Bethany, New Haven County, Connecticut Genealogy

Brief History
Bethany is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States.

Bethany was first settled in 1717 but it was not until May 1832 that Bethany separated from Woodbridge to become incorporated as a town.

There have been inhabitants in Bethany since before 1638, predominantly Naugatucks of the Paugusset Tribe and Mattabessitts of the Wanguck Tribe. The first European settlers arrived in the area around April 1638, creating the towns of Milford and New Haven, with their boundary split down the middle of what is now Bethany. The area of the boundary was settled in 1678, 12 years after New Haven County was organized. In 1717, the Amity Parish was accepted by the General Assembly of the Connecticut Colony and in 1832, Bethany was incorporated as a town. In the mid-to-late 19th century, the population of the town and the land decreased as parts were annexed by the neighboring town of Woodbridge and the new town of Beacon Falls was incorporated into the general geography of Connecticut.

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 Bethany, 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 Bethany:

City Directories

 * 1927 U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 at Ancestry ($) - index and images, some years may be missing

Land Records
In Connecticut, most land records are kept at the town level. The following are online land records for the town of Bethany:
 * *YEAR 1-YEAR 2 : at FamilySearch Catalog — images :  at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Libraries and Historical Societies
Bethany Historical Society Inc 512 Amity Road, Bethany, CT 06524 203-393-1832 E-mail: [mailto:bethanyhistoricalsociety@gmail.com bethanyhistoricalsociety@gmail.com] Facebook Website Clark Memorial Library – Bethany Library 538 Amity Road (CT 63) Bethany, CT 06524 203-393-2103 E-mail: [mailto:director@bethanylibrary.org director@bethanylibrary.org] Facebook Website

Maps
The following are online maps of the town of Bethany:

Probate Records
In Connecticut, most probate records are kept at the town level. Bethany Probate District covers Town of Bethany. Constituted 4 July 1854 from New Haven. The following are online probate records for the town of Bethany:
 * 1855-1915 : at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Town Records
In Connecticut, most records are kept at the town level and generally began being kept at the founding of the town. These records may include the following: The following are Bethany town records available online:
 * 1832-1907 : at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Town Clerk
The town clerk is responsible for these records, and so most originals can be found at the town clerk's office. Bethany Town Clerk 40 Peck Road Bethany, CT 06524-3322 203-393-2100 x1104 E-mail: [mailto:fdoba@bethany-ct.com fdoba@bethany-ct.com] Website

Births

 * 1639-1941 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1640-1955 — index
 * 1832-1907 : at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Marriages

 * 1640-1955 — index
 * 1832-1907 : at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Deaths

 * 1640-1955 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1640-1955 — index
 * 1832-1907 : at FamilySearch Catalog — images