New London County, Connecticut Genealogy

Guide to New London County, Connecticut ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

County Courthouse
Clerk of the Superior Court  has divorce records; Town Clerks  have birth, marriage, death and land records from 1659 and burial records from 1893. Towns Organized Before 1800: Bozrah 1786, Colchester 1698, Franklin 1786, Groton 1705, Lebanon 1700, Lisbon 1786, Lyme 1665, Montville 1786, New London 1646, Norwich 1659, Preston 1687, Stonington 1649, Voluntown 1721


 * There is no county government.
 * The government is at the town level.

Quick Facts

 * Named for the City of London, England.

Parent County

 * One of four original counties, created 10 May 1666 from the Colonial lands.

Description
The county seat has none since 1960 and the county was created 1666. The County is located in the southeast area of the state.

Boundary Changes

 * 12 May 1726: Windham County set off
 * 2 May 1785: Middlesex County was set off

For animated maps illustrating Connecticut county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Connecticut County Boundary Maps" (1643-1960) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Places / Localities
Cities:   ▪           ▪

Towns

Non-consolidated city: 

Boroughs:   ▪           ▪

Unincorporated communities: 

Neighboring counties:  Hartford Middlesex Tolland Windham New York counties:  Rhode Island counties:  Kent Washington

Archives and Libraries

 * USGenWeb Connecticut Archives, New London County
 * Linkpendium, Libraries, Museums and Archives, New London County
 * New London County Public Libraries This site lists the addresses and websites of the public libraries in New London county.

Biographies

 * Linkpendium, Biographies, Oral Histories, Diaries, Memoirs, Genealogies, Correspondence, New London County, (accessed 8 Mar 2011).
 * Duane Hamilton Hurd, History of New London County, Connecticut with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania : J.W. Lewis &amp; Co., 1882). Available online at Google Books, (accessed 3 Mar 2011), and Internet Archives, (accessed 3 Mar 2011).  Also available at the Family History Library,  or FHL US/CAN Film 1000152 Item 1.
 * Benjamin Tinkham Marshall, A modern history of New London County, Connecticut, (New York, New York : Lewis Historical Pub. Co., 1922). Includes index, in volume 3.


 * 1) Volume 1 available at Google Books, (accessed 3 Mar 2011), and Internet Archives, (accessed 3 Mar 2011).
 * 2) Volume 2 available at Internet Archives, (accessed 3 Mar 2011).
 * 3) Volume 3 available at Internet Archives, (accessed 3 Mar 2011).
 * 4) A database for this book can be found at ancestry.com$, (accessed 3 Mar 2011).
 * 5) All three volumes are available at the Family History Library, and FHL US/CAN Films- Volume 1:1035733 Item 10, Volume 2: 1035727 Item 13, and Volume 3: 1035733 Item 11.


 * Genealogical and biographical record of New London County, Connecticut containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the early settled families, (Chicago, Illinois : J.H. Beers &amp; Co., 1905). Includes index.  Available at the Family History Library,  or Part 1: FHL US/CAN Film 844968 Item 1, Part 2: FHL US/CAN Film 962323 Item 1, or FHL US/CAN Film 1000152 Item 2.
 * Biographical Review Publishing Company, Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of New London County, Connecticut, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1967). Includes index.  Available online at Internet Archives, (accessed 3 Mar 2011).  Also available at the Family History Library,    Also see Biographical review. : containing life sketches of leading citizens of New London County, Connecticut, a database at ancestry.com$, (accessed 3 Mar 2011).

Census

 * Census Online, (accessed 6 Mar 2011), New London County Records.
 * Census Finder, Connecticut Census Records, (accessed 28 Feb 2011). Online links by county.
 * Connecticut Genealogy, New London County Census Records, (accessed 6 Mar 2011).
 * Linkpendium, Census Records and Indexes, (accessed 6 Mar 2011). New London County, Connecticut.
 * US Census Collection, (accessed 8 Mar 2011), FamilySearch.
 * US Federal Census Collection, ancestry.com$, (accessed 6 Mar 2011).
 * USGenWeb Census Project, New London County, Connecticut Federal Census Index, (accessed 6 Mar 2011). Transcriptions in progress.

