Windham County, Connecticut Genealogy

Guide to Windham County, Connecticut ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
 * This is about a county in Connecticut. For other uses, see Windham (disambiguation).

Description
Windham County was created on 12 May 1726 and named for Windham, Sussex, England. The counties in Connecticut do not have county seats. The cities and towns are responsible for all local governmental activities. It is located in the Northeastern corner of the state.

County Courthouse
Windham County Courthouse 155 Church Street Putnam, CT 06260 Phone: 860-928-7749 Windham County Website

There is no county government and no county seat today. The government is at the town level. Town Clerks have birth, marriage and land records from 1692 and burial records from 1900. Probate Judge has probate records. Clerk of the Superior Court has divorce records.

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

 * Commemorative biographical record of Tolland and Windham counties, Connecticut containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families, (Chicago, Illinois J.H. Beers, 1903). Includes full name index (in part 1 for pts. 1 and 2). Available at the FamilySearch Library, or FS Library US/CAN Film 982349.
 * Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Genealogical Society. Volunteer Aids, Index to Commemorative biographical record of Tolland and Windham counties, Connecticut, part 1, Manuscript. Includes full name index to part 1 but only through pt. 1's page 602.Available online at Ancestry($). Available in the FamilySearch Library,

Census Records
Territory and State Census Records
 * Windham County Records at Census Online
 * Connecticut Census Records at Census Finder - Online links by county
 * Windham County, Connecticut Census Records and Indexes at Linkpendium

Federal Census Records
 * 1800 Lowell M. Volkel, An index to the 1800 federal census of Litchfield, New Haven, Tolland and Windham counties, state of Connecticut, ([S.l.] L.M. Volkel, c1969). Available at the FamilySearch Library,
 * US Federal Census Collection at Ancestry - index & images ($)
 * Windham County, Connecticut Federal Census Index at USGenWeb Census Project. Transcriptions in progress.

Church Records

 * 1849-1865 Woodstock Methodist Episcopal Church (Woodstock, Connecticut), Church records, (Salt Lake City, Utah Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1987). Includes baptisms 1850-1863, marriages 1850-1861, and membership 1849-1865. Also includes records of East Woodstock Methodist Episcopal Church, West Woodstock Methodist Episcopal Church, and North Woodstock Methodist Episcopal Church. Available at the FamilySearch Library,
 * Windham County Church Records at LDSGenealogy.com. Includes church and vital records.
 * Church Records, Windham County at Linkpendium
 * John Sherman, A view of ecclesiastical proceedings in the county of Windham, Connecticut in which the original association of the county and a few members of the First Church in Mansfield were concerned; containing public documents, letters &amp;c. relative to the subject; to which are annexed, the result of council, and addresses to the society, the church, the youth of Mansfield and others, (Salt Lake City, Utah Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1993). Available at the FamilySearch Library,

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Court Records
Online Court Indexes and Records
 * 1719-1910 Grace Louise Knox &amp; Barbara B. Ferris, Connecticut divorces Superior Court records for the counties of New London, Tolland &amp; Windham,'1719-1910, (Bowie, Maryland Heritage Books, c1987). Includes index. Available at the FamilySearch Library,
 * 1726-1736 Marcella Houle Pasay, The Windham County, CT, county court records, (Bowie, Maryland Heritage Books, c2000-c2002). Includes (v. 1) name/location and case indexes and (v. 2) name, place, and subject indexes. Contents: v. 1. abstracts of volume 1 [1726-1732], CT State Library Archives, Captial Avenue, Hartford, CT -- v. 2. abstracts of volume 2 [1732-1736], Connecticut State Library Archives, Captial Avenue, Hartford, CT. Available at the FamilySearch Library,
 * 1826-1883 Court expenses, 1826-1883, Connecticut. Superior Court (Windham County), (Salt Lake City, Utah Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1990). Available at the FamilySearch Library,
 * Marcella Houle Pasay, Family secrets 18th &amp; 19th-century birth records found in the Windham County, Ct., County Court records &amp; files, at the CT State Library Archives, Hartford, (Bowie, Maryland Heritage Books, c2000). Includes index. Includes some records from towns in surrounding counties. Available at the FamilySearch Library,
 * Windham County Connecticut Court Records Directory at Court Reference

Directories

 * 1913, 1921-1927 Danielson (Connecticut) city directories, (Woodbridge, Connecticut Research Publications, [199-?]). Available at the FamilySearch Library, 1913 1921-22, Item 2. 1923-24, Item 3 and 1927-28, Item 4.
 * Directories, Windham County at Linkpendium

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1804-1959 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection - index/images
 * 1966-2002 Connecticut, Marriages, 1966-2002 at MyHeritage - index ($)

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
Native and African Americans
 * 1650-1900, Marcella Houle Pasay, Full circle a directory of Native and African Americans in Windham County, CT, and vicinity, 1650-1900, (Bowie, Maryland Heritage Books, c2002). Includes index. Available at the FamilySearch Library, and FS Library US/CAN Book 974.645 F2p v. 2.

