Genealogy

Who Do You Think You Are?

Would you like to start researching your family history and building a family tree, but are not sure where to begin?  Starting your family tree all begins with questions: what is a family tree? Who is in my family tree? From there, it's research, research, and more research! This can often be the most time consuming, but most rewarding element of building your own family tree. It can be difficult to find all the records of ancestors you need, but that’s where we can help! 

 Our collection of local family trees, vital statistics, obituaries and cemetery records will help you put the leaves on your tree.  Get your children and grandchildren involved in family history research too!  Children are truly the future, so it's important to educate them about your own family history, so they can continue to carry on the tradition and family tree for generations to come. 

 Already completed your tree?  Bring us a copy and we will add it to our collection.  Who knows?  You might find a few more branches with colorful leaves to add to your unique tree.

 Online Resources

• House/property history -- several links to help search for your home's history, prior owners, deeds, maps, etc: https://www.homeadvisor.com/r/a-guide-to-researching-the-history-of-a-house/

• History of Ellis Island-- history and significance of Ellis Island, how to read passenger arrival records, it's importance to genealogy and ancestry research, etc. : https://www.yourlawyer.com/library/new-york-city-history-ellis-island/

Our library includes, but not limited to, the following:

• Acton Town Vital Records - Late 1800-1950

  • Birth Records

  • Marriage Records

  • Death Records

• Acton Town Reports

  • 1871 through Present

•  Shapleigh Town Reports

• • 1865 through Present

• Early Families of Shapleigh & Acton - Fred Boyle 2002

• Early Families of Sanford & Springvale - Fred Boyle 1989

• Later Families of Sanford & Springvale - Fred Boyle 1995

• Early Families of Waterborough - Fred Boyle 2012

• Maine Genealogy, Volumes 1-4 - 1909

• History of Acton - John Fullonton 1847

• History of Acton - 1980

• Shapleigh Earliest Settlements in the 18th & 19th Century - 1969

  • Cemetery Records

  • Maple Grove Cemetery in Acton

  • Acton Corner Cemetery

  • Highland Grove Cemetery in North Shapleigh

  • Shapleigh Community Cemetery

  • Ross Corner Cemetery

  • Emery Mills Cemetery

  • Many Private Family Cemeteries

• Local Family Records - to name just few

  • Sanborn

  • Meigs & Smith

  • Muchmore

  • Webber

  • Ridley

  • Trafton

  • Goodwin

  • Dunnells

  • Patch

  • Jellison

  • Chick

  • Bridges

  • Nason

  • Shapleigh

  • Wentworth

  • Ham

• Early Obituaries, Scrapbooks and Photographs

• Pine Cones and Forget Me Nots