward, Durham was originally called Coginchaug by the Native Americans who lived near the swampy area.

Parent Towns

 * originally named Coginchaug
 * 1672 - deed was written between the native proprietors of the territory and Europeans who wished to purchase it from them
 * 1699 - first settled by Caleb Seward and family
 * 1704 - town name changed to Durham
 * 1708 - Durham incorporated

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 Durham Town Clerk 30 Town House Rd. Durham, CT 06422 Phone: 860-349-3453 E-mail: [mailto:kgarvis@townofdurhamct.org kgarvis@townofdurhamct.org] Durham 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 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1662-1866 (*); Fowler, William C. (William Chauncey), 1793-1881 at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1662-1866 (*); Fowler, William C. (William Chauncey), 1793-1881 at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1847-1916 (*); Durham Registrar of Vital Statistics at FamilySearch Library 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 ($); some towns maybe missing
 * 1640-1955 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1662-1866 (*); Fowler, William C. (William Chauncey), 1793-1881 at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1662-1866 (*); Fowler, William C. (William Chauncey), 1793-1881 at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1847-1916 (*); Durham Registrar of Vital Statistics at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1897-1968  Web: Connecticut, U.S., Marriage Records, 1897-1968 at Ancestry - index, ($); Also at: Connecticut State Library
 * 1959-2012  Connecticut, U.S., Marriage Index, 1959-2012 at Ancestry - index, ($)

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 ($); some towns maybe missing
 * 1640-1955 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1640-1955 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1650-1934  Connecticut, U.S., Deaths and Burials Index, 1650-1934 at Ancestry - index, ($)
 * 1662-1866 (*); Fowler, William C. (William Chauncey), 1793-1881 at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1662-1866 (*); Fowler, William C. (William Chauncey), 1793-1881 at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1847-1916 (*); Durham Registrar of Vital Statistics at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1897-1968  Web: Connecticut, U.S., Death Records, 1897-1968 at Ancestry - index, ($); Also at: Connecticut State Library
 * 1949-2012  Connecticut Death Index, 1949-2012 at Ancestry - index, ($)

Divorce

 * 1968-1997  Connecticut, U.S., Divorce Index, 1968-1997 at Ancestry - index, ($)

Resources
For more County and State resources see:

Biographies

 * A Catalogue of the Names of the Early Puritan Settlers of the Colony of Connecticut: With the Time of Their Arrival in the Country and Colony, Their Standing in Society, Place of Residence, Condition of Life, Where From, Business, etc., as Far as is Found on Record. By Royal Ralph Hinman. Hartford, Connecticut: Case, Tiffany Co., 1852. Salt Lake City, Utah: Digitized by FamilySearch International, 2017. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Connecticut Historical Collections: Containing a General Collection of Interesting Facts, Traditions, Biographical Sketches, Anecdotes, etc., Relating to the History and Antiquities of Every Town in Connecticut, With Geographical Descriptions, Illustrated by 190 Engravings. By John Warner Barber. 2nd ed. New Haven, Connecticut: Durrie & Peck and J.W. Barber, 1837. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Encyclopedia of Connecticut Biography, Genealogical-Memorial: Representative Citizens. By Samuel Hart. Boston, Massachusetts: American Historical Society, 1917-1923. Online at:.
 * Ye Names & Ages of All Ye Old Folks in Every Hamlet, City and Town in Ye State of Connecticut, Now Living: With Ye Sketches of Twenty Living Centenarians Compiled by Frederick H. Nash. New Haven, Connecticut: Price, Lee & Co., 1884. San Francisco, California: Internet Archive, 2012. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Who's Who in Connecticut By Ward E. Duffy. Tucson, Arizona: W.C. Cox & Co., 1975. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Connecticut Biography at FamilySearch Research Wiki

Cemeteries

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

Census

 * Connecticut Census at FamilySearch Research Wiki

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 Durham, visit. FamilySearch Places Church of the Epiphany(accessed 27 November 2012): The town's Episcopal church, Epiphany has been in Durham since the 1800s.
 * 1630-1920 Connecticut, U.S., Church Record Abstracts, 1630-1920 at Ancestry - index & images, ($)
 * 1660-1955 at FamilySearch; index — How to Use this Collection
 * Connecticut Church Records

The Church of Notre Dame (accessed 11 July 2012): Durham's Roman Catholic church, the Church of Notre Dame has been an independent parish since 1955.