Church Records

 * Connecticut Genealogy, New London County Church Records, (accessed 6 Mar 2011). Includes church and vital records.
 * Hiram P. Arms, Historical notes of the Congregational churches in New London County, from 1836 to 1869 presented to the conference at Montville, October 12th, 1869, (Ann Arbor, Michigan: University Microfilms, 1987). A database for this book is available at ancestry.com$, (accessed 3 Mar 2011).  Available at the Family History Library,
 * First Congregational Church, A list of all those who have been members of the First Congregational Church in New-London, between the fifth day of October, 1670, and the first day of May, 1840,  (Sarasota, Florida : Aceto Bookmen, 1996).  Available at the Family History Library,

Court Records

 * New London County Connecticut Court Records Directory, (accessed 8 Mar 2011).
 * Connecticut. Superior Court (New London County), Divorce papers, 1719-1875, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1989). Available at the Family History Library,
 * Grace Louise Knox, Connecticut divorces Superior Court records for the counties of New London, Tolland &amp; Windham, 1719-1910, (Bowie, Maryland : Heritage Books, c1987). Available at the Family History Library,
 * Connecticut. County Court (New London), Records of trials, 1661-1700, in the county court of New London County, Connecticut, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1954). Some pages wanting.  Available at the Family History Library,

Directories

 * Linkpendium, Directories, New London County, (accessed 8 Mar 2011).
 * Norwich directory, (New Haven [Connecticut] : Price and Lee Co., 1930-).  Available at the Family History Library,
 * Montville, Ledyard (New London County, Conn.) city directory including Gales Ferry, Uncasville, Mohegan and Oakdale, (New Haven [Connecticut] : Price &amp; Lee, 1972-).  Available at the Family History Library,
 * Norwich (Connecticut) suburban directories, ([Woodbridge, Connecticut] : Primary Source Microfilm, [199-?]).   1912 available at the Family History Library,  1923-24, Item 8.
 * New London (Connecticut) city directories, (Woodridge, Connecticut : Research Publications, c1980-1984, [199-?]. Available at the Family History Library,  (5 fiche, 14 films covering a variety of years between 1855 and 1935.)

Emigration and Immigration
Vessels sailing from New London, Connecticut between 1803 and 1878 made over 2500 voyages to foreign ports. A Crew List was required to be filed stating the vessel's destination and its crew. An Index to those Lists, containing over 37,400 names, may be found at http://library.mysticseaport.org/initiative/CrIndex.cfm. The Index may provide the following information:

• Name • Age • Birth Place • Residence • Complexion • Voyage (Name of ship and date)

Genealogy

 * New London County Genealogy 1,843 New London county genealogy record sources.
 * Betty Brown Sheeran and Arthur D. Fiske, Browne-Brown ancestral lines Browne-Brown and allied families of Lynn, Massachusetts; Stonington, Connecticut; Ellisburg, New York; Rochester, Minnesota; Waseca, Minnesota, (Fall City, Washington : Sheeran of Stonegate Press, c1997).  Includes Adams, Avery, Beecher, Brooks, Bullard, Burdick, Chesebrough, Clarke, Collins, Fenn, French, Frink, Graves, Hall, Holdridge, Hudson, Lewis, Marvin, Miner, Nichols, Palmer, Pardee, Parker, Reed, Scott, Shumway, Weld, Wilcox, Wilkins, York and related families.  Available at the Family History Library,  and v.2, also FHL US/CAN Film 2055431 Items 5 - 6.
 * Gerald James Parsons, The Palmer family ancestors and descendants of Othniel Palmer (1743-c1798), Revolutionary soldier of Stonington, Conn., and Saratoga and Cayuga Counties, N.Y., ([Syracuse, New York] : G.J. Parsons, 1978). Includes bibliographic references.  Available at the Family History Library,  or FHL US/CAN Film 1321493 Item 8.

Genealogy - Bibliography


 * Susan Fraile, James R. Benn and Southeastern Connecticut Library Association, Genealogical and local history resources in New London County libraries, ([Groton, Connecticut] : Southeastern Connecticut Library Association, 1982).  Includes indexes.  Available at the Family History Library,

History

 * Leading business men of New London and vicinity embracing Groton and Niantic, (Washington [District of Columbia] : Filmed by the Library of Congress Photoduplication Service, 1988). Available at the Family History Library,

Online County Histories


 * History of New London, Connecticut. By Frances Manwaring Caulkins. 1895. New London : Published by H.D. Utley. Online at: Google Books; Internet Archives. Index not online but available at: Index to History of New London, Connecticut, by Frances Manwaring Caulkins. By Cecilia Griswold. 1985. Washington [District of Columbia] : Library of Congress, Photoduplication Service..
 * History of New London County, Connecticut. Compiled under the supervision of D. Hamilton Hurd. 1882. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania : J.W. Lewis & Co. Online at: ; Hathitrust; Internet Archive; Google Books;.
 * A Modern History of New London County, Connecticut. Editor-in-chief, Benjamin Tinkham Marshall. 1922. New York, New York : Lewis Historical Pub. Co. Online at: - Vol. 1,  - Vol. 2,  - Vol. 3 (Includes index); Hathitrust; Google Books - Vol. 1, Google Books - Vol. 2, Google Books - Vol. 3 (Includes index); Ancestry($);.

