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. 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. (Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD1994-2002) 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"
• Towns not included: Bethel, Bolton, Coventry, Cromwell, Easton, Mansfield, New Britain, New Fairfield, New Haven, Seymour, Trumbull, and Vernon.

• Bethel not incorporated until 1855. (No known source for records.)
• For Bolton: Vital Records of Bolton to 1854 and Vernon to 1852
• For Cromwell see Early Connecticut Marriages as Found on Ancient Church Records Prior to 1800 (1913) Book 2, Cromwell, Page 87-98.
• For Coventry: Records of the Town and Churches in Coventry, Connecticut, 1711-1844
• For Mansfield: Births, Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths, From the Records of the Town and Churches in Mansfield, Connecticut, 1703-1850
• For Lebanon, "1730 - 1800, Goshen Congregational Church (Lebanon), Connecticut, Early Marriage Records, New Horizons Genealogical Services (free)
• For New Britain: "Vital Records, 1848-1865, Births", Connecticut Nutmegger (2010) Vol. 43, Page 290-335. "Vital Records, 1846-1865, Marriages", Connecticut Nutmegger (2011) Vol. 44, Page 20-42, Page 137-69, Page 275-287, Page 322-375.
• For New Haven: Vital Records of New Haven, 1649-1850
• For Vernon: Vital Records of Bolton to 1854 and Vernon to 1852
• For Norwich: Vital Records of Norwich, 1659-1848
• Ellington records are included, but it also includes images of handwritten marriage records, 1820-1853. See name index for these marriages starting on Page 144.

• For Stamford, also see: Huntington, E.B., Stamford Registration of Births, Marriages and Deaths (1874)
• For Saybrook, also see: Vital Records of Saybrook, 1647-1834 (Connecticut Hist. Soc., 1952)

• WikiTree Profiles that use this source

Available online at these locations:

• AmericanAncestors.org (for paid subscribers):

• The Barbour Collection on American Ancestors.org

• Ancestry.com (for paid subscribers):

• Births
• Marriages
• Deaths

• Dunham-Wilcox: http://dunhamwilcox.net/0_ct-index.htm - Connecticut Index, including free Barbour Collection data.
• RootsWeb, Barbour Collection for CT Towns - free access
• New Horizons Genealogy: http://www.newhorizonsgenealogicalservices.com/barbour-collection.htm - Barbour Collection records listed by town and county
• WorldCat: http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/31158306 - Find libraries that hold this item
• Partial Access to records held at FamilySearch.

Table of Contents, Free

• Vol. 1, compiled by Lorraine Cook White

• Andover 1848-79
• Ashford 1710-1851
• Avon 1830-51

• Vol. 2: Compiled by Nancy E. Schott, Edited by Lorraine Cook White

• Barkhamsted 1779-1854
• Berlin 1785-1850
• Bethany 1832-53
• Bethlehem 1787-1851
• Bloomfield 1835-53
• Bozrah 1786-1850

• Vol. 3: Compiled and edited by Lorraine Cook White

• Branford 1644-1850
• Bridgeport 1821-1854

• 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

• Canton 1806-1853
• Chaplin 1822-1851
• Chatham 1767-1854
• Cheshire 1780-1840
• Chester 1836-1852
• Clinton 1838-1854, Diary of Aaron G. Hurd, Clinton, 1809-1878
• http://www.newhorizonsgenealogicalservices.com/barbour-collection/clinton.htm
• http://dunhamwilcox.net/ct/clinton_hurd.htm Clinton, 1809-1878

• Vol. 7: Compiled by Lorraine Cook white

• Colchester 1699-1850
• Colebrook 1779-1810
• Columbia 1804-1852
• Cornwall 1740-1854

• Vol. 8: Compiled by Lorraine Cook White

• "Danbury 1685-1847"
• Darien 1820-1851
• Derby 1655-1852

• 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

• Durham 1708-1852
• Eastford 1847-1851
• East Haddam 1743-1857

• 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

• "Fairfield 1639-1850"
• Farmington 1645-1850

• 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

• Goshen 1739-1854
• Granby 1786-1850
• Greenwich 1640-1848

• 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

• Hartland 1761-1848
• Harwinton 1737-1854
• Hebron 1708-1854

• 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

• Killingworth 1667-1850
• Ledyard 1836-1855
• Lisbon 1786-1850

• 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

• Madison 1826-1850
• Manchester 1823-1853
• Marlborough 1803-1852
• Meriden 1806-1853
• Middlebury 1807-1850
• Monroe 1823-1854
• Montville 1786-1850
• Naugatuck 1844-1853

• 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

• Middletown, pt 2 K-Z, and no surname 1651-1854
• https://archive.org/details/barbourcollectio00whit borrow

• 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

• Sherman 1802-1850
• Simsbury 1670-1855

• Vol. 40: compiled & edited by Lorraine Cook White

• Somers 1734-1850
• Southbury 1787-1830
• Southington 1779-1857
• South Windsor 1845-1851

• Vol. 41: Compiled and edited by Lorraine Cook White

• Sterling 1794-1850
• Stratford 1639-1840

• Vol. 42 : Compiled by Greater Omaha Genealogical Society, Edited by Lorraine Cook White

• Stamford 1641-1852

• 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

• Warren 1786-1850
• Washington 1779-1854
• Waterford 1801-1851
• Watertown 1780-1850
• Westbrook 1840-1851

• 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

• https://books.google.com/books?id=YPZZm51viUsC search only
• Weston 1787-1850
• Westport 1835-1850
• Willington 1727-1851

• Vol. 52: Compiled by Greater Omaha Genealogical Society, Edited by Lorraine Cook White

• Wethersfield 1634-1868

• Vol. 53: Compiled by Debra F. Wilmes, Edited by Lorraine Cook White

• Wilton 1802-1850
• Winchester 1771-1858
• Wolcott 1796-1854
• Woodbridge 1784-1832
• Woodbury 1674-1850
• Woodstock 1848-1866

• 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

Table of Contents, at americanancestors.com

• 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.
• Vol. Bristol, 55 pages.
• Vol. Brookfield, 26 pages.
• Vol.
• Vol. Brooklyn (Admissions of Electors, Page 80)
• Vol. Burlington
• Vol. Canaan
• Vol. Canterbury
• Vol. Canton
• Vol. Chaplin
• Vol. Chatham
• Vol. Cheshire
• Vol. Chester
• Vol. Clinton
• Vol. Colchester
• Vol. Colebrook
• Vol. Columbia
• Vol. Cornwall
• Vol. Danbury
• Vol. Darien
• Vol. Derby
• Vol. Durham
• Vol. East Haddam
• Vol. East Hartford
• Vol. East Haven
• Vol. East Lyme
• Vol. East Windsor
• Vol. Eastford
• Vol. Ellington
• Vol. Fairfield
• Vol. Farmington
• Vol. Franklin
• Vol. Glastonbury
• Vol. Goshen
• Vol. Granby
• Vol. Greenwich
• Vol. Griswold
• Vol. Groton
• Vol. Guilford
• Vol. Haddam
• Vol. Hamden
• Vol. Hampton
• Vol. Hartford
• Vol. Hartland
• Vol. Harwinton
• Vol. Hebron
• Vol. Huntington
• 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
• 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

• Johnson, Page 46-47

• 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
• Vol. Waterbury
• 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

WikiTree Syntax

• <span id='TBC'></span>''[[Space:The Barbour Collection|The Barbour Collection]] of Connecticut Town Vital Records'' (NEHGS, Boston, 2011) Vol. <town>
• <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>
• [[#TBC|Barbour Collection]]

Sources