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The Barbour Collection

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The Barbour Collection

The Lucius Barnes Barbour Collection, well known to the Connecticut researcher, serves as an index to and an abstract of most pre-1850 Connecticut vital records. It is housed in the Connecticut State Library, but microfilm copies of it are widely available. After establishment of the State Department of Health, Lucius Barnes Barbour began a project to abstract and collect all town vital records up to about 1850. There are two formats to the material. The first is a statewide paper slip alphabetical index containing a complete abstract of each vital record taken from the books in each town. The card file holding this index takes up an entire wall at the Connecticut State Library. The second format is the group of separately bound volumes of abstracts of vital records for most towns, prepared from the slips. Taken from Eichholz, Alice. “Connecticut”; in Ancestry's Red Book, ed. Alice Eichholz. (Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry, 2004).

"The Barbour Collection consists of abstracts of town, church and other original records in Connecticut. It was first created as a slip index of over a million entries by Lucius B. Barbour at the Connecticut State Library in Hartford, Connecticut. It is a statewide index of births, marriages, and deaths to about 1850, arranged alphabetically by surname. (Available at FamilySearch) Yellow slips have entries from private sources such as diaries.

To accomplish this massive project, Barbour instructed several genealogists to abstract what they judged to be the best extant vital records in most pre-1850 Connecticut towns. These abstractions and similar information already published for other towns were typed onto printed forms. These form sheets were then cut, producing 12 small slips from each sheet. The slips for towns not previously published were then alphabetized and the information was typed a second time on large sheets of rag paper, which were bound into separate volumes for each of 137 towns. The slips for all towns plus private records collected by the Connecticut State Library were then interfiled, forming a statewide alphabetized slip index of most surviving records to about 1850. Thus there are two parts of the Barbour Collection: the slip index and bound volumes for individual towns. Note: The slip index includes pre-published vital records from eight towns (Bolton, Coventry, Enfield, Mansfield, New Haven, Norwich, Vernon, and Woodstock) which are not in the bound typescripts in addition to thousands of private records."[1]

This means that there may be extant records which were the original sources for the Barbour Collection.

The Barbour Collection referenced previously published collections of records as indicated in the town guides available at the Connecticut State Library. The reference source points to the first page of the Hartford guide where some of those earlier compendiums are listed. [2]

  • Lorraine Cook White, ed. (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1994-2002) Vol. 1-55.
  • New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, 2011
  • Background:
  • Reviews of Books, NEHGR (NEHGS, Boston, Mass., 2020) Vol. 174, Page 189.
  • "While Ancestry.org includes data from 118 towns, Barbour’s town-by-town transcripts, available at AmericanAncestors.org, cover 137 towns. But the Barbour Index itself — on slips in file drawers at the Connecticut State Library and online at FamilySearch.org — includes 143 towns plus private records."
  • MacLachlan, Linda. Finding Early Connecticut Vital Records: The Barbour Index and Beyond (Clearfield, Baltimore, 2019)
  • Connecticut State Library: "Barbour Collection"
  • Connecticut Ancestry (Connecticut Ancestry Society, Inc., Stamford, Conn., Nov 2003) Vol. 46, Page 93.

Towns included but also have vital records published elsewhere:

Towns not included

Bethel, Bolton, Coventry, Cromwell, East Hampton, Easton, Mansfield, New Britain, New Fairfield, New Haven, Seymour, South Britain, Trumbull, and Vernon:

Records Missed from included towns

  • Jessup, Harlan R., Omissions from the Barbour Collection, Connecticut Ancestry (Connecticut Ancestry Society, Inc., Stamford, Conn., Nov 2017) Vol. 60, No. 2, Page 68-69.
  • “Easton, Connecticut, Marriages, 1845-1854,” Connecticut Ancestry (February 2008) Vol. 50, Page 137-141.
  • “Early Vital Records of Redding, CT, a Recent Discovery,” Connecticut Ancestry (August 2007) Vol. 50, Page 34-35.
  • “Darien Vital Records, Book I: Another Barbour Omission” Connecticut Ancestry (November 2001) Vol. 44, Page 55-59.
  • “Huntington (Shelton) Marriages, 1820-1827,” Connecticut Ancestry (May 2001) Vol. 43, Page 143-146.
  • “Newtown, CT - Bills of Mortality, 1797-1821: A Supplement to the Barbour Index,” The Connecticut Nutmegger (December 1996) Vol. 29, Page 395-407.
  • Jessup, Harlan R., Some Additions and Corrections to Connecticut's Barbour Collection, Connecticut Ancestry (Connecticut Ancestry Society, Inc., Stamford, Conn., Aug 2005) Vol. 48, No. 1, Page 47-48.