History - Bibliography


 * Susan Fraile, James R. Benn, Genealogical and local history resources in New London County libraries, ([Groton, Connecticut] : Southeastern Connecticut Library Association, 1982). Includes indexes.  Available at the Family History Library,

Maps and Gazetteers
New London County, Gazetteer, (accessed 2 Mar 2011).

Land and Property
Deeds, mortgages, releases, and other related documents were recorded by the town clerk and are at the town halls. Most are indexed by grantor and grantee. There is no statewide index.

The Family History Library and the Connecticut State Library have microfilm copies of many proprietors' and town records from the earliest years to the mid or late 1800s. Some are as recent as the 1900s. They are listed in the FamilySearch Catalog under the name of the town.


 * Library of Congress. Geography and Map Division, New London County, Connecticut land ownership map, 1854, Washington, District of Columbia : Library of Congress, 1983). Available at the Family History Library,

Maps

 * Maps of Connecticut (1643-1960)
 * Department of Economic and Community Development, Connecticut Maps, (accessed 2 Mar 2011). Organized by State and County.  Links to road maps, county outlines, colored outlines and lists of towns.
 * Linkpendium, Maps and Gazetteers, New London County, (accessed 8 Mar 2011).



Civil War
Service men from New London 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 New London County.


 * 1) 1st Regiment, Connecticut Heavy Artillery - Company D
 * 2) 1st Regiment, Connecticut Cavalry - Company C
 * 3) 2nd Regiment, Connecticut Infantry - Rifle Company C
 * 4) 3rd Regiment, Connecticut Infantry - Rifle Company D
 * 5) 8th Regiment, Connecticut Infantry - Company G
 * 6) 14th Regiment, Connecticut Infantry - Company H
 * 7) 18th Regiment, Connecticut Infantry - Company A and F
 * 8) 21st Regiment, Connecticut Infantry - Company C, E, F, G and H.
 * 9) 26th Regiment, Connecticut Infantry - Company C, E, F, H, I and K.


 * Civl War Research Database $, (accessed 8 Mar 2011).
 * Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Database;
 * Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Grave Database;
 * The Norwich memorial; the annals of Norwich, New London County, Connecticut, in the great rebellion of 1861-65, (accessed 8 Mar 2011), by Malcolm McGregor Dana - American Libraries Online Book
 * The 1890 Census Veterans Schedules for Fort Trumbull and the U.S. Naval Station are available on roll 118 of "Special Schedules of the Eleventh Census (1890) Enumerating Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War" (NARA M123). The schedules list veterans and their widows who served as Union soldiers in the Civil War. For more information on the 1890 Veterans Schedules see Union Census Records.

World War I and World War II

 * World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 $, (accessed 8 Mar 2011).
 * U. S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 $, (accessed 8 Mar 2011).
 * U. S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 $, (accessed 8 Mar 2011).
 * United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942, (accessed 8 Mar 2011). Collection Description: Images of cards for men, age 45-64 (born 1877-1897), included in the fourth draft conducted on Arpil 27, 1942.

Native Races

 * Will Ottery, Rudi Ottery and Samson Occum, A man called Sampson the ancestry and progeny of Sampson, a Mashantucket Pequot Indian, born in what is now New London County, Connecticut - including brief descriptions of family connections to other historic native American family groups, the ancient Pequot tribe, the Pequot War ..., (Weare, New Hampshire : W. &amp; R. Ottery, c1989). Includes index.   Surnames include Sampson, Samson, Smith, Welch, Roulette, Pendleton, Miller, Mathers, Johnson, Coyhis, Baker, and others.  Available at the Family History Library,

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1851-1992 at FamilySearch — index and images


 * Connecticut. Court of Common Pleas (New London County), Naturalization books, 1874-1906, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1983). Additional indexes included in each volume.  Available at the Family History Library,  (4 Films)
 * Connecticut. Superior Court (New London County), Naturalization books, 1856-1905, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1983). Indexes are found within each volume.   Available at the Family History Library,  and FHL US/CAN Film 1319743 Items 1-3.
 * Connecticut. Superior Court (New London County), Naturalization records (New London County, Connecticut), 1872-1906, 1909-1945, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1983-2008). Includes index.  Available at the Family History Library,  (27 Films)
 * Connecticut. Court of Common Pleas (New London County), Naturalization papers, 1875-1902, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1983). Contains naturalization testimony, some declarations of intention.  Available at the Family History Library,  (6 Films)
 * Connecticut. Court of Common Pleas (New London County), Declarations of intentions, 1875-1906, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1983). Indexes included within each volume.  Available at the Family History Library,  and FHL US/CAN Film 1319742 Items 1-3.

