Kennebec County, Maine Genealogy

United States

New England

Maine

Kennebec County

Guide to Kennebec County, Maine ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.

Maine Online Genealogy Records

County Facts County seat: Augusta Organized: February 20, 1799 Parent County(s): Lincoln Neighboring Counties Androscoggin • Franklin • Somerset • Waldo • Lincoln • Sagadahoc Courthouse Location Map

County Information

Description

Kennebec County was created on 20 February 1799 and named for the Kennebec River. Its county seat is Augusta The county is located in the southern area of the state.

County Courthouse

Kennebec County Courthouse
95 State Street
Augusta, ME 04330
Phone: 207-623-1156
Kennebec County Website

Register of Deeds has land records from 1799. Probate Court has probate records from 1799. Town Clerks have birth, marriage and death records.

Kennebec County, Maine Record Dates

Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.

Known Beginning Dates for Government County Records
Birth*	Marriage	Death*	Court	Land	Probate	Census
1892	1892	1892	1799	1799	1799	1790
*Statewide registration for births and deaths started in 1892. General compliance year unknown.

Record Loss

There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Boundary Changes

Parent County: Created from Lincoln County on 20 February 1799. County seat: Augusta Maine Individual County Chronologies - Newberry Library list of all boundary changes by county Maine Historical Borders - Map at Newberry Library Atlas of Historical County Boundaries; Also at: mapofus.org - animated maps illustrating Maine county boundary changes

Populated Places

For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this census area:

Cities
Augusta (county seat) Gardiner	Hallowell Waterville
Towns
Albion Belgrade Benton Chelsea China Clinton Farmingdale Fayette Litchfield	Manchester Monmouth Mount Vernon Oakland Pittston Randolph Readfield Rome Sidney	Vassalboro Vienna Wayne West Gardiner Windsor Winslow Winthrop
Unincorporated communities
China Village East Vassalboro East Winthrop	Libby Hill North Monmouth North Vassalboro	South China
Census-designated places
Clinton Farmingdale	Oakland Winslow	Winthrop
Unorganized territories
Unity Township (formerly Unity Plantation)

Extinct towns and plantations:

Dearborn | Harlem | Unity Plantation

Resources

Business, Commerce, and Occupations

• 1873-1965 Maine & Massachusetts, Case Files of Deceased and Deserted Seamen, 1873-1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; image only

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Kennebec County, Maine online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Find a Grave USGenWeb USGenWeb Archives ME Tombstone Transcription Project Interment.net BillionGraves
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)	FamilySearch Library WorldCat
List of Cemeteries in the County	Find a Grave FamilySearch Places
See Maine Cemeteries for more information.

• 1620-2014 Maine, Tombstone Inscriptions, Surname Index, 1620-2014 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1676-1918 Maine, Veterans Cemetery Records, 1676-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/images
• 1718-2014 Maine, U.S., Tombstone Inscriptions, Surname Index, 1718-2014 at Ancestry - index ($)
• 1780-1990 Maine, U.S., Faylene Hutton Cemetery Collection, 1780-1990 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
• ca. 1780-1999 Maine, J. Gary Nichols Cemetery Collection, ca. 1780-1999 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1822-1959 Maine, Kennebec County, Togus National Cemetery Records 1822-1959 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Church Records

Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For general information about Maine denominations, view the Maine Church Records wiki page.

List of Churches and Church Parishes

• FamilySearch Places
  

Court Records

Online Court Indexes and Records

• 1718-1957 Maine, State Archive Collections, 1718-1957 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Directories

• 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary

Funeral Homes

Aable Cremation Service in Waterville Bragdon-Finley Funeral Home in Monmouth Funeral Alternatives in Augusta Gallant Funeral Home in Waterville Knowlton & Hewins and Roberts Funeral Homes & Cremation Care in Augusta Knowlton & Hewins and Roberts Funeral Homes & Cremation Care in Winthrop Lawry Brothers Funeral Home in Oakland Plummer Funeral Home in Augusta Plummer Funeral Home in Windsor Staples Funeral Home & Cremation Care in Gardiner Veilleux and Redington Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterville

Land and Property Records

Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents. See Maine Land and Property for databases, early land grants to individuals, and more information.

