Maine, Oxford County, Probate Estate Files - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains images of probate estate files located at the Oxford County Courthouse in South Paris. The collection is divided into three parts, pre 1820, 1822-1898, and 1900-1915. Most of the files are arranged by file drawer number then by name.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Probate records include petitions, inventories, accounts, decrees and other court documents.
 * Name of the testator or deceased
 * Names of the heirs, such as spouse, children, other relatives, and friends
 * Name of the executor, administrator, or guardian
 * Names of witnesses
 * Residence of the testator
 * Dates the documents were written and recorded (used to approximate event dates since a will was usually written near the time of death).

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the deceased
 * Other identifying information such as the place of residence, the approximate death or probate date

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?
When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Use probate records to identify heirs and relatives
 * You may be able to use the probate record to learn about adoptions or guardianship of any minor children and dependents
 * Use the document (such as the will) or the recording dates to approximate a death date
 * Use the information in the probate record to substitute for civil birth and death records since the probates exist for an earlier time period
 * You may be able to use the probate record to learn about land transactions
 * Use the birth date or age along with the residence or place of birth of the deceased to locate census, church, and land records
 * Use the occupations listed to find employment or military records
 * Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname as the deceased, this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have died in the same county or nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family or even the second marriage of a parent. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify

I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now?

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for nicknames and abbreviated names
 * Check for an index. There are often indexes at the beginning of each volume
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby counties

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of Maine.
 * Beginning Research in United States Probate Records
 * Maine Guided Research
 * Maine Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Probate estate records pre 1820-1915 and indexes 1820-1980
 * Probate dockets, 1820-1867
 * Probate records 1810-1885
 * Probate records 1805-1872 and indexes pre 1820
 * Probate records -- will books 1877-1916
 * Probate of wills and letters testamentary (Probate records vol. 1), 1836-1865
 * Deed books 1799-1835
 * Deeds, Eastern District, 1806-1957; index to deeds, 1805-1902

FamilySearch Digital Library

 * Thomas T. Stone. Sketches of Oxford County. reprint of 1830 ed. Rumford, Maine : Pennycook Press, 1975.

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.