Death of Clayton Rand Adams

We are saddened to report that Clayton Rand Adams passed away on December 20th, 2008. Clayton was a devoted genealogical researcher as well as one of the major forces behind the success of MGS, having served as President of the Society for many years. His commitment to MGS and his friendship will be greatly missed.

A brief inclusion in the Portland Press Herald indicates that full obituary and service details will follow.

http://www.legacy.com/mainetoday-pressherald/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=121749278

William Whitaker of Gouldsboro

Looking for any information on William Whitaker. He marries Susanna Guptail Sept. 1770 in Gouldsboro, Maine. He resided Gouldboro and served in the Maine Volunteer Militia. in the Revolutionary War.

Questions: Where was William born? Where and when did he die? Children? I know he had a son George and a daughter Sarah. Did he also have another son Elisha? Trying to confirm this connection.

William's wife Susanna, what happened to her? Where and when did she die?

Thanks,
Bob Whitaker
E-Mail: robtwhit1@yahoo.com

Query - James Whidden Jr.

Kent Palmer is interested in any information on a James Whidden Jr. born 1726 in Greenwood, NH. He was son of Capt James Whidden.

Thank you for any and all efforts.
C. Kent Palmer
E-Mail: cpalmer17@cox.net

December Genealogical Events

Here's what is happening genealogically around the state for December:

December 6, 2008
Greater Portland Chapter of MGS
Winslow, Maine
Finding Healing in Family History with Angels of Austria
presented by Judy Faust

December 14, 2008
Pejepscot Genealogy Society
Brunswick, Maine
Christmas Party
at the Holden Frost House at the Highlands, Topsham, Maine

December 17, 2008
Penobscot County Genealogical Society
Bangor, Maine
Open Research Night with Holiday Refreshments

December 21, 2008
Taconnett Falls Chapter of MGS
Winslow, Maine
Christmas Party

We hope to see you at one of these events!

Word from "The County

The Aroostook County Genealogicial Society will meet at their usual time 6:30 p.m. on November 24, 2008, at 111 High Street in Caribou.

This month's program is in two parts, the first part being the election of officers for 2009.

Part 2 is for individual members. It is a chance to ask that question about their genealogy that they need an answer for, but have been unwilling to ask or were just waiting for the right time to ask.

The Maine Genealogist - November 2008

The November issue of The Maine Genealogist is hot of the press and should be in the mailbox of all our members.

This quarter's issued contains some great articles, as well as a complete index to Volume 30. Articles included:

Some Descendants of Robert Mills of York, Maine by Helen Schatvet Ullman, CG, FASG

From New Orleans to Bremerhaven: The Voyage, Cargo, and Crew of the Barque Nimrod, June - September 1841 by Kenneth W. Heger

Allen Family Bible Record: Robbinston, Maine contributed by Stephen L. Robbins

Barnabas Baker of Litchfield, Maine - Patriot or Loyalist? by Glenn D. Nasman

William Bassett Bible Records, Winslow, Maine & Record of the John Ward Family of Gorham, Maine, contributed by Leslie Dow Sanders

Portland, Maine, Marriage Intentions, Volume 4, 1814 - 1837, copied by Joseph C. Anderson II, FASG

The Maine Genealogist is published quarterly. For more information, visit our website at www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~megs.

Announcing Maine Families in 1790, Volume 10

Volume 10 of the Maine Families in 1790 series is the biggest yet. Crammed with 750 genealogy-packed pages, this volume treats 205 new families located throughout the District of Maine. Consistent with the previous volumes, all of the families have been thoroughly researched and edited, and all facts are meticulously documented with full source citations. Conclusions drawn from circumstantial evidence, incomplete records, or conflicting sources are fully discussed within each family sketch.

With this volume the total number of families treated in the series is now 2,676 (or nearly 16%) of all families living in Maine in 1790). The usefulness of these books for genealogical research cannot be overstated. The Maine Families in 1790 series is simply the most comprehensive and up-to-date resource on families living in the state during the late-Colonial, Revolutionary War, Federalist, and early statehood periods of Maine's history.

Surnames of heads-of-household included in Volume 10 are:
Adams, Allen, Appleton, Austin, Bailey, Barton, Beard, Benjamin, Bennett, Berry, Blackwell, Blaisdell, Blish, Bonney, Boothby, Bosworth, Bowen, Bragg, Briggs, Brown, Came, Cammett, Campbell, Chapman, Clarke, Coolbroth, Conant, Cool, Crockett, Cummings, Cushman, Day, Deake, Delano, Delesdernier, Dexter, Dingley, Donnell, Drummond, Dunnell, Dyer, Eames, Elden, Emery, Eustis, Evans, Fenderson/Finlyason, Fish, Foster, Frink, Frost, Fuller, Getchell, Gibbs, Goodwin, Graffam, Gray, Green, Grinnell, Haley, Hamlin, Harnden, Harford/Hartford, Hathorn, Hayford, Haines/Haynes, Hilborn, Hoxie, Hussey, Jackson, Jennings, Jewell, Jordan, Kendall, Kimball, Kingsbury, Landers, Litchfield, Lord, Lovejoy, Lowell, Mains, Marston, Merrill, Milliken, Mills, Moore, Morse, Motherwell, Nurse/Nourse, Overlock, Paine, Parker, Partridge, Pelton, Perkins, Phinney, Pierce, Plummer, Preble, Pride, Rand, Reed, Ring, Robinson, Russ, Ryan, Sanford, Savage, Shaw, Sheldon, Skinner, Smith, Snell, Soule, Spaulding, Spring, Springer, Stackpole, Stinson, Sturtevant, Sylvester, Taylor, Thompson, Thwing, Tobey, Town(e), Trim, Tucker, Turner, Wade, Walker, Ware, Warren, White, Whitney, Whitten, Williams, Winter, Wyer, Young.

The Maine Genealogical Society has a limited number of volumes allocated to members at a reduced member price. Books may be preordered now. Expected February 2009.

Maine Families in 1790, Vol. 10. Maine Genealogical Society Special Publication No. 58, xviii + 750 pp., 6"x9", every-name index, acid-free paper, Smyth sewn/case bound, $65.00 for MGS members, $75.00 for non-MGS members.

Order from Picton Press (on the web at www.pictonpress.com).

Rockland Area Obituaries

From a recent posting on the Maine Genealogy Yahoo Group mailing list:

Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home in Rockland, Maine, has included a large collection of obituaries on their website. The obituaries scan the years 2001 to current.

To visit their website, go to www.bchfh.com.

This is a great service and a research source that we don't always think of. If you know of other funeral homes that are posting similar collections on their websites, please let us know.

Library and Archives Canada Partners with Ancestry.ca

Partnership allows unprecedented online access to Canadian historical records

Ottawa, November 10, 2008 – Library and Archives Canada (LAC) is pleased to announce a collaborative partnership with Canada’s leading online family history website, Ancestry.ca, which will allow the two organizations to provide unprecedented online access to the most comprehensive collection of Canadian historical records available.

As part of the agreement, Ancestry.ca will digitize and index microfilm and original records held by LAC and make these available to Ancestry.ca members. All of the digitized records will eventually be available free of charge to users of the LAC website.

Mr. Ian E. Wilson, Librarian and Archivist of Canada, comments: "Library and Archives Canada is pleased to be part of this collaborative agreement with Ancestry.ca, which will allow our institution to offer our users access to many of our important collections, some of which have not been previously accessible online.

“It will truly enhance Canadians' ability to fully explore their documentary heritage and will also be of great interest to those around the world with ancestors who immigrated to or visited Canada.”

Josh Hanna, Senior VP, Ancestry International, comments: “This is a win-win relationship for Library and Archives Canada and Ancestry.ca as the partnership will enable Ancestry to offer a wide range of Canadian collections to its members and in turn LAC will receive the expertise, experience and person hours that are required for imaging and indexing these records.

“The partnership will create a seamless flow for digitizing and indexing vast Canadian records and will be a huge benefit to family history researchers in Canada who will soon have the opportunity to access more collections than ever before.”

Library and Archives Canada is the holder of an unparalleled and inestimable collection of Canadian published materials and archival records. This collection is accessible both online and in its facilities in Ottawa. Ancestry.ca offers access to both Canadian and worldwide genealogy records—seven billion in total—as well as family-tree building tools and community sharing applications.

