The August issue of The Maine Genealogist is now in circulation.
Four of the articles in this and the prior issue have something remarkable in common - the identification of children born to unmarried parents.
Editor Joseph C. Anderson II, FASG, writes:
Illegitimacy in Colonial times was treated as a moral and financial problem. Early church records frequently document confessions of the sin of "fornication" or admonitions against persons having illegitimate children. For example, in 1790 the elders of the Second Church of Berwick felt it their duty to express to Susanna Hamilton their "abhorrence of her conduct as evil by suspending her from their communion & from all special privileges of the same." The John Knight deed shows that the Massachusetts town fathers were more concerned about the support of the illegitimate children, and they took legal steps against the parents to ensure the children would not become town charges. As genealogists facing perplexing lineage problems, we should be aware that children born to unmarried parents was a fairly common event. Though it is often difficult to prove an illegitimacy, when proof is available it will most often be found in original church, town and court records.
A look at this issues Table of Contents shows the following:
Four Jonathan Nuttings of Cushing, Maine by William T. Ruddock
Marriages Performed by Reverend Thomas Gilmore Mitchell in Auburn, West Minot, and Madison, Maine, contributed by Cheryl Willis Patten
John and Mercy (Michener) Dennison of Cutler, Maine by Brent M. Owen
Destitute and Sick, contributed by Leslie Dow Sanders
Holding His Feet to the Fire! contributed by Janice D. Gower
Lemuel Rich Family Letter, Standish, Maine, contributed by Leslie Dow Sanders
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.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Vital Records of Smithfield, Maine
Maine Genealogical Society Special Publication #62 is now available. The Vital Records of Smithfield, Maine has been compiled by Marlene A. Groves.
The town of Smithfield is located in the southwestern part of Somerset County and is ten miles south southwest of Skowhegan, the county seat. The town was originally formed from part of the towns of Dearborn and Mercer and called East Pond Plantation.
This transcription of the vital records of the town of Smithfield was made from the microfilmed original records with verification of any questionable entries made by looking at the original volumes of records located in the Smithfield town office.
368 pages, hard cover, 7,677 entry Every Name Index. 2009.
The book sells for $57.95, but MGS members pay only $49.95! 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.
The town of Smithfield is located in the southwestern part of Somerset County and is ten miles south southwest of Skowhegan, the county seat. The town was originally formed from part of the towns of Dearborn and Mercer and called East Pond Plantation.
This transcription of the vital records of the town of Smithfield was made from the microfilmed original records with verification of any questionable entries made by looking at the original volumes of records located in the Smithfield town office.
368 pages, hard cover, 7,677 entry Every Name Index. 2009.
The book sells for $57.95, but MGS members pay only $49.95! 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.
Vital Records of Mercer, Maine
Maine Genealogical Society Special Publication #61 is now available. The Vital Records of Mercer, Maine have been compiled by Marlene A. Groves.
The town of Mercer is located in the southwestern corner of Somerset County and is twelve miles west of Skowhegan. The town is bounded on the West by New Sharon, on the North by Starks, on the east by Norridgewock and Smithfield, and on the South by Rome.
This transcription was made from the digital images of the original records as contained on the CD available from Picton Press. One original volume, the marriage records for the period 1804-1835, had never before been microfilmed but was digitized for this transcription from the original volume located in the Mercer town office. Also included in this transcription are several Delayed Records of Births for years prior to 1892 which were also located inthe town office.
224 pages, hard cover, 5,099 entry Every Name Index. 2009.
The book sells for $39.95, but MGS members pay only $35.50! 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.
The town of Mercer is located in the southwestern corner of Somerset County and is twelve miles west of Skowhegan. The town is bounded on the West by New Sharon, on the North by Starks, on the east by Norridgewock and Smithfield, and on the South by Rome.
This transcription was made from the digital images of the original records as contained on the CD available from Picton Press. One original volume, the marriage records for the period 1804-1835, had never before been microfilmed but was digitized for this transcription from the original volume located in the Mercer town office. Also included in this transcription are several Delayed Records of Births for years prior to 1892 which were also located inthe town office.
224 pages, hard cover, 5,099 entry Every Name Index. 2009.
The book sells for $39.95, but MGS members pay only $35.50! 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.
Vital Records of Cornville, Maine
Maine Genealogical Society Special Publication #60 is now available. The Vital Records of Cornville, Maine was compiled by Sally Furber Nelson.
Cornville is a small rural community in Somerset County, located just north of Skowhegan, the county seat. The town was first settled in 1794 by men from Massachusetts and New Hampshire, many of them veterans of the Revolutionary War. The town was first called Bernardstown but, when it was incorporated as the 116th town on February 24, 1798, the name was changed to Cornville.
This transcription was made from a microfilm of the original records. It includes all of the material on that microfilm except an index.
254 pages, hard cover, 7,123 entry Every Name Index. 2009.
