Thursday, November 10, 2011

Maine Town Records

Recently I discovered Maine Town Records at the Raymond H. Fogler Library, the University of Maine.  No, I didn't drive or fly to Maine.  The web page can be accessed anytime of the day or night wherever you are located.

Maine towns represented in town reports
Boothbay Harbor Town Report 1891
Not all towns are represented, but there are many on the web site with links to a variety of years of reports. The dates are usually from the mid 1800s to the late 1800s.  Information is different by towns, counties and type of report.  Expect to find information on resident taxpayers, non-resident taxpayers, insolvencies, teacher reports and businesses.  If you think this is "boring" information, think again.  Your ancestor may be listed in these reports.  The dates between 1880 and 1900 fill in with information that is lost to us on the 1890 U.S. Census.

One of the links on the web page is Windows on Maine.  Here you can search and browse to find information on places and topics in Maine.  There are moving images, maps, photographs, texts and databases.

Caribou Town Report 1891 
The web site also hosts a special project, Plantation of Lakeville.  Even if Lakeville doesn't interest you, drop in for a visit to see what is digitized regarding the town.  Beginning in 1859 the records include the petition for organization, list of voters and return of enrolled militia.

You will want to bookmark this excellent page for reference in your Maine research.
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