Otis, Hancock County, Maine Genealogy

Description
Otis, Maine at Wikipedia

In 1805, Isaac Frazier and Nathaniel M. Jellison from Union River Plantation, now a part of Ellsworth, and James Gilpatrick, Allen Milliken, from Thorndike (the land now called Trenton) felt the call to explore inland and moved to Otis.

Over the next 28 to 30 years, more and more people moved into the area. Some were drawn by the lumbering business, others were drawn to the land and built farms and supported themselves off the land. A close-knit community was developed. The settlement was named Plantation 8 by the government and included the towns that are now called Dedham and Otis.

Populated Places
Includes Neighborhoods, Villages, Unincorporated Communities, Districts, and Census-Designated Places:

Town Records
In New England most original vital records of birth, marriage, and death can be found at the town clerk's office

Otis Town Clerk
Town of Otis Town Clerk 132 Otis Road Otis, ME 04605 Phone: (207)537-2211 Otis Website

Births

 * 1670-1921 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1739-1900 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1809-1875 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1835-1956 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Marriages

 * 1670-1921 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1759-1777 Lincoln County, ME: Commissioners Marriage Records, 1759-1777 at American Ancestors — index ($), includes counties: Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, and Washington.
 * 1771-1907 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1835-1956 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Deaths

 * 1670-1921 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1835-1956 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1841-1910 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1960-1996 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Resources
For more County and State resources see:

Cemeteries

 * Otis Cemeteries List at FindAGrave
 * at FamilySearch Catalog
 * Hancock County Cemeteries at FamilySearch Places

Church Records
Historically, the largest religious groups in Maine were the Congregational, Baptist, Roman Catholic, and Methodist churches. For general information about Maine denominations, view the Maine Church Records wiki page. To see the churches in Otis, visit FamilySearch Places. Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. The following are church records available online for the town of Otis:
 * 1734-1907 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1735-2006 (*) Allen County Public Library at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
 * Maine Church Records

City Directories

 * Various Dates U.S. City Directories, 1860-1960 at MyHeritage - index & images ($) some towns and years may be missing

Land Records
The following are online land records for the town of Otis:
 * 1763-1932 (*) by Dr. Benjamin Lake Noyes at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
 * 1789-1850 (*) Register of Deeds at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
 * 1791-1864 (*) Register of Deeds at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
 * 1807-1830 (*) Massachusetts. Agents for the Sale of Eastern Lands at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
 * 1824-1861 (*) Manuscript on Film; Maine Land Office at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1824-1964 (*) Manuscript on Digital Images; Maine State Archives at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
 * 1825-1874 (*) Maine Land Agent; Maine State Archives at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1832-1853 (*) Maine Land Agent at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1835-1838 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1841-1884 (*) Maine Land Agent; Maine State Archives at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
 * 1861-1900 (*) Register of Deeds at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
 * 1931-1944 (*) compiled by Genealogical Society from Dr. Benjamin Lake Noyes newspaper collection at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
 * Maine Land and Property

Maps
This selection incudes town, county, state, and historical maps
 * Boundary Map of Otis at HomeTownLocator
 * McConnell's Historical Maps of the United States at Library of Congress
 * Old Maps of Maine at Old-Maps.com
 * Otis at FamilySearch Places
 * Otis at Google Maps
 * Otis at Maine.gov
 * Otis at Mapcarta
 * Maine Maps State Page

Military
Some Records are Searchable by Town

Revolutionary War, 1775-1783
For more Revolutionary War Military Records see:
 * Maine Military Records - Revolutionary War, 1775-1783
 * United States Military Records - Revolutionary War, 1775-1783

Civil War, 1861-1865
For more Civil War Military Records see:
 * Maine Military Records - Civil War, 1861-1865
 * United States Military Records - Civil War, 1861-1865

World War I, 1917-1918
For more World War I Military Records see:
 * Maine Military Records - World War I, 1917-1918
 * United States Military Records - World War I, 1917-1918

World War II, 1941-1945
For more World War II Military Records see:
 * Maine Military Records - World War II, 1941-1945
 * United States Military Records - World War II, 1941-1945

Newspapers

 * 1784-2023 York County, Maine Newspaper Archive at York Public Library - index & images

Other Town Records
In Maine, most records are kept at the town level and generally began being kept at the founding of the town. These records may include the following: The following are Otis town records available online:


 * 1835-1956 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Probate Records
In Maine, most probate records are kept at the town level. The following are online probate records for the town of Otis:
 * 1584-1999 Maine, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1584-1999 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
 * 1640-1760 (*) Compiled and Edited with Notes by William M. Sargent at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1760-1979 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
 * Maine Probate Records

FamilySearch Centers & Affiliate Libraries

 * Bangor Maine FamilySearch Center
 * Ellsworth Maine FamilySearch Center
 * Machias Maine FamilySearch Center
 * Rockland Maine FamilySearch Center
 * Waterville Maine FamilySearch Center
 * Camden Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Maine State Library - an affiliate library