The Maine Genealogical Society (MGS) has an extremely active publishing program. A membership newsletter is published quarterly, as is The Maine Genealogist, our scholarly journal. Both are sent to members as soon as available. In addition, the Society has a published a collection of more than 90 Special Publications over the last several years. We are very proud of our publications program and believe them to be a significant contribution to the study of Maine genealogy and history. More information on our major series can be found below.
A complete listing of Vital Records publications is available below in our Online Store, and in the MGS Booklist with a mail-order form. Books are shipped via USPS (Post Office).
Listing of all Maine Genealogical Society Publications published from 1985 through June 2022: MGS Special Publications List.
Our Vital Records series includes data from early town records as transcribed from images of original documents. Births, Deaths, and Marriages are just some of the records that have been transcribed as part of this collection. Also included in some books are early church records, warnings out, cattle marks, town meeting information and disputes between neighbors. There is a wealth of information in town vital records and we're extremely proud to be able to share this information with the masses. As with the Maine Families series, Vital Records books are transcribed by volunteers willing to share their time and passion for Maine genealogical research with others.
Click Here for a list of the most common surnames found in our Vital Records collection.
A complete listing of Vital Records publications is available below in our online store, and in the MGS Booklist
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MGS Special Publication #72
Compiled By: Marlene A. Groves Pages: 381 ISBN: 978-0-9965698-0-4 Original Publication Year: 2015 Every Name Index: 8,247 entries
Non-Member Price: $35 Member Price: $25
About The Book: The town of Newcastle is located in Lincoln County on the peninsula between the Sheepscot and Damariscotta Rivers. The town was originally called Sheepscot Plantation and settled in 1630 by fishermen. The town was attacked and destroyed in 1676 during the King Philip’s War but many residents returned when the War ended. During another French and Indian War in 1688, the town was again destroyed with residents not returning for about 30 years. The name of the town was changed to Newcastle in 1730 and incorporated on 23 August 1775 as the 30th town in Maine. The population of the town increased from the first census in 1790 when there were 787 residents to its high point in 1850 when there were 2,012 residents. After that, it dropped each year to a low point in 1930 of 914, rising in 1940 to 994 residents.
The vital records for the town of Newcastle have been transcribed for this book from the microfilms located in the Maine State Archives as digitized on two CDs available from Picton Press. Also included are Delayed Records of Births and Marriage Intentions which were transcribed from two original volumes located in the Newcastle town office, neither of which have been microfilmed. The quality of the microfilmed records is quite good with only a few pages having sections either too faint or too dark to read but were found to be more readable in the original record volumes found in the Newcastle town office.
Our Vital Records series includes data from early town records as transcribed from images of original documents. Births, Deaths, and Marriages are just some of the records that have been transcribed as part of this collection. Also included in some books are early church records, warnings out, cattle marks, town meeting information and disputes between neighbors. There is a wealth of information in town vital records and we're extremely proud to be able to share this information with the masses.