Ancestry.ca recently launched more than 70 years of fully indexed Canadian Passenger Lists to its members and these records will also be available on the Library and Archives Canada website (www.collectionscanada.gc.ca) in the next year.

Project to Digitize and Index Canadian Censuses

Joint initiative provides online access to a comprehensive collection of Canadian censuses

(Toronto, ON – November 11, 2008) Ancestry.ca, Canada’s leading online family history website, is pleased to announce a joint initiative with FamilySearch International, a nonprofit organization that maintains one of the world's largest repositories of genealogical resources. The joint initiative will allow the organizations to improve online access to a comprehensive collection of Canadian censuses.

As part of the agreement, FamilySearch will digitize and index Canadian census records that Ancestry.ca has acquired. These digitized and indexed records will then be made available to Ancestry.ca members on the company’s website, and in time the indexes will also be available to the public at FamilySearch.org. The images will be free to qualified FamilySearch members and all FamilySearch family history centers.

FamilySearch will deliver images and indexes to Ancestry.ca for censuses from 1861, 1871, 1881 and 1916 Censuses to launch online in 2009. In return, Ancestry.ca will provide images and indexes to FamilySearch for the 1851, 1891, 1901 and 1906 Censuses.

Karen Peterson, Marketing Director, Ancestry.ca, comments: “Teaming with FamilySearch will enable Ancestry.ca to significantly reduce the time and costs involved in delivering these important historical records online for our members. Also, it will free up resources for Ancestry.ca to invest in other historical records our members want made available online.”

Paul Nauta, Public Affairs Manager for FamilySearch, comments: “FamilySearch is committed to providing economical access to more historical records quicker. The Canadian Census project with Ancestry.ca is in alignment with that directive for Canadian records and will be well received by anyone with Canadian ancestry.”

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION / INTERVIEWS / IMAGES/ CASE STUDIES:

Media Profile

Patrick Erlich / Erin O’Reilly

416-504-8464

erlich@mediaprofile.com / erin@mediaprofile.com

FamilySearch

Paul Nauta

801-240-6498

NautaPG@familysearch.org

"Immigrants to Canada" Online Database

Noted in Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter:

The following article is from Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter and is copyright by Richard W. Eastman. It is re-published here with the permission of the author. Information about the newsletter is available at http://www.eogn.com.

The following announcement was written by Library and Archives Canada:

Library and Archives Canada (LAC) is pleased to announce the launch of an online database, Immigrants to Canada.

The database contains Canadian immigration records held at LAC, many of which relate to immigrants from the British Isles arriving in Quebec and Ontario; also included are references to settlers in other provinces. Through this new database, researchers can access references to lists of immigrants and other types of records created before 1865, such as declarations of aliens and names of some Irish orphans.

You are invited to visit the database at: www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/immigrants-canada/index-e.html.

The contributions of many LAC staff were instrumental in the success of this project, and their efforts are much appreciated.

Query - Ballard / Rollins

TELEMECUS BALLARD/MARY J. and ASA ROLLINS/ELVIRA BALLARD

Long standing brick wall needs breaking. Need parents and birthdate of Telemecus BALLARD living in 1829 in New Sharon, ME. when he purchased land from Asa ROLLINS and his wife Mary J. ROLLINS who may have been a BALLARD. Another deed in 1829 was witnessed by Elvira BALLARD in New Sharon. Need any information on her and relationship. Telemecus married 3 times, Irena LEEMAN b. Mercer, ME, Matilda BUSWELL, b. probably New Sharon, ME, Lydia C. JUDKINS, b. Corinna, ME. He and Lydia buried in Pond Cemetery, Bradford, ME. He died 09-15-1873 at 70 years 7 months in Bangor, ME. Lived in New Sharon, Charleston, Garland and Bradford, ME. Was he related to Jonathan or Frederick BALLARD of Augusta/Temple Maine area or Uriah BALLARD in Fryeburg area?

Celeste Ballard Betts Hyer
MDLFXS1990@AOL.COM
69 Loop Road
Otisfield, ME 04270

November Genealogical Events

Here's what's happening genealogically around the state for November:

November 1, 2008
Greater Portland Chapter of MGS
Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Poland Spring - A Tale of the Guilded Age 1860-1900 presented by David L. Richards

November 9, 2008
Pejepscot Genealogy Society
Brunswick, Maine
Researching at the Maine State Archives presented by Jeffrey Brown, Maine State Archivist

November 13, 2008
Wassebec Genealogical Society
Dover-Foxcroft, Maine
Coming to America, the Immigrant Experience presented by Jack Battick

November 16, 2008
Taconnett Falls Chapter of MGS
Winslow, Maine
Voyages - A Maine Franco-American Reader presented by Nelson Madore

November 19, 2008
Penobscot County Genealogical Society
Bangor, Maine
First White Settlers on the Penobscot presented by Fran & Guy Grant

Nathaniel Kimball / Lydia Hatch of Greene

Seeking birth info and parentage of this couple.

Nathaniel KIMBALL (b. abt 1768) m. Lydia HATCH on 24 Nov 1796 in Wells, Maine. They settled in Greene, Maine, between 1800-1810, where they died (he on 17 Mar 1854, she in Jul 1842).

It appears they had 4 children - Jacob P. b. 17 Feb 1800; Abia b. 14 Apr 1802; Evat b. abt 1804; and another daughter (maybe Eliza?).

Dale Mower
E-Mail: dale@mower-family.com

Civil War Databases at the Maine State Library

The Reference Department is pleased to announce the addition of online databases to expand our history and genealogy collections. Combined they give fast, detailed results for exploring every aspect of the US Civil War. In-house patrons can search the databases directly. Individuals with State Library cards who wish to access the databases remotely should call the Reference desk at 287-5608 for more information.

American Civil War Letters and Diaries — over 2,000 authors and 100,000 pages of diaries, letters and memoirs; 4,000 pages of previously unpublished manuscripts, and some material licensed from The Civil War Day-by-Day, by E.B. Long.

The American Civil War Research Database — includes individuals, battles and regiments, indexed and searchable; over 4,000,000 soldiers, 4,600 regimental rosters and chronicles, and more than 1,000 officer profiles. Included are records of the states’ Adjutant Generals, pension and census (1860), GAR, Roll of Honor, Medal of Honor, battle orders and 16,000 photographs. Charts and graphs assist in analysis. Refreshed bimonthly.

Images of the American Civil War: Photographs, Posters, and Ephemera — has 70,000 photographs of casualties, home life, prisons, hospitals, weaponry, even posters; search by place, photographer or publisher. Images may be used in presentations and shared. Most are rare and previously unpublished, by both the famous and relatively unknown. Deeply indexed.

Bangor Daily News Obituaries

MGS friend Roxanne Moore Saucier (well-known as the Family Ties columnist for the Bangor Daily News) writes -

The Bangor Daily News obituary archive going back to 2003 is back online. Goto www.bangordailynews.com, click on Obituaries and then click on ObituaryArchive/In Memoriam. As of Oct. 9, 2008, there are 37,500 files ofobituaries, death notices and In Memoriams online. The obit archives aremore searchable than ever. You can even search by first name -- not just forthe deceased, but for surviving relatives.

You also can get to theBDN obituaries by linking from the Family Ties column, which you can get to by first clicking on Lifestyle.

Of course, we recommend that everyone read Roxanne's column which appears every Monday.

Public Input Sought at Cultural Affairs Council Meetings

The Maine State Cultural Affairs Council, under the direction of the 123rd Legislature, is seeking public input at three meetings throughout Maine in the coming weeks to identify the needs of Maine's cultural community and to identify ways to increase the Council's visibility in State Government. The first of these meetings will take place Wednesday, October 29, 2008 from 7-9 pm, at Shettleworth Lecture Hall, 489 Congress Street, Portland.During these meetings representatives of all of these agencies will be present to gather input from the public on the needs and aspirations of Maine's cultural community. The meetings have been scheduled for the following dates:

Wednesday, October 29, 2008 from 7-9 pm, Shettleworth Lecture Hall, Maine Historical Society, 489 Congress Street, Portland

Thursday, November 6, 2008 from 6-8 pm, Board Room, Bangor Public Library, 145 Harlow Street, Bangor

Thursday, November 13, 2008 from 7-9 pm, Room 103A, Cross Office Building, Capitol Street, Augusta

Note: The meeting on November 13 will include video-conferencing connections to the Machias Memorial High School, 109 Court Street, Machias, and the Presque Isle High School.The meetings will begin with an introduction to the Maine State Cultural Affairs Council and will also provide a brief insight to the member agencies of the council. The meeting will then break into discussion forums where small groups of participants will be asked to provide information and ideas that address the Legislature's interest in Maine's cultural community. Representatives of the Council's member agencies and organizations will be in attendance at the forums, which will be led by a professional facilitator.