United Churches of Durham (accessed 11 July 2012): One of Durham's two oldest churches, the community now functions as a member of United Churches.

Many Connecticut churches have deposited their records at the Connecticut State Library. The following are church records available online for the town of Durham:

City Directories

 * 1977 U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995, Durham at Ancestry - index and images ($),some years may be missing
 * 1977 STATE, U.S., City Directories, Durham at Ancestry - index and images ($), some years may be missing
 * Various Dates U.S. City Directories, 1860-1960 at MyHeritage - index and images ($) some towns and years may be missing

Court Records

 * 1636-1945 (*) Connecticut State Library at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
 * State of Connecticut Judicial Branch-Media-How to Obtain Court Records at jud.ct.gov, ($)
 * Connecticut Court Records at FamilySearch Research Wiki

Land Records

 * 1640-1846 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * Connecticut Land and Property

Maps
This selection includes town, county, state, and historical maps
 * Boundary Map of Durham at HomeTownLocator
 * Durham, Connecticut Town Guides at CT State Library
 * Durham at FamilySearch Places
 * Durham at Google Maps
 * Durham at Mapcarta
 * McConnell's Historical Maps of the United States at Library of Congress
 * Old Maps of Connecticut at Old-Maps.com
 * Connecticut Maps State Page

Military
Some Records are Searchable by Town

Revolutionary War, 1775-1783
For more Revolutionary War Military Records see:
 * Connecticut Military Records - Revolutionary War, 1775-1783
 * United States Military Records - Revolutionary War, 1775-1783

Civil War, 1861-1865
For more Civil War Military Records see:
 * Connecticut Military Records - Civil War, 1861-1865
 * United States Military Records - Civil War, 1861-1865

World War I, 1917-1918
For more World War I Military Records see:
 * Connecticut Military Records - World War I, 1917-1918
 * United States Military Records - World War I, 1917-1918

World War II, 1941-1945
For more World War II Military Records see:
 * Connecticut Military Records - World War II, 1941-1945
 * United States Military Records - World War II, 1941-1945

Newspapers

 * 1700s (*) by Jarvis Means Morse, 1899 at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
 * List of Newspapers in Connecticut at Wikipedia
 * The Press of Connecticut - Newspapers at portal.ct.gov
 * Durham-Middlefield Patch (accessed 27 November 2012): The town's online newspaper, the Patch.com site covers local news and history.
 * Middletown Press: The area's major newspaper, the Press can be accessed online and on microfilm.
 * The Town Times (accessed 27 November 2012): The town's local newspaper can be accessed online.
 * Connecticut Newspapers at FamilySearch Research Wiki

Obituaries

 * 1629-1934 Connecticut, U.S., Hale Collection of Cemetery Inscriptions and Newspaper Notices, 1629-1934 at Ancestry - index & images, ($)
 * 1977-2014 (*) NewsBank (Naples, Florida) at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
 * Connecticut Obituaries at FamilySearch Research Wiki
 * United States Obituaries at FamilySearch Research Wiki

Probate Records
In the 1600s, probate records were kept by the Connecticut and New Haven Colonies. In 1666, the two colonies joined and formed four new probate districts and counties: Hartford, New London, New Haven, and Fairfield. More probate districts were formed by 1719.


 * 1609-1999 Connecticut, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999 at Ancestry - index & images, ($)
 * 1752-1917 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1787-1880 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
 * 1859-1931 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1881-1915 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
 * Connecticut Probate Records

Tax Records

 * 1862-1866 (*) United States. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, United States. National Archives and Records Administration (Repository), at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
 * 1915-1926 (*) Connecticut. Inheritance Tax Division at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
 * Connecticut Taxation at FamilySearch Research Wiki

Libraries
Durham Public Library 7 Maple Avenue Durham, CT 06422 Phone: 860-349-9544 E-mail: [mailto:cmichaud@durhamlibrary.org cmichaud@durhamlibrary.org] Facebook Website

Family History Centers & Affiliate Libraries

 * Southington Connecticut Family History Center
 * Godfrey Memorial Library - an affiliate library
 * Russell Library - an affiliate library

Societies
Durham Historical Society 38 Town House Road Durham, CT 06422 Phone: 860-716-5497 E-mail: [mailto:durhamhistoryct@gmail.com durhamhistoryct@gmail.com] Facebook Website