GenealogyBlog

C. H. Booth Library Genealogy Room

In most hometown libraries you will find some materials useful in your genealogy research for residents who lived or worked within the town.  The C. H. Booth library is so much more than that.  There are literally hundreds (perhaps a few thousand or more) of books and other materials useful for genealogical research.  An entire room is dedicated to genealogy.  This room is located on the main level of the Library and houses the Julia Brush special collection. A computer, with Family Tree Maker software, is available for use. In the Reference Department, the Library maintains microfilm records of the U.S. Census of Fairfield County, Connecticut for 1790-1920 and microfilm of Fairfield County vital statistics before 1850. The books in the genealogy collection are catalogued.

Professional genealogist Harlan Jessup provides help to those interested in researching their roots on Monday afternoons from 2:00PM-5:00PM in the Genealogy Room. Please call the library at 203-426-4533 first, as Mr. Jessup is not always available.

The libary has access to the library edition of Ancestry.com. Access is provided free of charge to on-site patrons of the library.

Newtown Connecticut Genealogy Resources

If you are searching for Newtown ancestors, your first step is to look through the white binders on the map chest. Those binders contain information on the:

• 1890 Census Substitute for Newtown
• Cemetery Inscriptions: Danbury, CT
• Cemetery Inscriptions: St. Paul’s Church, Huntington, CT
• Genealogy Room Lateral Files Contents
• Hale Collection of Headstone Inscriptions for Newtown
• Julia Brush Collection – Family Files – Located in Lateral File #1
• Newtown Bee Vital Records 1889-1953;
• Newtown Bee Obits Index 2004-2009
• Newtown Congregational Church Records 1715-1946
• Newtown Supplementary Vital Records
• Newtown: Births, Marriages, Deaths, 1711-1852
• Stratford: Births, Marriages, Deaths, 1639-1840
• Family Histories Looking for New England Ancestors?

The 1890 census substitute is one of the best census substitutes for a small hometown as you can find anywhere.  It contains school registers, the grand list, voter registrations and new electors.

The Julia Brush Genealogy Collection is a nationally-recognized collection of over 900 volumes on the families and local history of neighboring Connecticut towns. Bequeathed to the Library on the death of Julia Brush, nee Clark, in 1942. The collection has been continually expanded using money that was put into trust by another provision of the Brush will.

New England Genealogy Resources

If you are searching for New England ancestors, check the:

• New England Historical and Genealogical Register (Index online and on top of tall bookshelf)
• Mayflower Families (22 vols.) Great Migration books
• Family Histories – Most are Newtown family related
• Rhode Island Vital Records
• Rhode Island Colonial Records
• Revolutionary War materials
• Military Service books
• Genealogies of Connecticut Families
• Census books (1850)
• New England states, towns, localities. Starts with Maine, ends with Connecticut.
• DAR Lineage Books with Index
• Connecticut Nutmegger with Index
• Connecticut Ancestry Journal

Other Genealogy Resources

If you are searching for non-New England ancestors, you might check:

• Settlers of the Beekman Patent (NY). Now complete through letter “P.”
• New York Genealogical and Biographical Record
• The American GenealogistLong Island church books
• Reference books on individual states
• Ethnic group how-to books (Scottish roots, German-American ancestry, Jewish roots, Irish, English, and Polish roots)