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Maine Research Tips and Strategies

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Purpose of Research Tips and Strategies Wiki Page

The Maine Research Tips and Strategies page consists of links to specific research strategies for Maine. It also contains general tips and other resources for finding your ancestors in this locality.

Maine Research Strategies

Below are links to different research strategy pages to help you locate your ancestors in Maine

Finding Maine Birth, Marriage or Death Records

Finding Maine Records

Maine Statewide Databases

Maine Research Process

Maine Research Tips

These tips will help you as you research your ancestors in Maine:

Birth and Death information:

  • Statewide registration: The state began registering births and deaths in 1919, with full compliance by 1928.
  • Local regististration: Some cities recorded birth and death records as early as 1887, although registration was inconsistent.
  • Access to records: See Maine Vital Records for more information about birth, marriages, and deaths in Maine.


Substitute Records:

  • Secondary source: Substitute records are used when primary sources do not exist for an event, such as birth, marriage, and deaths. Secondary sources list information about the event but they were not recorded at the time of the event and they are not an official record of the event.
  • Accuracy: Because the information about an event in substitute records was not the official recording of the event (such as, cemetery or obituary records) inaccuracy may occur. Use other substitute records to help varify information.
  • List of substitute records: See Maine Substitute Records for more information.


Finding Parents:

  • Death records: Death records created by the state starting in 1919 required information on parents of the deceased. Information was not always provided and the accuracy of the information was limited by the grieving relatives' memory.
  • Obituaries: Official obituaries can also include the names of parents and other family members. See Maine Newspapers and Maine Obituaries for more information.
  • Church records: Knowing the denominiation of the church the family belonged to helps in locating information about the parents. See Maine Church Records for more information.


Census Records:

  • Check all census years: Always look for your ancestor in every possible census to learn more about them and their family members. See Maine Census Records for more information.
  • Clues to other records: There are clues in censuses regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records.
  • Finding families: Starting in 1850, all members of the household were listed in the census. By 1880, relationship to the head of household was added.
  • Birth information: Statewide registration of births began in 1892. A helpful substitute record to find birth information is a death record. However, date and place of birth on a death record is considered secondary information, as it was not recorded at the time of the birth event. The birth information should be corroborated with other substitute records to improve accuracy.
  • Finding Parents: Statewide registration of deaths began in 1892. They often will list the parents of the deceased and their birth information. Search Maine death records.
  • Look in all censuses: Always look for your ancestor in every possible census. There are clues regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records. Sometimes parents can be found living with their children later in life. To search the 1790, 1800, or 1810 census, substitute Massachusetts for Maine. Search U.S. Censuses.

Further Maine Research

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