RG 004:137, Stonington Probate Court

Inventory of Records

Finding aid prepared by Connecticut State Library staff.

Copyright © 2013 by the Connecticut State Library

Historical Note

Stonington, New London, Town settled in 1649, named Souther Towne by Massachusetts, October 1658, Named Stonington by Connecticut in 1666, Stonington was claimed by both the Connecticut and Massachusetts Colonies. The location of the early probate records is doubtful, perhaps a part of these records will be found in Massachusetts, and part in the records of the Particular Court.

The Stonington Probate District was constituted October 1766, from the New London Probate District. It also served the following municipalities at various times: Groton, October 1766 - May 24, 1839; Ledyard, May 1836 - June 5, 1837; North Stonington, May 1807 - June 3, 1835. The Stonington Probate District merged with Groton, Ledyard, and North Stonington Probate Districts on January 5, 2011 to create the Southeastern Corner Regional Probate District which serves the municipalities of Groton, Ledyard, North Stonington, and Stonington.

Town of Stonington, Probate District chronology:

1649 - 1662, Massachusetts Jurisdiction
1658 - May 1666, Particular Court Jurisdiction
May 1666 - October 1766, New London County Court & District
October 1766 - January 4, 2011, Stonington District
January 5, 2011 - Present, Southeastern Corner Regional 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 1-49. Two general indexes and 22 separate indexes for volumes 25-31, 33, 35-43, 45-49. Contact the probate court to access original record books. See Alternative Form Available note below.

Probate files, 1708-1875, bulk 1766-1875. Probate files may consist of estates, conservatorships, guardianships, commitments, and insolvencies. See Alternative Form Available note below.

Inventory control book, 1708-1875 (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.

Wills, 1930-1976.

Adoptions, 1881-1941

Return to the Table of Contents

Arrangement

Record books in accessions 2011-066 are numnbered 1 to 49. The two general indexes are numbered 1 and 2. There are 22 separate indexes for volumes 25-31, 33, 35-43, 45-49.

Probate files in accession 1912-010 are arranged alphabetically. Wills in accession 2011-067 are arranged alphabetically. Adoptions in accession 2011-067 are arranged by docket number.

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 2011-066, Record books, 1767-1944, and accession 2011-067, Wills, 1930-1976, and Adoptions, 1881-1941, are 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 1-31, 35-37, 40-42, 1767-1933; probate files, 1766-1875 (Accession 1912-010); 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 1912-010 were transferred to the Connecticut State Library on the following dates (with date span of files): August 29, 1912 (1708-1875).

The record books in accession 2011-066 and the wills and adoptions in accession 2011-067 were transferred to the Connecticut State Library on 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 1912-010 are represented in this index.

Probate Files: The History and Genealogy reference staff has access to an index for the wills and adoptions in accession 2011-067.

Return to the Table of Contents

Container List