About the Maine State Cultural Affairs Council
The Maine State Cultural Affairs Council is comprised of the Maine State Museum, the Maine State Library, the Maine Arts Commission, the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, the Maine State Archives, the Maine Historical Society, and the Maine Humanities Council.

The County's October Meeting

Word has been received that the Aroostook County Genealogical Society's next meeting will be held on October 27, 2008 at the usual time of 6:30 p.m. at 111 High Street, Caribou.

The program is in two parts, the first part is for you to feature one of your ancestors as follows: Think about which ancestor YOU would most like to have a meal with and why. Come and tell us about that person. We want to know your ancestor. They might be the person you are unable to find who their parents are. They might have something you are proud of and need to brag about. He or she are very important to us. He or she might have been accused of being a witch. Talk should be limited to 5 minutes or less.

The 2nd part is about how Dennis Prue's relatives were involved in the Bucksport, Maine, murder of Sarah Ware in 1898.

Guests are welcome.

Maine Indexing Volunteers Needed

Fellow MGS member Brian Bouchard of earlyMaine.org writes -

The University of Maine and http://www.earlymaine.org/ are working together to put an online index of all the Seniors listed in the Prism yearbooks Fogler Library placed online earlier this year [see our posting dated 28 Apr 2008]. There are 103 years of books to index (1894-1997) and we've currently indexed most of the names through the class of 1937, with hundreds of names being added daily. But, we still have a LONG way to go.

You can search the index online as information is being added at:
http://www.earlymaine.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=93&Itemid=68

or by going to http://www.earlymaine.org/ and going to the "Our Projects"
-> "UMaine Prism Seniors Index" menu option.

As of this morning, there are just over 7,000 names indexed online.

We are looking both for a few more volunteers to help get this information entered, and we just want to get the word out about the project for anyone who may be interested.

Roger Brown / Lucy Ruggles

New member Bob Brown of Elkhorn, Neraska, is looking for some help in researching his great-great-grandparents. He writes -

"Can anyone give me information on the death and burial of Roger Williams Emery Brown and his wife Lucy Swift Ruggles. Roger was born in 1811 in Brunswick, Maine and Lucy was born in Columbia, Maine in 1814. Her parents were Judge Thomas Ruggles (built the Ruggles House in Columbia Falls, Maine) and Ruth Clapp. Rogers parents were Ephraim Brown and Rebecca Stanwood.

Thanks."

Bob Brown
E-Mail: rcbrown627@cox.net

First Parish Cemetery in York, Maine

Tom Feeney, Trustee of the First Parish Cemetery, writes -

"Please visit our new website at http://www.fpyork.info/. We are very proud and would like to share it with everyone.

Each person has their own webpage complete with veteran's flags, fire deparment logos, DAR and more.

Families are encouraged to add remembrances and links.

Hope you enjoy it."

According to the website, the Trustees of First Parish Cemetery have recently surveyed the existing records of burials in our cemetery. Over the years there have been at least two stone to stone studies. They have identified over 6,150 burials, with the full burial list available online.

Sen. Paula Benoit Interview

At the 2008 Conference in Portland, while most of us were enjoying lunch, our featured speaker, Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak, interviewed fellow speaker Paula Benoit, Maine State Senate, about legislation she was instrumental in passing that allows adults adoptees to access their original birth certificates.

The video of this interview can be viewed at http://www.rootstelevision.com/players/player_conferences.php?bctid=1840812394

Pejepscot's Meeting Schedule

Marge Erickson writes to share Pejepscot Genealogy Society's 2008-2009 calendar of events.

Nov. 9, 2008: Maine State Archivist Jeffrey Brown will be our speaker.

Dec. 14, 2008: Christmas Party at the Holden Frost House at the Highlands, Topsham, ME.

Jan. 11, 2009: "Telling Your Life Story for Others to Enjoy"-interviewing and recording family members stories by Jim and Nancy Meikle.

Feb 8, 2009: Brian Collins, director of Pejepscot Historical Society will speak to us about what sources are available for genealogical research.

March 8, 2009: "Using A Computer for Your Genealogy" speaker Kathy Montejo.

April 5, 2009: "Early Settlers and Missing Cemeteries" speaker Barbara DeMaris historian.

May 3, 2009: Annual Meeting, speaker Dale W. Mower, MGS President, will discuss Internet Research and about what is happening at MGS.

June 14, 2009: Picnic and Antiques Roadshow with Pam LeBonte (place to be announced at a later date).

For more information, visit their website at www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mepgs.

A Very Grave Matter

This site was recently recommended by Paula Toothaker and I thought it was worth sharing. I had discovered it a few months back and enjoyed surfing around the site. I was particularly pleased to discover photos of my Hasey ancestors who are buried in the Rumney Marsh Burying Ground in Revere, Massachusetts.

The website address is www.gravematter.com.

This website describes itself as focusing mainly on local New England history, genealogy of early ancestors who settled the area, and artistry. They have gravestone photos from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine.

New Book - Bridging Atlantic Waters

John Carrick Green writes -

Triumphant Explorations Limited of St. John’s, Newfoundland announces the publication of a book on genealogy and commercial history of England and Newfoundland And Labrador as follows:

John Carrick Greene, Bridging Atlantic Waters: A Commercial and Genealogical History of the Henleys of Devon and Newfoundland and Labrador 1538-2008 (St. John’s: Triumphant Explorations Limited, 2008); 235 pages; 5 ½ x 8 ½; $22.95; ISBN: 978-0-9732059-1-6

Further inquiries can be addressed to the author and publisher at: 34 Parliament St, St. John’s Newfoundland, Canada. A1A2Y8 or to carrick.greene@nf.sympatico.ca (use CTRL + click)or by visiting the following web site: http://www.trexplim.com/ (Use CTRL + click)

NB: Bridging Atlantic Waters contains an extensive Henley family tree covering the period from 1538 to the present. Throughout that 500-year period Greene identifies numerous Henleys who emigrated from Devon and many American Henleys will be able to discover their missing ancestors amongst those appearing on the English tree.

The History of Poland Springs

Linda Aaskov writes -

The Maine Genealogical Society-Greater Portland Chapter will meet on Sat. Nov.1st at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints -29 Ocean House Rd.-Cape Elizabeth, ME. We gather at 12:30 for a social time, program at 1p.m. and this month is author David Richards the assistant Librarian of the Margaret Chase Smith Library in Skowhegan, Me. he will speak to the group about his book “Poland Springs”, A Tale of the Gilded Age 18-60-1900. A modern history of the Poland Springs Resort.

All are welcome to attend. FMI call Linda 207-490-5709

A New Look for the MGS Website

Today, our main website at www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~megs got a face lift. So if you haven't visited, take a minute to go on over there and look around.

The necessity to upgrade web editing software required some revisions and backstage work on the site, so I took the time to rearrange a few things. Hopefully you'll not only like the fresh look, but find it a little easier to navigate. I've tested most of the links, but if you encounter any that don't seem to work, please drop me an email at dale@mower-family.com.

The recent cool mornings had me thinking fall as you'll see by the color scheme and the use of the background photo compliments of my daughters, Meaghan & Melissa.

Your webmaster,

Dale

October is Family History Month

A reminder that since 2001 October has been nationally recognized as Family History Month.

