RG 004:134, Stafford Probate Court

Inventory of Records

Finding aid prepared by Connecticut State Library staff.

Copyright © 2013 by the Connecticut State Library

Historical Note

Stafford, Tolland County, Town settled in 1719

The Stafford Probate District was constituted May 1759, from the Hartford and Pomfret Probate Districts. It also served the following municipalities at various times: Ellington, May 1786 - May 30, 1826 (covered "that part of town lying east of a median line drawn from the northwest corner of Tolland"; Somers, May 1759 - May 1826 and January 6, 1999 - January 4, 2011; Tolland, May 1759 - June 3, 1830; Union, May 1759 - January 4, 2011; Vernon, May 1814 - May 30, 1826; Willington, May 1759 - June 3, 1830. The Stafford Probate District merged with the Enfield Probate District on January 5, 2011 to create the North Central Connecticut Probate District which serves the municipalities of Enfield, Somers, Stafford, and Union.

Town of Stafford, Probate District chronology:

1719 - May 1759, Hartford District
May 1759 - January 4, 2011, Stafford District
January 5, 2011 - Present, North Central Connecticut 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, volumes 1-34, 1759-1924; 3 volumes of bonds, 1868-1935; and 1 unnumbered volume, 1900-1921. Contact the probate court to access original record books numbered after 34. See Alternative Form Available note below.

Probate files, 1741-1933. Probate files may consist of estates, conservatorships, guardianships, commitments, and insolvencies. See Alternative Form Available note below.

Inventory control book, 1741-1933 (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 in accessions 2011-002 are numnbered 1 to 34. There is an unnumbered bond volume and two bond volumes numbered 3 and 4. There is an unnumbered volume labeled "S" on the spine.

Probate files in accession 1912-009 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.

Accession 2011-002, Record books, 1759-1935, is stored at an off-site facility and therefore may not be available on a same-day basis.

Probate files dated 1921 or later are RESTRICTED pending review by State Archives staff 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. Removals of parent as guardian of minor (all documents) and terminations of parental rights (all documents) from October 1, 1975 and later are confidential per Connecticut General Statutes §45a-754. Contact State Archives staff for assistance. 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.

Return to the Table of Contents

Index Terms

Subjects:

Places:

Return to the Table of Contents

Administrative Information

Alternative Form Available

Record books, volumes 1-32, 1759-1930; probate files, 1741-1880 (Accession 1912-009); 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 1911-010 were transferred to the Connecticut State Library on the following dates (with date span of files): December 31, 1912 (1758-1875); October 3, 1914 (1741-1933); October 5, 1934 (1741-1933). They were interfiled into one alphabetic sequence.

The record books in accession 2011-002 were transferred to the Connecticut State Library on July 7, 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 1912-009 are represented in this index.

Return to the Table of Contents

Container List