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
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
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!
"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.
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
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
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.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
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.
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!
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!
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!
Monday, August 25, 2008
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.
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.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
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.
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
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.
"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.
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