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Middlesex County, Connecticut

County Courthouse and Government Records ∣ County Societies, Family History Resources  ∣
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Middlesex County, Connecticut was created on May 2, 1785 and was formed from Hartford County and New Haven County. The county was named for Middlesex, England.

Middlesex County is bordered by Hartford County, Connecticut (north), New London County, Connecticut (east), New Haven County, Connecticut (west).

Middlesex County Cities and Towns include Chester, Clinton, Cromwell, Deep River, Durham, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Killingworth, Middlefield, Middletown (consolidated city-town), Old Saybrook, Portland and Westbrook A Map of Connecticut Towns by County contains detailed information about county and town boundaries.

Middlesex County, Connecticut Vital Records

Middlesex County Courthouse and Government Records

The Middlesex County Courthouse was located in Middletown, Connecticut (1785-1960). Counties were abolished officially in 1959 though their purpose had been chiefly to define county court districts. For genealogical research purposes, counties become necessary when using the federal census returns, since they are all cataloged by county. Learn More About State of Connecticut Court, Tax, Land and Probate Records.

Please contact the each town clerk’s department to confirm mailing address, hours, fees and other information before visiting or requesting information because contact information sometimes changes.  The Town Clerk’s Office DOES NOT DO RESEARCH. Most staff will assist people in finding the materials, but it is up to the individual to do the research.

All deeds, vital records, and probate records for all Connecticut towns are available to 1900 on microfilm at the Connecticut State Library or through the FHL. See also Connecticut Towns and Their Establishment

Taxes were levied for personal property and land through most of Connecticut’s history. The town assessor (or lister) made annual lists or rates of all taxables. This generated a considerable number of tax lists across time, but the Connecticut State Library has a list of various tax records still at the town clerk’s offices. The Connecticut Historical Society and the genealogical collections throughout the state have some records.

Those matters not in the realm of the superior court were heard by the county courts (initially called prerogative or common pleas). The county court, begun in 1666, was abolished in 1955, and its functions were divided between justice courts and superior courts. Most of the county records, to its abolition date, are at the Connecticut State Library.

  • The Town of Chester was formed in 1836 from Saybrook
  • The Town of Clinton was formed in 1838 from Killingworth
  • The Town of Cromwell was formed in 1851 from Middletown
  • The Town of Deep River was formed in 1635 (as Saybrook;renamed, 1947) from unorganized land
  • The Town of Durham was formed in 1708 from unorganized land
  • The Town of East Haddam was formed in 1734 from Haddam
  • The Town of East Hampton was formed in 1767 (as Chatham; renamed, 1915) from Middletown
  • The Town of Essex was formed in 1852 from Saybrook. Name of town was Old Saybrook from 1852—54, when a new town of Old Saybrook was separated from this one. The town created in 1852 changed its name to Essex. The probate district called Old Saybrook was created and the old one changed its name to Essex.
  • The Town of Haddam was formed in 1668 from New London
  • The Town of Killingworth was formed in 1667 from unorganized land
  • The Town of Middlefield was formed in 1866 from Middletown
  • The Town of Middletown was formed in 1651 from unorganized land
  • The Town of Portland was formed in 1841 from Chatham
  • The Town of Old Saybrook was formed in 1854 (see Essex for explanation of the town’s formation) from Old Saybrook (now named Essex)
  • The Town of Westbrook was formed in 1840 from Saybrook

Middlesex County Society and Family History Resources

Middlesex County Links