RG 004:104, Norwich Probate Court

Inventory of Records

Finding aid prepared by Connecticut State Library staff.

Copyright © 2012 by the Connecticut State Library

Historical Note

Norwich, New London County, Town settled 1659, established in May 1662, City incorporated May 1784

The Norwich Probate District was constituted October, 1748, from the New London Probate District. The Norwich Probate District serves the municipalities of Bozrah, Franklin, Griswold, Lisbon, Norwich, Preston, Sprague, and Voluntown.

City of Norwich, Probate District chronology:

1660 - May 1666, Particular Court Jurisdiction at Hartford, later at New London
May 1666 - October 1748, New London District
October 1748 - Present, Norwich District

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

Return to the Table of Contents

Scope and Content

Probate record books, 1748-1965. Contact the probate court to access record books not listed below. Volumes titled "Journal" record the proceedings of the court. Volumes titled "Estates" are orders and decrees.See Alternative Form Available note below.

Probate files, 1748-1896. Probate files may consist of estates, conservatorships, guardianships, commitments, and insolvencies. See Alternative Form Available note below.

Inventory control book, 1748-1896 (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.

Return to the Table of Contents

Arrangement

Record books are numbered separately within the following: Journals; Records; Estates; Assigned estates; Guardians, conservators, etc.; Bonds.

Probate files in accession 1914-007 are arranged alphabetically.

Return to the Table of Contents

Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

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

The following volumes are RESTRICTED due to condition: Journals, all volumes except 6 and 19; Records, 2, 7-43; Estates, 1-16; Guardians, conservators, etc., 4. Contact State Archives staff for assistance.

Accession 2011-062, Record books, 1748-1965, are stored at an off-site facility and therefore may not be available on a same-day basis.

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.

Return to the Table of Contents

Index Terms

Subjects:

Places:

Return to the Table of Contents

Administrative Information

Alternative Form Available

Record books, volumes 1-72, 1748-1917 and journals, volumes 1-17 except volume 2, 1748-1852, probate files, 1748-1880; 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. The journals on microfilm are titled "Administrations (daily blotters)".

Provenance

The probate files in accession 1914-007 were transferred to the Connecticut State Library on the following dates (with date span of files): May 5, 1914 (1748-1896).

The record books in accession 2011-062 were transferred to the Connecticut State Library on November 30, 2010 and December 13, 2010.

Return to the Table of Contents

Other Finding Aid

Record Books: Index cards for the record books have been scanned. Ask History and Genealogy staff for assistance. 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 1914-007 are represented in this index.

Return to the Table of Contents

Container List