Bridgeport, Fairfield County, Connecticut Genealogy

United States

Connecticut

Fairfield

Bridgeport

Modern town borders of Bridgeport in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

Brief History

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

Cemeteries of Bridgeport, Connecticut online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Findagrave.com CTGenWeb CTGenWeb Archives Tombstone Project Billion Graves Index at FamilySearch CT Interment
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)	Family History Library WorldCat
List of Cemeteries in the Town	Findagrave.com Billion Graves Cemetery Records by Access Genealogy Charles R Hale Collection Bridgeport CT Cemetery Records by GenealogyTrails FamilySearch Places
See Connecticut Cemeteries for more information

Church Records

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

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

• Record of members, 1940-1941 FHL
  Record of members 1940-1941

Lutheran

• First English Evangelical Luthern Church, 1903-1948 FHL

Protestant Episcopal

• 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

• 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

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

The Bridgeport Community Historical Society
P.O. BOX 1956
Bridgeport, CT 06601-1956
E-mail: audreywpca@gmail.com
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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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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
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North Branch Location
3455 Madison Ave.
Bridgeport, CT 06606
(203) 576-7003
E-mail: webmaster@bportlibrary.org
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Maps

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

Probate Records

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

• 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

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

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

Births

• 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

• 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

• 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

Adjacent towns.: Fairfield Co.: Easton | Fairfield | Stratford | Trumbull

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