Genealogies

 * Windham County Genealogy at LDSGenealogy.com - 858 Windham County genealogy record sources
 * William L. Weaver, History of Ancient Windham, Ct.--Genealogy, part 1: A--BIL. Willimantic, Connecticut : Weaver & Curtiss, 1865. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * William L. Weaver, History of Ancient Windham--Genealogy, parts XC through XCVII--Elderkin. Lakeland, Florida : R.D. Elderkin, c1. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library; or FS Library US/CAN Fiche 6017293.

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1856 Windham County, Connecticut land ownership map, 1856 (Washington, District of Columbia: Library of Congress, 1983).Available online at Flickr. Also available at the FamilySearch Library,

Local Histories

 * Historic Gleanings in Windham County, Connecticut. By Ellen D. Larned. 1899. Providence, R.I. : Preston and Rounds. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive,  Ancestry ($);.
 * History of Windham County, Connecticut. 2 Vols. By Ellen D. Larned. 1874. Worcester, Massachusetts : E.D. Larned. Online at: Vol. 1 - FamilySearch Digital Library,  Internet Archive; Vol. 1, Pt. 2 - FamilySearch Digital Library; Vol. 2 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive; Vols. 1 & 2 - Hathitrust;.
 * History of Windham County, Connecticut. Edited by Richard M. Bayles. 1889. New York, New York : W.W. Preston. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($); . Index not online but available at: Index to Richard M. Bayles History of Windham County, Connecticut. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Genealogical Society. Volunteer workers. 1974. or FS Library US/CAN Film 908965 Item 1.
 * Modern History of Windham County. 2 Vols. Edited by Allen B. Lincoln. 1920. Chicago : The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company. Online at: Vol. 1 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive; Vol. 2 -  FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive; Vols. 1 & 2 - Hathitrust;.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1643-1960 Maps of Connecticut (1643-1960) at Maps of US
 * Windham County, Gazetteer at HomeTownLocator
 * Connecticut Maps at the Department of Economic and Community Development. Organized by State and County. Links to road maps, county outlines, colored outlines and lists of towns.
 * Windham County Maps and Gazetteers at Linkpendium
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
Civil War


 * Civl War Research Database at Ancestry - index & images ($)
 * Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Database at the National Park Service
 * Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Grave Database at Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
 * Chaplin Military Records, Men in the Army and Navy during the Civil War, Source: Connecticut. General Assembly. Record of Service of Connecticut Men in the Army and Navy of the United States During the War of the Rebellion, (Hartford: Case, Lockwood, &amp; Brainard,1889).
 * Scotland Military Records, Men in the Army and Navy during the Civil War, Source: Connecticut. General Assembly. Record of Service of Connecticut Men in the Army and Navy of the United States During the War of the Rebellion. (Hartford: Case, Lockwood, &amp; Brainard, 1889).
 * Richard M. Bayles, History of Windham County, Connecticut, Chapter VIII, The Civil War, (New York: W.W. Preston and Company, 1889). Online at: Internet Archives.
 * The Hale Collection, Veteran Burial Records - Town of Chaplin, Windham County, Connecticut. Lists names, regiment, death, date and age.

Regiments. Servicemen from Windham 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 Windham County.
 * -7th Regiment, Connecticut Infantry - Company K
 * -18th Regiment, Connecticut Infantry - Company H and K
 * -21st Regiment, Connecticut Infantry - Company K

World War I
 * 1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection - index/images
 * 1917-1918 U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at Ancestry - index & images ($)

World War II
 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index/images
 * 1942 U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
 * 1942 of men age 45-64 (born 1877-1897), at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection - index and images

Naturalization and Citizenship
For more databases, see Connecticut Naturalization and Citizenship and U.S. Naturalization Online Genealogy Records''

