Preserving Falmouth's Heritage The Falmouth Historical Society 





Research - Falmouth Historical Maps

Here are links to maps that are helpful when researching the history of families or property in Falmouth.  We provide links to digital copies hosted by major institutions because most of the maps are enormous.  The full resolution digital maps are so large and in special formats that downloading and processing the entire map is impractical for many.  Most researchers are interested in only a portion of the map.  We suggest displaying the map in full screen mode and zooming in to obtain the most detail with the best clarity.  Capture the displayed image by taking a "screen shot" for processing by any photo editing software.


A presentation given at Falmouth Memorial Library offers a guided tour to these maps:


 
  Maps

 

Willis Map of Ancient Falmouth from 1630 to 1690



Willis, William (1834),  Pendleton's Lithography, Boston

Osher Map Library - Osher Atlas Collection


This map is a companion to Willis' History of Portland.  It portrays English settlement of Ancient Falmouth prior to 1690.


 Willis Map of Ancient Falmouth


Proprietors Map of 1732 



The Falmouth Proprietors (ca. 1732), Portland

Osher Map Library - Sheet Map Collection - Maps at Falmouth Memorial Library


Scroll down to bottom of page and select map at left.


This map is a companion to the Records of the Proprietors (three bound volumes and three small paper books) at the Cumberland County Registry of Deeds.  The map portrays lots in the northern portion of Ancient Falmouth.  It is the only detailed, contemporary map for the period.  It is the vital "Rosetta stone" for making sense of early deeds.  The map was expertly imaged but not digitally enhanced by Osher.  Use of photo editing software will improve legibility.  For more information, see 

FHS Presents-The Proprietors Map.

 Falmouth Proprietors Map of 1732

 


York, Cumberland and Lincoln Counties of colonial Massachusetts - 1761



Small, John (1761)

Osher Map Library


This map shows the bounds of Ancient Falmouth from 1658 until 1765 when Cape Elizabeth became the first parish to split off into a separate town.



 York, Cumberland and Lincoln Counties
 

Part of Oxford and Cumberland counties - 1771



Greenleaf, S., Captain (1771)

Library of Congress


This map is a handy reference showing town names and approximate boundaries one the eve of the Revolution.

 Part of Oxford and Cumberland Counties - 1771
 

Falmouth Harbour ca 1775


Des Barres, Joseph F. W. (ca. 1775), London
Library of Congress


This is a nautical chart.  The coastline and navigable waterways should be fairly accurate.  Roads and other land features may be approximations.

 Falmouth Harbour ca 1774

 

Falmouth Neck 1775


Willis, W. (1850), Portland

Maine Memory Network - Map at Maine Historical Society


This map shows Falmouth Neck (today's Portland Peninsula) just before it was burned by the British in October 1775.  This was the governmental and commercial center of Ancient Falmouth (minus Cape Elizabeth, including today's South Portland, which split off to become a separate town in 1765).  Many early families in what is present-day Falmouth had homes or businesses on Falmouth Neck.  This well-researched map shows where.



 Falmouth Neck 1775
 

Plan of Falmouth, Maine - 1794


Noyes, Joseph (1794-5), submitted to the Massachusetts Secretary of State
Massachusetts Archives - Digital Commonwealth - Town Plans - 1794


All towns in Massachusetts were required to submit a plan of the town in 1794 (when Maine was still part of Massachusetts).  Westbrook and the Deering sections of Portland will still part of Falmouth.


 Plan of Falmouth - 1794
 

Survey of Falmouth Roads - 1804



Town of Falmouth, Maine (1804-)

Maine History Network - Map at Maine Historical Society


This map is the product of a survey conducted to determine the cost of maintaining town roads in 1804.  Subsequent changes appear to have been overlaid onto the original.  The survey was probably completed using a compass and a chain marked off in rods and links.  The roads should be fairly accurate.  Houses were added to provided points of reference; their locations are, at best, approximate.



