Notes on the database:​

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Types of Documents: The database contains two main types of recorded documents: deeds and mortgages.

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• Deeds transfer ownership of property from the grantor to the grantee (a “quit claim” deed transfers property without evidence of a clear title, while a “warranty” deed transfers property with evidence of a clear title).

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• Mortgages are claims on property (as a condition for financing). The grantor, or borrower, is the party receiving the financing, while the grantee, or lender, is the party extending the financing.

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For each recorded transaction, the first column lists the grantor (i.e., the property transferor in the case of a deed, or the borrower in the case of a mortgage), while the second column lists the grantee (i.e., the property transferee in the case of a deed, or the lender in the case of a mortgage).

There are approximately 2,000 entries–you can scroll through the records using the scroll bar on the right side of the table, or using the scroll wheel of your mouse. There are several tools to make it easier to find a particular name:

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• You can alphabetically sort by last name of either the grantor or the grantee using the "Sort by" selector in the upper right corner of the table.  You might want to try sorting each way, because your ancestor might have fallen into either category.  In addition, you can use the selector to sort by the town in which the property is located or the date of the transaction.

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• Alternatively, you can enter a few letters from a person’s name (either first or last name) into the Search box in the upper left corner of the database and then hit the "Search" button (keeping in mind that there were often spelling variations when transliterating from Yiddish to English). You can further sort these search results by grantor/grantee/town/date using the "Sort by" selector.

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• To return to the full database after a search, hit the "Reset Table" button at the top of the table.

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For copies of individual deeds, please contact the respective Town Clerks of East Lyme (860-739-6931), Montville (860-848-6784), or Salem (860-859-3873).  Images of land records from the Town of Salem during the relevant historical period may be viewed using the town's searchable online database (requires free account registration).  The Town of East Lyme also has a searchable online database, although it only covers time periods after the 1890-1920 era that is the focus of the table above.