Online Land Indexes and Records

• 1718-1957 Maine, State Archive Collections, 1718-1957 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1760-1799 Records, Lincoln County registry, from 1760 to 1799(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• 1761-1818 Records of grants, Lincoln County, 1761-1818(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• 1799-1863 Records of grants, Kennebec County, 1799-1863(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• 1799-1900 Indexes to land records, 1799-1900(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• 1799-1906 Land records, 1799-1906(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• 1824-1871 Maine, Penobscot County and Kennebec County, Land records, 1824-1871(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• 1835-1838 Maine Revolutionary War Bounty Land Applications, 1835-1838 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/images
• Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search

Local Histories

Local histories are available for Kennebec County. They may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information, see Maine Local Histories.

• Illustrated History of Kennebec County, Maine : 1625-1799-1892. 2 volumes. c1892. Editors: Henry D. Kingsbury, Simeon L. Deyo. New York, New York : H.W. Blake. Online at: Vol. 1 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Vol. 2 - FamilySearch Digital Library; Vols. 1 & 2 - Hathitrust, Internet Archive; At various libraries (WorldCat).
• The Kennebec Valley. 1887. By Seth Harding Whitney. Augusta, Maine. : Sprague, Burleigh & Flynt. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust; At various libraries (WorldCat).

Maps and Gazetteers

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

• FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records

• 1676-1918 Maine, Veterans Cemetery Records, 1676-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/images
• 1718-1957 Maine, State Archive Collections, 1718-1957 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1866-1938 U.S. National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938 at Ancestry ($)

Revolutionary War

• 1835-1838 Maine Revolutionary War Bounty Land Applications, 1835-1838 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/images

Civil War

• 1862-1865 Maine, Civil War Enlistment Papers, 1862-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Regiments. Civil War service men in Kennebec County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (part of a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in this county:

-1st Battalion, Maine Light Artillery, 2nd BATTERY LIGHT ARTILLERY ("B")

-1st Battalion, Maine Light Artillery, 3rd BATTERY LIGHT ARTILLERY ("C")

-1st Battalion, Maine Light Artillery, 4th BATTERY LIGHT ARTILLERY ("D")

-1st Battalion, Maine Light Artillery, 5th BATTERY LIGHT ARTILLERY ("E")

-1st Battalion, Maine Light Artillery, 6th BATTERY LIGHT ARTILLERY ("F")

-1st Battalion, Maine Light Artillery, 7th BATTERY LIGHT ARTILLERY ("G")

-1st Regiment, Maine Cavalry

-16th Regiment, Maine Infantry, Company B.

World War I

• 1914-1950 Maine, State Archives, World War I (WWI) Grave Cards, 1914-1950 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1917-1919 Maine, World War I Draft Registration Index, 1917-1919 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Naturalization and Citizenship

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records

• 1718-1957 Maine, State Archive Collections, 1718-1957 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1918-1991 Maine, United States Naturalization Records, 1918-1991 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/images

Newspapers

Maine Newspaper Archive. Indexes Free; Digital Page Images ($) at GenealogyBank

• 1800s-Current Maine, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1800-1870 Hallowell, Kennebec County, Newspaper Archive Indexes Free; Digital Page Images ($) at GenealogyBank
• 1800s-1999 Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry ($)
• 1801-1805 Kennebec Gazette. Indexes Free; Digital Page Images ($) at GenealogyBank
• 1801-1861 Augusta, Kennebec County, Newspaper ArchiveIndexes Free; Digital Page Images ($) at GenealogyBank
• 1809-1835 American Advocate. Indexes Free; Digital Page Images ($) at GenealogyBank
• 1810-1815 Herald of Liberty. Indexes Free; Digital Page Images ($) at GenealogyBank
• 1814-1827 Hallowell Gazette. Indexes Free; Digital Page Images ($) at GenealogyBank
• 1832-1961 Age. Indexes Free; Digital Page Images ($) at GenealogyBank
• 1839-1870 Maine Cultivator and Hallowell Gazette. Indexes Free; Digital Page Images ($) at GenealogyBank
• 1872-87, 1889, 1895, 1903, 1915 and 1939 Daily Kennebec Journal (Augusta, Maine) at Ancestry ($)
• Maine Newspaper Project at DigitalMaine Repository
• Maine, Obituaries and Death Notices at MyHeritage — index ($)

