FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CT HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

History of Fairfield County, Connecticut by D. Hamilton Hurd, (1881) – 1386 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2024.04.10.2018.CD.AR

A Brief History of the Early Settlement of Fairfield County by George Sanderson, (1851) – 42 Pages
Source: HathiTrust
Book ID: CH.2024.09.16.1226.CD.HT

Fairfield County, Connecticut: A Genealogical Overview

Located in the southwestern corner of Connecticut, Fairfield County is a region of stark contrasts, known globally as the “Gold Coast” for its affluence while also retaining deep colonial roots. It is a vital part of the New York metropolitan area, blending bustling cities, historic small towns, and suburban communities. Its history is a rich narrative of early Puritan settlement, agricultural development, maritime trade, industrial revolution, and modern corporate headquarters.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Understanding Fairfield County’s status as an original county and the subsequent decentralization of its government is critical for locating the correct records for ancestors in the region.

  • 1666: County Formed: Fairfield County was established on May 10, 1666, by an act of the Connecticut Colony’s General Court.
  • Parent County: It was one of the four original counties created in Connecticut, along with Hartford, New Haven, and New London. It was not formed from a parent county. Records prior to 1666 for this area would be found in the records of the individual towns (like Fairfield or Stratford) or the Connecticut Colony.
  • Subsequent County Formations: Fairfield County’s boundaries were later altered. In 1751, its northern portion was used, along with parts of Hartford and New Haven counties, to create Litchfield County. Researchers with ancestors in towns like Newtown or Sherman before this date should be aware of this change.
  • Name Origin: The county is named for the town of Fairfield, one of its earliest settlements, which was itself named for the “fair fields” found there by English settlers.
  • County Seat History: Connecticut abolished county-level government in 1960, a crucial fact for researchers. Before that, Fairfield and Danbury served as the county seats. Today, there is no single county government or “county seat.” Judicial functions are handled by state-run Superior Courts, and most historical records (land, vital) are kept at the individual town level.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The region was originally home to various Algonquin-speaking peoples of the Paugussett confederation, including the Siwanog along the coast. Place names like Norwalk, Aspetuck, and Saugatuck reflect this heritage.
  • Colonial Settlement and Economy: The first significant European settlement began in the 1630s during the Great Migration of Puritans from England. Towns like Fairfield, Stratford, Stamford, and Greenwich were established. The early economy was based on subsistence farming, shipbuilding, coastal trade, and fishing. Over time, it developed into a major industrial center, particularly in Bridgeport (firearms, sewing machines, corsets), before transitioning in the 20th century to a hub for finance, corporate headquarters, and commuters to New York City.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records specific to Fairfield County’s unique, town-based system.

  • Town Clerk’s Office (NOT a County Courthouse): For the most critical genealogical records, researchers must go to the individual Town Clerk’s office for the town where their ancestor lived. There are 23 towns in Fairfield County. Land records (deeds) and early vital records are held at the town level. Probate records are held by regional Probate Courts, whose districts have changed over time. For modern judicial matters, Superior Courts are located in Bridgeport, Danbury, and Stamford.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration in Connecticut began in 1897. Records from July 1, 1897, to the present are held by the Connecticut Department of Public Health’s State Vital Records Office. For records prior to this date, researchers must consult the Town Clerk’s office in the town where the event occurred. The Barbour Collection is an indexed transcript of these early town records.
    • Marriage Records: Marriage records follow the same pattern: held by the Town Clerk where the marriage occurred for events before July 1, 1897, and also at the state level after that date.
  • Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
    • Fairfield Museum and History Center: Located at 370 Beach Road, Fairfield, CT 06824. It houses a significant research library and archives for the region.
    • The Ferguson Library: Located at One Public Library Plaza, Stamford, CT 06904. It has an excellent local history and genealogy collection.
    • Connecticut State Library: (Located in Hartford, not Fairfield County) This is the single most important repository for Connecticut genealogy, holding microfilm of town records, probate records, church records, newspapers, and state-level vital records indexes.
    • Pequot Library: Located in the Southport section of Fairfield, this library has renowned special collections relevant to early American history.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Litchfield County, CT
    • New Haven County, CT
    • Westchester County, NY
    • Putnam County, NY

Please share any resources you have and will do lookups or links to resources you are aware of. Thanks