Middlesex County, Connecticut Genealogy

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

Description

 * Named for County of Middlesex, England (now part of Greater London, England.)
 * The County is located in the south central area of the state.

County Courthouse

 * Town Clerks  have birth, marriage, death and land records;
 * Clerk of the Superior Court  has divorce and court records from 1800;
 * Probate Judge  has probate records.
 * There is no county government.
 * The government is at the town level.
 * Probate records may be kept at regional courthouses. For example, Middletown's probate court includes records for the immediate area.

Middlesex County, Connecticut
Towns Organized Before 1800: Chatham 1767, Durham 1704, East Haddam 1734, Haddam 1668, Killingsworth 1667, Middletown 1651, Saybrook 1635

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. For possible town record losses, please visit town pages.

Boundary Changes
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.
 * Parent County: Created 2 May 1785 from the parts of Hartford, New Haven and New London counties.
 * County seat: none since 1960 and the county was created May 1785.

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

 * Wright, Benjamin 1610 - March 26, 1677, USGenWeb CTArchives
 * History of Middlesex County, Connecticut with biographical sketches of its prominent men, (New York :J.B. Beers, 1884). Available online at Internet Libraries, (accessed 2 Mar 2011).  Also available at the Family History Library,
 * Elaine F. Staplins, The Founders of Saybrook Colony and their descendants, 1635-1985 , ([S.l. : s.n.], 1985). Includes index.  Available at the Family History Library,   Also see Saybrook Colony Founders Association, (accessed 2 Mar 2011).
 * Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, (Chicago, Illinois : J.H. Beers, 1903). Includes index.  Available at the Family History Library,  or FHL US/CAN Film 982492 Item 4. Also see The Society of Middletown First Settlers Descendants, (accessed 2 Mar 2011).
 * J.A. McKenzie for the Southern California Genealogical Society, An every name index to History of Middlesex County, Connecticut with biographical sketches of its prominent men, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 2005). Available at the Family History Library,

Territory and State Census Records

 * Census Finder, Connecticut Census Records, (accessed 28 Feb 2011). Online links by county.
 * Connecticut Genealogy, Middlesex County Census Records, (accessed 6 Mar 2011).
 * Linkpendium, Census Records and Indexes, (accessed 6 Mar 2011). Middlesex 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, Middlesex County, Connecticut Federal Census Index, (accessed 6 Mar 2011). Transcriptions in progress.
 * 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 Records

 * Connecticut Genealogy, Middlesex County Church Records, (accessed 6 Mar 2011). Includes church and vital records.

Court Records

 * Deeds and Land Records, USGenWeb CTArchives
 * Middlesex County Connecticut Court Records Directory, (accessed 8 Mar 2011).
 * Connecticut. Superior Court, Middlesex County, Court Records, 1786-1797 , (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1989).  Microfilm of original records in the Connecticut State Archives, Hartford.  Court papers are arranged in several files: miscellaneous, partition of land, jurors, court expense, costs, travel and inquest.  Available at the Family History Library,

Directories

 * Linkpendium, Directories, Middlesex County, (accessed 8 Mar 2011).
 * Old Saybrook city directory including Chester, Deep River, Essex, Westbrook, (New Haven [Connecticut] : Price &amp; Lee, 1972-). Available at the Family History Library,
 * Middletown, Portland directory, (New Haven [Connecticut] : Price &amp; Lee, 1931-). Includes index. Available at the Family History Library,
 * Durham (Middlesex County, Conn.) city directory including Haddam, Higganum, Middlefield, Rockfall, (New Haven [Connecticut] : Price &amp; Lee, 1973-). Available at the Family History Library,
 * Connecticut River Valley directories, (Woodbridge, Connecticut : Research Publications, 1995). Available at the Family History Library, 1913-14 continues through Item 5 (1928).

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, Middlesex County, Connecticut land ownership map, 1859 , (Washington, District of Columbia : Library of Congress, 1983). Available at the Family History Library,  Also available online at flickr from Yahoo, (accessed 2 Mar 2011).

Local Histories

 * David Dudley Field, Centennial address with historical sketches of Cromwell, Portland, Chatham, Middle-Haddam, Middletown and its parishes, (Middletown, Connecticut : W.B. Casey, 1853). The town of Chatham became East Hampton in 1915.  Available at the Family History Library,  or   Also found at the Family History Library on the Desktop,
 * History of Middlesex County, Connecticut. 1884. New York, New York : J.B. Beers. Online at: Hathitrust; Internet Archive; . Index (not available online): An every name index to History of Middlesex County, Connecticut. By J.A. McKenzie. 1993. Burbank, California : Southern California Genealogical Society. Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 2005. Available at FHL:
 * A Statistical Account of the County of Middlesex in Connecticut. By David D. Field. 1819. Middletown, Conn., Printed by Clark & Lyman. Online at: Hathitrust; Internet Archive; Google Books;.

Maps and Gazetteers
Middlesex County, Gazetteer, (accessed 2 Mar 2011).
 * Map of Middlesex County (1859) - available at the Library of Congress. Shows nearly every household name.
 * 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, Middlesex County, (accessed 8 Mar 2011).
 * F.W. Beers &amp; Co., County Atlas of Middlesex, Connecticut : from actual surveys / by and under the direction of F.W. Beers. (1874), (New York: F.W. Beers &amp; Co., (1874).  Available online at Internet Archives, (accessed 2 Mar 2011).  Also available at the Family History Library,



Civil War
Service men from Middlesex 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 Middlesex County.