The book sells for $49.50, but MGS members save $5.00, paying only $44.50! 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.
Cornville is a small rural community in Somerset County, located just north of Skowhegan, the county seat. The town was first settled in 1794 by men from Massachusetts and New Hampshire, many of them veterans of the Revolutionary War. The town was first called Bernardstown but, when it was incorporated as the 116th town on February 24, 1798, the name was changed to Cornville.
This transcription was made from a microfilm of the original records. It includes all of the material on that microfilm except an index.
254 pages, hard cover, 7,123 entry Every Name Index. 2009.
The book sells for $49.50, but MGS members save $5.00, paying only $44.50! 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.
Vital Records of Castine, Maine
Maine Genealogical Special Publication #59 is currently available. Vital Records of Castine, Maine has been compiled by James H. Wick.
Castine, Maine is one of the oldest communities in North America, is located in Hancock County on Penobscot Bay and is thirty miles southwest of Ellsworth, the county seat. It has been occupied continuously since the early 1600s as the site of numerous trading posts, forts, missions and permanent settlement of France, Holland, England and colonial America. Before 1613, and during the course of its long history, Castine has also been home to several nations of Native Americans.
416 pages, hard cover, 12, 457 entry Every Name Index. 2009.
The book sells for $57.95, but MGS members pay only $48.95! 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.
Castine, Maine is one of the oldest communities in North America, is located in Hancock County on Penobscot Bay and is thirty miles southwest of Ellsworth, the county seat. It has been occupied continuously since the early 1600s as the site of numerous trading posts, forts, missions and permanent settlement of France, Holland, England and colonial America. Before 1613, and during the course of its long history, Castine has also been home to several nations of Native Americans.
416 pages, hard cover, 12, 457 entry Every Name Index. 2009.
The book sells for $57.95, but MGS members pay only $48.95! 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.
Vital Records of Norridgewock, Maine
Have you picked up your copy of Maine Genealogical Society Special Publication #57? Vital Records of Norridgewock, Maine has been compiled by Marlene A. Groves.
The town of Norridgewock is located in Somerset County on the Kennebec River and lies west of Skowhegan, the county seat. Norridgewock was incorporated on June 18, 1788 as the 54th town and was originally the county seat when Somerset County was incorporated in 1809 before it moved to Skowhegan in 1871. The area was once the territory of the Norridgewock Native Americans, a band of the Abenaki nation, for whom the town was named. Their village was located in the region called Old Point, which is now part of Madison.
There is an early volume of records containing town meeting records along with births, deaths and marriages for which a typescript was made years ago but no indication by whom or when. The town clerk indicates that this original volume stops at page 48 although the typescript contains additional pages. Even though the town was incorporated in 1788, there are earlier events recorded as early as 1774.
448 pages, 13, 124 entry Every Name Index. 2008.
The book sells for $54.50, but MGS members pay only $47.50! 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 more about other MGS special publications, visit our website at www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~megs.
Membership number required to receive the MGS member discount.
The town of Norridgewock is located in Somerset County on the Kennebec River and lies west of Skowhegan, the county seat. Norridgewock was incorporated on June 18, 1788 as the 54th town and was originally the county seat when Somerset County was incorporated in 1809 before it moved to Skowhegan in 1871. The area was once the territory of the Norridgewock Native Americans, a band of the Abenaki nation, for whom the town was named. Their village was located in the region called Old Point, which is now part of Madison.
There is an early volume of records containing town meeting records along with births, deaths and marriages for which a typescript was made years ago but no indication by whom or when. The town clerk indicates that this original volume stops at page 48 although the typescript contains additional pages. Even though the town was incorporated in 1788, there are earlier events recorded as early as 1774.
448 pages, 13, 124 entry Every Name Index. 2008.
The book sells for $54.50, but MGS members pay only $47.50! 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 more about other MGS special publications, visit our website at www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~megs.
Membership number required to receive the MGS member discount.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Diaries of Robert Murphy Fulton
Here's an interesting web spot you should take a peek at. We heard from Sheila Antworth Lafferty that she had posted the diaries of Robert Murphy Fulton of Mars Hills online, and we were impressed with this sharing of a personal history.The diaries were transcribed by great-great-grandson Rodney Lee Fulton, and posted online by great-great-granddaughter Sheila Antworth Lafferty. Eight diaries are known to exist spanning the years 1886 - 1897. Some of the surnames mentioned include Bell, Glidden, Hutchinson, Fulton, Giberson, Larrabee, Lindsay, Hawksley, Bartley, Blackden, Rideout, Hallett and Rudlett. Visitors to the site can search easily search by keyword.
In addition to the transcribed diaries, Sheila has augmented with biographical information, obituaries and photographs. She says that is where you can help - she is looking for photographs of individuals mentioned in the diaries to help enhance the site (scanned copies are fine).