Below is the press release from Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah issued September 26, 2001:

SENATE PASSES HATCH BILL TO COMMEMORATE OCTOBER AS

FAMILY HISTORY MONTH

WASHINGTON - By unanimous consent, the Senate today approved legislation introduced by Sen. Orrin G. Hatch to designate October as "Family History Month." "Millions of Americans are researching the history of their families," said the Utah Republican. "Experts say that in the United States, genealogy is now the second most popular hobby next to gardening. It is believed that more that 80 million Americans are currently actively searching for more information about their ancestors. "It is only natural that we want to find out more about our ancestors," Hatch continued. "What better way to bring families closer together than by discovering more about the story of their own family? Like it or not, who we are today is in large part, a product of our ancestors. Hatch's bill (S.R. 160), which was co-sponsored by Robert Bennett (R-Utah), commemorates October as Family History Month and encourages President Bush to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe the month of October with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

"With the advent of the Internet, there has been an explosion of interest in family history," Hatch continued. "Last month alone, more than 14 million Americans used the Internet to research their family history. Genealogy Internet sites are some of the most popular sites on the World Wide Web.

"Essentially, we are all immigrants to this country. Our ancestors came from different parts of the globe," Hatch said. "By searching for our roots, we come closer together as a human family. S.R. 160 had 84 co-sponsors and was approved by unanimous consent. "Researching ancestry is a very important component of identity. It can lead to long-sought-after family reunions or allow for life saving medical treatments that only genetic links will allow," Hatch said. "For all of these reasons, I encourage people across this nation to find out more about where they came from."

October Genealogical Events

Here's what's happening genealogically around the state for October:

October 4, 2008
Greater Portland Chapter of MGS
Winslow, Maine
Portland's Irish Heritage Center presented by David Soule

October 15, 2008
Penobscot County Genealogical Society
Bangor, Maine
eGenealogy: 2008 presented by Dale W. Mower

October 19, 2008
Taconnett Falls Chapter of MGS
Winslow, Maine
Vassalboro Historical Society looks at a famous Vassalboro home
presented by Kent London

October 25, 2008
Maine Genealogical Society 2009 Conference Committee
and
Maine Genealogical Society Executive Committee Meeting
Benton, Maine
Meetings are open to any interested MGS member
For information, please e-mail Dale W. Mower, President
dale@mower-family.com

MGS Conference Recap

Conference attendee Brian Bouchard included a well-written recap of the MGS conference on the blog of the Ellsworth American.

"Saturday was the Annual Maine Genealogical Society Conference, held in Portland this year. I thought it would be good to recap my own experience, and invite others who may have participated in the conference to post a comment about their own day."

To read the rest of Brian's post, please visit http://ellsworthmaine.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16916&Itemid=223.

Thanks Brian!

MGS Elects Officers for 2009

At its annual meeting on Saturday, September 20, 2008, the membership elected officers and 2 new directors for 2009. Members of the Executive Committee elected were:

President - Dale W. Mower (Bangor, Maine)
1st Vice-President - Janet M. Weymouth (Benton, Maine)
2nd Vice-President - David Mishkin (Portland, Maine)
Recording Secretary - Nancy C. Battick (Dover-Foxcroft, Maine)
Treasurer - Richard E. Spinney (Ellsworth, Maine)
Membership Secretary - Celeste Hyer (Otisfield, Maine)
The Master Genealogist Editor - Joseph C. Anderson II (Dallas, Texas)
Newsletter Editor - Marlene A. Groves

Also elected were 2 directors to serve 3-year terms:
Flossie Dere (Farmington, Maine)
John "Jack" Battick (Dover-Foxcroft, Maine)

Congratulations to the new and returning members of the Executive Committee!

And also an additional thank you to Edwin "Jay" Bullard (Caribou, Maine) and Paul M. Aldrich (Bristol, Maine) who will be stepping down as directors at the end of this year.

2008 Award Winner Bob Chenard

At its annual conference on September 20th, Maine Genealogical Society was pleased to recognize Bob Chenard's contributions to the genealogical community. He was presented with the 2008 Award of Excellence in Genealogical Service.

For those not familiar with Bob, let's run down a few of his contributions:

Bob has been a member of the Taconnett Falls Chapter of MGS since 1992 and has held the position of Vice-President twice. He is currently serving as VP Director in the Maine-Franco American Genealogical Society of Auburn/Lewiston.

He has compiled computer listings of over 100,000 Franco-American marriages in over 700 family surnames, most of which are tied back to the original European ancestors of the 16th and 17th centuries. These listings are freely available for researchers visiting the Taconnett Genealogical Library in Winslow.

He has published a 3-volume set of parish records for the oldest Catholic parish in the Waterville area covering the period 1830-1975; and has also published the parish records of St. Joseph's in Old Town.

Bob has authored several articles that have appeared in a wide variety of publications. In the FORUM published by the University of Maine's Franco-American Center you will find several of his family genealogies since 1989. The Central Maine Sentinel published a series of genealogical and historical articles over a span of 2-3 years in the mid-1990s. He also wrote an article on French genealogical research that was included in 'Voyages - A Maine Franco-American Reader.'

In 1997, he established a large website on Franco-American genealogy at a time when there were few such websites. His website received several awards and one national publication listed it as one of the top 100 genealogical websites.

Never tiring, he is currently in the process of compiling all the pre-1876 parish records in Beauce county, Quebec, which includes persons born as early as the 17th century and many living into the 20th century. This is a 5-year project transcribing original microfilm records into a large database. Beauce county is particularly important to central Maine's Franco population since some 80% of the pre-1900 Quebec immigrants into that part of the Maine had roots in that county.

Bob is a frequent lecturer and instructor to adult education classes and various genealogical and historical societies around the state. Perhaps he best promotes genealogy by offering assistance and information to those in need of specialized help in finding their Franco-American roots. And we are talking anyone, anytime, anywhere! Via e-mail or you might just find him at a genealogical library near you.

Bob Chenard epitomizes what service to the genealogical community is all about.

The plaque presented is inscribed:

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE IN GENEALOGICAL SERVICE

PRESENTED TO

ROBERT CHENARD

In recognition of his years of work in the area of Franco-American genealogy as an author, lecturer, and instructor, and his volunteer efforts on behalf of the Taconnett Falls Chapter of the Maine Genealogical Society.

Maine Genealogical Society honors his extraordinary contributions to the Society and for advancing the field of genealogy in the State of Maine.

September 20, 2008

To learn more about the Maine Genealogical Society's awards, please visit our www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~megs/awards.htm.

Annual Conference less than 1 week away!

And there is still plenty of room available for anyone who might just be deciding to attend! Register Now! Hop on over to http://www.maineroots.org/ for all the details and a registration form.

One of our speakers this year that you will want to consider hearing is our own Carol P. McCoy. Her lecture is entitled "The Maine-Canada-Ireland Connection: Seeking Rogers' Roots." This is an entertaining case study that shows how she unearthed the Canadian and Irish roots of the Rogers' family who lived in Brewer, Maine, in 1850. Learn how U.S. and Canadian census, land, probate, historical, and newspaper records, as well as archival material, online sites and databases and internet contacts can bring a complex family to life. The journey to the type of success we all want to have!

Another speaker we are delighted to have join us this year is Legacy Software's Geoff Rasmussen who will tackle some of the techy type topics at this year's conference. He will be conducting 3 sessions.

The first is Mapping Your Ancestors Electronically: Using Software and the Internet which will discuss the major mapping resources available to genealogists today - AniMap, Map my Family Tree, Google Earth, Family Atlas, and much more.

His second session will help you discover new ways to find and "advertise" your ancestors, entitled "Marketing Your Ancestors Using Message Boards, Mailing Lists, Blogs and Podcasts."

And then Geoff wraps up the day with "Legacy Family Tree" Insider Tips and Tricks" where he shows how Legacy helps you write sources correctly and easily, Evidence Explained style, and also shows how to create shareable CDs, customized wall charts, publish books, get automated research suggestions, view your ancestors on maps of the world, and much more. Whether you already use Legacy Family Tree software or are considering it, or just want to learn about what software can do to help with your research, this is the session to sit on.

And then there is also our featured speaker, Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak, Senator Paula Benoit, and David Mishkin. What a line up? So register today, go to http://www.maineroots.org/ now so you don't miss this exciting event!

Special Conference Announcement

Have you been watching the early registration deadline rapidly approaching? Well, we are offering a bit of a reprieve. At the August 23rd Executive Committee meeting, it was decided to extend this deadline.