 * 1) 1st Regiment, Connecticut Heavy Artillery - Company G and H, (Middletown)
 * 2) 2nd Regiment, Connecticut Infantry - Infantry Company A
 * 3) 14th Regiment, Connecticut Infantry - Company B
 * 4) 20th Regiment, Connecticut Infantry - Company D
 * 5) 21st Regiment, Connecticut Infantry - Company I
 * 6) 24th Regiment, Connecticut Infantry - Company A, B, D, F and G.


 * Civl War Research Database $, (accessed 8 Mar 2011).
 * Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Database;
 * Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Grave Database;
 * Middlesex County In The Civil War, (accessed 8; Mar 2011). Chapter VIII, History of Middlesex County, by J.B. Beers &amp; Co., publishers; Henry Whittemore; New York, 1884. American Libraries Online Book. A list of volunteers by town starts on page 44.

World War I

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

World War II

 * U. S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 $, (accessed 8 Mar 2011).
 * at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 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 and Superior Court, (Middlesex County), Naturalization records, 1844-1871 , (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1984). Contains declarations of intent, and records of naturalization. Includes records of the County Court and the Superior Court.  For index to naturalizations in these records see: Connecticut. Superior Court (Middlesex County). Naturalization index, 1844- 1955.  Available at the Family History Library,
 * Connecticut. Superior Court (Middlesex County), Naturalization records, 1844-1909 , (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1984). Indexes are found with most volumes.  Naturalization records 1847-1859, includes also declarations of intent 1844-1856.  For general index to these records see: Connecticut. Superior Court (Middlesex County). Naturalization index, 1844-1955.  Available at the Family History Library,  (4 films)
 * Connecticut. Superior Court (Middlesex County), Naturalization records (Middlesex County, Connecticut), 1841-1945, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1984-2008). Indexes are found within each volume.  Vol. 1, 1906-1909, Declarations of intention is missing and was not filmed.  The records are filmed in certificate number order.  Available at the Family History Library,  (12 films)
 * Connecticut. Superior Court (Middlesex County), Naturalization index, 1844-1955 , (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1984).  Available at the Family History Library,  1st of 5 films.

Newspapers

 * Connecticut State Library holds the best known collection of Connecticut newspapers, including extensive holdings for Middlesex County. Click on "Find Newspapers at the Connecticut State Library" to search by location.
 * Connecticut Newspaper List, (accessed 8 Nov 2014).

Obituaries

 * Linkpendium, Obituaries and Funeral Home Records, Middlesex County. (Scroll to "Obituaries and Funeral Home Records" section.)
 * Middlesex County, Connecticut Obituaries, (accessed 1 Mar 2011). A directory of obituary databases and archives on the internet.
 * Obits, USGenWeb CTArchives

Probate Records

 * Connecticut State Library, Research Guide to Connecticut Probate Records, (accessed 28 Feb 2011)
 * 1609 – 1999 Connecticut Wills and Probate Records 1609-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Vital Records

 * To 1850 - at FamilySearch — index

Marriage

 * 1640-1939 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Divorce Records

 * Connecticut. Superior Court, Middlesex County, Divorce Records, 1786-1797, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1989).  Microfilm of original records in the Connecticut State Archives, Hartford.  Records are in two chronological groupings, 1786 to 1789, 1790 to 1797.   Available at the Family History Library,


 * See also How to order Connecticut Vital Records
 * Births, Deaths, Marriages, USGenWeb CTArchives
 * Linkpendium, Vital Records, Middlesex County.
 * 1635-1860 - Elizabeth B. Plimpton, The Vital records of Saybrook Colony, 1635-1860 including the towns of Chester, Deep River, Essex, Old Saybrook, and Westbrook, Connecticut, ([S.l.] : Connecticut Valley Shore Research Group, c1985). Includes index.  Available at the Family History Library,

Archives

 * Middlesex County Public Libraries.
 * USGenWeb Connecticut Archives, Middlesex County, (accessed 1 Mar 2011).

Family History Centers

 * Goshen Connecticut Family History Center

Societies, Libraries, and Museums
Cromwell Historical Society, Inc. Post Office Box 146 395 Main Street Cromwell Connecticut 06416 860 635-0501 Email: [mailto:Cromwellhistory@aol.com Cromwellhistory@aol.com] Website

Essex Historical Society P.O.Box 123 Essex, CT 06426 860) 767-0681 Email: [mailto:ehs@essexhistory.org ehs@essexhistory.org] Website&lt;br

Godfrey Memorial Library 134 Newfield St Middletown, CT 06457 860-346-4375 Fax: 860-347-9874 E-Mail: [mailto:Sharon@godfrey.org Sharon@godfrey.org] Website

Haddam Historical Society P.O. Box 97 14 Hayden Hill Road Haddam ,CT 06438 860 345-2400 E-Mail: [mailto:research@haddamhistory.org research@haddamhistory.org] Website

Saybrook Colony Founders Association P.O. Box 1635 Old Saybrook, CT 06475-1000 Email: [mailto:scfainc@snet.net scfainc@snet.net] Website

Old Saybrook Historical Society 350 Main Street Post Office Box 4 Old Saybrook, CT 06475 860-395-1635 Email:[mailto:contact@saybrookhistory.org contact@saybrookhistory.org] Website

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

Websites

 * Middlesex County Genealogy 983 Middlesex county genealogy record sources.
 * Middlesex County, CT History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Connecticut Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Connecticut Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * ancestry.com$. Available databases for Middlesex County.
 * Census Finder, Connecticut Vital Records Online transcriptions are listed by county.
 * Connecticut Genealogy, Middlesex County Genealogy
 * Cyndi's List General Resource Sites
 * epodunk Middlesex County Quick Links
 * Linkpendium Middlesex County Genealogy and Family History
 * MyGenealogist Middlesex County, Connecticut Genealogy Resources
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project
 * Websites at RootsWeb for Middlesex County
 * Middlesex County Subjects.