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Welcome to our information-packed web site. Our goal is that the site serves as a useful starting point for those researching early Middletown, Conn. ancestors ... and then becomes a valuable resource that our growing membership of "cousins" returns to again and again.
Why Middletown? Beyond research of ancestors, the study of how the early settlers, as individuals, were able to (1) come together in common interest, (2) work through the natural and man-made difficulties of the early years (frequently aided by systemic displacement of indigenous inhabitants), and (3) forge a prosperous town, is a study, at the smallest scale, of the imperfect yet essential pursuit of community.
For the genealogist, the local history context available on this site will help illuminate the lives of your early Middletown ancestors.
For the local history enthusiast, the genealogical information available on this site will help draw human portraits of the individuals who made Middletown's 17th-century history. For the Facebook networker, we also maintain another online presence where you can connect with others and get the latest SMFSD news. To visit our Facebook page, follow this link: SMFSD Facebook page.
Once again Middletown history and genealogy enthusiasts from near-and-far gathered in Middletown, Conn. to revel in three days of research opportunities, cemetery visits, guest speaker insights, and networking (and socializing) with new-found cousins. The 2024 Triennial Meeting October 17-19 featured the keynote presentation by Timothy Ives, a leading scholar of indigenous Wangunk and early settler relations; museum visits to Cromwell, Wethersfield, and Farmington; and a walking tour of early New England domestic architecture. Library research visits to Godfrey Library and the Middlesex County Historical Society included the introduction of the long-awaited Early Families of Middletown, Connecticut - Volume II: 1655-1700, a 448-page compendium of genealogical profiles, land grant maps, and historical context by co-authors Reginald W. Bacon and Paula K. Higgins, a follow-up to Volume I: 1650-1654, published in 2012. If you couldn't make it to the Triennial Meeting this time, we hope to see you in 2027! How 'bout that Middler newsletter! For more than 20 years the SMFSD Middler newsletter has been essential reading for avid genealogists pursuing research in Middletown. The Middler has featured informative articles on Middletown's early social, cultural, and economic history; colonial-era domestic architecture; 17th/18th-century life in New England; and much more. The Middler welcomes your ideas for content at smfsd.middler "at" gmail.com. If you are not a member and would like to feast on our newsletter content, visit the "Membership" page, and learn how you can join SMFSD and get your own copy of The Middler. This is quite old news by now, but worth a reminder:
A Brief History of Middletown: A concise overview of the settlement and establishment of Middletown, Connecticut, plus links to a selection of standard historical works available online.
The member area of the web site adds value to SMFSD membership by making available (1) Comprehensive first settler profiles drawn from a variety of primary and secondary sources (see a sample profile); The member area is currently open to all visitors, so feel free to have a look around by clicking on the blue "Member Area" link in the navigation bar at the left. After this extended introductory period, access to this area may be restricted. Not yet a member? Click on "Membership" and find out how you can join us! About SMFSD. The Society of Middletown First Settlers Descendants was founded in 2000 by Gale Thomas Howe-Cornwell (1926-2007), whose grandfather, Seymour Cornwell, led the initiative to install the plaque on "Founders Rock" at Middletown's 250th anniversary in 1900. In 1996 Gale Cornwell began contacting descendants of Middletown first settlers with the idea of participating in the 350th anniversary. By 2000 over 200 people across the U.S. had signed on to Cornwell's idea, and on Oct. 29, with 58 in attendance in Middletown, the SMFSD was officially formed as a genealogical society. Officers were elected, bylaws adopted, and Godfrey Memorial Library offered to house society archives. Plaques were mounted at the library commemorating the 350th anniversary of the settlement and recognizing the first settlers. The SMFSD meets in Middletown every three years for organizational business, genealogy research, museum visits, member networking, and social gatherings. Between meetings, SMFSD member networking is facilitated by the annual membership roster and the twice-yearly newsletter, The Middler. (Not yet a member? Click on "Membership" and find out how you can join us!) |
