Thank you for registering for registering for Researching Connecticut Ancestors: Four Centuries of History and Genealogy!
Whether your family connection to Connecticut is 400 years old or 40, there is a treasure trove of genealogical resources waiting for you: vital records have been kept by towns since the early seventeenth century; newspapers have existed since colonial times; and there are thousands of published genealogies, local histories, study projects, and other references that exist for Connecticut research. Yet, Connecticut is not without its challenges. This online course provides a century-by-century look at the records, resources, repositories, and research strategies that are essential to exploring your Connecticut roots. We also discuss the historical context, settlement patterns, and migrations into—and out of—the state; from colony to statehood.
This course includes:
- Five+ hours’ worth of pre-recorded lectures
- Exclusive access to handouts, slides, templates, and other materials
- An in-depth Q&A session with the instructors
- Access to all materials for the foreseeable future
Q&A WITH EXPERTS
Running time: 1:25:59
Presented by Christopher C. Child and Melanie McComb
Resources Shared in Chat During Live Q&A
RECORDED PRESENTATIONS & INSTRUCTION
Class 1: 17th-Century Connecticut Research
Presented by Melanie McComb
Many 17th-century Connecticut colonists have been researched and written about, but there remain research challenges: distinguishing people with the same name, deciphering hard-to-read handwriting, understanding unique record sets, and more. This first class looks at the beginnings of Connecticut, New Haven, and Saybrook Colonies and the people who inhabited the lands prior to colonization. We provide an overview of the many published genealogical resources and record transcriptions available, demonstrate how to locate and utilize primary sources, and discuss how to overcome common research challenges.
Running time: 57:39
Class 1 Handout
Class 1 Slides Worksheet
Class 1 Slides (Large)
Class 2: 18th-Century Connecticut Research
Presented by Melanie McComb
The 18th century was a transformative and foundational period for Connecticut: continued colonial conflicts, movement westward, revolution, the start of the abolition of slavery, and ultimately statehood. This session looks at just some of the many records of the era—pre- and post-American independence—including military records, tax lists, census records, newspapers, city directories, and more.
Running time: 1:08:37
Class 2 Handout
Class 2 Slides Worksheet
Class 2 Slides (Large)
Class 3: 19th-Century Connecticut Research
Presented by Christopher C. Child
Connecticut experienced even more transformation in the 19th century, from Civil War to the industrial revolution to an increase of immigration from across Europe, and beyond. This class discusses the start and impact of probate districts, the age of the passenger list, pension files, expanded vital records, and less commonly used records.
Running time: 1:01:05
Class 3 Handout
Class 3 Slides Worksheet
Class 3 Slides (Large)
Class 4: 20th-Century Connecticut Research
Presented by Christopher C. Child
Continued urbanization and industrialization characterized much of 20th-century Connecticut. This final session looks at records that emerge in the 20th century—including the special WWI Military Census for the state—and the changes in records and record keeping that persisted since the 17th century, with particular attention to the topic of “access” and the go-to repositories for Connecticut research.
Running time: 51:50
Class 4 Handout
Class 4 Slides Worksheet
Class 4 Slides (Large)
Class 5: Planning a Research Trip to Connecticut
Presented by Jen Shakshober
Connecticut is teeming with historical societies, archives, libraries, and genealogical societies. Learn how to prepare for and make the most of your time researching in The Constitution State.
Running time: 42:59
Class 5 Handout
Class 5 Slides Worksheet
Class 5 Slides (Large)
OTHER RESOURCES
Subject Guide: Connecticut Research
New England Town Guides
Connecticut databases on AmericanAncestors.org
Subject Guide: 17th-Century New England Research
Archived Webinars (many New England topics)
INSTRUCTOR BIOS
Christopher C. Child, Senior Genealogist of the Newbury Street Press and Editor of The Mayflower Descendant has worked for various departments at American Ancestors since 1997 and became a full-time employee in July 2003. He has been a member of American Ancestors since the age of eleven. He is the editor of the genetics & genealogy column in American Ancestors magazine and has written several articles in American Ancestors, The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, and The Mayflower Descendant. He is the co-editor of The Ancestry of Catherine Middleton (American Ancestors, 2011), co-author of The Descendants of Judge John Lowell of Newburyport, Massachusetts (Newbury Street Press, 2011) and Ancestors and Descendants of George Rufus Brown and Alice Nelson Pratt (Newbury Street Press, 2013), and author of The Nelson Family of Rowley, Massachuestts (Newbury Street Press, 2014). Chris holds a B.A. in history from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. His areas of expertise include Southern New England, especially Connecticut; New York; ancestry of notable figures, especially presidents; genetics and genealogy; African-American and Native-American genealogy, 19th and 20th Century research, westward migrations out of New England, and applying to hereditary societies.
Melanie McComb, Senior Genealogist, assists library visitors, both on-site and online, with their family history research. She is an international lecturer who teaches on a variety of topics. Melanie holds a B.S. degree from the State University of New York at Oswego. She previously served as the social media coordinator for the NextGen Genealogy Network, a non-profit that creates a community for younger genealogists, where she managed the Facebook and Twitter accounts. She is also an Honorary Fellow of the Massachusetts Historical Society. She continues her interest in helping younger genealogists get involved at American Ancestors by assisting with educational programs from local schools, scout groups, and universities. Her areas of expertise include Irish genealogy, DNA, Atlantic Canada, Jewish genealogy, and military records.
Jen Shakshober, Senior Researcher earned a dual B.A. in English and Economics from Westfield State University, an M.F.A. in Creative Nonfiction from Bennington College, an M.L.I.S. in Archives Management from Simmons University, and a certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University. In 2018, she completed a graduate internship at Old Sturbridge Village's Research Library, where she arranged an early nineteenth century manuscript collection. Her areas of expertise include Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Vermont research, and having written her MFA thesis on her own nineteenth and twentieth-century Vermont ancestors, is always glad to craft narrative genealogical reports for American Ancestors clients.