Connecticut, Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection is an index to marriages from the marriage abstracts found in the Charles R. Hale collection. The marriage notices were found in local newspapers from 1755 to ca.1870. The marriage index is divided into two parts, by newspaper and the other by surname. The collection is located at the Connecticut State Library.

For a list of Connecticut newspapers, the following guide prepared by the Connecticut State Library will be helpful: A Preliminary Checklist of Connecticut Newspapers,1775-1975. Some of the event dates may be the issue date of the newspaper instead of the marriage date. The marriage notices are located on film at the Family History Library. See the microfilms in the FamilySearch catalog Hale Collection "Newspapers with Death and Marriages Notices." The following parts of the surname index are not included in this collection:
 * DUNHAM - FARNSWORTH
 * KINGSBURY - LESSIN
 * MITCHELL - NEVILL
 * PECK - PONDEXTER
 * POMEROY - PRIOR
 * SALE - SHAW
 * SHAWCROSS - SMITH
 * THOMPSON - TULLE
 * WELLS - WILCOX
 * WILCOX - M. WISE

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Birth
 * Name of person
 * Birth date and place
 * Names of parents

Marriage
 * Name of the groom
 * Name of the bride, often including the maiden name
 * Date of the marriage
 * Place of marriage
 * Name of the Newspaper
 * Issue date the Newspaper
 * Page number in the newspaper
 * Residences of the bride and groom

Death
 * Name of person
 * Date and place of birth
 * Date and place of death
 * Names of Reletives

Digital Folder Number List
This table describes of the content of each of the digital folders in this collection. Clicking on the name of the Author will take you to the FamilySearch Catalog record where you can see additional information about the images. Please note not all of the films from an author may be available digitally in this collection.

How Do I Search the Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The approximate date of marriage
 * The place where the marriage took place

View the Images
To view images in this collection:
 * 1) Look at the DGS Folder List above to determine the folder/film number for the images you want to see
 * 2) Go to the Browse Page
 * 3) Select the Film number to view the images.

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Copy the citation, in case you need to find this record again later
 * Use the age or estimated birth date to find vital records such as birth, baptism, marriage, and death records
 * Use the information found in the record to find land, probate and immigration records
 * Use the information found in the record to find additional family members in censuses

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby town or county
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Connecticut.
 * Connecticut Guided Research
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.