The Early Registration Deadline has been extended to September 5, 2008.

But you don't want to miss this conference - so send in your registration today. Enjoy the savings - MGS Members save $35 by registering early, Non-MGS Members save $20!

For a registration form or for more information, please visit the official conference website at www.maineroots.org.

Census of Canada, 1881

Many of us with Canadian ancestry have relied on the transcribed 1881 Canadian census database at http://www.familyhistory.org/. But how about free access to digital images of the census? It's available and easy to use, I quickly located my great-grandmother Martha Dow in Canterbury, New Brunswick! Here's the scoop:

The 1881 Census offers a rich source of information about Canada and Canadians. Through this research tool, you can access digitized images of original census returns which list the name, age, country or province of birth, nationality, religion, and occupation of Canada's residents at the time of the 1881 Census. This includes notable figures such as Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Sir Robert Laird Borden, and Sir John A. Macdonald.

Library and Archives Canada gratefully acknowledges the contribution of Statistics Canada (www.statcan.ca/menu-en.htm) and the Genealogical Society of Utah (www.gensocietyofutah.org/), without which this project would not have been possible.

You can learn more about the history of the Canadian census at 'The Living Census: Sharing 340 Years of Canadian Growth' (http://thelivingcensus.statcan.ca/), developed by Statistics Canada in collaboration with Library and Archives Canada.

What would you like to do? You can search census records, learn about the Canadian experience in 1881, including a description of famous and notable Canadians, and learn how the census was collected and how to interpret the column headings and abbreviations.

Surf on over to http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1881/.

Vital Records of Wayne, Maine

Maine Genealogical Society Special Publication No. 56 is now available! The Vital Records of Wayne, Maine has been compiled by Marlene A. Grove.

The town of Wayne is located in Kennebec County and is about fifteen miles west of Augusta, the county seat and state capitol. the first settler was Job Fuller who arrived about 1773 from Sandwich, Massachusetts. He was soon followed by others and the region was called New Sandwich. The town was incorporated on February 12, 1798 as the 113th town and the name was changed to Wayne in honor of General Anthony Wayne, a Revolutionary War hero.

304 pages, hard cover, 10,286 entry Every Name Index. 2008.

The book sells for $39.95, but MGS members pay only $35.95! For more information or to place an order, please visit Picton Press, official publisher of Maine Genealogical Society Special Publications at http://www.pictonpress.com.

To learn about other MGS special publications, visit our website at www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~megs.

Membership number required to receive the MGS member discount.

Who were Charles Smart's Parents?

MGS Member Jean Savage is in need of some proof of the parents of Charles Smart. She writes:

Need proof that the parents of Charles SMART (b. 1829 Searsport, ME) were John and Nancy (WEST) SMART. Charles m. Almira HARRIMAN 1851 in Bucksport, ME. It is believed that Charles's brothers were Daniel, James Henry, John S., Thomas and George F.; but need proof of any of those connections.

Thank you -
Jean Savage
e-mail: fjsavage@fairpoint.net
73 Stagecoach Rd.
Stockton Springs ME 04981

The Maine Genealogist - August 2008

Joseph C. Anderson II, FASG, Editor of The Maine Genealogist reports:

"This issue of The Maine Genealogist proves once again that some of the most valuable genealogical information does not come from standard sources. Censuses and vital records are the basic building blocks of genealogy, but they rarely tell us anything about the quality of life or personalities of the people we are investigating. If we want to learn what it was like to walk in our ancestors' shoes, we need to find records that provide insight into the personal challenges and circumstances that our ancestors faced.

"Nathan Barlow is familiar to all Maine schoolchildren as one of the Liberty Men who resisted the Great Proprietors in the early nineteenth century, but little else has been written about him. Author O'Flaherty has compiled a detailed account of Nathan's life and family, with some of the most illuminating facts being gleaned from unusual sources including: an eyewitness account written by a neighbor describing a particularly defining moment in Nathan's life, a criminal case heard by the Kennebec County Supreme Judicial Court, and the records of the Charlestown [Mass.] State Prison. She has woven the information into a story of a life marked by zealotry, financial difficulties, misdeeds, and ultimately tragedy.

"Authors Smith and Battick describe their frustration in tracking Emily Woodman, who seemed to have disappeared from the records shortly after her marriage. The eventual discovery of a divorce petition provided many of the facts they were seeking and offered the added benefit of a firsthand account of the suffering Emily endured in her marriage. Additional research uncovered a three-generation cycle of early marriage and divorce in Emily's family, with the divorce records offering poignant details of these people's lives not found anywhere else.

"Finally, who would think to look at the records of the United States Consulate at Bremen, Germany, for personal facts about our Maine ancestors? Dr. Kenneth Heger, director of the Family History Program at the National Archives, gives the example of a document found among those records which lists the ages and physical descriptions of a group of Maine sailors in 1841."

So what's the total lineup for the August 2008 issue of The Maine Genealogist?

Nathan Barlow (1776-1816) of Freedom, Maine By Ellen J. O'Flaherty

The Crew of the Barque Edinburgh: April - June 1841 By Kenneth W. Heger

Finding Hidden Gold in Divorce Records: The Search for Emily Woodman of Newport, Maine By Peter M. Smith and Nancy C. Battick

Bible Records of the Smiley Family of Sidney, Maine Contributed By Stephen L. Robbins

Portland, Maine, Marriage Intentions, Volume 4, 1814-1837 (continued) Copied By Joseph C. Anderson II

The Maine Genealogist is published quarterly. For more information, visit our website at www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~megs.

David Mishkin to speak at Conference

Many of you may remember David Mishkin from past conferences. We're glad to say he's back.!

For those of you not familiar with David, he received a B.S. degree in photography from Rochester Institute of Technology in 1969 and has graduated from their Photographic Preservation seminar series. He has presented lectures on preserving photographs and documents for over ten years from Boston, Massachusetts, to San Francisco, California. Mr. Mishkin has recently completed two terms as the President of the New England Regional Genealogical Conference and has served as the Conference Chair for the 2002 Cape Cod Conference and the 2005 Portland, Maine Conference. He has also served as the Exhibitor Chair for the 1998 conference in Portland, Maine. In addition, he has served as LAC Co-Chair for the National Conference in Providence, Rhode Island, in 2000. He is currently serving as Exhibitor Co-Chair for the 2009 NERGC Conference in Manchester, NH. Mr. Mishkin was a member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild and served as secretary for the organization. He has written several articles in photographic magazines as well as genealogical and historical magazines and publications. Currently, Mr. Mishkin serves as Vice-President for the South Portland Historical Society.

David Mishkin will be speaking on the Preservation of Modern Imaging Systems.

Are modern imaging systems better than the older processes we have now? In many cases this is not true. It is very important to museums, historical societies and families that are using these new systems to be aware of the problems that are inherent in each. Can you imagine the disappointment in displaying a beautiful color wedding photograph only to see it fading and shifting colors after only five years?

This session discusses the longevity of video photography and why you should not use videos for preserving family or historic events. The pros and cons of using digital imaging, cameras, printers and CD-Roms for preserving images; the durability of color photography and what you can do to help prevent those color images from fading; and proper storage methods for each medium.

This lecture is designed for all levels from beginner, intermediate to advanced.

For more details on the 2008 conference to be held in South Portland on Saturday, September 20th, visit http://www.maineroots.org/.

McKusick, Pioneer in Medical Genetics, Dies at 86

Dr. Victor A. McKusick, a native of Parkman, considered to be the father of medical genetics, died Tuesday of cancer at his home outside Baltimore, Md., at the age of 86.

He was the key architect of the Human Genome Project, winner of the National Medal of Science in 2001 and the Japan Prize earlier this year. He was born on Oct. 21, 1921, a few minutes after his identical twin brother, Vincent L. McKusick, former chief justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.

Officials at Johns Hopkins University, where Victor McKusick was a professor of genetics and the McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine was named for him in 1999, mourned his loss.

"We have lost a giant," said Johns Hopkins Medicine dean and chief executive officer Edward D. Miller. "He spent virtually all of his incredible career at Hopkins, but his influence and legacy reach around the world."

