Bethel, Fairfield County, Connecticut Genealogy

Description
Bethel, Connecticut at Wikipedia

Town Hall Information
Clifford J. Hurgin Municipal Center 1 School Street Bethel, CT 06801 Telephone:(203) 794-8501 Email: [mailto:webmaster@bethel-ct.gov webmaster@bethel-ct.gov] Town of Bethel, CT

Parent Towns

 * 1855 - Created from Danbury

Populated Places
Includes Neighborhoods, Villages, Unincorporated Communities, Districts, and Census-Designated Places

Adjacent Towns
Fairfield County: Brookfield| Danbury| Newtown| Redding

Town Records
In Connecticut most original vital records of birth, marriage, and death can be found at the town clerk's office

Bethel Town Clerk
Clifford J. Hurgin Municipal Center 1 School Street Bethel, CT 06801 Telephone: (203)-794-8501 E-mail: [mailto:webmaster@bethel-ct.gov webmaster@bethel-ct.gov] Bethel, Connecticut

Births

 * 1639-1941 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1855-1914 (*); Bethel Registrar of Vital Statistics at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1897-1917 The Connecticut Genealogy Index - Births at Reclaim the Records - index

Marriages

 * 1600s-1700s U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
 * 1855-1914 (*); Bethel Registrar of Vital Statistics at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1790-1833 Connecticut: Marriages and Deaths, 1790-1833 at American Ancestors — index & images ($)
 * 1897-1968  Web: Connecticut, U.S., Marriage Records, 1897-1968 at Ancestry - index ($); Also at: Connecticut State Library
 * 1959-2012  Connecticut, U.S., Marriage Index, 1959-2012 at Ancestry - index ($)

Deaths

 * 1640-1955 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1650-1934  Connecticut, U.S., Deaths and Burials Index, 1650-1934 at Ancestry - index ($)
 * 1790-1833 Connecticut: Marriages and Deaths, 1790-1833 at American Ancestors — index & images ($)
 * 1855-1914 (*); Bethel Registrar of Vital Statistics at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1897-1968  Web: Connecticut, U.S., Death Records, 1897-1968 at Ancestry - index ($); Also at: Connecticut State Library
 * 1949-2012  Connecticut Death Index, 1949-2012 at Ancestry - index ($)

Divorce

 * 1968-1997  Connecticut, U.S., Divorce Index, 1968-1997 at Ancestry - index ($)

Biographies
For more Connecticut resources see:
 * A Catalogue of the Names of the Early Puritan Settlers of the Colony of Connecticut: With the Time of Their Arrival in the Country and Colony, Their Standing in Society, Place of Residence, Condition of Life, Where From, Business, etc., as Far as is Found on Record. By Royal Ralph Hinman. Hartford, Connecticut: Case, Tiffany Co., 1852. Salt Lake City, Utah: Digitized by FamilySearch International, 2017. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Connecticut Historical Collections: Containing a General Collection of Interesting Facts, Traditions, Biographical Sketches, Anecdotes, etc., Relating to the History and Antiquities of Every Town in Connecticut, With Geographical Descriptions, Illustrated by 190 Engravings. By John Warner Barber. 2nd ed. New Haven, Connecticut: Durrie & Peck and J.W. Barber, 1837. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Encyclopedia of Connecticut Biography, Genealogical-Memorial: Representative Citizens. By Samuel Hart. Boston, Massachusetts: American Historical Society, 1917-1923. Online at:.
 * Ye Names & Ages of All Ye Old Folks in Every Hamlet, City and Town in Ye State of Connecticut, Now Living: With Ye Sketches of Twenty Living Centenarians Compiled by Frederick H. Nash. New Haven, Connecticut: Price, Lee & Co., 1884. San Francisco, California: Internet Archive, 2012. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Who's Who in Connecticut By Ward E. Duffy. Tucson, Arizona: W.C. Cox & Co., 1975. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Connecticut Biography at FamilySearch Research Wiki


 * Connecticut Biography

Cemeteries

 * 1640-1955 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index to cemetery inscriptions and newspaper notices
 * Bethel Cemeteries List at FindAGrave
 * Bethel Memorials List at FindAGrave
 * at FamilySearch Catalog
 * Bethel Cemeteries at FamilySearch Places
 * For more Cemetery Resources see Fairfield County

Census
For more Connecticut resources see:
 * Connecticut Census

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 Bethel, 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 Bethel:
 * 1630-1920 Connecticut, U.S., Church Record Abstracts, 1630-1920 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
 * 1660-1955 at FamilySearch; index — How to Use this Collection
 * Connecticut Church Records