Obituaries

• Maine, Obituaries and Death Notices at MyHeritage — index ($)

Periodicals

• The Maine Genealogist at American Ancestors — index & images ($)

Probate Records

Online Probate Indexes and Records

• 1584-1999 Maine, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1584-1999 at Ancestry ($) — index & images
• 1760-1979 Maine, County Probate Records, 1760-1979 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; image only
• 1799-1850 Index to Kennebec County probate, 1799-1850(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• 1779-1915 Maine, Kennebec County Probate Estate Files, 1779-1915 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; image only
• 1779-1915 Maine, Kennebec County probate estate files, 1779-1915(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• 1799-1930 Probate records, 1799-ca. 1930(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search

Social Security Records

• 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
• 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry - Index & images ($)
• 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Tax Records

Maine tax records complement land records and can be used to supplement the years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years in the records. For databases and more information, see Maine Taxation

Vital Records

In Maine, vital records are kept by town clerks or selectmen. Although some towns have existed since the 1650s, most vital records date from about 1700. The vital statistics are often arranged by family. For more information, see the Wiki page for the town and the Wiki page, Maine Vital Records.

Birth

• 1670-1921 Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1715-1922 Maine, Birth Records, 1715-1922 at Ancestry ($)
• 1739-1900 Maine Births and Christenings, 1739-1900 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
• 1876-1879 Birth records 1876-1879(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Marriage

• 1589-1966 Maine, United States Marriages at at Findmypast — index ($) — index $
• 1670-1921 Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1670-1921 Maine, Marriage Index, 1670-1921, at Ancestry ($)
• 1713-1922 Maine, Marriage Records, 1713-1922, at Ancestry ($)
• 1759-1777 Lincoln County, ME: Commissioners Marriage Records, 1759-1777 at American Ancestors — index ($), includes counties: Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadhoc, and Washington.
• 1771-1907 Maine Marriages, 1771-1907 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
• 1828-1887 Marriage records ca.1828-1887(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• 1892-1966; 1977-1996 Maine, Marriage Index, 1892-1966, 1977-1996 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1892-1996 Maine, Marriage Index, 1892-1996, at Ancestry ($)
• 1892-1966 Maine Marriages, 1892 - 1966 at MyHeritage - index ($)
• 1977-Onward Maine, Marriages at MyHeritage — index & images ($)

Death

• 1670-1921 Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1761-1922 Maine, Death Records, 1761-1922, at Ancestry ($)
• 1841-1910 Maine Deaths and Burials, 1841-1910 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
• 1960-1996 Maine Death Index, 1960-1996 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
• 1960-1997 Maine, Death Index, 1960-1997, at Ancestry ($)

Divorce

• 1892-1963 Maine Divorces at MyHeritage — index & images ($)

Research Facilities

FamilySearch Centers

FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries

• FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
• FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.
  

Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries

• Farmington Maine FamilySearch Center
• Waterville Maine FamilySearch Center
• Maine State Library - an affiliate library
• Topsham Public Library - an affiliate library

Societies

Kennebec County Historical Society
Website

Websites

• The Kennebec County MEGenWeb Project, an member of The MEGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
• The USGenWeb Archives Project for Kennebec County
• Kennebec County, Maine History and Genealogy (Genealogy Trails)
• Maine Genealogy Kennebec County
  
• FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.