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1791-1906 US Naturalization Records, New England, 1791-1906 at MyHeritage - index & images ($)
 * 1808-1926 Windham County Superior Court at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; List of Records Included in Collection; index and images
 * 1855 Naturalizations, 1855, Connecticut. County Court (Windham County), (Salt Lake City, Utah Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1983). Includes index. Available at the FamilySearch Library,
 * 1855-1906 Declarations of intentions, 1855-1906, Connecticut. Superior Court and County Court (Windham County), (Salt Lake City, Utah Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1983). Indexes are found within each volume. Includes records of the County Court, 1855-1856. Available at the Family History Library, 1855-1892 and 1892-1906 FS Library US/CAN Film 1378201 Item 1.
 * 1855-1906 Naturalizations, 1855-1906, Connecticut. Superior Court (Windham County), (Salt Lake City, Utah Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1983). Indexes included within each volume. Available at the FamilySearch Library, FSC|598899|item|disp= FS Library US/CAN Film 1378199 Item 1,}} and 1866-1888 Item 3-4 and 1888-1906 FS Library US/CAN Film 1378200 Items 1 - 3.
 * 1893-1906 Connecticut, Federal Naturalization Records, 1790-1996 Connecticut Circuit Court at Ancestry; index & images ($)
 * 1893-1911 U.S. Circuit Court at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1906-1974 Connecticut, Federal Naturalization Records, 1790-1996 Windham County Superior Court at Ancestry; index & images ($)
 * 1906-1945 Naturalization records (Windham County, Connecticut), 1906-1945, Connecticut. Superior Court (Windham County), (Salt Lake City, Utah Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1983-2008). Includes index. Available at the FamilySearch Library, (12 Films)
 * 1927-1974 Index to naturalization records 1927-1974 (Windham County, Connecticut - Superior Court), (Salt Lake City, Utah Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 2003). Available at the FamilySearch Library,

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
 * Windham County, Connecticut Obituaries at NewspaperObituaries.net. A directory of obituary databases and archives on the internet.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1609-1999 Connecticut Wills and Probate Records 1609-1999 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
 * Research Guide to Connecticut Probate Records at the Connecticut State Library

School Records
Online School Indexes and Records
 * 1794-1860 John Keep, Adin Webb and Baptist Church in Homer, New York, Miscellaneous records of Homer, New York, 1794-1860, (Salt Lake City, Utah Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1941). Available at the FamilySearch Library, or FS Library US/CAN Film 1421103 Items 2-4.

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry - index ($)
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Tax Records

 * 1865-1874 Connecticut, U.S., Excise Tax Lists, 1865-1874 at Ancestry — index & images ($)

Birth

 * Pre 1850 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index/images
 * 1639-1941 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection - index/images
 * 1897-1917 The Connecticut Genealogy Index - Births at Reclaim the Records - index

Marriage

 * Pre 1850 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index/images
 * 1640-1939 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection - Index/images
 * 1897-2017 The Connecticut Genealogy Index - Marriages at Reclaim the Records - index
 * 1966-2002 Connecticut, Marriages, 1966-2002 at MyHeritage - index ($)

Death

 * Pre 1850 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index/images
 * 1640-1955 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection - index/images
 * 1883-1932 Windham County (Connecticut). Coroner, Coroner's records, 1883-1932, (Salt Lake City, Utah Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1988). Indexes are included within each volume. Available at the FamilySearch Library,  (first of 5 films).
 * 1897-2017 The Connecticut Genealogy Index - Deaths at Reclaim the Records - index
 * 1949-2012 Connecticut Death Index, 1949-2012 at MyHeritage - index ($)
 * Vital Records, Windham County at Linkpendium

Divorce

 * 1726-1907 Divorce papers, 1726-1907, Connecticut. Superior Court (Windham County), (Salt Lake City, Utah Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1990). Available at the FamilySearch Library beginning with, (27 films)

Archives

 * USGenWeb Connecticut Archives, Windham County,

FamilySearch Centers

 * Hartford Connecticut FamilySearch Center
 * Manchester Connecticut FamilySearch Center
 * Providence Rhode Island FamilySearch Center
 * Southington Connecticut FamilySearch Center
 * Berlin-Peck Memorial Library - an affiliate library
 * Connecticut Society of Genealogists, Inc. - an affiliate library
 * Cora J.Belden Library - an affiliate library
 * Godfrey Memorial Library - an affiliate library
 * Russell Library - an affiliate library

Libraries
Windham County Public Libraries This site lists the addresses and websites of the public libraries in Connecticut.