City Directories

 * 1913-1933 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images, some years may be missing
 * 1918-1964 Connecticut, U.S., City Directories, (Bethel) at Ancestry - index & images ($), some years may be missing
 * 1936 U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 (Bethel) at Ancestry - index & images ($), some years may be missing
 * Various Dates U.S. City Directories, 1860 - 1960 at MyHeritage - index & images ($) some towns and years may be missing

Compiled Genealogies
For more Connecticut resources see:
 * Connecticut Compiled Genealogies

Court Records
For more Connecticut resources see:
 * 1636-1945 (*) Connecticut State Library at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
 * State of Connecticut Judicial Branch-Media-How to Obtain Court Records at jud.ct.gov ($)
 * Connecticut Court Records at FamilySearch Research Wiki

Land Records
In Connecticut, most land records are kept at the town level. The following are online land records for the town of Bethel:
 * 1640-1846 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * Connecticut Land and Property

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

Military

 * United States Military Records

Some Records are Searchable by Town

Revolutionary War, 1775-1783
For more Revolutionary War Military Records see:
 * Connecticut Military Records - Revolutionary War, 1775-1783
 * United States Military Records - Revolutionary War, 1775-1783

Civil War, 1861-1865
For more Civil War Military Records see:
 * Connecticut Military Records - Civil War, 1861-1865
 * United States Military Records - Civil War, 1861-1865

World War I, 1917-1918
For more World War I Military Records see:
 * Connecticut Military Records - World War I, 1917-1918
 * United States Military Records - World War I, 1917-1918

World War II, 1941-1945
For more World War II Military Records see:
 * Connecticut Military Records - World War II, 1941-1945
 * United States Military Records - World War II, 1941-1945

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * For more databases, see Connecticut Naturalization and Citizenship and U.S. Naturalization Online Genealogy Records
 * 1791-1906 US Naturalization Records, New England, 1791-1906 at MyHeritage - index & images ($)
 * 1852-1877 Bridgeport City Court at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; List of Records Included in Collection; index and images
 * 1893-1906 Connecticut, Federal Naturalization Records, 1790-1996 Connecticut Circuit Court at Ancestry; index & images ($)
 * 1893-1911 U.S. Circuit Court at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1963-1992 Bridgeport District Court at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index/images

Newspapers

 * 1700s (*) by Jarvis Means Morse, 1899 at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
 * List of Newspapers in Connecticut at Wikipedia
 * The Press of Connecticut - Newspapers at portal.ct.gov
 * Connecticut Newspapers at FamilySearch Research Wiki

Obituaries

 * 1629-1934 Connecticut, U.S., Hale Collection of Cemetery Inscriptions and Newspaper Notices, 1629-1934 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
 * 1640-1955 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index to cemetery inscriptions and newspaper notices
 * 1977-2014 (*) NewsBank (Naples, Florida) at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
 * Connecticut Obituaries at FamilySearch Research Wiki
 * United States Obituaries at FamilySearch Research Wiki

Other 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:

Probate Records
In the 1600s, probate records were kept by the Connecticut and New Haven Colonies. In 1666, the two colonies joined and formed four new probate districts and counties: Hartford, New London, New Haven, and Fairfield. More probate districts were formed by 1719.
 * 1609-1999 Connecticut, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
 * 1635-1750 Connecticut: Early Probate Records, 1635-1750 at American Ancestors — index & images ($)
 * 1704-1757 Fairfield County, CT: Probate Records, 1704-1757 at American Ancestors — index ($)
 * 1787-1880 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
 * 1859-1931 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1881-1915 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
 * Connecticut Probate Records

Tax Records
For more Connecticut resources see:
 * 1862-1866 (*) United States. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, United States. National Archives and Records Administration (Repository), at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
 * 1865-1874 Connecticut, U.S., Excise Tax Lists, 1865-1874 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1915-1926 (*) Connecticut. Inheritance Tax Division at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
 * Connecticut Taxation at FamilySearch Research Wiki

Archives
For more Connecticut resources see:
 * Connecticut Archives and Libraries

Libraries
Bethel Public Library 189 Greenwood Ave Bethel, CT 06801 (203) 794-8756 E-mail: [mailto:adult@bethellibrary.org adult@bethellibrary.org] Facebook Website For more resources see:
 * Connecticut State Library
 * Connecticut State Library Wiki Page
 * Connecticut Archives and Libraries

Museums
For more Connecticut resources see:
 * Connecticut Archives and Libraries

FamilySearch Centers & Affiliate Libraries

 * Newtown Connecticut FamilySearch Center
 * Bethel Public Library - an affiliate library
 * New Fairfield Free Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Southbury Public Library - an affiliate library

Societies
Bethel Historical Society 40 Main Street Bethel, CT 06801 Telephone: (203)-743-5893 E-mail: [mailto:president@BethelHistoricalSociety.com president@BethelHistoricalSociety.com] Facebook Website