Connecticut Colonial Records

Probate Districts
Probate districts comprised several towns and often crossed county boundaries. These were the only districts created before 1775:
 * Colchester District. Probate records, 1741-1922 (film 0003904 ff.). Contains the records of East Haddam District, 1741-1832, and Colchester District, 1832-1922. The original records are at the Colchester Town Hall
 * Danbury District. Probate records, 1744-1916 (film 0004024 ff.). The original records are at the Danbury Town Hall.
 * Fairfield District. Probate records, 1648-1916 (film 0004287 ff.). The original records are at the Fairfield Town Hall and State Library in Hartford.
 * Farington District. Probate records, 1769-1926 (film 0004207 ff.). The original records are at the Farmington Town Hall.
 * Guilford District. Probate records, 1720-1920 (film 0004353 ff.). The original records are at the Guilford Town Hall.
 * Hartford District. Probate records, 1649-1917 (film 0004572 ff.). general index (film 0166067 ff.). The first six volumes also contain records of the county courts in Hartford County, sometimes called quarter courts, court of magistrates, particular courts, special courts, etc. The original records are at the Court of Probate in Hartford and the State Library in Hartford.
 * Litchfield District. Probate records, 1743-1917 (film 0004732 ff.). The original records are at the Litchfield Town Hall.
 * Middletown District. Probate records, 1752-1917 (film 0004832 ff.). The original records are at the Middletown Town Hall.
 * New Haven District. Probate records, 1647-1916 (film 0005293 ff.). The original records are at the Court of Probate in New Haven.
 * New London District. Probate records, 1675-1916 (film 1311924 ff.). The original records are at the New London Town Hall.
 * Norwich District. Probate records, 1748-1917 (film 0005054 ff.) records of court proceedings, 1748-1852 (film 1310866 ff.). The original records are at the Norwich Town Hall.
 * Plainfield District. Probate records, 1747-1918 (film 005332 ff.). The original records are at the Plainfield Town Hall.
 * Pomfret District. Probate records, 1754-1919 (film 0005414 ff.). The original records are at the Pomfret Town Hall.
 * Sharon District. Probate records, 1757-1922 (film 0005681 ff.). The original records are at the Sharon Town Hall.
 * Simsbury District. Probate records, 1769-1917 (film 0005641 ff.). The original records are at the Simsbury Town Hall.
 * Stafford District. Probate records, 1759-1931 (film 0005742 ff.). The original records are at the Stafford Town Hall.
 * Stamford District. Probate records, 1728-1916 (film 0005562 ff.). The original records are at the Stamford Town Hall.
 * Stonington District. Probate records, 1767-1933 (film 0005605 ff.). The original records are at the Stonington Town Hall.

History
The Dutch were the first to establish a settlement in Connecticut at Hartford (Suckiaug) in 1633. British Massachusetts settlers began migrating into Connecticut in the 1630s. Settlers from Watertown, MA moved to Wethersfield (Pyquag) in 1634. Settlers from Plymouth and Dorchester, MA moved into Windsor (Mattaneaug) in 1635. In 1635, Puritans from Newtown, Cambridge, England emigrated to Hartford. In 1646, settlers independently founded New London (Nameaug).

Quinnipiac (New Haven) was founded in 1638. The New Haven Colony included several shoreline towns:
 * Guilford (Menunketuck, 1639)
 * Milford (Wepawaug, 1639)
 * Southold, Long Island (1640)
 * Stamford (Rippowam, 1641)
 * Branford (Totoket, 1644)

In 1662, an English Royal charter established Connecticut as a separate colony from Massachusetts and the New Haven Colony was absorbed into Connecticut. Long Island towns became part of New York.