Newtown Probate Court records

Collection

Identifier: RG004_097

Staff Only

Scope and Content

Probate record books, None. Contact the probate court to access original record books. See Alternative Form Available note below.

Probate files, 1820-1931. Probate files may consist of estates, conservatorships, guardianships, commitments, and insolvencies. See Alternative Form Available note below.

Inventory control book, 1820-1931 (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.

Dates

Creation: 1820-1931

Language of Materials

The records are in English.

Restrictions on Access

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

Probate files from 1921-1931 are RESTRICTED 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.

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.

Historical Note

Newtown, Fairfield County, Town established in October 1711

The Newtown Probate District was constituted May 1820, from the Danbury Probate District. The Newtown Probate District merged with the Bethel, Redding, and Ridgefield Probate Districts on January 5, 2011 to create the Northern Fairfield County Probate District which presently serves the municipalities of Bethel, Newtown, Redding and Ridgefield.

Town of Newtown, Probate District chronology:

October 1711 - May 1744 Fairfield District

May 1744 - May 1820 Danbury District

May 1820 - January 4, 2011 Newtown District

January 5, 2011 - Present Northern Fairfield County District

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

Extent

10.25 cubic feet

Additional Description

Abstract

Record books, None; Probate files, 1820-1931.

Arrangement

Probate files arranged alphabetically.

Other Finding Aid

Record Books: Index cards for the record books have been scanned. Ask History and Genealogy staff for assistance. Note: CSL does not hold any original record books. 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 1934-001 are represented in this index.

Provenance

The probate files in accession 1917-003 were transferred to the Connecticut State Library on the following dates (with date span of files): January 30, 1934 (1820-1931).

Alternative Form Available

Record books, volumes 1-11, 13-15, 18, 20-21, 23, 27-29, 1820-1915; probate files, 1820-1880; 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.