We have re-indexed the database Connecticut: Early Probate Records, 1635-1750. This database is now searchable by first name and last name, date, and location. All records are of type Probate Record.
Charles William Manwaring spent the last years of his life abstracting the early probate records of the Hartford, Connecticut, Probate District and publishing them in three volumes that are reflected in this database. For those that are interested in reading the original probate documents, the volume and page numbers are in the pages of this database and are displayed in the record details as Original Volume and Original Page.
Connecticut today is comprised of many different probate districts. But originally Connecticut Colony (as distinct from New Haven Colony) probate records were all kept by the colony as a whole. Then in 1666, after the union of the two colonies, probate matters were conducted by four newly formed counties, Hartford, New London, New Haven, and Fairfield. In May 1719 the colony began splitting towns off of the Hartford district to form new districts, first Windham, then Woodbury, and so on. Thus Charles W. Manwaring’s abstracts of Hartford District probates, which began in 1635, at first included the whole colony, but by 1750, when his third volume concludes, the district was considerably smaller.
This update is made possible by the efforts of our team our volunteers, specifically David Anderson. We genuinely appreciate the work of all our volunteers who make these databases possible. If you have some time and would like to get involved please contact Rachel Adams, Database Services Volunteer Coordinator via email at rachel.adams@nehgs.org.
Please note: This database is available to Individual-level and above NEHGS members only. Consider membership.