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Washington County, Maine
Societies and Family History Resources ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣ County Genealogy Links
Washington County was founded on June 25, 1789 from part of Lincoln County (originally Washington County, Massachusetts). This county was named in honor of George Washington, the first President of the United States.
The Washington County Seat is situated in Machias and the county government website is http://www.washingtoncountymaine.com/
Locations adjacent to Washington County happen to be Hancock County, Aroostook County, Penobscot County, York County, New Brunswick, Canada , Charlotte County, New Brunswick, Canada.
Cities and towns found in Washington County include Addison, Alexander, Baileyville, Beals, Beddington, Calais, Charlotte, Cherryfield, Columbia, Columbia Falls, Cooper, Crawford, Cutler, Danforth, Deblois, Dennysville, East Machias, Eastport, Grand Lake Stream, Harrington, Passamaquoddy Indian Township Reservation, Jonesboro, Jonesport, Lubec, Machias, Machiasport, Marshfield, Meddybemps, Milbridge, Northfield, Pembroke, Perry, Passamaquoddy Pleasant Point Reservation, Princeton, Robbinston, Roque Bluffs, Steuben, Talmadge, Topsfield, Vanceboro, Waite, Wesley, Whiting, Whitneyville.
Washington County has Federal Census Schedules to aid in exploring your family tree. Government Population Schedules can be found for 1790-1890, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.
Washington Co. Washington Co. Mortality Schedules can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Washington Co. Industry and Agriculture Schedules can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Washington Co. Union Veterans Schedules is available for 1890. You can find free online and printable census forms to aid with your research.
Washington County Society and Family History Resources
A list of Washington County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives.
- Maine State Genealogy Network
- Washington County, Maine Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com)
- Washington County, Maine Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
- State Archive Collections, 1790-1966 (familysearch.org) Collections from the Maine State Archives consisting of court, military, naturalization, land and other record sets. This collection is being published as images become available.
- USGenWeb Archives for Washington County
Washington County Courthouse and Government Records
Genealogist typically overlook the significance of Washington County court, probate, and land files as a resource of genealogical information and facts. Buried away in Maine courthouses and archives everywhere tend to be the dreams and frustrations of many Maine inhabitants. The odds are great that your chosen forefathers have left a in-depth document of at least a number of facets of their lives in the Washington County court records. Even if your ancestors is not discussed in a Court case, take into account all of the other procedures that could have lead to him or her appearing in court records.
The following specifics shows whatever birth, death, marriage, property, probate, and court records are usually in Washington County. The years pointed out below are the first known records with this county.
- Washington County Courthouse, 47 Court St, Machias, ME 04654
- Phone: (207) 255-3127
- Washington County Registry of Deeds is the place where all transactions of a Real Property nature are recorded so that the public is made aware of their existence. Deeds, mortgages, tax liens, water liens, declaration of homestead and many other kinds of documents regarding the title and ownership of real estate are noted permanently in official records.
- Land Records: 1783
- Washington County Clerk of Probate Court has has had several relating definitions over the years: the Widows and Orphans Court; the Poor Court; and the Court of Protection. All of these terms fit the description of the Probate Court.The Probate Court carries out the following procedures: Adoptions, Guardianship of Minors, Guardianships, Conservatorships, Change of Names, Estates, Trusts and Beginning Sept. 18, 1999 – Support of Enforcement.
- Probate Records: 1783
- Washington County Town Clerks has copies of vital records (birth, marriage, divorce and death records). Clerks respond to inquiries regarding vital records, since most have indexes available. Some of the Clerks records have been transfered to the Maine State Archives.
- Maine Office of Vital Records has copies of birth, marriage, divorce and death records. There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in Maine for current fees and application process. Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events.
- Ordering Vital Records – You can also order Order Electronically Online or You can download an application for Maine Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Divorce Certificate, Death Certificate Applications to mail.
Washington County Links
The following are web links to Family history and genealogy, Records and Resources relating to Washington County. Most of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Business Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some require a fee. This is just a list that has been collected or submitted. I do not endorse or promote one genealogy site above another. Feel free to present your own most popular Washington County genealogy or family history affiliated sites.