Newspapers

 * New London County, Connecticut Obituaries, (accessed 1 Mar 2011). A directory of obituary databases and archives on the internet.
 * Norwich Bulletin (published 1895-2011) - issues from 1914-1922 have been digitized and are available through the Library of Congress on Chronicling America site.

Probate Records
Connecticut State Library, Research Guide to Connecticut Probate Records.

Online Probate Records


 * 1609 – 1999 Connecticut Wills and Probate Records 1609-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Schools

 * 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 Family History Library,  or FHL US/CAN Film 1421103 Items 2-4.

Vital Records
See also How to order Connecticut Vital Records


 * Town of Stonington, Connecticut, United States
 * Linkpendium, Vital Records, New London County.
 * 1640-1939 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1807-1837 - Ralph Hurlbutt's Record as Justice of the Peace of New London County, Connecticut, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1954). Includes actions 1807 and marriages 1807-1837.  Some pages wanting.  Available at the Family History Library,
 * 1883-1932 - New London County (Connecticut). Coroner, Coroner's records, 1883-1932, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1988). Indexes are found within each volume.  Available at the Family History Library, 1st of 8 films,

Societies, Libraries and Museums
The Denison Homestead 120 Pequotsepos Rd Mystic, CT 06355-3043 860 536 9248 Website

East Lyme Historical Societybr&gt; P. O. Box 112 East Lyme, CT 06333 860.739.6070 E-mail:[mailto:info@eastlymehistoricalsociety.org info@eastlymehistoricalsociety.org] Website

Griswold Historical Society 167 East Main Street Jewett City, Ct. 06351 E-Mail: [mailto:rick_lehner@hotmail.com rick_lehner@hotmail.com] Website

Lebanon Historical Society Museum and Visitors Center 856 Trumbull Highway Lebanon CT PO Box 151 Lebanon CT 06249 860 642-6579 Fax (860) 642-6583 E-Mail: [mailto:museum@historyoflebanon.org museum@historyoflebanon.org] Website

Mystic River Historical Society 74 High Street P. O. Box 245 Mystic, CT 06355 E-Mail: [mailto:info@mystichistory.org info@mystichistory.org] Website

New London County Historical Society, Inc. 11 Blinman Street New London, CT 06320 860-443-1209 Website

Norwich Historical Society 307 Main Street Norwich, CT 06360 860-886-1776 E-mail: [mailto:minerregan@gmail.com minerregan@gmail.com] Website

Otis Library 261 Main St. Norwich, CT 06360 860 889-2365 Fax 860 889-2533 E-Mail: [mailto:genealogy@otis.lioninc.org genealogy@otis.lioninc.org] Website

Stonington Historical Society Town of Stonington 152 Elm Street Stonington, CT 06378 Website

The Slater Library 26 Main Street Jewett City, Connecticut 06351 860 376-0024 Website

R.W. Woolworth Library&gt;br&gt; P.O. Box 103 Stonington, CT 06378-0103 860 535-1131 E-Mail: [mailto:library@stoningtonhistory.org library@stoningtonhistory.org] Website

Waterford Historical Society P.O. Box 300491 Waterford, MI 48330-0491 248 683-2697 E-mail: [mailto:sstrait649@comcast.net sstrait649@comcast.net] Website

DAV Website

Family History Centers

 * Groton Connecticut Family History Center
 * Mystic, Connecticut

Websites

 * New London County, CT History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Connecticut Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Connecticut Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * ancestry.com$, (accessed 8 Mar 2011). Available databases for New London County.
 * Census Finder, Connecticut Vital Records, (accessed 28 Feb 2011).  Online transcriptions are listed by county.
 * Connecticut Genealogy, New London County Genealogy
 * Cyndi's List, (accessed 28 Feb 2011). New London County General Resource Sites
 * epodunk, (accessed 28 Feb 2011).  New London County, Connecticut Quick Links
 * Linkpendium, (accessed 28 Feb 2011). New London County Genealogy and Family History
 * MyGenealogist New London County, Connecticut Genealogy Resources
 * The New London County CTGenWeb Project, an member of The CTGenWeb Project
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project
 * Websites at RootsWeb for New London County, (accessed 4 Mar 2011).
 * New London County Subjects.