Victor McKusick founded the Johns Hopkins Division of Medical Genetics in 1957 and in 1973 became chairman of its department of medicine and physician-in-chief of The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Officials said he became a professor of medical genetics in 1985 and remained active in that teaching role until last year.

The physician and his colleagues taught a two-week course in genetics each summer at The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor. It became a highly respected course in the subject, attracting more than 4,000 students, doctors and researchers over the years.

"Victor McKusick’s seminal contributions in genetics, medicine and education have simply become synonymous with excellence in biomedicine," Rick Woychik, president and CEO of Jackson Lab, said Thursday. "His involvement with The Jackson Laboratory over the past 50 years in co-organizing the Short Course in Experimental and Mammalian Genetics is a reflection of his intense commitment to help thousands of students, scientists and physicians learn and put into practice the remarkable power of genetics for understanding human disease."

Former Maine Gov. John McKernan and the McKusick brothers each received an honorary degree in June from the University of New England in Biddeford. McKernan and his wife, U.S. Sen. Olympia J. Snowe, issued a statement Thursday through her office.

"Dr. McKusick, along with his accomplished brother, Vincent," the former governor said, "demonstrated to every Maine child that there are no limits to what they can accomplish with hard work and a curious mind."

In 1966, Victor McKusick published the first edition of his catalog "Mendelian Inheritance of Man" with 1,500 entries on inherited disorders. Today, the publication has grown to more than 20,000 entries.

He was one of the first to propose the human genome map in 1969 and helped establish the Human Genome Project. The sequence was completed in 2001. He also helped establish the journal Genomics.

In seeking support for the genome project, Victor McKusick testified before congressional committees. He would pull sequential editions of his catalog from an L.L. Bean canvas bag and stand them up on the table, according to The Washington Post. Each was thicker than the last and they stood as visual witnesses to the slow accumulation of knowledge about the mapping project.

The sons of Carroll L. and Ethel (Buzzell) McKusick, the twins along with three siblings grew up on the family dairy farm in Parkman in Piscataquis County and attended a one-room elementary school. His high school offered no science classes, according to a story published Thursday in The Washington Post.

As a young man, Victor McKusick planned to enter the ministry, but changed his mind after suffering from a severe streptococcus infection in his armpit in 1937 at the age of 15. He spent 10 weeks in Massachusetts General Hospital, where he was cured with antibiotics.

He attended Tufts University but left in 1943 before he received his degree to enroll early in the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he spent the rest of his career. In 1949, he married fellow physician Dr. Anne Bishop, who continues to work part time in Johns Hopkins’ Division of Rheumatology.

Victor McKusick trained as a cardiologist, but an encounter with a tall patient with an inherited disorder called Marfan syndrome altered the course of his career. He devoted his career to medical genetics in the late 1950s, a few years after DNA was discovered.

"Some of my colleagues thought I was committing professional suicide because I had a reputation in cardiology and was shifting over to focus for the most part on rare, unimportant conditions, and so forth," Victor McKusick said in an interview earlier this year with The Baltimore Sun.

Earlier this week, the University of Maine Law School announced that Victor and Anne McKusick had donated $100,000 to the scholarship fund named for his brother — the Vincent L. McKusick Diversity Fellowship Fund.

The program began last year with an initial pledge of $100,000 from Pierce Atwood LLP, the Portland-based law firm where McKusick the lawyer began his career. The program will reach out to members of Maine’s immigrant community, members of Maine’s Indian tribes and diverse applicants nationwide, according to the law school.

"I have decided to match the donation of Pierce Atwood ... out of commitment to diversity and to the welfare of my native state of Maine," Victor McKusick said in making the gift. "And, of course, I do it to honor my DNA-identical brother."

The twins in 1993 were awarded the first Maine Prize from the University of Maine System board of trustees. To be considered for the prize, an individual must have made nationally recognized contributions to quality of life and have strong ties to the state of Maine.

In addition to his brother, Victor McKusick is survived by his wife and their children: Carol Anne McKusick of Urbana, Ill.; Kenneth Andrew McKusick of Ruxton, Md.; and the Rev. Victor Wayne McKusick of Herkimer, N.Y.

Visitation is scheduled for 3 to 5 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, at the Ruck Towson Funeral Home in Towson, Md. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, at the Second Presbyterian Church of Baltimore, Md.

Interment will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 8, at Pingree Cemetery in Parkman.

..........

Bangor Daily News, Friday, July 25, 2008, http://www.bangornews.com/.

South Berwick Public Library

Mamie Anthoine Ney, Library Director, writes to let us know that the South Berwick Public Library has made significant investment in providing to their patrons Ancestry Library and HeritageQuest online. Those services are available free of charge at the library.

It's always great when we become aware of a new or improved stop for genealogical research here in the State of Maine.

South Berwick Library is located at 37 Portland Street, South Berwick ME. To learn more, visit their website at
http://www.south-berwick.lib.me.us/.

August Genealogical Events

Here's what's happening genealogically around the state for August:

August 20, 2008
Penobscot County Genealogical Society
Bangor, Maine
A Tour of the Fogler Library, University of Maine, Orono

Philbrick Walker & A Train Wreck in Upper Stillwater

Colleen Reed is looking for assistance -

Philbrick A. (Allen)Walker married Jane E. Walton of Orneville in Old Town, Maine, on 26 Nov 1855. Where was Philbrick born? Was it Bangor abt 1835? And who were his father and mother?

Philbrick died 24 Jun 1857. He was injured in a railroad wreck at Upper Stillwater and died a few days later (maybe Orono).

Colleen would really appreciate any information on the train wreck and the actual place of death for Philbrick, as well as info on where he is buried (maybe Orono).

He had one daughter - Mary "Esther" Walker who was b. in Bangor, Maine, on 9 Dec 1856.

Colleen's e-mail is colleenprp@juno.com.

FamilySearch and Ancestry.com Team to Publish New Images and Enhanced Indexes to the U.S. Censuses

SALT LAKE CITY—Ancestry.com and FamilySearch, the two largest online family history resources, announced today they will exchange records and resources to make more historical records available online. The first project is a joint initiative to significantly enhance the online U.S. Federal Census Collection (1790 to 1930). The original census records are among the holdings of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

FamilySearch is digitally converting master microfilm copies of the original U.S. Federal Censuses from 1790 through 1930 and, under this agreement, will give these improved images to Ancestry.com. All census images and indexes will be available on Ancestry.com for subscribers. As projects are completed, images will be available for free in NARA reading rooms and FamilySearch’s 4,500 Family History Centers.

Ancestry.com, which currently offers indexes and images to the entire publicly available U.S. Federal Census Collection, will give FamilySearch copies of its existing census indexes. Through its online indexing system and community of volunteer indexers, FamilySearch is already indexing select censuses. FamilySearch will merge the Ancestry.com indexes with the new FamilySearch indexes to create enhanced census indexes, which will be added to both sites. Indexes to the enhanced censuses will be free on Ancestry.com for a limited time as they are completed. Indexes will also be available for free on FamilySearch.org.

Allen Weinstein, the Archivist of the United States, welcomed this agreement as a significant benefit for researchers. He remarked that, “Census records are among the most important documents the American people have to trace their genealogy and know their family history. Having two of our partners working together to enhance the indexes and images of these essential documents will enable an unprecedented level of access and understanding.”

The first census exchanged is the 1900 U.S. Census. FamilySearch completed a 1900 index in addition to Ancestry.com’s original. In the new index, FamilySearch added several new fields of searchable data, such as birth month and birth year, so individuals can search for ancestors more easily. The two indexes will be merged into an enhanced index, available on both sites. The new 1900 census images are now available on Ancestry.com. The enhanced 1900 index will be available for free for a limited time at Ancestry.com and ongoing at FamilySearch.org.

Ancestry.com will also provide FamilySearch its original 1920 U.S. Census index. Using the Ancestry.com index as a first transcription, FamilySearch will create a new second index with added fields and arbitrate any discrepancies between the two indexes. The 1920 project is currently in progress. Individuals interested in helping create the improved index can volunteer at FamilySearch.org. Once completed, the enhanced 1920 index will be available on both sites and will link back to images on Ancestry.com.

