Query: Mary (Smith) Jones Brazier of Windham

Member Lowry Drinkwater is looking for some guidance, writing...

I am trying to locate the grave site of my great-great-grandmother. I have been researching her for over two years and thus far have been unable to locate her grave site through online research, personal visits, and library research. I am fairly certain that she is buried in Cumberland County.

This is what I know. My great-grandfather was William Howard Jones, b. 1861 in Windham, Maine, to William Jones (b. about 1835 in Maine) and Mary Smith (b. about 1840 in Maine). William Jones either died or abandoned the family between 1862 and 1866. Mary Smith Jones remarried to Joseph Brazier in 1866 in Windham, Maine. From this point the trail gets cold.

My mother remembers visiting her great-grandmother's grave site with her grandfather William Howard Jones when she was a teenager and she is certain that it was in Cumberland County. She remembers that there was a gravestone, but she has no idea of the name on the stone. As you can see from the above, it could be Mary Smith, Mary Jones, Mary Brazier, or possibly some combination such as Mary Smith Jones, or Mary S. Brazier. Or it could even be that she is buried under some other last name if Joseph Brazier died and she remarried yet again.

I believe that my great-great-grandmother died between 50 and 60 years of age, making her death date between 1890 and 1900.

Is there any way to determine her grave site? I do not mind searching databases, town records, or other documentation. About all I can be sure of is that her maiden name was Mary Smith (b. about 1840) and that she was from Windham, Maine.

Thank you for your help,
Lowry Drinkwater

If you have suggestions or can help, Lowry's email address is lowrydrinkwater@yahoo.com.

The Maine Genealogist - May 2009

The May issue of The Maine Genealogist is hitting our members' mailboxes now.

Our quarterly publication once again contains some insightful articles. Editor Joseph C. Anderson II, FASG, writes:

Deciding when to publish can be a difficult decision for genealogists. We may have uncovered a wealth of valuable information on the family under inquiry, but are reluctant to release it to others while unanswered questions remain. Or we may think there is always more research to do and we don't want to risk publishing incomplete or erroneous information. The problem, of course, is waiting too long.

Publishing our work should not necessarily be viewed as the last stop in the research process. If we are stuck on a problem or if we have made an error in our conclusions, making our research available to others may turn out to be the conduit for locating persons with the solution to the problem. Several of the articles in this issue demonstrate how that process may occur.

A look at the Table of Contents shows the following:

The First Family of Dr. Jonah Spaulding of Franklin and Somerset Counties, Maine by Linda Longley

The Death of "Mountain Mack" McKenney contributed by Leslie Dow Sanders

Children Without Parents: A Puzzling Entry in the Wells, Maine, Town Records by Priscilla Eaton, CG

Emerging from the Shadows: The Surprising Case of Elisha Thing of Waterboro, Maine by Joseph C. Anderson II, FASG

Bigamist Riverius Hooker and His Three Families, First Husband of Mehitable Baker of Pownalborough, Maine by Glenn D. Nasman

The Family of Captain John Bourne of Wells and Kennebunk, Maine: Ships and Shipwrights (concluded) by Priscilla Eaton, CG

Portland, Maine, Marriage Intentions: Volume 4, 1814-1837 (continued), 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.

2009 Conference Flyer and Registration Form Available

The official conference flyer and registration form has been added to the conference website. If you haven't visited, we invite you to visit www.maineroots.org for all the conference information.

To download the conference flyer, visit www.maineroots.org/registration/2009 flyer.pdf.

You'll want to register now... and we'll see you in Bangor on September 26, 2009.

Free Downloadable Genealogy Charts and Forms

It's always good to have a reminder of where on the Internet we can get those forms that help us capture our research (free!) A recent post by Dick Eastman did just that.

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.

Looking for some blank forms that you can fill in during your genealogy research? You can download free, high-quality blank forms online from several web sites and print them on your own printer.

Family Tree Magazine has a huge collection of downloadable forms on the company's web site. The forms include pedigree charts, research calendars, note-taking forms, deed indexes, research journal, correspondence logs, family group sheets and census extraction forms. You can see this impressive collection of forms at http://www.familytreemagazine.com/forms/download.html

Matt Misbach has an excellent collection of online, downloadable genealogy forums at http://misbach.org.

