Sunday, May 11, 2014

Southern Maine Genealogy Conference

The Southern Maine Genealogy Conference will be held on Saturday, May 31st from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Keeley Banquet Center, 178 Warren Ave. Portland.  Joe Anderson will be the Keynote Speaker.  His talk will be: Documenting Grandma's Stories. Turning Gossip into Genealogical Fact.  As most MGS members know, Joe is editor of The Maine Genealogist as well as editor of The American Genealogist.  In addition Joe is chair of the MGS Publications Committee.

In addition to Joe's Keynote Address, there will be 9 different workshops throughout the day.  Topics include: Beginning Genealogy (even advanced genealogist will learn something); Searching the Census; Investigating and Evaluating Family Artifacts; Case Studies in Genealogical Problem Solving; the Irish of Portland, ME; DNA Testing & Genealogical Research; Genealogical Resources at the Maine Historical Society; Swedish Ancestry and a Panel of area libraries with Genealogical Collections.

The cost for the conference is $50.

You can register online at: www.gpcmgs.org either by mail in registration or online through PayPal or Credit Card.

FMI: contact Paul Doucette at pdoucette3@gmail.com.

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Last Week to Register for the 2014 MGS Spring Workshop

LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER... You don't have to be a member to join us, but MGS members do enjoy a discount at this and other events & publications...

The annual Maine Genealogical Spring Workshop is one day, deep dive session into a specific aspect of genealogical research. On April 5, 2014 we are excited to welcome Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, as she presents 4 lectures covering topics from identifying and dating early photographs to preservation techniques. We'll also learn about Civil War era photography and Maureen's own special project, The Last Muster, an effort to find, identify and document photos of the Revolutionary War generation.  Join us as we gain a better understanding of the kinds of information we can glean from those old family photographs and how to preserve that information for generations to come."
Maureen Taylor will also be able to provide some individual private consults the evening before the program in the Breakfast Room of the Comfort Inn at 281 Civic Center Dr., Augusta, ME 04330.  All appointments dated Friday April 4th, 2014 will be held at the hotel.

More information about the workshop is available here: http://conference.maineroots.org
For scheduling a private consult with Maureen Taylor visit her event page at http://mgs2014.eventbrite.com

Monday, January 27, 2014

New Book on Windham, ME History

Time for a good book? If you're interested in Windham history, you may enjoy reading Kay Soldier's latest book about Windham's "Northeast Road" -- the old time name for Route 202 or Gray Road.
Read about the old Revolunary soldiers who settled in the Eastern part of Windham and chuckle at Charles Legrow's descriptions of every house and settler from the Rotary (or Foster's Corner) to the Gray line. Every graveyard, every school and all the houses, and all the people who lived there -- as memorialized by one of our town's best historians -- Charles Legrow.

Genealogists will have a field day with the family details.

Read about some of Windham's finest people including Tony Pecoraro, Walter Reeves, Flora Lamb and others -- and read about the Days Gone By and what the different seasons meant to some of us old timers.
 
This is not an official publication of the Maine Genealogical Society, but rather a new book by one of our members.  If you would like a copy, please send $20 per copy to Kay Soldier, 114 Tandberg Trail, Windham, Maine 04062 and she will mail it out right away.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Query: Hannah CHELLIS

I am looking to help with a brick wall....

Hannah CHELLIS, wife of Samuel BOOTHBY (16 Dec 1794 in Limerick, York, Maine - 20 Dec 1860 in Limington, York, Maine), and mother of Charles, Asa, Sophia, John, and George.  I believe she is the daughter of David CHELLIS and spent most, if not all of her life, in the area of Limerick, Maine.

Info should be sent to Seema Kenney: cmakny@hotmail.com

Call For Papers

Proposals for talks are now being accepted for the MGS Fall Conference, September 13, 2014, at Jeff’s Catering in Brewer. There are three openings for one-hour presentations. Speaker compensation is $100 plus registration and lunch the day of the conference.

Proposals should include the following:
1. Speaker’s name
2. Contact information (including mailing address, e-mail, & phone number)
3. Prior speaking experience
4. Brief biography (about 50 words)
5. Title of the talk
6. Summary or outline of the talk (about 200 words)
7. Intended audience level (beginner, intermediate, advanced, or all levels)

Please send proposals to Helen A. Shaw either by mail (77 Pascal Ave., Rockport, ME 04856) or as a pdf attachment (hashaw@earthlink.net). Proposals must be received by 1 March 2014.

Friday, November 29, 2013

Query: SCANLIN/SCANLAN/SCANLON

Searching for ancestors/descendants of Patrick SCANLIN b. 1819 (1822?), Dannygal or Sligo Co. Ireland, d. after 1871, Parish of St. James, Charlotte Co., New Brunswick, Canada.  His wife Anna MEREDITH/MERDITH b. 1826, _, Scotland, d. between 1865 and 1870, Parish of St. James, Charlotte Co, New Brunswick, Canada.

Email: Foxscan@aol.com with any additional info

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Query; Mary FERNALD

Seeking the parents of Mary FERNALD b. 20 Jun 1753, Kittery, ME; d. bef 1830, m. 10 Jan 1773, Daniel FIELD in Kittery, ME.

Any help is appreciated. Please email: knighthawk5@roadrunner.com

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Query: ROBBINS, Jonathan

Jonathan ROBBINS b abt. 1740) lived on the Fox Islands (North Haven Island) pre-Revolutionary War. Per The History Of Vinalhaven he was from Dedham, MA. Is he the descendant of the William ROBBINS who lived in Walpole in 1638?

This Jonathan then had, presumably, a son "John" who married Eunice NUTTER on Vinalhaven in 1801, and their son Jonathan was born late 1801. He married Maria DOW.

Please help! Thank you,
P. Claus
patclaus@roadRunner.com

Friday, October 4, 2013

Query: BEALE/PERCIVAL

Emeline BEALE PERCIVAL born about 1818. 1830 married Gordon Percival in Bangor. Some trees show parents as Horatio and Elizabeth/Julia. Others as Isaac and Elizabeth Stevens. None seem to have supporting documentation. Emeline died 1874, buried in Hudson, ME. Also birth location is unknown. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Contact member C. Johnson with any info: cj20899@q.com

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Back By Popular Demand: Silhouette Artist, Ruth Monsell

Ruth Monsell of Artful Heirlooms, noted Maine silhouette artist, will be a vendor at our September 21 workshop in Brewer. Ruth has been quickly capturing excellent likenesses in cut paper for over three decades. Sittings take five minutes or less, and cost $25 with a choice of mat, or $30 for two mirror image copies, matted. This makes for inexpensive gifts likely to become family heirlooms. A choice of frames will be available.

The artist also works from clear, closeup profile photographs, so you can bring pictures of your family, grandchildren, and even pets, and go home with their silhouettes. For samples of the artist's work, see her website, ArtfulHeirlooms.com. Reservations for sittings may also be made by calling the artist at 866-212-7288.

Not attending the 2013 Fall Conference? You can still give Ruth a call and see how she may be able to help you create your own unique family heirloom.