Maine Genealogy

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Overview of Maine records

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Overview of Maine Genealogy Records

• History: Maine was first settled in 1625, it became part of Massachusetts in 1677, it became the District of Maine in 1779, and became a state in 1820.
• Birth records: Birth records were kept starting in 1700 by the town clerks, though they are incomplete. Statewide registration of births began in 1892.  Birth records from 1892 to the present can be obtained from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services .
• Marriage records: Marriage records are kept by the individual towns. Marriage records were kept starting in 1700 by the town clerks, though they are incomplete. Statewide registration of marriages began in 1892.  Marriage records from 1892 to the present can be obtained from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services .
• Death records: Death records are kept by the individual towns. Death records were kept starting in 1700 by the town clerks, though they are incomplete. Statewide registration of deaths began in 1892.  Death records from 1892 to the present can be obtained from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services .
• Divorce records: Divorce records are kept by the individual towns. Divorce records from 1892 to the present can be obtained from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services .
• Census records: The first federal census available for Maine is 1790. There are federal censuses publicly available for 1790 (listed with Massachusetts), 1800 (partial and listed with Massachusetts), 1810 (partial and listed with Massachusetts), 1820 (partial), 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940, and 1950. There was a partial state census taken in 1837.
• County records: Court, land, probate, naturalization, and tax records were kept by the individual counties.
• Other records: Many cities and towns kept newspapers, records kept by churches, cemeteries, histories, school, city directories, and other records that can be located by using the city pages on this site. Records specific to minority groups can be found in the Minority Records section.
• All records: Use the links on this site to locate online indexes and images of many of the above records.