Genealogy

Conducting Genealogy Research

Fairfield; Fairfield Center, Hinckley, Shawmut, Larone

Please email details to request an appointment to ensure there are no schedule conflicts with appointment availability, absentee voting/elections, or vacations. 

Note: The Town Clerk is unavailable during:  Jun 5-14, Oct 29 - Nov 8 (to facilitate elections), 9/10 (MTCCA), and 6/21,  6/28-7/7,  7/12, 8/5-8/9,  8/26-8/30, 9/20, 10/11, 11/27, 12/23 (scheduled vacation)

By Appointment; Fees apply to all requestors: Researching records takes significant time to complete and must be coordinated with the other obligations and schedule of the the Municipal Clerk's office. Municipal Clerks are prohibited from distributing Vital Record confirmation, content or information over the phone, or electronically. Requests may be made by mail (see requirements below). If wishing to obtain records in person; please make an appointment as these can take significant time and the Municipal Clerk must be available and present to process requests; you will be asked to email or mail a written search list in advance (responses will only be distributed by mail or in person). Please anticipate all requests will be facilitated as quickly as possible, but will typically take a number of days to complete (or post-election obligations if applicable).  

Birth/Marriage/Death records are available if the person resided in Fairfield at the time of the event, or if the event took place in Fairfield (example - child born at home, or death occurring in Fairfield). Records from present date back to 1788. Records before 1892 are not a complete listing as reporting at that time was optional. 

Fees for Search & Copies of Municipal Records:

- Genealogy search 1892-present: per each name, per category (B, M, D) requested: $5.00*
- Additional fee per each copy of a vital record stamped "Not for Legal Use" is $5.00*
- Example: If one name is searched & record is available - the fee = $10.00*

- The fee for the first copy of a certified record is $15.00
- Additional certified copies of the same record are $6.00
- Certified copy of a record; you will need to fill out a vital record application and show proper photo identification, as well as proof of lineage.

(Fee exception: Per M.R.S.A. Title 22, 2706: records prior to 1892 are open to the public without restriction and are subject to FOIA M.R.S.A. Title 1, 408 copy fee and $15/hr after 1st hour research)

Open records: Birth 75 yrs or older, Marriage 50 yrs or older, Death 25 yrs or older
Closed records: Photo identification and proof of lineage required; vital record application

• Full Name of Individual(s) - (First, Middle, Last)
  
• Date of Event (Month/Day/Year)
  
• Type of Event (Birth, Marriage, Death)
  
• Please include any: maiden/married names, alternative spellings, any known relatives connected to the record (parent, child, spouse) and dates of relation's events
  

CEMETERY & BURIAL RECORDS

Fairfield Public Works: (PublicWorks@Fairfield-Me.gov) maintains records for public cemeteries: Maplewood Cemetery and Tozier Cemetery only. 

The municipality maintains veteran graves in all cemeteries that the Town has been made aware of, in accordance with law. Cemetery Locations (click here). Memorial Day flag placement is facilitated by the Grover Hinckley American Legion Post 14 Auxiliary and can be reached at 453-2567. 

Ellis Cemetery, Good Will Cemetery, Nye's Corner Cemetery, Friends Cemetery, Covell Cemetery, Gage Cemetery, Bates Cemetery, Brooks Cemetery and Emery Hill Cemetery are privately owned cemeteries; access and records are not held or provided by the municipality. It is possible the listed organizations may be able to assist individuals in searches. 

Friends Cemetery Sexton: Ronald Fenlason, Tel:  453-7130

Helpful hints

• Prior to 1892, towns were not required to file records of birth, marriage and death. Some towns have records before 1892, but these are not a complete recording of events.
• Unsure where the event took place? Begin by contacting the State of Maine Office of Vital Records. They maintain copies of records from every town and city in Maine. You can reach that office at (207) 287-3184.
• Be sure to check family bibles, city directories, obituaries, old maps, old photographs, town history books and old newspapers for information.
• State Archives keeps a list of professional genealogists who will provide research for a fee.

List of Agencies & Organizations for Genealogy Research

1. Lawrence Public Library, 33 Lawrence Ave, Fairfield, Phone 453-6867
2. Fairfield Historical Society, 42 High St, Fairfield, Phone 453-2998
3. Oakland, Me Historical Society
4. Waterville, Me Genealogy
5. Kennebec Historical Society
6. Somerset County Register of Probate, High St, Skowhegan, Phone 474-3322
7. Somerset County Register of Deeds, High St, Skowhegan, Phone 474-3421
8. Maine State Archives, 84 State House Station, Augusta, Phone 287-5788
9. Maine State Historical Society, 485 Congress St, Portland, http://www.mainehistory.org/
   
10. State of Maine Office of Vital Records, 211 State St, Augusta, Phone 888-664-9491
11. Maine Genealogy Society
12. Maine Old Cemetery Association
13. National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Phone 879-3229
14. New England Historic Genealogy Society of Boston, (617) 536-5740
    
15. American-Canadian Genealogical Society, PO Box 6478, Manchester NH 03108
16. Military Records, Old Census Records, Ship's Passenger Lists, etc., http://www.nara.gov/
17. Mormon Church Records, http://www.familysearch.org/
18. Biddeford Franco American Genealogy Society, Phone 284-4167
19. Historical Newspapers