RG 004:138, Stratford Probate Court

Inventory of Records

Finding aid prepared by Connecticut State Library staff.

Copyright © 2013 by the Connecticut State Library

Historical Note

Stratford, Fairfield County, Town settled in 1639

Stratford Probate District was constituted May 1782, from the Fairfield Probate District. It also served the following municipalities at various times: Bridgeport, May 1821 - June 3, 1840; Monroe, May 1823 - June 1840; Shelton, January 1789 - June 1840; Trumbull, October 1797 - June 1840. The records of the Stratford District from May 1782 to June 4, 1840, are found in the Bridgeport Probate District. The Stratford Probate District serves the municipality of Stratford.

Town of Stratford, Probate District chronology:

1639 - 1665, New Haven Colony Jurisdiction
1639 - May 1666, Hartford Particular Court Jurisdiction
1649 - May 1666, Fairfield Particular Court Jurisdiction
May 1666 - May 1782, Fairfield County Court & District
May 1782 - Present, Stratford District

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

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Scope and Content

Probate record books, volumes 1-10, 1782-1840. There is a separate index volume. Contact the probate court to access original record books after volume 10. See Alternative Form Available note below.

Probate files, 1781-1898. Probate files may consist of estates, conservatorships, guardianships, commitments, and insolvencies. See Alternative Form Available note below.

Inventory control book, 1781-1898 (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 in accessions 2011-006 are numnbered 1 to 10. There are two volumes each for numbers 6, 7, 8, and 9, with one volume being for Records and the other for Journal. The index volume in unnumbered.

Probate files in accession 1916-006 are arranged alphabetically.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

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

Accession 2011-006, Record books, 1782-1840, 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.

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Index Terms

Subjects:

Places:

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Administrative Information

Alternative Form Available

Record books, volumes 1-12, 1782-1851; volumes 1-5, 9, 10, 13, 14, 17, 18, 20, 21, 1840-1917; probate files, 1766-1880 (Accession 1916-006); 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 1916-006 were transferred to the Connecticut State Library on the following dates (with date span of files): May 22, 1916 (1781-1898); June 17, 1932 (1782-1859); March 29, 1933 (1782-1859). They were interfiled into one alphbetic sequence.

The record books in accession 2011-006 were transferred to the Connecticut State Library on July 26, 2010.

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Other Finding Aid

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 1916-006 are represented in this index.

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