Genealogy

Our Genealogy Room is located on the 3rd floor of the library, and holds the Julia Brush special collection.

Julia Brush Genealogy Collection

A nationally-recognized collection of over 900 volumes on the families and local history of neighboring Connecticut towns. Bequeathed to the library after the death of Julia Brush, née Clark, in 1942, the collection has been continually expanded using money that was put into trust by another provision of the Brush will.

The library also has Julia Brush’s collection of correspondence and unpublished genealogical work, as well as some primary source material, at Connecticut’s Archives Online.  This online finding aid project was made possible through funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission and administered by the Connecticut State Library on behalf of the Connecticut State Historical Records Advisory Board and Conservation ConneCTion.

Local Genealogy Manuscript File Index

Popular Sites to Find Genealogy Information

• In the library: Ancestry Library
• American Ancestors (from the New England Historic Genealogical Society) – available for In-Library Use Only. Ask a staff person for assistance.
• Connecticut State Library, History & Genealogy Unit  (apply for a Connecticut State Library card in order to access some of their databases from home)
• Cyndi’s List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet
• Ellis Island
• Genealogy Club of Newtown
• Mormon (Latter Day Saints) Records
• National Archives and Records Administration
• New York Times through researchIT CT (1985 – present)
• Stephen Morse Access to Ellis Island and Other Databases
• Rootsweb
• The USGenWeb Project

Looking for Newtown Ancestors? If you are searching for Newtown ancestors, the library and the Genealogy Club of Newtown have put together some helpful binders. 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 – Ask at Reference Desk
• 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? 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

Looking for Ancestors Elsewhere? 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 Genealogist
• Long 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)