Hartford County, Connecticut
Genealogy, Facts and Records Resources
Browse Connecticut Counties
Hartford County was created on May 10, 1666 and was formed as One of four original counties created in Connecticut. The County was named After Hertfordshire, England. The County Seat is Hartford .
Counties adjacent to Hartford County are Hampden County, Massachusetts (north), Tolland County (east), New London County (southeast), Middlesex County (south), New Haven County (southwest), Litchfield County (west), New London County (southeast).
Cities, Towns and Communities include Avon, Berlin, Bloomfield, Bristol (consolidated city-town), Burlington, Canton, East Granby, East Hartford, East Windsor, Enfield, Farmington, Glastonbury, Granby, Hartford (consolidated city-town), Hartland, Manchester, Marlborough, New Britain (consolidated city-town), Newington, Plainville, Rocky Hill, Simsbury, South Windsor, Southington, Suffield, West Hartford, Wethersfield, Windsor and Windsor Locks
County Court, Probate and Tax Records
NOTE: Counties were abolished officially in 1959 though their purpose had been chiefly to define county court districts. For genealogical research purposes, counties become necessary when using the federal census returns, since they are all cataloged by county.
All deeds, vital records, and probate records for all Connecticut towns are available to 1900 on microfilm at the Connecticut State Library or through the FHL. See also Connecticut Towns and Their Establishment
Taxes were levied for personal property and land through most of Connecticut's history. The town assessor (or lister) made annual lists or rates of all taxables. This generated a considerable number of tax lists across time, but the Connecticut State Library has a list of various tax records still at the town clerk's offices. The Connecticut Historical Society and the genealogical collections throughout the state have some records.
Those matters not in the realm of the superior court were heard by the county courts (initially called prerogative or common pleas). The county court, begun in 1666, was abolished in 1955, and its functions were divided between justice courts and superior courts. Most of the county records, to its abolition date, are at the Conneticut State Library.
Below is a list of online resources for Hartford County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Hartford County Court Records by clicking the link below:
County Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records
Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.
The Vital Records Office at the Connecticut Department of Public Health maintains a statewide registry of all births, marriages, civil unions, deaths and fetal deaths which have occurred in CT since July 1, 1897. For vital records prior to that date, you must contact the town where the vital event occurred (see the Connecticut Town Clerk and Registrar Directory). You may also contact the CSL History and Genealogy Unit or by telephone at (860) 757-6580. The State Library's Barbour Collection includes most CT vital records to about 1850.
- Birth Certificates: The Vital Records Office maintains birth records that occur in Connecticut since July 1897 to the present. Connecticut birth records that are less than 100 years old are not open to the general public. To be eligible to receive a copy of a birth certificate, you must be able to document that you are related to the registrant.
- Cost: $15.00, Make your bank check or money order payable to "Treasurer, State of Connecticut". Enclose a business-size self-addressed envelope. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep check amount for a searching fee. Please do not send Personal Checks or cash in the mail.
- Processing Time: Pprocessing time could be up to 6 months. when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order Order Online.
- Death Certificates: The Vital Records Office maintains death records that occur in Connecticut since July 1897 to the present.
- Cost: $10.00, Make your bank check or money order payable to "Treasurer, State of Connecticut". Enclose a business-size self-addressed envelope. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep check amount for a searching fee. Please do not send Personal Checks or cash in the mail.
- Processing Time: Pprocessing time could be up to 6 months. when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order Order Online.
- Marriage Certificates: The Vital Records Office maintains marriage records that occur in Connecticut since July 1897 to the present.
- Cost: $10.00, Make your bank check or money order payable to "Treasurer, State of Connecticut". Enclose a business-size self-addressed envelope. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep check amount for a searching fee. Please do not send Personal Checks or cash in the mail.
- Processing Time: Processing time could be up to 6 months. when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order Order Online.
- Order Online: You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from Vital Records from Archives.com: Order Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records Online!

Below is a list of online resources for Hartford County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Hartford County Vital Records by clicking the link below:
County Census Records
Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable
Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Hartford County, Connecticut are 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Hartford County, Connecticut are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms and U.K. Census Extraction Forms.