 
 

State of Maine - 1820


Greenleaf, Moses (1820), Boston

Library of Congress


This map is a handy reference showing towns and boundaries when Maine gained statehood.

 State of Maine - 1820
 


Survey of Falmouth Roads - 1828



Town of Falmouth, Maine (1828)

Osher Map Library - Sheet Map Collection - Maps at Falmouth Memorial Library


Scroll down to bottom of page and select map at right.


This map is the product of a survey conducted to determine the cost of maintaining town roads in 1828.  The survey was probably completed using a compass and a chain marked off in rods and links.  The roads should be fairly accurate.  Houses were added to provided points of reference; their locations are, at best, approximate.


 Survey of Falmouth Roads - 1828


Map of Cumberland County, Maine - 1857



J. Chace (1857), Portland & Philadelphia

Library of Congress


This map portrays Cumberland County in 1871 including many buildings and identifying their occupants.  You must zoom in to for a detailed view of Falmouth.

 Map of Cumberland County - 1857
 


Atlas of Cumberland County, Maine- 1871 Falmouth, West Falmouth, Falmouth Corners


F.W. Beers (1871), New York

DigitalMaine Repository - Map at Maine State Archives


This map portrays Falmouth in 1871 including many buildings and identifying their occupants.

 Falmouth, West Falmouth, Falmouth Corders - 1871
 


Atlas of Cumberland County, Maine- 1871 New Casco, Presumscott Falls


F.W. Beers (1871), New York

DigitalMaine Repository - Map at Maine State Archives


This map portrays two Falmouth villages in 1871 including many buildings and identifying their occupants.

 New Casco, Presumpscot Falls - 1871

 

Stuart's Atlas Of The State Of Maine 1894 Falmouth Foreside and adjacent islands


J.H. Stuart Co. (1894), South Paris, Maine

David Rumsey Map Collection at Stanford University Libraries


Plate 53 of this atlas is a map of Falmouth Foreside.  You must manually page forward to view this map.


 Falmouth Foreside - 1894


Richards Atlas of the City of Portland 1914 Part of Falmouth Foreside


Richards Map Co. (1914), Springfield, Mass.

Portland Public Library Digital Commons


Plate 22 of this atlas includes a detailed map of Falmouth Foreside from Mill Creek to Mackworth Point.


 Part of Falmouth Foreside - 1914
 


Falmouth Foreside Cumberland County Maine July 1924


Sanborn Map & Publishing Co. (1924), New York

Osher Map Library - Osher Atlas Collection


This map portrays much of Falmouth Foreside including many buildings and identifying their occupants.  The link takes you to the first page containing the index.  Determine which map contains the section of Falmouth Foreside of interest.  Click "Next Page" until you reach that page.


The maps are part of a larger collection on Osher's website.  Here are the links to the individual maps:


 Falmouth Foreside - 1924

 


Past Activities at the Mouth of the Presumpscot River - 1978



Reiche, F. (1978)



This map provides a lot of information about the lower Presumpscot collected by Ford Reiche.



 Mouth of the Presumpscot River - 1978

Historic Topographic Maps



United States Geological Survey (USGS)

National Geologic Map Topoview


This tool displays topographic maps created by USGS from 1880 to present.


 Historic Topographic Maps
 

Current Falmouth Town Plat



Town of Falmouth, Maine

Vision Government Solutions


This map is the most authoritative portrayal of lots within the bounds of Falmouth today.  This tool also brings up the property information formerly found on "property cards."

 Current Falmouth Town Plat


Suggestions for maps to be added to this page are welcome.


Falmouth Heritage Museum
60 Woods Road, Falmouth, Maine 04105
Telephone: (207) 781-4727
Email:
info@thefhs.org

Mailing Address
The Falmouth Historical Society
190 US Route One PMB 367
Falmouth, ME 04105

© Copyright The Falmouth Historical Society
Falmouth, Maine

Privacy Policy

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software