The 1850 through 1870 (partial) and 1880 and 1900 U.S. Censuses can be searched currently at FamilySearch.org; all publicly available U.S. Censuses are already available on Ancestry.com.

Tim Sullivan, president and CEO of The Generations Network, Inc., parent company of Ancestry.com, said, “This collaboration represents a significant step forward in making family history research more accessible. The enhanced U.S. Federal Census Collection that will become available through this agreement is a gold mine for family history researchers, and we look forward to collaborating with FamilySearch in identifying other opportunities to help people discover their roots.”

“The U.S. Censuses are arguably the most important collection of U.S. genealogical records. FamilySearch is excited to see the complete, improved indexes of these collections freely available online over the next two years. And we look forward to working with Ancestry.com to enhance access to additional, significant collections in the future,” said Jay Verkler, Managing Director for FamilySearch.

About Ancestry.com

With 26,000 searchable databases and titles and nearly 3 million active users, Ancestry.com is the No. 1 online source for family history information. Since its launch in 1997, Ancestry.com has been the premier resource for family history, simplifying genealogical research for millions of people by providing them with many easy-to-use tools and resources to build their own unique family trees. Ancestry.com is part of The Generations Network, Inc., a leading network of family-focused interactive properties, including http://www.myfamily.com/, http://www.rootsweb.com/, http://www.genealogy.com/ and Family Tree Maker. In total, The Generations Network properties receive nearly 8.5 million unique visitors worldwide. (© comScore Media Metrix, March 2008). To easily begin researching your family history, visit http://www.ancestry.com/.

About FamilySearch

FamilySearch is a nonprofit organization that maintains the world's largest repository of genealogical resources. Patrons may access resources online at FamilySearch.org or through the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and over 4,500 family history centers in 70 countries. FamilySearch is a trademark of Intellectual Reserve, Inc. and is registered in the United States of America and other countries.

SOURCE: Ancestry.com

NEHGS announces new Families in 1790 series

Following in the tradition of series covering Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, NEHGS is proud to announce a new publishing venture that will cover families from western Massachusetts enumerated in the first census of the United Census. The series, to be co-edited by Michael J. Leclerc and Christopher C. Child, will cover families residing in the counties of Berkshire and Hampshire (which at that time included all territory west of Worcester County). Franklin and Hampden counties were formed from Hampshire in 1811 and 1812 respectively. The population of this area in 1790 was just under 90,000 — slightly larger than Vermont (at 85,425) and slightly less than Maine (at 96,540). The series will include family sketches for heads of household. The Society seeks genealogists who wish to contribute sketches of families of interest for the series. Each sketch will be credited to the contributor. They hope to publish the first volume in 2009.

For more details, see “Western Massachusetts Families in 1790” by the co-editors in the Summer 2008 issue of New England Ancestors Magazine, or visit www.newenglandancestors.org/publications/projects.asp. Inquiries may be sent to WesternMass1790@nehgs.org.

Irish Genealogy Conference at Sea

TIARA (The Irish Ancestral Research Association) would like to invite you to share a unique experience. From January 10 -18, 2009, they will be hosting an Irish Genealogy Conference at Sea, aboard the Royal Caribbean ship, Indepedence of the Seas. This will be an 8 night Eastern Caribbean cruise beginning and ending in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Genealogy lectures and workshops will be held during the 3 days at sea. Speakers will include: Valerie Adams, Public Record Office of Northern Ireland George Handran, Boston (expert on Griffith's Valuation) Michael J. Leclerc, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston Gregory O'Connor, National Archives of Ireland.

For more information, visit http://www.tiara.ie/

July Genealogical Events

Here's what's happening genealogically around the state for July:

July 10, 2008
Wassebec Genealogical Society
Dover-Foxcroft, Maine
Annual Picnic / Potluck Supper

July 12, 2008
Penobscot County Genealogical Society
Bangor, Maine
Tour of the Old Irish Section of Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
with tour guide John Frawley

New Graphical Search Engine

I was catching up on some old email when I stumbled upon this. I'm worried that I may be showing my geekiness by getting excited over a search engine, but I really like this. The display of the search results, for me anyway, makes it a much quicker and easier process to see if the "hit" is really what you are looking for. I just have to share it and encourage you to check it out!

The following article is from Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter and is copyright by Richard W. Eastman. It is re-published here with the permission of the author. Information about the newsletter is available at http://www.eogn.com.

SearchMe.com is a new search engine that is available as a public beta test. It shows a lot of promise. SearchMe's graphical display of web pages is quite similar to Macintosh and iPod displays: you can "flip" through the pages. Finding relevant web pages usually is faster in SearchMe.com than in traditional search engines such as Google or Yahoo. This is especially true when the pages have lots of graphics or contain sophisticated visual layouts. The results are difficult to describe in words but you will understand within seconds after making your first search.

Enter a search term into the search box, and then use the scroll bar at the bottom to view the found pages.

Try it. It's free. It is also in beta right now, so you might stumble over a bug or two: http://www.SearchMe.com.

President's Message

Summertime greetings to everyone! I hope this newsletter finds everyone healthy, happy and not missing the snow too much.

First, I’m happy to report that our first all-day workshop was a great success! All the comments I heard were very positive. Diane Rapaport presented a great session on researching in courthouse records and we were able to work with a variety of real-life documents. The best part of the day was hearing some of the great tales Diane has been able to render from court documents, educating us on why we should not exclude court records from our research, and inspiring us to tackle this valuable resource.

And then, let me say it’s been a busy few weeks as I’ve traveled around talking to a few different groups. It was while I was giving a few tips to a Genealogy for Kids workshop that Penobscot County Genealogical held in conjunction with the Bangor Public Library that I was reminded of the willingness of genealogists to share. I was encouraging our audience to connect with researchers and ask questions, that genealogists are a very helpful bunch. Take advantage of that – ask the how-to questions, let people know who you are researching. I related the story of Tootie Bennett contacting me to let me know that the trunk of my Revolutionary War Mower ancestor was at the Monson Historical Society. And the more recent contact by Paula Toothaker that she had discovered a box of Mower research and documents at the Family History Library here in Bangor – a box full of family letters and what appears to be pages ripped from the family bible of my great-great-grandparents.

I think we’ve probably all been helped by a number of people along our research journeys. It is with this thought that the “Award of Excellence in Genealogical Service” came to be. If you’ve been helped or inspired by someone who went way out of their way to assist you, now is the time to nominate them for a little recognition. I think we all know one of the unsung heroes who have shown a commitment to selflessly volunteer in one way or another to make others’ research easier. Why not take a minute to nominate them for the 2008 award? You can learn more about the MGS awards at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~megs/awards.htm.

Take care of this little piece of business, register for the 2008 conference to be held September 20th, and then go ahead and enjoy the summer!

Dale

The President's Message appears in the quarterly Newsletter of the Maine Genealogical Society. If you are not a member, visit www.rootsweb.com/~megs to learn about how to join.

Everton's Genealogical Helper Adds New Online Edition

The following article is from Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter and is copyright by Richard W. Eastman. It is re-published here with the permission of the author. Information about the newsletter is available at http://www.eogn.com.

The following announcement was written by Everton’s Genealogical Helper: New Online Edition of Everton’s Genealogical Helper will debut July 1. Subscribe today for only $10.00.

LOGAN, Utah, June 12, 2008. Genealogy Online, Inc., publisher of Everton’s Genealogical Helper, today announced the publication of the Genealogical Helper in an Online Edition. The Online Edition is an identical copy of the 176-page paper edition – complete with hotlinks to the hundreds of website addresses found therein.

Launch Date – The new Online Edition will launch on July 1 – simultaneous with the home delivery and newsstand date of the paper edition of the July-August issue.

Free Access – Subscribers to the traditional Genealogical Helper will have 100% FREE online access to the magazine – with no extra fees whatsoever. See http://www.everton.com for sign-up information.
Online Edition subscriptions – Everton’s Genealogical Helper, Online Edition, will sell for just $12.00 per year. That is only $2 per issue. And it’s only $10.00 for subscriptions made before July 1 at http://www.everton.com or phone 1-800-443-6325.

Net Family History – An important feature of Everton’s Genealogical Helper is the magazine within a magazine entitled Net Family History. New information specific to using the Internet for genealogy is always found in this portion of the bimonthly publication. Extensive website reviews are always located here, as well as articles dealing with Internet-related activities.