Ancestry.com has downloadable forms that are as nice looking as the commercially available forms. You can obtain a pedigree chart (called an Ancestral Chart), Research Calendar, Research Extract, Correspondence Chart, Source Summary and Family Group Sheet. You can do all of this at: http://www.ancestry.com/save/charts/ancchart.htm

FamilySearch.org has a collection of online forms, including U.S., British, Irish and Canadian census extraction forms, family group sheets, blank timelines and more. The forms are available at http://www.familysearch.org/eng/Search/RG/frameset_rhelps.asp?Page=./research/type/Form.asp&ActiveTab=Type

About.com offers a number of downloadable genealogy forms, including family tree fan charts, pedigree charts, family group sheets and relationship charts. Take a look at http://genealogy.about.com/od/free_charts/

Canadian census forms for the 1851, 1901, 1906 and 1911 Canadian censuses may be downloaded from: http://www.ancestry.com/trees/charts/canadacensus.aspx.

Similar forms for the 1841 through 1901 decennial U.K. censuses may be obtained at http://www.ancestry.com/trees/charts/ukcensus.aspx.

All of the above are available free of charge.

Penobscot County Genealogical's Annual BBQ

John Van Dyke, Program Director for Penobscot County Genealogical Society, announces the details of the always popular annual summer cookout:

"The Penobscot County Genealogical Society will be meeting at the Hampden Historical Society, Wednesday, June 17th, for our annual B-B-Q. This gathering is open to members only. The menu includes hamburgers, cheeseburgers, Cajun deep-fried turkey and strawberry shortcake. Tours will be given. Show time will be posted in the PCGS newsletter and website."

To learn more, visit them on the web at www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mepcgs.

Taconnett to hold 6th Annual Genealogy Fair

The Taconnett Falls Chapter of MGS announces their 6th Annual Genealogy Fair. This popular event will be held on Saturday, June 20, 2009, at the Taconnett Genealogy Library, 10 Lithgow Street, Winslow, Maine, from 9:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to spend a relaxing day devoted to researching and networking.

Special 2009 offerings include:

10:00 "There's a long, long, road a-winding, but you CAN get there from here-ah". Sarah Crockett will share some of the lessons learned from her experiences.

11:00 "Organizational Tips for Genealogists" will be presented by Carolyn Browne.

1:30 "Brick Walls: A Panel Discussion" moderated by Janet Weymouth is just the place for help with your questions like - where should I look? what's next? or ___? Panelists will be Jerry Gower, MF-1790s contributor and Washington County expert; Kay Marsh, Kennebec Valley family researcher; and Carol McCoy, noted genealogical researcher and national presenter.

Not to mention -

• Representatives of various societies including Penobscot County Genealogical Society, the recently formed Sidney Historical Society and Vassalborough Historical Society, plus others will be at the fair to share with you information about the valuable resources offered by their societies.
• Debbie Roberge will be available to show you all the ins and outs of the RootsMagic software. While at the Fair, check with others to see which software they prefer.
• Celeste Hyer, MGS Membership Secretary, will be available for Maine Genealogical Society related questions.
  
• Check out what's offered by the Maine Old Cemetery Association (MOCA).
• Family association representatives including Roland Rhoades, who will share the latest Rhoades updates along with listings of Universalist & Unitarian ministers in Maine.
• Janice Gower will be sharing her extensive knowledge of the Woolwich area and the expertise she has gained compiling may sketches for the Maine Families in 1790 project.
• If you have Maine roots you will likely need to know about Franco-American research. Clair Poulin from the Maine Franco-American Society (their library is in Auburn) and Taconnett's own Franco expert, Bob Chenard, will be available to help with the unique aspects of this type of research.
• Ancestry outside of Maine? Check with Barbara Gunvaldsen experienced Scandinavian genealogical researcher.

What a full day! And did we mention the book sale, prize drawings and refreshments? If you didn't attend one or all of the first five fairs, you really missed out - Don't let that happen again.

For more information, visit their website at www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~metfcmgs - or you can email taconnettfalls@yahoo.com - or call (207) 873-5590.

Old Fort Western Seeks Fort Descendants

Old Fort Western, the 1754 National Landmark fort, store and house historic site on the riverfront in downtown Augusta, would like to be in touch with the descendants of people who lived in the fort's main house between 1840 and 1920.

The project is a part of a larger effort to more thoroughly interpret the Fort's 19th- and early 20th-century history. " As important as the Fort's military and storekeeping past are to the City of Augusta, the Kennebec Valley, Maine and New England, we should remember that more than anything else during its 253 years, the main house was someone's home," said Jay Adams, Old Fort Western's director and curator. "To the extent we can learn who lived there after 1840, and hopefully be in touch with their descendants, the more we will understand about life at the Fort and in the region through very nearly our own times."