Available online at these locations:

  • AmericanAncestors.org (for paid subscribers):
  • Ancestry.com (for paid subscribers):

Free Links

  • Vol. 1, compiled by Lorraine Cook White
  • Vol. 2: Compiled by Nancy E. Schott, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Vol. 3: Compiled and edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Branford 1644-1850
  • Bridgeport 1821-1854 Only marriages.
  • Vol. 4: Compiled by Lorraine Cook White
  • Bristol 1785-1854
  • Brookfield 1788-1852
  • Brooklyn 1786-1850 (Admissions of Electors, Page 80)
  • Burlington 1806-1852
  • Vol. 5: Compiled by Lorraine Cook White
  • Canaan 1739-1852
  • Canterbury 1703-1850
  • Vol. 6: Compiled by Lorraine Cook White
  • Vol. 7: Compiled by Lorraine Cook white
  • Vol. 8: Compiled by Lorraine Cook White
  • Vol. 9: Compiled by Lorraine Cook White
  • East Hartford 1783-1853
  • East Haven 1700-1852
  • East Lyme 1839-1853
  • Vol. 10: Compiled by Christina Bailey, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Vol. 11: Compiled by Lorraine Cook White
  • East Windsor 1768-1860
  • Ellington, pt 1 births & deaths 1786-1850
  • Ellington, pt 2 handwritten marriages, 1820-1853. See name index starting on Page 144.
  • Vol. 12: Compiled by Nancy E. Schott, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Vol. 13: Compiled by Greater Omaha Genealogical Society, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Franklin 1786-1850
  • Glastonbury 1690-1854
  • Vol. 14: Compiled by Christina Bailey, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Vol. 15: Compiled by Jerri Lynn Burket, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Griswold 1815-1848
  • Groton 1704-1853
  • Vol. 16: Compiled by Wilma Standifer Moore, Edited by Lorraine Cook White.
  • Guilford 1639-1850
  • Vol. 17: Compiled by Jan Tilton, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Haddam 1668-1852
  • Hamden 1786-1854
  • Hampton 1786-1851
  • Vol. 18: Compiled by Dorothy Wear, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Vol. 19: Compiled by Wilma J. Standifer Moore, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Hartford 1635-1855
  • Vol. 20: compiled by Lorraine Cook White
  • Huntington 1789-1850
  • Kent 1739-1852
  • Killingly 1708-1850
  • Vol. 21: Compiled by Marsha W. Carbaugh, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Vol. 22: Compiled by Nancy E. Schott, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Lebanon vols 1 & 2 1700-1954
  • Lebanon vol 3 1700-1854
  • Vol. 23: Compiled by Debra F. Wilmes, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Litchfield 1719-1854
  • Vol. 24: Compiled by Lillian Bentley Karlstrand, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Lyme 1667-1852
  • Vol. 25: Compiled by Nancy E. Schott, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Vol. 26: Compiled by Marie Schlumbrecht Crossley, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Middletown, pt 1 A-J 1651-1854
  • Vol. 27: Compiled by Carole Magnuson, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Vol. 28: Compiled by Jan Tilton, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Milford 1640-1850
  • New Canaan 1801-1854
  • New Hartford 1740-1854
  • Vol. 29: Compiled by Nancy E. Schott, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • New London 1646-1854
  • Vol. 30: Compiled and edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • New Milford 1712-1860
  • Norfolk 1758-1850
  • North Stonington 1807-1852
  • Vol. 31: Compiled by Greater Omaha Genealogical Society, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Newtown 1711-1852 (Also see: Newtown, CT: Vital Records, 1704-1850, Vol. 1, Page 1.)
  • North Branford 1831-1854
  • North Haven 1786-1854
  • Vol. 32: Compiled by Debra F Wilmes, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Norwalk 1651-1850
  • Norwich 1847-1851
  • Vol. 33: Compiled by Carole Magnuson, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Orange 1822-1850
  • Oxford 1798-1850
  • Plainfield 1699-1852
  • Vol. 34: Compiled by Marie Schlumbrecht Crossley, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Plymouth 1795-1850
  • Pomfret 1705-1850
  • Vol. 35: Compiled by Marsha Wilson Carbaugh, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Preston 1687-1850, parts I & II
  • Vol. 36: Compiled by Wilma J. Standifer Moore, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Portland 1841-1850
  • Prospect 1827-1853
  • Redding 1767-1852
  • Ridgefield 1709-1850
  • Vol. 37: Compiled by Lillian Bentley Kalstrand, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Rocky Hill 1765-1854
  • Roxbury 1796-1835
  • Salem 1836-1852
  • Salisbury 1741-1846
  • Vol. 38: Compiled by Nancy E. Schott, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Saybrook 1635-1850
  • Sharon 1739-1865
  • Vol. 39: Compiled and edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Vol. 40: compiled & edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Vol. 41: Compiled and edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Vol. 42 : Compiled by Greater Omaha Genealogical Society, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Vol. 43: Compiled by Nancy E. Schott, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Stonington 1658-1854
  • Vol. 44
  • Stafford 1719-1850
  • Tolland 1715-1850
  • Vol. 45: Compiled by Nancy E. Schott, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Suffield 1674-1850
  • Vol. 46: Compiled by Carole E. Magnuson, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Thompson 1785-1850
  • Vol. 47: Compiled by Marsha Wilson Carbaugh, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Torrington 1740-1850
  • Union 1734-1850
  • Voluntown 1708-1850
  • Vol. 48: Compiled by Marsha Wilson Carbaugh, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Wallingford 1670-1850
  • Vol. 49 : Compiled by Greater Omaha Genealogical Society, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Vol. 50: Compiled by Lillian Bentley Karlstrand, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Waterbury 1686-1853
  • Vol. 51: Compiled by Greater Omaha Genealogical Society, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Vol. 52: Compiled by Greater Omaha Genealogical Society, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Vol. 53: Compiled by Debra F. Wilmes, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Vol. 54: Compiled by Debra Wilmes, Edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Windham 1692-1850
  • Vol. 55: Compiled and edited by Lorraine Cook White
  • Windsor 1637-1850

