Ansonia, New Haven County, Connecticut Genealogy

Brief History
Ansonia is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The area comprising the present Elm Street section of Ansonia and Derby Avenue section of Derby was first settled in 1652 and was originally a part of the township of Derby. In 1844, merchant and philanthropist Anson Greene Phelps (1781–1853) wanted to expand the old Borough of Birmingham (the present down town of the City of Derby) up along the west side of the Naugatuck River. Unfortunately since he was not able to purchase the land required from its owner, Anson Phelps acquired land along the east side of the river, which today is the city's downtown section, in 1844. A canal was dug to power the factories and businesses in the new industrial village and named it Ansonia. The name came about when Mr. Phelps wanted to call his new industrial village "Phelpsville" but found out there was another village in the region by that name. Under the suggestion of a friend, Mr. Phelps Latinized his first name thus Ansonia came about. Soon Ansonia became the most populous area of Derby and boasted many factories. The state chartered Ansonia as a borough of Derby in 1864 and amended it once again in 1871 granting full municipal privileges. In 1888, a petition was circulated in the borough of Ansonia for the purpose of becoming a separate township from Derby. In 1889 the State General Assembly granted the separation thus constituting the Borough, Hilltop, West Ansonia, and Elm Street areas as a separate town known as Ansonia. This was the 168th township in the State of Connecticut. In 1893, Ansonia was incorporated as a city, consolidating with the coterminous town and the old borough.

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 Ansonia, 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 Ansonia:

City Directories

 * 1881-1983 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 Ansonia:

Libraries and Historical Societies
Derby Historical Society Research Library 37 Elm Street Ansonia, CT 06401 203 735-1908 E-mail:[mailto:info@derbyhistorical.org info@derbyhistorical.org] Facebook Website Ansonia Public Library 53 South Cliff Street Ansonia, CT 06401 (203) 734-6275 E-mail: [mailto:ansonialibrary@biblio.org ansonialibrary@biblio.org] Facebook Website

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

Probate Records
In Connecticut, most probate records are kept at the town level. Derby Probate District covers Towns of Ansonia and Derby. The following are online probate records for the town of Ansonia:
 * 1858-1924 : 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 Ansonia town records available online:
 * 1889-1934 : 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. Ansonia Town Clerk 253 Main Street Ansonia, CT 06401 (203) 922-3919 E-mail: [mailto:blynch@ansoniact.org blynch@ansoniact.org] Website

Births

 * 1639-1941 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1640-1955 — index
 * 1889-1934 : at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Marriages

 * 1640-1955 — index
 * 1889-1934 : at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Deaths

 * 1640-1955 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1640-1955 — index
 * 1889-1934 : at FamilySearch Catalog — images