Using census and city directory resources, Fort staff and volunteers recently compiled a list of known Fort residents. Now they hope to be in touch with the descendants of those residents to learn more about the details of their lives and perhaps become aware of artifacts they may have owned.

A list of the known tenants can be viewed by visiting: www.oldfortwestern.org/TenementResidentRLS051507.pdf.

All persons with knowledge of any of the listed individuals are encouraged to contact the Fort at (207) 626-2385.

Portland to discover Gems in Deeds

The following notice has been received from the Greater Portland Chapter regarding their upcoming meeting scheduled for June 6, 2009.

Finding Gems in Deeds

Dr. Carol P. McCoy will present a talk on deeds. Deeds are a valuable research tool especially when early probate records have been destroyed as in Cumberland County, Maine. Our MGS Chapter has been conducting an exciting special project to index the early (1760-1796) deeds of Cumberland County. This talk will highlight some gems to be found in deeds and clarify ways to use deeds effectively to discover family relationships, locations, and other key information. Come learn about the wonders found in old deeds! You can visit her website at www.find-your-roots.com.

Social time is 12:30. Meeting/program begins at 1 p.m. Our meeting is free and open to the public. We meet at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 23 Ocean Road, Cape Elizabeth, Maine.

For more information, call Linda @ 207.490.5709.

Taconnett Falls Chapters announces upcoming programs

The Taconnett Falls Chapter's electronic newsletter was recently received and here's what they have on tap:

May 17th - Carolyn Browne with "How to Prepare for Genie Search in Norway with Pictures"

June 21st - Annual Genealogy Fair

July 19th - Carolyn Browne discusses how to join the Mayflower Society and Carolyn Kelley discusses how to join the DAR.

The Taconnett Falls Genealogy Library is located at 10 Lithgow Street in Winslow, Maine. The library is open on Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM. The library opens at 1:00 PM on meeting days, the 3rd Sunday of each month.

For more information, you can contact them at taconettfalls@yahoo.com.

Genealogy Course Offered at the Newport Cultural Center

NEWPORT, MAINE - One of the major goals of the recently formed Newport Cultural Center (NCC) partnership is to provide the tools needed so that families can learn about their cultural heritage. The NCC, which houses the Newport Historical Society, Museum and Newport Public Library together in a new state of the art facility, also has a genealogical research room, and will be offering a series of Genealogy Classes on Saturdays from 10:00AM to Noon this May and June, taught by Ruth F. Blood, Volunteer Genealogist and Instructor for the Skowhegan Free Public Library, along with Intern K Hartsgrove, who is the Museum Curator at the NCC. The six week course is open to all. It will provide information for beginners and also for people who are at all stages of family history research.

The course will be as follows:
May 9th: Session I: Genealogical research overview; what to expect in researching family history; organizational tools and materials; verification and documentation; primary and secondary records; as well as getting started on your research.
May 16th: Session II: United States federal census records: years of publication, information they contain, comparing records, discrepancies; agricultural, industrial and social census for Maine; repositories for Maine census records; a demonstration and practice with the Ancestry.com research tool that contains all states census records as well as other information; Canadian census records.
May 23rd: Session III: Early Maine counties and divisions; towns in 1790; vital records: samples, repositories, arrangement on microfilm, discrepancies, value to researchers; delayed returns; sources for pre - 1892 vital records in Maine; vital records for other states and for Canada; and Maine Old Cemetery Association records.
June 13th: Session IV: Resources, such as the Maine Archives, Maine State Library, the Bangor Public Library, the Family History centers, the Fogler Library, the Taconnett Genealogy Library, the URSUS Library Catalog, Heritage Quest and free internet sites, as well as how to use and evaluate their data.
June 20th: Session V: Deeds and probate records; military records; immigration and naturalization records; town histories; and Daughters of the American Revolution and Mayflower descendants research.
June 27th: Session VI: Obituaries and their value; family genealogies: how to use and evaluate them; writing queries, Daughters of the American Revolution and Mayflower descendants research; “stumbling blocks and brick walls”; and a review and summary.

Each class will provide instruction as well as individual practice. Assistance will also be provided after the class for those who may want additional instruction. There will be a registration fee of $5.00 per class or $30.00 for the full course, and individuals may participate in one or all of the classes. The registration will be just $25.00 for those who pre - register for all of the classes by Saturday, May 2nd. Pre - registration may be completed by calling 369 - 2193, 369 - 2153, or by emailing nccdirector@newportmaine.net.