Tuesday's Tip: Military Gravestones

What can a gravestone tell you about an ancestor's military service? As it turns out, quite a lot.

It might tell you where your ancestor served, when, and with whom.

Enjoy the below video to get some ideas about how gravestones can help you research your veteran ancestor.

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Tuesday's Tip: Gravestone Symbolism

Ever wonder about the artwork, symbols, or decorations on your ancestor's gravestone?  What do they mean? Check out our Facebook post today for some ideas.

Gravestone with Carvings

Godfrey's Unique Connecticut Resources

Did you know? 

Godfrey has a number of unique Connecticut resources that members can access online from home. These include everything from the Congregational church records of Middle Haddam and Cromwell to the funeral home records of Middletown. Just imagine finding your ancestor's cause of death in your PJs! Check out the full list here.

Tuesday's Tip: Doing Research in Middletown

You know your ancestors went to church or school in Middletown, but you don't know which one.  How do you find their records?

A Summer Concert at Middletown's Long Hill Estate

Middletown was once much larger and included parts of several other towns. Cromwell, north of Middletown, was founded as part of the Mattabesset settlement in 1651. It was called “Upper Houses” until its separation from Middletown in 1851. Parts of modern Portland and East Hampton also once belonged to Middletown and were called “East Middletown.” The areas were first settled in 1714. In 1767, East Middletown split from Middletown to become Chatham. In 1841, Chatham split again to become Portland and East Hampton. Middlefield was the last of Middletown’s parishes to split off, in 1866. As a result, records for these other towns may be found in Middletown archives.

For more information about Middletown and where to locate repositories, use this locality guide created by Godfrey staff member, Bryna O'Sullivan: Middletown Locality Guide

 

Tuesday's Tip: Spring Cleaning?

Are you cleaning out your bookshelves? Donate your unwanted books to the Godfrey Library!

The Godfrey Memorial Library gladly accepts donations of genealogy-related books. If we don't have a place for a book on our shelves, it may be included in our online book sale that helps support the Godfrey's continued operation.

We have more than 500 used books available for purchase on eBay and through our website. Topics include Connecticut history, New England history, genealogy resource and "how to" books, military, immigration, genealogies/biographies, and more. Many of these books are out of print and incredibly difficult to find, even through online markets. Books are priced below the rate found on AbeBooks and other popular genealogy book dealers.

Wish to make a donation? Please email Beth Mariotti at bmariotti@godfrey.org or call the library at 860-346-4375. We'll let you know what materials we can accept and how we can receive them. 

Interested in purchasing a book? Visit our online book sale for more details.

Books For Sale

Tuesday's Tip: Connecticut's Hale Collection

Rural Cemetery

Have you heard the name "Hale" while doing Connecticut research and don't know what it means?

Named for Charles R. Hale, the Hale Collection was created through the federal W.P.A. between 1932 and 1935. It includes headstone transcriptions for approximately 2,400 Connecticut cemeteries. Since many headstones not have survived years of rough winter weather, the Hale can be helpful in determining where your early Connecticut ancestor was buried – even if the headstone is no longer standing.

Looking for a photo of a Connecticut headstone? If you are a member of the Godfrey library, check to see if one is available through the Ed Laput Cemetery Project.

Tuesday's Tip: How To Access Our Cemetery Collections

Rural Cemetery

The goal of the Godfrey's Ed Laput Cemetery Project is to update the Charles R. Hale cemetery collection that recorded vital information from the headstone inscriptions of approximately 2,400 Connecticut cemeteries circa 1932-1935.

The Laput Project differs from FindAGrave.com in that every stone is photographed; every Hale inscription is included; information from stones post-Hale are entered; and there are no unsourced data.

The Godfrey also has other cemetery records, including Connecticut burial and sexton records from 1847 to present.

How do you find our cemetery records? Watch the video below and see.

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