Bridgeport, Fairfield County, Connecticut Genealogy
Contents
Brief History[edit | edit source]
Other than Black Rock and parts of Brooklawn which were originally part of the Town of Fairfield, Bridgeport was originally a part of the Town of Stratford. The first settlement was made in 1659. It was called Pequonnock until 1695, when its name was changed to Stratfield, because of its location between the already existing towns of Stratford and Fairfield. During the American Revolution it was a center of privateering. In 1800, the borough of Bridgeport was chartered, and in 1821 the township was incorporated. The city was not chartered until 1836.
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Church Records[edit | edit source]
At its founding, Congregationalism was the dominant religion in Connecticut and was even the state religion until 1818. Other common Christian denominations include the Methodist, Episcopal, Roman Catholic, and Baptist churches.
To see the churches in Bridgeport, visit. FamilySearch Places
Many Connecticut churches have deposited their records at the Connecticut State Library. The following are church records available online for the town of Bridgeport:
Congregationalist[edit | edit source]
The United Congregational Church of Bridgeport, Connecticut was organized in 1916 by the union of the First and Second Congregational Churches of Bridgeport. The First Church was known in 1691 as Pequonnock Society in Fairfield and Stratford. The name was changed May 1701 to Stratfield Society and formally changed May 1847 to Bridgeport, First Congregational Church.
- The history of the First Church of Bridgeport, from 1695 to 1853: with sketches of its ministers FHL
- Two hundred fifty years: the story of the United Congregational Church of Bridgeport, 1695-1945 FHL
- United Congregational Church (Bridgeport, Connecticut)
Church records, 1695-1911 FHL - Church records 1805-1838 FHL
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints[edit | edit source]
- Record of members, 1940-1941 FHL
Record of members 1940-1941
Lutheran[edit | edit source]
- First English Evangelical Luthern Church, 1903-1948 FHL
Protestant Episcopal[edit | edit source]
- Calvary Church 1922-1948 FHL
- St. John's Church, 1784-1863 FHL
- Christ Church, 1850-1945 FHL
- Church of the Nativity, 1858-1952 FHL
- Stratfield Society, 1805-1838 FHL
City Directories[edit | edit source]
- Bridgeport city directories FHL
- Bridgeport city directory, including Stratford, Fairfield and Southport FHL
- 1867-1985 U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 at Ancestry ($) - index and images, some years may be missing
Land Records[edit | edit source]
In Connecticut, most land records are kept at the town level. The following are online land records for the town of Bridgeport:
Libraries and Historical Societies[edit | edit source]
The Bridgeport Community Historical Society
P.O. BOX 1956
Bridgeport, CT 06601-1956
E-mail: audreywpca@gmail.com
Facebook
Website
Bridgeport Public Library – History Center
925 Broad Street(3rd floor)
Bridgeport, CT 06604
203 576-7400, ext. #7
203 576-8255 fax
E-Mail: hclibrarian@bridgeportpubliclibrary.org
Website
Bridgeport Public Library
There are five branch locations listed below
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Website
Burroughs – Saden Branch Location
925 Broad Street
Bridgeport, CT 06604
(203) 576-7400
E-mail: webmaster@bportlibrary.org
Website
Black Rock Branch Location
2705 Fairfield Ave.
Bridgeport, CT 06605
(203) 576-7025
E-mail: webmaster@bportlibrary.org
Website
East Side Branch Location
1174 East Main Street
Bridgeport, CT 06608
203-870-1280
E-mail: webmaster@bportlibrary.org
Website
Newfield Branch Location
755 Central Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06607
E-mail: webmaster@bportlibrary.org
Facebook
Website
North Branch Location
3455 Madison Ave.
Bridgeport, CT 06606
(203) 576-7003
E-mail: webmaster@bportlibrary.org
Facebook
Website
Maps[edit | edit source]
The following are online maps of the town of Bridgeport:
- The Price and Lee Co's new map of Bridgeport, Connecticut FHL
- The Price and Lee Co.'s new map of Bridgeport, Connecticut : published for the city directory FHL
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
In Connecticut, most probate records are kept at the town level. The following are online probate records for the town of Bridgeport:
- 1782-1917 : Probate records, 1782-1917 at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1840-1916 : Probate records, 1840-1916 at FamilySearch Catalog — images
Town Histories[edit | edit source]
- History of Bridgeport and vicinity FHL
- A history of the old town of Stratford and the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut FHL
- The story of Bridgeport FHL
- History of Bridgeport and vicinity FHL
- Pioneers and patriots of Pequannock, 1639-1799 FHL
Town Records[edit | edit source]
In Connecticut, most records are kept at the town level and generally began being kept at the founding of the town. These records may include the following:
- Births
- Marriages
- Deaths
- Burials
- Cemetery records
- Appointments
- Earmarks
- Estrays (stray animals)
- Freemens' oaths (men eligible to vote)
- Land records
- Mortgages
- Name changes
- Care of the poor
- School records
- Surveys
- Tax lists
- Town meeting minutes
- Voter registrations
- Warning outs (of town)
The following are Bridgeport town records available online:
- 1831-1900 : Record of marriages in the town of Bridgeport, 1831-1905; index to marriages, 1831-1900 at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1847-1900 : Records of births in the town of Bridgeport, 1847-1900 at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1850-1899 : Births in the town of Bridgeport, 1850-1899 at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1853-1904 : Records of deaths in the town of Bridgeport, 1853-1904 at FamilySearch Catalog — images
Town Clerk[edit | edit source]
The town clerk is responsible for these records, and so most originals can be found at the town clerk's office.
Bridgeport Town Clerk
45 Lyon Terrace
Bridgeport, CT 06604
203-576-7208
E-mail: charles.clemonsjr@bridgeportct.gov
Website
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Births[edit | edit source]
- 1639-1941 Connecticut, Births and Baptisms, 1639-1941 at FamilySearch — index
- 1640-1955 Connecticut, Charles R. Hale Collection, Vital Records, 1640-1955 — index
- 1847-1900 : Records of births in the town of Bridgeport, 1847-1900 at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1850-1899 : Births in the town of Bridgeport, 1850-1899 at FamilySearch Catalog — images
Marriages[edit | edit source]
- 1640-1955 Connecticut, Charles R. Hale Collection, Vital Records, 1640-1955 — index
- 1831-1900 : Record of marriages in the town of Bridgeport, 1831-1905; index to marriages, 1831-1900 at FamilySearch Catalog — images
Deaths[edit | edit source]
- 1640-1955 Connecticut, Deaths, 1640-1955 at FamilySearch — index
- 1640-1955 Connecticut, Charles R. Hale Collection, Vital Records, 1640-1955 — index
- 1853-1904 : Records of deaths in the town of Bridgeport, 1853-1904 at FamilySearch Catalog — images
References[edit | edit source]
Adjacent towns.: Fairfield Co.: Easton | Fairfield | Stratford | Trumbull
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