Babcock Public Library 25 Pompey Hollow Road Ashford, CT 06278 Phone: 860-487-4420 E-mail: [mailto:babcocklib@gmail.com babcocklib@gmail.com ] Facebook

Brooklyn Town Library 10 Canterbury Road PO Box 357 Brooklyn, CT 06234 Phone: 860-774-0649 E-mail: [mailto:brooklyntownlibrary4@yahoo.com brooklyntownlibrary4@yahoo.com] Facebook

Canterbury Public Library 1 Municipal Drive Canterbury, CT 06331 Phone: 860-546-9022 E-mail: [mailto:canterburypubliclibrary@gmail.com canterburypubliclibrary@gmail.com] Facebook Website

Chaplin Town Hall 495 Phoenixville Road Chaplin, CT 06235 Phone: 860-455-0073 E-mail: [mailto:assistant@chaplinct.org assistant@chaplinct.org] Website

Chaplin Public Library 130 Chaplin Street Chaplin, CT 06235 Phone: 860-455-9424 E-mail: [mailto:librarydirector@chaplinct.org librarydirector@chaplinct.org] Facebook Website

Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU) J. Eugene Smith Library 83 Windham Street Willimantic, CT 06226 Phone: 860-465-5563 E-Mail: [mailto:hurtt@easternct.edu hurtt@easternct.edu] Website

Eastford Public Library 179 Eastford Rd Eastford, CT 06242 Phone: 860-974-0125 Website

Fletcher Memorial Library 257 Main Street PO Box 6 Hampton, CT 06247 Phone: 860-455-1086 E-mail: [mailto:fletchermemoriallibrary@gmail.com fletchermemoriallibrary@gmail.com] Website

Killingly Public Library 25 Westcott Rd Killingly, CT 06239 Phone: 860-779-5383 E-mail: [mailto:info@killinglypl.org info@killinglypl.org] Facebook Website

Societies
Ashford Historical Society Inc 5 Town Hall Road Ashford, CT 06278 Phone: 860-429-4568 E-Mail: [mailto:joan@ashfordhistoricalsociety.org joan@ashfordhistoricalsociety.org] Website

Aspinock Historical Society of Putnam 206 School Street PO Box 465 Putnam, CT 06260 Phone: 860-963-0092 E-Mail: [mailto:aspinockhistoricalsociety@gmail.com aspinockhistoricalsociety@gmail.com] Facebook Website

Brooklyn Historical Society 25 Brooklyn Rd Brooklyn, CT 06234 Phone: 860-774-7728 E-mail: https://www.brooklynct.org/users/elaine-knowlton/contact Facebook Website

Canterbury Historical Society PO Box 2 Canterbury, CT 06331 Facebook Website

Eastford Historical Society 16 Westford Road PO Box 350 Eastford, CT 06242 E-mail: [mailto:ehsarchives@gmail.com ehsarchives@gmail.com] Facebook Website

Hampton Antiquarian and Historical Society PO Box 12 Hampton, CT 06247-0012 Phone: 860-455-0783 E-mail: [mailto:suemh35@yahoo.com suemh35@yahoo.com] Facebook Website

Killingly Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc. 196 Main St PO Box #265 Danielson, CT 06239 Phone: 860-779-7250 Website

Plainfield Historical Society PO Box 104 Central Village, CT 06332 E-Mail: [mailto:Plfdhistory@SBCglobal.net Plfdhistory@SBCglobal.net] Website

Pomfret Historical Society PO Box 152 17 Town House Dr Pomfret Center, CT 06259 Phone: 860-974-1748 E-Mail: [mailto:whinchman@gmail.com whinchman@gmail.com] Website

Scotland Connecticut Historical Society PO Box 35 Scotland, CT 06264 Phone: 860-423-1547 E-Mail: [mailto:scotlandhistoricalsociety@gmail.com scotlandhistoricalsociety@gmail.com] Website

Sterling Historic Society PO Box 157 1183 Plainfield Pike Oneco, CT 06373 Phone: 860-564-2904 E-Mail: [mailto:sterlinghistoricalsocietyct@gmail.com sterlinghistoricalsocietyct@gmail.com] Website

Thompson Historical Society PO Box 47 Thompson, CT 06277 Phone: 860-923-3776 Website

Windham Historical Society/Jillson House Museum PO Box 105 627 Main Street Willimantic, CT 06226 Phone: 860-456-2316 Email: [mailto:jillson@windhamhistory.org jillson@windhamhistory.org] Facebook

Woodstock Historical Society PO Box 65 523 CT-169 Woodstock, CT 06281 Phone: 860-928-1035 E-Mail: [mailto:collectionsWHS@gmail.com collectionsWHS@gmail.com] Website

Websites

 * Ancestry($) - Available databases for Windham County.
 * Windham County Genealogy at LDSGenealogy.com
 * Windham County, Connecticut General Resource List at Cyndi's List
 * Windham County, Connecticut Genealogy and Family History at Linkpendium
 * The Windham County CTGenWeb Project, a member of The CTGenWeb Project
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project
 * GenWeb Windham County
 * – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.