Good news for historical research of Oxford County. Property deeds registered in the Fryeburg Registry from the first deed registered are now online (as of December 2017).

There are two databases: deeds 1985 to present, deeds June 20, 1799 to 1985. Why June 20, 1799 when Oxford County wasn’t formed until 1805? By a Massachusetts Law because travel to Alfred was onerous from Western Maine. You will also find deeds earlier than June 20, 1799 because some deeds were written earlier but not recorded until later, sometimes years later.

For early deeds of western Maine

Go to
https://www.oxfordcounty.org/deeds-west.php

Log in as a guest.

Click the button Infodex
https://www.searchiqs.com/meoxw/InfodexMainMP.aspx

Use the online database the same way you would use the printed volumes, that is, look up the desired name in an index volume. What you see online is a scan of the printed index. Find a name and the Book and Page number. Click Go to Document, type the Book and Page number.

You can print Indexes and Pages for free on your home printer. At the Registry you can print Indexes for free but will be charged $1.00 for each downloaded document (might be several pages in one document.)

Tips

Deeds will sort by name in the order they were recorded, earliest to latest. If there are a lot you will have to page forward.

If you click Go to Page before clicking on Go to Document, the choices of volumes are alphabetical A-Z, not numerical. Save time by clicking on Go to Document first.

There is a Help button and a contact button – we don’t know how useful they are.

The phone number for the Registry in Fryeburg is 935-2565. Jennifer will be happy to help you.

Start searching!

Thank you to Sally Williams Curator of Hiram Historical Society for sharing this information