Below is a list of online resources for Hartford County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Hartford County Census Records by clicking the link below:
County Maps & Atlases
Below is a list of online resources for Hartford County Maps. Email us with websites containing Hartford County Maps by clicking the link below:
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Submit a website for Hartford Co. Maps
- The USGenWeb Archives Digital Map Library
- Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection: Connecticut Maps
- Historical Maps of Connecticut - Geographical, Statistical, and Historical Map of Connecticut Territory
- American Memory Map Collection: 1500-2004 - extensive selection from the Library of Congress Map Collections, focusing on Americana and cartographic treasures.
- Hartford County, Connecticut Map Books at Amazon.com
- Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers - Maps are an invaluable part of family history research, especially if you live far from where your ancestor lived. Because political boundaries often changed, historic maps are critical in helping you discover the precise location of your ancestor's hometown, what land they owned, who their neighbors were, and more.
County Military Records
Below is a list of online resources for Hartford County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Hartford County Military Records by clicking the link below:
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Submit a website for Hartford Co. Military Records
- Connecticut Society of Daughters of the American Revolution
- National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution,
- Connecticut Society of Sons of the American Revolution,
- National Society of Sons of the American Revolution, 1000 South Fourth Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40203; (502) 589-1776
- The Revolutionary War Prize Cases: Connecticut Records of the Court of Appeal in Cases of Capture, 1776-1787 (The National Archives): NARA M162. Records of prize cases heard on appeal from Colonial and state courts by the Continental Congress and the Court of Appeals in Cases of Capture.
- Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 from the State of Connecticut
(The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication M246 include muster rolls, payrolls, strength returns, and other miscellaneous personnel, pay, and supply records of American Army units, 1775-83.
- Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War from the State of Connecticut
(The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication M246 include muster rolls, payrolls, strength returns, and other miscellaneous personnel, pay, and supply records of American Army units, 1775-83.
- Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files from the State of Connecticut
(The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, from NARA publication M804.
- Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900 from the State of Connecticut (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Pension applications for service in the U.S. Army between 1861 and 1917, grouped according to the units in which the veterans served.
- Hartford County, Connecticut Military Books at Amazon.com
County Genealogical Addresses
Below is a list of online resources for Hartford County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Hartford County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:
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Submit a website for Hartford Co. Genealogical Addresses
- Hartford Genealogical Society, Hartford Public Library, 500 North Main Street, Hartford, CT 06103
- National Archives - Northeast Region, Boston, Frederick C. Murphy Federal Center, 380 Trapelo Road, Waltham, Massachusetts, 02452-6399; Phone: (781) 663-0130, Fax: (781) 663-0154, E-mail: waltham.archives@nara.gov (Maintains retired records from Federal agencies and courts in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.)
- Connecticut State Library, History and Genealogy Unit, 231 Capitol Avenue, Hartford 06106; (203) 566-3690 or 3692
- Connecticut State Archives, 231 Capitol Ave, Hartford, CT 06106 , Tel: 860-757-6595, Fax: 860-757-6542; Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday.
- Connecticut Historical Society, One Elizabeth Street at Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105; Tel: (860) 236-5621 Fax: (860) 236-2664; Email: ask_us@chs.org
- Connecticut Society of Genealogists, P.O. Box 435, Glastonbury 06033; ph 860-569-0002; FAX 860-569-0339; csg@csginc.org
- Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.
- Connecticut Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com
County Cemeteries & Graveyards
There are many churches and cemeteries in Hartford County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Hartford County Tombstone Transcription Project.
Below is a list of online resources for Hartford County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Hartford County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:
County Church & Bible Records
Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits
Below is a list of online resources for Hartford County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Hartford County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:
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Submit a website for Hartford Co. Military Records
- Search 60 Years Of Everton Data: For the first time ever you can get access to more than 150,000 pedigree files and family group sheets from Evertons. Learn More
- Sites on USGenweb: [ Hartford County ] [ Connecticut ] [ Main Page ]
- The Connecticut Family Group Sheet Project
- [GenForum Message Boards] [Rootsweb Message Boards
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- Nichols and Related Families of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virgina.
- Hartford County, Connecticut Family Books at Amazon.com