Washington Co. ME Books, Newspapers & Publications
- Maine Newspapers Books & Publications Research Guide
- Maine historical newspaper archives online (newspapers.com)
- Historical Newspapers from Maine (1785–1945)
- Washington County, Maine Books
- Search Maine Obituaries (1985 to current)
- Washington County Genealogy Books
Washington Co. ME Birth, Marriage & Death Records
Washington Co. ME Court, Probate Land and Tax Records
- Maine Court Records Research Guide
- WashingtonCounty Courthouse Records, 1785-1950 (familysearch.org) Records from the WashingtonCounty Courthouse including revolutionary war, probate and census records. Indexes to these records are included.
- Maine Court Records, 1696-1854
- Maine Will Abstracts, 1640-1760
- Maine, County Probate Records, 1760-1979 (familysearch.org) Images of county probate books. The record content and time period varies by county.
- BLM Land Records
Washington Co. ME Census Records
- Maine Census Records Research Guide
- Washington County, ME Census Records
- Maine Census, 1800-90 (search.ancestry.com) This collection contains the following indexes: 1800 Federal Census Index; 1810 Federal Census Index; 1820 Federal Census Index; 1830 Federal Census Index; 1840 Federal Census Index; 1840 Pensioners List; 1850 Federal Census Index; 1860 Federal Census Index; 1870 Federal Census Index; 1890 Veterans Schedules; Early Census Index.
- Census QuickFacts for Washington County, ME
Washington Co. ME Church & Cemeteries
- Maine Church & Cemetery Research Guide
- Washington Co., Maine Graves
- Washington County Tombstone Transcription Project
- Washington Co., Maine Cemeteries
- Topographic Cemetery List and Map for Washington County, Maine
- Washington Co., Maine Cemetery Books
- Topographic Church List and Map for Washington County, Maine
- Washington County, Maine Church Books
Washington Co. ME Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
Washington Co. ME General and History Websites
- See Also State History for Maine
- Washington County, Maine Wikipedia
- Narrative of the town of Machias
- Eastport and Passamaquoddy
- The story of a down east plantation : facts and fancies about the Pine Tree State
- Early Princeton, Maine
- Memorial of the centennial anniversary of the settlement of Machias
- Washington County, Maine Wiki
- Washington Co. ME Genealogy
- Family History Library
- Washington County, Maine
- Cyndi’s List – United States – Maine – Counties – Washington
- Washington Co. MEGenweb
- Washington County Genealogy Queries
- Washington Co. Data Collections
Washington Co. ME Immigration & Naturalization
- County Naturalization Records, 1800-1990 (familysearch.org) Naturalization records and digitized indexes.
Washington Co. ME Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
Washington Co. ME Military Records
- Maine Military Records Research Guide
- Maine, Veterans Cemetery Records, 1676-1918 (familysearch.org) Card file of veteran cemetery records located at the Maine State Archives. Cards are arranged by war then alphabetical by surname. The index cards may contain dates of birth, death and place of death and burial. The Index covers King Philip’s War through World War I.
- Maine Military Records gives you easy access to military records, stories, photos, and personal documents belonging to the Maine men and women which served. Perfect for Washington County genealogists, researchers, historians and more.
Washington Co. ME Schools & Directories
- Maine City Directories (search.ancestry.com) This database is a collection of city directories for various years and cities in Maine. Generally a city directory will contain an alphabetical list of its citizens, listing the names of the heads of households, their addresses, and occupational information. Sometimes the wife’s name will be listed in parentheses or italics following the husband’s. Often, dates of deaths of individuals listed in the previous year’s directory are listed as well as the names of partners of firms, and when possible, the forwarding addresses or post offices of people who moved to another town. In addition to the alphabetical portion, a city directory may also contain a business directory, street directory, governmental directory, and listings of town officers, schools, societies, churches, post offices, and other miscellaneous matters of general and local interest.
- The Maine register and business directory for the year 1856