Hello listers: I am a "newbie" to Connecticut genealogy, as all my previous genealogical work has been done in the state in which I grew up, New York. However, I have now traced a group on my ancestors back to the early 1800's and here they are in Connecticut! So essentially I find myself needing a crash course in both Connecticut geography and history! Hope some of you'all can help me! :-) It appears *most* of my ancestors were from Litchfield County, which I understand is the western-most (?) county of CT and just over the NYS border. The one non-Litchfield County reference I have is Weston, which is why I am including myself on the Fairfield County list. So I guess it would be best for me first just to ask a few general questions and see what info you'll can give me and go from there. (1) I hate to appear really "ignorant" but I am really not sure what the CT River Valley is -- does the river run north-to-south? What counties/townships of CT does it encompass or doesn't it work that way? (2) I have recently learned that my ancestors were "with the railroad"; that is how they came ot NYS and (some) eventually to Michigan. Does anyone know WHAT railroad runs west-to-east along this route? This would have been in the time frame of approximately 1875-1920. (3) Does anyone have any good resources for the Towns of Sharon, Cornwall, Canaan, and Salisbury? Or is Connecticut even like NYS in that most records are kept in Town Clerks Offices?? Are there any "kind" historical societies for any of these four townships?? Have you had positive experiences with them? Well I guess those are probably enough questions for now -- thanks for ANY help y'all can give me -- it will REALLY be appreciated! :-) Marsha Strong Gainesville, FL Researching in CT: STRONG; REED/REID; DOUGHTY; SEELYE; JOHNSON; ROOD