Maine Land and Property: Difference between revisions
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=== Post-Revolutionary War Records === | === Post-Revolutionary War Records === | ||
In 1783 the Massachusetts Committee for the Sale of Eastern Lands was formed to sell unclaimed land and distribute grants to soldiers. In 1794 more than 2,000,000 acres were sold. | In 1783 the Massachusetts Committee for the Sale of Eastern Lands was formed to sell unclaimed land and distribute grants to soldiers. In 1794 more than 2,000,000 acres were sold. | ||
* Massachusetts, Land Agent. ''Massachusetts Deeds, 1794-1860''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1954. (On five Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlefilmnotes&columns=*%2C0%2C0&titleno=292284&disp=Mass.+deeds%2C+1794-1860++ films starting with 010248 item 3].) Each volume is indexed. | *Massachusetts, Land Agent. ''Massachusetts Deeds, 1794-1860''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1954. (On five Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlefilmnotes&columns=*%2C0%2C0&titleno=292284&disp=Mass.+deeds%2C+1794-1860++ films starting with 010248 item 3].) Each volume is indexed. | ||
From 1820 to 1853, the state of Maine purchased the remaining land from Massachusetts and held auctions to distribute it. The Land Office of Maine was established in 1824 to distribute this land. | From 1820 to 1853, the state of Maine purchased the remaining land from Massachusetts and held auctions to distribute it. The Land Office of Maine was established in 1824 to distribute this land. | ||
* Maine. Land Office. ''Record of Deeds of the Land Office of Maine, 1824-1861''. Ten Volumes. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1954. (Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlefilmnotes&columns=*%2C0%2C0&titleno=292197&disp=Record+of+deeds+of+the+Land+Office+of+Ma++ films 10238-41].) Indexes are in the volumes. | *Maine. Land Office. ''Record of Deeds of the Land Office of Maine, 1824-1861''. Ten Volumes. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1954. (Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlefilmnotes&columns=*%2C0%2C0&titleno=292197&disp=Record+of+deeds+of+the+Land+Office+of+Ma++ films 10238-41].) Indexes are in the volumes. | ||
After 1835, Revolutionary War veterans or their widows made applications to the Land Office for land. The following includes claims, applications, and declarations. | |||
* Maine. Land Office. ''Revolutionary War Veterans Land Records''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1954. (Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlefilmnotes&columns=*%2C0%2C0&titleno=292447&disp=Revolutionary+War+veterans+land+records++ films 010249-60].) | *Maine. Land Office. ''Revolutionary War Veterans Land Records''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1954. (Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlefilmnotes&columns=*%2C0%2C0&titleno=292447&disp=Revolutionary+War+veterans+land+records++ films 010249-60].) | ||
A partial index to these records is: | A partial index to these records is: | ||
*Charles J. House. ''Names of Soldiers of the American Revolution Who Applied for State Bounty, 1893''. Reprint. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1967. (Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=241429&disp=Names+of+soldiers+of+the+American+Revolu%20%20&columns=*,0,0 book 974.1 M2n; film 1033754 item 16; film 010248].) Film 010248 contains handwritten numbers of certificates next to the names of the soldiers and another index of names of soldiers who applied to Massachusetts for State Bounty under services rendered in the Revolutionary War. The land office records are at the Maine State Archives. | |||
* Charles J. House. ''Names of Soldiers of the American Revolution Who Applied for State Bounty, 1893''. Reprint. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1967. (Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=241429&disp=Names+of+soldiers+of+the+American+Revolu%20%20&columns=*,0,0 book 974.1 M2n; film 1033754 item 16; film 010248].) Film 010248 contains handwritten numbers of certificates next to the names of the soldiers and another index of names of soldiers who applied to Massachusetts for State Bounty under services rendered in the Revolutionary War. The land office records are at the Maine State Archives. | |||
=== County Records === | === County Records === | ||
Revision as of 16:02, 16 September 2010
United States 
Maine Land and Property
Colonial Records[edit | edit source]
Land ownership in the colonial period can be traced to royal charters, proprietary grants, and Indian deeds. During this period, all of Maine was included in York County. You will find many of the early records for 1642 to 1737 in:
- York Deeds. 18 Volumes. Portland, Maine: John T. Hull, 1887-1910. (Family History Library book 974.195 R2m; film 599904 item 3 through film 599914; on 186 fiche 6046839.) Each volume is well indexed. Volume 10 is on film and fiche only.
Post-Revolutionary War Records[edit | edit source]
In 1783 the Massachusetts Committee for the Sale of Eastern Lands was formed to sell unclaimed land and distribute grants to soldiers. In 1794 more than 2,000,000 acres were sold.
- Massachusetts, Land Agent. Massachusetts Deeds, 1794-1860. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1954. (On five Family History Library films starting with 010248 item 3.) Each volume is indexed.
From 1820 to 1853, the state of Maine purchased the remaining land from Massachusetts and held auctions to distribute it. The Land Office of Maine was established in 1824 to distribute this land.
- Maine. Land Office. Record of Deeds of the Land Office of Maine, 1824-1861. Ten Volumes. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1954. (Family History Library films 10238-41.) Indexes are in the volumes.
After 1835, Revolutionary War veterans or their widows made applications to the Land Office for land. The following includes claims, applications, and declarations.
- Maine. Land Office. Revolutionary War Veterans Land Records. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1954. (Family History Library films 010249-60.)
A partial index to these records is:
- Charles J. House. Names of Soldiers of the American Revolution Who Applied for State Bounty, 1893. Reprint. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1967. (Family History Library book 974.1 M2n; film 1033754 item 16; film 010248.) Film 010248 contains handwritten numbers of certificates next to the names of the soldiers and another index of names of soldiers who applied to Massachusetts for State Bounty under services rendered in the Revolutionary War. The land office records are at the Maine State Archives.
County Records[edit | edit source]
After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were recorded by the register of deeds in each county. The addresses and a description of each county's records are in:
Lindberg, Marcia Wiswall. Genealogist's Handbook for New England Research. 3rd ed. Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1993. (Family History Library book 974 D27g 1993.) This is an excellent guide to Maine towns and counties, location of public records, and genealogical societies.
The Family History Library has copies of deed records for all counties, most to about 1900. See the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under MAINE, [COUNTY] - LAND AND PROPERTY.
Web Sites[edit | edit source]
- My Maine Genealogy gives good information about researching land records in Maine.
References[edit | edit source]
Maine Research Outline. Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1998, 2001.