What a labor of love and a great way to honor an ancestor! And an impressive job by Sheila. Well worth the journey over to http://fultondiaries.wordpress.com/.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Greater Portland Announces Anniversary Schedule
The Greater Portland Chapter is geared up and ready to celebrate their 30th anniversary on Saturday, August 1st, and they want you to be a part of it. The schedule for the day has much to offer!
9:45-10:15 Registration
10:15 - 10:30 Welcome by Carol McCoy, Chapter President
All day activities include: Genealogy Library, Member Displays, Give Away Table
(The Family History Library will be open from 10:30-11:45 and from 1:00-5:00)
10:40 - 11:40 - Morning Classes:
2:00 - 3:00 - Afternoon Clases:
9:45-10:15 Registration
10:15 - 10:30 Welcome by Carol McCoy, Chapter President
All day activities include: Genealogy Library, Member Displays, Give Away Table
(The Family History Library will be open from 10:30-11:45 and from 1:00-5:00)
10:40 - 11:40 - Morning Classes:
- Computer Software Demonstrations (Will Haskell)
- New England Resources (Carol McCoy)
- Introduction to Genealogy (Sue Hawes)
2:00 - 3:00 - Afternoon Clases:
- What the Family History Center Has to Offer (Kathy Moody)
- Ask Our Panel of Experts: Sue Hawes, Carol McCoy, Pam Eagelson, and Dana Edgecomb
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Greater Portland Chapter to Celebrate 30th Anniversary
Come celebrate genealogy with the Greater Portland Chapter of the Maine Genealogical Society on Saturday, August 1st, 2009, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 29 Ocean House Road, Cape Elizabeth, Maine.
The Greater Portland Chapter is celebrating its 30th Anniversary with a free day of classes, demonstrations, a special reference library and a potluck lunch!
To register, email gpcmgs@gmail.com or call 207 (892-2098). You can learn more by visiting our website at www.rootsweb.com/~megpcmgs/.
The Greater Portland Chapter is celebrating its 30th Anniversary with a free day of classes, demonstrations, a special reference library and a potluck lunch!
To register, email gpcmgs@gmail.com or call 207 (892-2098). You can learn more by visiting our website at www.rootsweb.com/~megpcmgs/.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Conference Speaker Change
Due to a scheduling conflict, Bob Chenard will be unavailable to lead our French-Canadian breakout session at the 2009 Annual Conference.
We are very pleased to announce that Dennis Prue has agreed to step in and share his knowledge in this area.
Dennis Prue is a News Analyst by profession. Raised in a military family (aka Air Force brat). He has been an avid genealogist for the past 41 years, and has done research from Virginia to Quebec, working both sides of his family: McConnells from Virginia and Ireland to Prues / Proulx / Proust from Maine, New Brunswick, Quebec and France. Dennis is the past-president of Aroostook County Genealogy Society, and currently serves as vice-president. He is a volunteer at the local Family History Center (only non-LDS staff member). He is co-editor of Ashland, Maine: The Early Years History. He has written many articles for the A.C.G.S. newsletter.
Dennis's personal genealogy reflects the different styles of record keeping. His father's ancestors of French-Canadian origins have nearly no missing persons due to the wonderful records found in Catholic parish records. His mother's side of the family tree has more missing branches due to the very bare bones English style records. The records of his father's family has enabled him to go five more generations back in France itself. This took nearly three years of research; learning to read Latin as well as convoluted French-Latin used during the switch from Latin in church records to the to the vernacular French and old French itself. One unexpected discovery arising from his research is he found that his handwriting is the same as that of the early 1600s in France.
We look forward to having Dennis return as a speaker!
If you haven't registered yet, please visit the official conference website at www.maineroots.org.
We are very pleased to announce that Dennis Prue has agreed to step in and share his knowledge in this area.
Dennis Prue is a News Analyst by profession. Raised in a military family (aka Air Force brat). He has been an avid genealogist for the past 41 years, and has done research from Virginia to Quebec, working both sides of his family: McConnells from Virginia and Ireland to Prues / Proulx / Proust from Maine, New Brunswick, Quebec and France. Dennis is the past-president of Aroostook County Genealogy Society, and currently serves as vice-president. He is a volunteer at the local Family History Center (only non-LDS staff member). He is co-editor of Ashland, Maine: The Early Years History. He has written many articles for the A.C.G.S. newsletter.
Dennis's personal genealogy reflects the different styles of record keeping. His father's ancestors of French-Canadian origins have nearly no missing persons due to the wonderful records found in Catholic parish records. His mother's side of the family tree has more missing branches due to the very bare bones English style records. The records of his father's family has enabled him to go five more generations back in France itself. This took nearly three years of research; learning to read Latin as well as convoluted French-Latin used during the switch from Latin in church records to the to the vernacular French and old French itself. One unexpected discovery arising from his research is he found that his handwriting is the same as that of the early 1600s in France.
We look forward to having Dennis return as a speaker!
If you haven't registered yet, please visit the official conference website at www.maineroots.org.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)