Maine Genealogy

Welcome to Canton, Oxford County, Maine

Maine was a part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts until it became an independent state in 1820. On February 5th 1821, the new Maine State Legislature passed an act to divide more than 1/3 of the Town of Jay, and incorporate the westerly section thereof, into a town by the name of Canton. (Named after the town of Canton, MA) This act was signed by the first Governor of Maine, William King. Also a portion of Canton Village came from the town of Hartford.

From the readings, I take it that some of the people who lived alone the town line, now found themselves in a new town and didn't like the idea. Thus the Canton borders with Jay changed several times soon after the incorporation. On 27 Jan 1823, several lots alone the line at Canton Mountain was annexed back to Jay. This action was repealed on 3 Feb 1824 and at the Canton town meeting of 28 Feb 1824, this land was again annexed back to the town of Jay. On 3 Apr 1831, additional land was annexed back to Jay.

The first town meeting at Canton was held at the Canton Point School on March 28th 1821. John Hersey was elected as the moderator. Dr. Cornelius Holland was elected as the first town clerk, and Joel Howard, as the first treasurer. The selectman were Joseph Holland, Abiathar Austin, and Joseph Coolidge.

Canton Point was the center of town at this time, and Canton Village was than known as Hayford Mills. Gustavus Hayford was the first settler in the Village. He moved here from Hartford in 1814, built the first log cabin, first house , first saw mill and the first gristmill there. The Village later became known as Canton Mills until the Post Office came, then it was called Canton. There was also a small settlement up on Canton Mountain.

Most genealogy data for Canton prior to 1821, will be found in the Jay vital records.

1. Alden
2. Alden Farm
3. Alden Hill, located on the Alden Hill Road.
4. Ames, located on the Jones Road.
5. Canton Mt., located on Canton Mt.
6. Canton Point/Hillside, located off the Dixfield Road & Rt. 140.
7. Hines/Adkins, located on the Poland/Jones Road.
8. Ludden, located off the Canton Point Road in the woods.
9. Meadow View, located on the Meadow View Road.
10. North Canton, located on Canton Mt.
11. Pine Grove, located on Rt. 108.
12. Simmons Family, located on the Meadow View Road.
13. Staples Hill, located on Staples Hill.
14. Whitney, located off the Canton Point Road.

I Need Canton Resources and Lookup Volunteers

If you have any reference material on Canton and would like to volunteer to do lookup's,
or have any info that you'd like to see added to this page, please let me know.Craig E. Bryant

Canton Links

If you know of any links that would be appropriate to add to this page,
please e-mail me Craig E. Bryant

• Another Canton Home Page by Ken Butcher
  Where you can find additional information about the local town government.
• Welcome to Bethel, Maine Home Page.
  
• Welcome to the Dixfield Historical Society, Dixfield, Maine
  
• Welcome to Peru, Maine Home Page.
  
• Welcome to Rumford, Maine Home Page.
• Welcome to the Weld, Maine Home Page

Early Canton Families

The following are the Surnames of the first settlers of Canton in 1821

Alden, Austin, Bacon, Bean, Bennett, Benson, Brackett, Brett, Brown, Bryant, Capen, Carver, Carey, Child, Childs, Conant, Coolidge, Dyke, Eastman, Ellis, Farrington, French, Fuller, Gibbs, Hannaford, Harlow, Hathaway, Hawkins, Hayford, Hill, Hinkley, Holland, Howard, Huntress, Jewett, Leach, Ludden, McCollister, Parsons, Peabody, Peterson,Reynolds, Robertson, Shackley, Stevens, Strout, Thomas, Thorn, Treat, Turner, Wilson and Wood.

Good hunting and remember, I have not been able to find sources for some of the genealogy data within, thus the information should be questionable, until you have verified it yourself.

Surname Index

Canton Queries

1. On the subject line please enter Canton Query.
   
2. On the first line of your message, please enter the date, your e-mail address, and your full name.
   
3. Please limit your request to 1 or 2 surnames for each Query.
   
4. Enter your query as you want it to appear.
   
5. Don't forget to thank your volunteer for their time and effort.

Current Canton Queries

October 7th 2006
I am trying to find information on the parents Harriet S. Jones, 7/01/1893, born in Canton, who married Ray Glenwood Ricker, 1889 in Portland. I believe their names to be Wilbur Chandler Jones, b. 1867, and Mary Eliza Stowell. Any help or leads would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Rick Sawyer

Oxford County Towns Oxford County Genealogy Project
Maine Genealogy Project USGenWeb Project