Why an online edition? – Every issue of Everton’s Genealogical Helper now contains hundreds of website addresses. The Internet is where some of the most exciting genealogical resource advances are taking place, so it’s required that information about these resources be disseminated to the Helper’s thousands of readers in every issue. Everton’s Genealogical Helper, Online Edition, will allow readers to go from their paper edition to the hotlinked Online Edition and access any of the websites with just a keystroke or two – no more typing in those lengthy website addresses! The Online Edition offers more than just the links found in the magazine – it is the entire magazine itself!

Format & hosting – Everton’s Genealogical Helper, Online Edition, will be in pdf format, readable by anyone, with any computer running an Adobe Acrobat Reader (Available at Adobe.com as a FREE download.) The Online Edition will be hosted by FamilyLink.com, Inc.

Why subscribe to the Genealogical Helper? – Subscribe to have access to the Helper’s how-to & historical articles, Net Family History (see above), genealogical sharing, extensive book and CD-ROM reviews & announcements, queries, the most complete event calendar available anywhere, and hundreds of ads detailing new products and services. In addition to these day-to-day features, you will also have access to the NEW updated, hotlinked Directory of Genealogical and Historical Societies – to be published in the Sept/Oct and Nov-Dec issues! Edited by Leland K. Meitzler, the Helper is guaranteed to help you extend your lines and fill in those blanks in your family tree.

WHAT A DEAL! – Your cost for a full subscription (the paper magazine & online access both) is less than 3 cents per page – delivered to your home, and now accessible online. Subscribe to the Online Edition alone for just over a penny a page! Subscribe by July 1 and it’s less than a penny per page!

Subscribe NOW at: http://www.everton.com or phone 800-443-6325.
*************
About Genealogy Online, Inc.
Genealogy Online, dba Everton Publishers, is the publisher of Everton’s Genealogical Helper, now in its 62nd year of helping genealogists find their ancestors. Genealogy Online, Inc. also publishes the Handybook for Genealogists, 11th edition, a top-selling guidebook for family historians. Their website is found at: http://www.everton.com. Also see: http//www.GenealogyBlog.com.

Vital Records of Canaan, Maine

Maine Genealogical Society Special Publication No. 55 will be available in mid-July 2008! The Vital Records of Canaan, Maine has been compiled by Sally Furber Nelson.

Canaan is a small town in Somerset County, about eight miles east of Skowhegan. The town was settled in 1770 and incorporated on June 18, 1788. At that time it included all of what is now Skowhegan. Thus, many of the early records include families important not only to Canaan but to Skowhegan. These records contain all the births, marriage intentions, marriages and deaths recorded in the town record books prior to 1892. All records have been transcribed verbatim with no attempt made to correct obvious misspellings.

528 pages, 21, 865 entry Every Name Index, hard cover. 2008.

The book sells for $60.95, but MGS members pay only $50.95! For more info or to place an order, please visit Picton Press, official publisher of Maine Genealogical Society Special Publications at http://www.pictonpress.com/.

Membership number required to receive the MGS member discount.

Roxanne discusses The Maine Genealogist

MGS friend Roxanne Moore Saucier is very well known to those of us in Maine who subscribe to the Bangor Daily News. Her Family Ties column has been a mainstay for many years. For those afar, you can keep in touch with Roxanne by following her columns at the newspaper's website: http://www.bangornews.com/.

Her 02 June 2008 column, "Genealogy journal has perspective on ancestors," discusses the content of the current issue of The Maine Genealogist, our quarterly journal.

You can read Roxanne's comments by clicking on the following web address: http://bangornews.com/news/t/lifestyle.aspx?articleid=165075&zoneid=30.

We recommend bookmarking Roxanne - her weekly column appears every Monday!

Daniel Robinson / Sarah Simonton

We were glad to hear recently from MGS member Jane Owens as she was renewing her dues. She writes that her ancestors that were from Maine were Robinson/Simonton, Barrett/Mathews.

She is currently working on a family history book which will include the surnames mentioned. She is having trouble locating Daniel Robinson’s parents. He was born in Maine in 1810 and married Sarah J. Simonton, daughter of James and Lucky Haskell Simonton of Portland, Maine.

Any help anyone can give would be greatly appreciated.

Jane's e-mail is mouge63@cox.net.

Jane E. Owens
3390 E. Torrey Pines Lane
Chandler, AZ. 85249

Susan Kelly / Kelley

MGS Member Lynda Fournier is looking for info on Susan Kelly/Kelley, b. 26 Jun 1842, dau. of Isaac and Mary Kelly/Kelley of Limerick, Maine. Susan m. Ira Libby Emery, 10 Apr 1863.

She would like to find where she and her parents are buried.

Lynda's e-mail address is tlfouhar@roadrunner.com.

Julia (Ross) Lufkin from Rangeley, Maine

MGS Member Stephanie Lufkin Gross writes in hope someone out there can help her.

"I am on a quest to find a picture of my grandmother, my father’s mother, who died when he was two. He doesn’t remember how she looked, and has never had a picture of her. She was a Ross from Rangeley, and I know that there are a number of Ross’s still there but I don’t know how to contact them. Her name was Julia Ross and she married Henry Lufkin. I am hoping that someone might have a clear picture of her and would be willing to give it to us for my father’s sake. What would be even more terrific is if someone has a wedding portrait of the two of them. My father is in his 80’s now so you see there is a bit of a concern to find one soon. I have been looking for some time."

Thank you for any help you can give me on this.

Stephanie's e-mail is slg2007@verizon.net.

Charles and Frances O. Young

MGS Member Ron Fortier is looking for the parents of Charles and Frances O. ( ???) Young, who with children Phonnie E. and Nate H. appeared in 1880 USC - Lewiston, Maine.

Any info or ties appreciated.

Ron's e-mail is ron.fortier@verizon.net.

Member Website: Gen-nections

MGS Member Pam Stone Eagleson has written in with her website "Gen-nections."

Pam offers a Maine-based genealogical and historical research service.

You can visit her website at http://home.roadrunner.com/~peagleson.

The Maine Genealogist - May 2008

Joseph C. Anderson II, FASG, Editor of The Maine Genealogist reports:

"With the publication deadline for the next issue of The Maine Genealogist always seeming to loom around the corner, I am deeply grateful to our authors who have contributed a steady stream of well-researched and interesting articles to share with our readers. Special mention must be made of Leslie Dow Sanders, who for years has provided this journal with many valuable Bible records and other family sources. Leslie has an uncanny ability for locating these items in all sorts of places, including the Internet, used book stores, and auction sites such as eBay. By publishing these records in the journal, we are preserving precious - and often fragile - family information, which may not be available anywhere else."

What interesting articles can be found in this quarter's issue?

Samuel Cates of Falmouth and Harrington, Maine: A Review of Current Knowledge and Discussion of His Parentage By Brent M. Owen, Wilfred A. Cote, and Frank C. Morrone.

The Parentage of Young Booker of Bowdoin and Gardiner, Maine By Priscilla Blount.

Jacob Waldron Swett Bible Record Contributed by Leslie Dow Sanders, along with a genealogical summary of the Jacob Waldron Swett family of Georgetown and Arrowsic, Maine.

Portland, Maine, Marriage Intentions, Volume 4, 1814-1837, Copied by Joseph C. Anderson, II, FASG.

The Maine Genealogist is published quarterly. For more information, visit our website at www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~megs.

Catholic Cemetery Online Databases

Great news for those researching Catholic ancestry thanks to some devoted individuals undertaking this extensive project!

Catholic cemetery managers in the Portland Diocese have long realized an increased interest in genealogy as well as an increase in family or friends trying to locate a long lost loved one.

In an effort to make your search easier and more convenient, the Maine Catholic Cemetery Committee, with the support of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, has developed this user friendly database to assist in your search.

There are 65 Catholic cemeteries in the diocese, and it will take time before all recorded burials in our cemeteries are converted to electronic files so they can be made available to you. This is the information that is currently available. Additions and updates will be ongoing so please be patient and check their site again and again.

To visit, go to http://www.portlanddiocese.net/genealogy_main.php.