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Researching Your Genealogy

Today, resources for mapping your family genealogy abound: your own memorabilia and memories; online resources; library resources; and specialized genealogical and historical societies. 

Getting Started

  • Talk to your family; document family vital records and remembrances;
  • Look at family albums with family members, note who is in the photos, dates, and context, if possible;
  • Search free sites for vital records, news items, obituaries, relationships:
    • Digital Maine Library for access to free library editions of Ancestry.com, which include census records, cemetery records, and vital records;
    • Maine State Archives Genealogy Page;
    • Family Search — an account is free and includes access to Downeast Ancestry, a periodical published from 1977-1993 focused on Maine genealogy;
    • Genealogy.com;
    • Cyndi’s List;
    • Local library databases of archival newspapers, many of which. like Lincoln County News, are made possible digitally by Advantage Preservation; some like “Newspaper Archive”, which is available at Bath’s Patten Library, require a library visit to search them, but others are accessible online directly from library websites like Bath Daily Times; and some library databases require a login with your library card;
    • Find a Grave:
    • Municipal records for vital records information and community involvement;
    • Digital Maine or other States’ Digital Archives;
    • Immigration Records;
    • Historical Society Digital Databases (e.g., Maine Memory Network); and
    • Visit — or search digital databases — of local historical societies where ancestors lived for any compiled history and photographs.

To View Westport Island Records:

  • “Family Records of Westport, Maine”, Bea Harriman (Westport, ME 1970), is available at the Maine State Library, the New England Historical Genealogical Society, the Wiscasset, ME Library, and the Westport Island History Center (fowih.org)
  • For  Westport Island town records (town clerk record books, some old vital records, property valuation records, annual town reports, etc.), visit the Digital Repository for Westport Island
  • For property transfers and deeds, visit the Lincoln County Registry of Deeds to search as a guest;
  • For probate records, visit Maine Probate and select “Lincoln County”;
  • Westport Island on Maine Memory Network;
  • Visit the Westport Island History Center to view history publications, photos, and relevant collections.

Genealogy