AmericanAncestors.com Links

  • Vol. Andover: Births & Marriages to 1851, Deaths to 1881, 15 pages.
  • Vol. Ashford, 199 pages.
  • Vol. Avon, 14 pages.
  • Vol. Barkhamstead, 54 pages.
  • Vol. Berlin, 67 pages.
  • Vol. Bethany, 13 pages.
  • Vol. Bethlehem, 34 pages.
  • Vol. Bloomfield, 12 pages.
  • Vol. Bozrah, 57 pages.
  • Vol. Branford, 193 pages.
  • Vol. Bridgeport, 72 pages. 1821-1854 Only marriages.
  • Vol. Bristol, 55 pages.
  • Vol. Brookfield, 26 pages.
  • Vol. Brooklyn (Admissions of Electors, Page 80), 86 pages.
  • Vol. Burlington, 32 pages.
  • Vol. Canaan, 78 pages
  • Vol. Canterbury, 168 pages.
  • Vol. Canton, 26 pages.
  • Vol. Chaplin, 26 pages.
  • Vol. Chatham, 95 pages.
  • Vol. Cheshire, 75 pages.
  • Vol. Chester, 15 pages.
  • Vol. Clinton, 26 pages.
  • Vol. Colchester, 189 pages.
  • Vol. Colebrook, 10 pages.
  • Vol. Columbia, 21 pages.
  • Vol. Cornwall, 100 pages.
  • Vol. Danbury, 129 pages.
  • Vol. Darien, 13 pages.
  • Vol. Derby, 118 pages.
  • Vol. Durham, 89 pages.
  • Vol. East Haddam, 197 pages.
  • Vol. East Hartford, 95 pages.
  • Vol. East Haven, 97 pages.
  • Vol. East Lyme, 27 pages.
  • Vol. East Windsor, 101 pages.
  • Vol. Eastford, 19 pages.
  • Vol. Ellington, 147 pages.
  • Vol. Fairfield, 124 pages.
  • Vol. Farmington, 190 pages.
  • Vol. Franklin, 78 pages.
  • Vol. Glastonbury, 152 pages.
  • Vol. Goshen, 66 pages.
  • Vol. Granby, 62 pages.
  • Vol. Greenwich, 83 pages.
  • Vol. Griswold, 49 pages.
  • Vol. Groton, 166 pages.
  • Vol. Guilford, 252 pages.
  • Vol. Haddam, 88 pages.
  • Vol. Hamden, 34 pages.
  • Vol. Hampton, 81 pages.
  • Vol. Hartford, 361 pages.
  • Vol. Hartland, 31 pages.
  • Vol. Harwinton, 70 pages.
  • Vol. Hebron, 158 pages.
  • Vol. Huntington, 27 pages.
  • Vol. Kent
  • Vol. Killingly
  • Vol. Killingworth
  • Vol. Lebanon
  • Vol. Ledyard
  • Vol. Lisbon
  • Vol. Litchfield
  • Vol. Lyme
  • Vol. Madison
  • Vol. Manchester
  • Vol. Marlborough
  • Vol. Meriden
  • Vol. Middlebury
  • Vol. Middletown
  • Vol. Milford
  • Vol. Monroe
  • Vol. Montville
  • Vol. Naugatuck
  • Vol. New Canaan
  • Vol. New Hartford
  • Vol. New London, 329 pages.
  • Vol. New Milford
  • Vol. Newtown, 182 pages (Also see: Newtown, CT: Vital Records, 1704-1850, Vol. 1, Page 1.)
  • Vol. Norfolk
  • Vol. North Branford
  • Vol. North Haven
  • Vol. North Stonington
  • Vol. Norwalk
  • Vol. Norwich, 93 pages
  • Vol. Orange
  • Vol. Oxford
  • Vol. Plainfield
  • Vol. Plymouth
  • Vol. Pomfret
  • Vol. Portland
  • Vol. Preston
  • Vol. Prospect
  • Vol. Redding
  • Vol. Ridgefield
  • Vol. Rocky Hill
  • Vol. Roxbury
  • Vol. Salem
  • Vol. Salisbury
  • Vol. Saybrook
  • Vol. Sharon
  • Vol. Sherman
  • Vol. Simsbury
  • Vol. Somers
  • Vol. South Windsor
  • Vol. Southbury
  • Vol. Southington
  • Vol. Stafford
  • Vol. Stamford
  • Vol. Sterling
  • Vol. Stonington
  • Vol. Stratford
  • Vol. Suffield
  • Vol. Thompson
  • Vol. Tolland
  • Vol. Torrington
  • Vol. Union
  • Vol. Voluntown
  • Vol. Wallingford
  • Vol. Warren
  • Vol. Washington, 95 pages
  • Vol. Waterbury, 348 pages
  • Vol. Waterford
  • Vol. Watertown
  • Vol. Westbrook
  • Vol. Weston
  • Vol. Westport
  • Vol. Wethersfield
  • Vol. Willington
  • Vol. Wilton
  • Vol. Winchester
  • Vol. Windham
  • Vol. Windsor
  • Vol. Wolcott
  • Vol. Woodbridge
  • Vol. Woodbury
  • Vol. Woodstock, 39 pages.

Ancestry.com Links

Church Record Abstracts, 1630-1920

Ancestry.com links:

Citation Formats

Please add your preferred citation format, so that it may be easily copied by you and others:

  • <span id='TBC'></span>''[[Space:The Barbour Collection|The Barbour Collection]] of Connecticut Town Vital Records'' (NEHGS, Boston, 2011) Vol. town, [ Page ].
  • <span id='TBC'></span>''[[Space:The Barbour Collection|The Barbour Collection]] of Connecticut Town Vital Records'' - White, Lorraine Cook, ed. (Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD, 1994-2002) Vol. town, [ Page ].
  • ([[#TBC|Barbour Collection]])
  • <ref name=TBC>''[[Space:The Barbour Collection|The Barbour Collection]] of Connecticut Town Vital Records'' (NEHGS, Boston, 2011) Vol. town, [ Page ].</ref>




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Comments: 10

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The collated/bound volumes records, as well as the original slips (many from towns not collated), are available at FamilySearch.org:

https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/295370

posted by Patrick Griffith
Thank you.

That link is already up above (2nd paragraph), although it might be hard to find. Therefore, I added it to the "Available online at these locations:" section, to make it easier for others to find. As far as I know, the images can't be searched. If there is a way, please let me know.

posted by Rick Pierpont
Thanks, Rick. Unfortunately, no, no way to search.
posted by Patrick Griffith
Does anyone know if it is possible to examine the original records for the town of Union that the Barbour Collection copied? Specifically marriage records.

Thanks!

posted by Dave Schmidt
I have a print edition compiled by Lorraine Cook White for these towns: Canton 1806-1853, Chaplin 1822-1851, Chatham 1767-1854, Cheshire 1780-1840, Chester 1836-1852, Clinton 1838-1854. Also, Diary of Aaron G. Hurd-Clinton 1809-1878. I will be glad to do look-ups.
posted by L Sauls
The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Vital Records does not cover all the towns in Connecticut or even all the records of the towns it includes. Thank goodness for them - They are a real help. Church and cemetery records can help fill in as well as land records.
posted by Anne X
edited by Anne X
Susan, The links has been fixed. Thanks.
posted by Rick Pierpont
The "Index to free Barbour data" link brings up an ERROR 403 - FORBIDDEN message.
posted by Susan (Emens) Hughes
Thanks. I fixed the link and changed it to "View...". I also added a directory of volumes, towns, and dates.
posted by Rick Pierpont
The "Search the Barbour Collection index on American Ancestors.org" is now a dead link.
posted by Jim Parish