Middletown, Middlesex County, Connecticut Genealogy

Description
Middletown, Connecticut at Wikipedia

Middletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles (26 km) south of Hartford. In 1650, it was incorporated as a town under its original Indian name, Mattabeseck. It received its present name in 1653.

The land on the western bank of the Connecticut River where Middletown now lies was home to the Mattabesett Native Americans (also spelled Mattabesec, Mattabeseck, and Mattabesek); the area they inhabited—now Middletown and the surrounding area—was named after them. At the time the first European settlers arrived in the region, the Mattabesetts were a part of the group of tribes in the Connecticut Valley, under a single chief named Sowheag

In 1784, the central settlement was incorporated as a city distinct from the town.

In 1923, the City of Middletown was consolidated with the Town, making the city limits of the city quite extensive. Originally a busy sailing port and then an industrial center, it is now largely residential with its downtown serving as a college town for Wesleyan University. Middletown was the county seat of Middlesex County from its creation in 1785 until the elimination of county government in 1960.

Parent Towns

 * 1651 - town of "Mattabesett" incorporated on lands of the Mattabesett tribe
 * 1653 - renamed as Middletown

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

Town Records
In New England most original vital records of birth, marriage, and death can be found at the town clerk's office Middletown Town Clerk 245 deKoven Drive Middletown, CT 06457 Phone: 860-638-4910 E-mail: [mailto:ashley.flynn@middletownct.gov ] Middletown Town Clerk

Births

 * 1600s-1850 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - index and images; some towns maybe missing
 * 1600s-1850 The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records This collection of bound typescripts is available at the listed libraries; some towns may be missing
 * 1600s-1870 Connecticut, U.S., Town Birth Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection) at Ancestry - index and images ($); some towns maybe missing
 * 1639-1941 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1640-1955 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1640-1921 (*); MiddleTown Registrar of Vital Statistics at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1654-1855 (*); MiddleTown Town Clerk at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * (*); Eells, Nettie B. (Nettie Barnum) at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images

Marriages

 * 1600s-1700s U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700 at Ancestry - index & images, ($)
 * 1600s-1850 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - index and images; some towns maybe missing
 * 1600s-1850 The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records This collection of bound typescripts is available at the listed libraries; some towns may be missing
 * 1600s-1870 Connecticut, U.S., Town Marriage Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection) at Ancestry - index and images ($); some towns maybe missing
 * 1640-1955 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1640-1921 (*); MiddleTown Registrar of Vital Statistics at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1654-1855 (*); MiddleTown Town Clerk at FamilySearch Library Catalog — 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

 * 1600s-1850 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - index and images; some towns maybe missing
 * 1600s-1850 The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records This collection of bound typescripts is available at the listed libraries; some towns may be missing
 * 1600s-1870 Connecticut, U.S., Town Death Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection) at Ancestry - index and images ($); some towns maybe missing
 * 1640-1921 (*); MiddleTown Registrar of Vital Statistics at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1640-1955 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1640-1955 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1650-1934  Connecticut, U.S., Deaths and Burials Index, 1650-1934 at Ancestry - index, ($)
 * 1654-1855 (*); MiddleTown Town Clerk at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * (*); Eells, Nettie B. (Nettie Barnum) 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, ($)

Resources
For more County and State resources see:

Cemeteries

 * Middletown Cemeteries List at FindAGrave
 * at FamilySearch Catalog
 * at FamilySearch Catalog
 * Middlesex County Cemeteries at FamilySearch Places

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 Middletown, 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 Middletown:

City Directories

 * 1868-1981 U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995, Middletown at Ancestry - index and images ($),some years may be missing
 * 1877-1981 STATE, U.S., City Directories, Middletown at Ancestry - index and images ($), some years may be missing
 * Various Dates U.S. City Directories, 1860-1960 at MyHeritage - index and images ($) some towns and years may be missing

Land Records

 * 1640-1846 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * Connecticut Land and Property

Maps
This selection includes town, county, state, and historical maps
 * Boundary Map of Middletown at HomeTownLocator
 * Connecticut Maps State Page
 * McConnell's Historical Maps of the United States at Library of Congress
 * Middletown, Connecticut Town Guides at CT State Library
 * Middletown at FamilySearch Places
 * Middletown at Google Maps
 * Middletown at Mapcarta
 * Old Maps of Connecticut at Old-Maps.com

Military
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

Newspapers
The Hartford Courant : The statewide newspaper, The Courant is the most widely read local newspaper.

Middletown Patch : A branch of Patch.com, the Middletown Patch has a regular Middletown history column.

The Middletown Press : The major local newspaper, the Press is also available on microfilm at the Russell Library.

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 ($)
 * 1635-1750 A Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records. By Charles William Manwaring. Hartford, [Connecticut]: R.S. Peck & Company, 1904-1906. Online at:
 * 1635-1750 Connecticut: Early Probate Records, 1635-1750 at American Ancestors - index & images ($)
 * 1639-1700 Hartford, Connecticut Probate Records, 1639-1700 at Ancestry - index only ($)
 * 1700-1729 Hartford, Connecticut Probate Records, 1700-1729 at Ancestry - index only ($)
 * 1729-1750 Hartford, Connecticut Probate Records, 1729-1750 at Ancestry - index only ($)
 * 1752-1917 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 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

 * 1862-1866 (*) United States. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, United States. National Archives and Records Administration (Repository), at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
 * 1915-1926 (*) Connecticut. Inheritance Tax Division at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
 * Connecticut Taxation at FamilySearch Research Wiki

Libraries
Russell Library 123 Broad Street Middletown, CT 06457 Phone: 860-347-2528 E-mail: [mailto:infodept@russelllibrary.org linfodept@russelllibrary.org] Facebook Website Russell Library(accessed 12 February 2012): The public library for Middletown, Russell Library has a significant local history collection.

Wesleyan University Special Collections &amp; Archives (accessed 19 April 2012): Wesleyan University's Archives also stores local records.

Godfrey Memorial Library - Genealogy and History Library. Site has databases for a subscription fee.

Family History Centers & Affiliate Libraries

 * Southington Connecticut Family History Center
 * Godfrey Memorial Library - an affiliate library
 * Russell Library - an affiliate library

Societies
The Society of Middletown First Settlers Descendants Middletown, CT 06457 Hal Whitmore, Registrar 1301 North Harrison Street, Apt. 201 Wilimington, DE 19806 E-mail: [mailto:hbwhitmore@yahoo.com hbwhitmore@yahoo.com] Website