RG 004:001, Andover Probate Court

Inventory of Records

Finding aid prepared by Connecticut State Library staff.

Copyright © 2011 by the Connecticut State Library

Historical Note

Andover, Tolland County, Town established in 1748, Parent Towns: Coventry and Hebron

The Andover Probate District was constituted June 27, 1851, from the Hebron Probate District. It served the municipalities of Andover, Bolton, and Columbia. At one time it also served the town of Eastford, May 1847 - June 20, 1849. The Andover Probate District merged on January 5, 2011 with the Manchester Probate District to create the Greater Manchester Probate District which serves the municipalities of Andover, Bolton, Columbia, and Manchester.

Town of Andover, Probate District chronology:

May 1848-June 26, 1851, Hebron District
June 27, 1851- January 4, 2011, Andover District
January 5, 2011-Present, Greater Manchester District

For Probate Court contact information and hours of operation see, Probate Court Directory.

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Scope and Content

Probate record books, 1849-1941. Contact the probate court to access original record books numbered greaster than 38. When the Andover district was created in 1851 from the Hebron district, the Hebron district record books numbered 1 through 21 remained in Andover where the court had been held. The newly created Andover district started the numbering of that court's record books with number 22. See Alternative Form Available note below.

Probate files, 1787-1946. Probate files dating 1787-1850 are from the Hebron District of which Andover was a part of during that time. Probate files may consist of estates, conservatorships, guardianships, commitments, and insolvencies. See Alternative Form Available note below.

Inventory control book, 1787-1946 (coverage). Also known as the Godard Digest, it is a list of probate files transferred to the Connecticut State Library. It was compiled at the Connecticut State Library under the direction of State Librarian George S. Godard.

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Arrangement

Record books are numbered from 21 through 38.

Probate files are arranged alphabetically in one series.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Researchers should first consult use copies when available. See Alternate Form Available Section below.

Accession 2013-015, Record books, 1849-1941, is stored at an off-site facility and therefore may not be available on a same-day basis.

Probate files from 1921-1946 are RESTRICTED as they may contain confidential documents. Tax returns (succession, transfer and estate tax returns and all attachments) from January 1, 1921 and later are confidential per Connecticut General Statutes §12-15. Adoptions (all documents) from January 1, 1944 and later are confidential per Connecticut General Statutes §45a-754. Contact State Archives staff for assistance.

See the Rules and Procedures for Researchers Using Archival Records and Secured Collections policy.

Restrictions on Use

See the Reproduction and Publications of State Library Collections policy.

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Index Terms

Subjects:

Places:

Alternate Creator:

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Administrative Information

Alternative Form Available

Record books, volumes 23-37, 1851-1924; probate files, 1787-1915; and inventory control book (Godard Digest) were microfilmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah and are available for use in the History and Genealogy reading room or through the LDS Family History Centers.

Provenance

The probate files in accession 1912-001 were transferred to the Connecticut State Library on the following dates (with date span of files): October 26, 1912 (1787-1912); February 5, 1936 (1890-1934); July 28, 1942 (1914-1941); April 15, 1947 (1915-1946). They were interfiled into one alphabetic sequence.

The record books in accession 2013-015 were transferred to the Connecticut State Library on October 11, 2012.

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Other Finding Aid

Record Books: Index cards for the record books have been scanned. Ask History and Genealogy staff for assistance. Note: CSL does not hold any original record books. See Alternate Form Available section for volumes available on microfilm.

Probate Files: The Probate Estate Papers Index, located in the index corridor adjacent to the History and Genealogy Reading Room, has two parts, a general index covering most of the state, and a Hartford Probate District index covering Hartford and some surrounding towns, 1820-1920. The index cards are arranged alphabetically by individual's last name and first names. The cards have the individual's name, town of residence, probate district, and list of items contained in the estate packet. To request retrieval of an estate packet, copy at least the estate name, file date, and probate district name from the index card. The probate files in Accession 1912-001 are represented in this index.

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