Between 1635 and 1860, approximately 134,000 marriages occurred in various towns in Connecticut. Starting from 1650, town clerks in Connecticut were responsible for recording important life events such as marriages, births, and deaths. Some clerks meticulously maintained records due to the threat of fines for not doing so. However, documentation of these events declined from the Revolutionary period until the mid-19th century. In 1870, the establishment of the State Board of Health marked the beginning of more organized record-keeping. This index specifically focuses on marriages that occurred before the establishment of the State Board of Health, when centralized record-keeping was not yet in place.
In Connecticut, from 1650 on, town clerks were tasked with registering key life events like marriages, births, and deaths. The threat of fines for non-recording led some clerks to keep thorough records. However, the documentation of these events waned from the Revolutionary period until the mid-19th century. The situation improved in 1870 with the formation of the State Board of Health, which marked the beginning of more systematic record-keeping. This index focuses on marriages that happened before the State Board of Health’s establishment, when centralized record-keeping was not yet in place.
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