Windham County, Connecticut Records

Windham County, Connecticut (Map It) was created on May 12, 1726 and was formed from New London County. The county was named after Windham in Sussex, England.

Windham County is bordered by Worcester County, Massachusetts (north), Providence County, Rhode Island (east), Kent County, Rhode Island (southeast), New London County, Connecticut (south), Tolland County, Connecticut (west).

Windham County Cities and Towns include Ashford, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Chaplin, Eastford, Hampton, Killingly, Plainfield, Pomfret, Putnam, Scotland, Sterling, Thompson, Windham and Woodstock. A Map of Connecticut Towns by County contains detailed information about county and town boundaries.

Windham County, Connecticut Courthouse Records

The Windham County Courthouse was located in Windham, Connecticut (1726-1819), Brooklyn, Connecticut (1819-1895), Willimantic, Connecticut and Putnam, Connecticut (1895-1960). 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. Learn More About State of Connecticut Court, Tax, Land and Probate Records.

Please contact the each town clerk's department to confirm mailing address, hours, fees and other information before visiting or requesting information because contact information sometimes changes.  The Town Clerk's Office DOES NOT DO RESEARCH. Most staff will assist people in finding the materials, but it is up to the individual to do the research.

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 Connecticut State Library.

• The Town of Ashford was formed in 1714 from unorganized land
• The Town of Brooklyn was formed in 1786 from Pomfret/Canterbury
• The Town of Canterbury was formed in 1703 from Plainfield
• The Town of Chaplin was formed in 1822 from Windham/Hampton/Mansfield
• The Town of Eastford was formed in 1847 from Ashford
• The Town of Hampton was formed in 1786 from Windham/Pomfret/Brooklyn/Canterbury/Mansfield
• The Town of Killingly was formed in 1708 from unorganized land
• The Town of Plainfield was formed in 1699 from unorganized land
• The Town of Pomfret was formed in 1713 from unorganized land
• The Town of Putnam was formed in 1855 from Thompson/Pomfret/Killingly
• The Town of Scotland was formed in 1857 from Windham
• The Town of Sterling was formed in 1794 from Voluntown
• The Town of Thompson was formed in 1785 from Killingly
• The Town of Woodstock was formed in 1690 from unorganized land (called New Roxbury at first as a part of Massachusetts until 1749)
• The Town of Windham was formed in 1692 from unorganized land

Windham County, Connecticut Census Records

• Learn More: State of Connecticut Census Records
• U.S. Federal Population Schedules: 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragmented), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940
• State Population Schedules: None
• U.S. Federal Census Slave Schedules: 1850 and 1860
• U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules: 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880
• Selected U.S. Federal Census Agriculture Schedules: 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880
• Selected U.S. Federal Census Industry Schedules: 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880
• Union Veterans Schedules: 1890

Windham County, Connecticut Vital Records

• Learn More: State of Connecticut Vital Records
• State Birth, Marriages & Deaths Records: from July 1, 1897, For vital records prior to July 1, 1897, contact the town where the vital event occurred.
• Town Birth, Marriages & Deaths Records: Vital Records offices are located in each of the 169 towns in Connecticut, see the Connecticut Town Vital Records Directory for the address and telephone contact information for the vital records office in each town. 
• Locations: Connecticut State Vital Records Office, Town Vital Records Directory
• Vital Records Online: USAVital or Social Security Death Index
• Vital Records by Mail: You can download an application online for Connecticut Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Death Certificate Application or Town or City Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Death Certificate Applications

Windham County, Connecticut Resources

• State of Connecticut Archives and Societies
• Aspinock Historicall Society
• Canterbury Historicall Society
• Killingly Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc.
• Windham County, Connecticut Message Boards
• RAOGK Volunteers for Connecticut
• Plainfield Historicall Society
• Thompson Historicall Society
• Windham Historical Society/Jillson House Museum

Windham County, Connecticut External Links

• connecticut Historical Newspapers - Newspapers.com
• Windham County, Connecticut Books - Amazon
• Windham Co., Connecticut - FindaGrave
• Windham County, Connecticut Links - Cyndi's List
• Windham Co. CTGenweb
• Windham County, Connecticut Ancestry Database Collections
• Windham County, Connecticut Military Records
• Historical Newspapers from Connecticut (1755–1972)
• Historical notices of the First Congregational Church in Canterbury, Conn.
• History of Windham County, Connecticut: Vol. 1-2
• History of Windham County, Connecticut
• Biographical Record of Tolland and Windham Counties, Connecticut
• Historic gleanings in Windham County, Connecticut
• Plainfield bicentennial