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Hancock County, Maine

Societies and Family History Resources ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣ County Genealogy Links

Hancock County was founded on June 25, 1789 from part of Lincoln County (originally Hancock County, Massachusetts). This county was named in honor of John Hancock (1737–1793), the Founding Father and president of the convention that produced the United States Declaration of Independence..

The Hancock County Seat is situated in Ellsworth and the county government website is http://www.co.hancock.me.us/

Locations adjacent to Hancock County happen to be Penobscot County, Washington County, Waldo County.

Cities and towns found in Hancock County include Amherst, Aurora, Bar Harbor, Blue Hill, Brooklin, Brooksville, Bucksport, Castine, Cranberry Isles, Dedham, Deer Isle, Eastbrook, Ellsworth, Franklin, Frenchboro, Gouldsboro, Great Pond, Hancock, Lamoine, Mariaville, Mount Desert, Orland, Osborn, Otis, Penobscot, Prospect Harbor, Sedgwick, Sorrento, Southwest Harbor, Stonington, Sullivan, Surry, Swan%27s Island, Tremont, Trenton, Verona Island, Waltham, Winter Harbor.

Hancock 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.

Hancock Co. Hancock Co. Mortality Schedules can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Hancock Co. Industry and Agriculture Schedules can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Hancock Co. Union Veterans Schedules is available for 1890. You can find free online and printable census forms to aid with your research.

Hancock County Society and Family History Resources

A list of Hancock County Historical  and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives.

Hancock County Courthouse and Government Records

Genealogist typically overlook the significance of Hancock 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 Hancock 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.

Remember to get in touch with the clerk’s department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or seeking information because of sometimes changing contact information. The Department Offices DO NOT DO RESEARCH. The records are readily available to interested parties, barring private issues. A lot of employees will guide persons in locating the resources, however it’s up to the particular person to complete the researching.

The following specifics shows whatever birth, death, marriage, property, probate, and court records are usually in Hancock County. The years pointed out below are the first known records with this county.

  • Hancock County Courthouse, 50 State St, Ellsworth, ME 04605
  • Phone: (207) 667-7176
  • Hancock 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: 1790
  • Hancock 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: 1790
  • Hancock 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.

Hancock County Links

The following are web links to Family history and genealogy, Records and Resources relating to Hancock 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 Hancock County genealogy or family history affiliated sites.

Hancock Co. ME Books, Newspapers & Publications

Hancock Co. ME Birth, Marriage & Death Records

Hancock Co. ME Court, Probate Land and Tax Records

Hancock Co. ME Census Records

Hancock Co. ME Church & Cemeteries

Hancock Co. ME Family Websites, Pictures & Histories

Hancock Co. ME General and History Websites

Hancock Co. ME Immigration & Naturalization

Hancock Co. ME Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

Hancock 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 Hancock County genealogists, researchers, historians and more.

Hancock 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