MEKENNEB-L Archives

Archiver > MEKENNEB > 2006-09 > 1158242831


From: "Jerry & Janice Gower" <>
Subject: Re: [MEKENNEB] Smith family in Kennebec County
Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2006 10:07:11 -0400
References: <003301c6d7b0$ca9adb00$6401a8c0@VAIO>


Ed:
In Maine, land records are county records. Rsearching land records in
Kennebec Co is relatively easy, as deeds executed in Lincoln Co 1760-1798
which pertain to land in what became Ken Co were recopied into several
volumes available at the Ken Co Registry of Deeds. (The Registry is not in
the court house, but rather in a commercial building on Weston St, near the
corner of State St and a couple blocks from the court house. I believe the
address is 1 Weston Court.) Thus, for early deeds one likely will need to
consult 2 sets of records, those of Lin Co at Ken Co Registry and those for
Ken Co, per se. Bear in mind also that some of the land in this area was
initially owned by proprietors, such as The Plymouth Company, and the
initial land conveyance thus in the form of a grant from the proprietors.
These grants are in volumes separate from the deeds, one set for Lin Co
grants and another set of Ken Co grants. These also are at the Registry and
found on the same set of shelves as the Ken Co deed indexes.
Further bear in mind that Waterville was a part of Winslow until 1807
and Sidney was a part of Vassalboro until 1792.
As you indicate your Smith ancestors were in Maine prior to 1790, let me
mention that the Maine Genealogical Society has a project which aims to
document every family enumerated in Maine in the 1790 federal census. To
date, 9 vols have been published documenting nearly 2,500 of the 17,000
families in that census. Vol 10 is currently in preparation, and we would
be most pleased to include a sketch on your Smith ancestor(s) when you
conclude your research. (My husband has written up Manuel Smith of Winslow
for vol 10, and is curious whether your line is from Eliab Smith of Winslow,
or were your Smiths still in Hallowell in 1790?)
The vital records for Hallowell, Winslow and Vassalboro have been
published and a typescript exists of the Sidney VRs. These may be found at
the State Library in Augusta, as well as other places. One such place is
the library of the Taconnett Branch of MGS at 10 Lithgow St in Winslow, just
across the river from Waterville. That is open Wed & Sat afternoons, and
contains both published and unpublished records of the area. The original
towns vital records may also be viewed on microfilms at the State Archives.
Existing VRs of Waterville only begin in the 1820s, the prior records
evidently being lost.
Finally, lst me mention that MGS has a conference scheduled in Portland
for 14 Oct. Should that coincide wit your travel, we would welcome your
attendance. Among the topics which will be presented is one on deed
research to be given by Joe Anderson of Dallas, TX, the editor of The Maine
Families in 1790 series. For more info on the conference, visit our website
at: www.maineroots.org

Sincerely,
Janice Gower
Membership Secretary, MGS


This thread: