State of Maine Project

Question

I have been updating and adding to the Maine Project page. I have also started a one place study for Somerset County, Maine.

I have also been trying to add more to the Maine Cemetery list, which needs much more work.

Anyone interested in helping with the Maine Project or starting a one place study in the state of Maine is more than welcome.

Please post here with ideas, questions, or to join in!

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Project:Maine

You could add "Maine" as one of your followed tags so you can be alerted about new posts about the state of Maine.

The Maine Project is part of the U.S. History Project and to request a United States badge, please use https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/639280/your-family-history-please-here-join-united-states-project

(That's a central location for badge requests, so they don't clutter the United States Project Leader's mailbox. Also, it allows other project members to see who's joining and connect with you if they notice a common interest).

James

Comments

Welcome Dan!

You might add "Maine" as one of your followed tags so you can be alerted about new posts about the state of Maine.

You might also want to contact either [[Murtaugh-30|Sarah Heiney]] or [[Smith-62120|Ellen Smith]], Leaders of the U.S. History Project for a US History Project badge.(The Maine Project is part of the U.S. History Project).

(by the way, one of my distant cousins, Mary Todd (b. 1832) married Gilman Junkins of Kittery, Maine).

James

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To request a United States badge, please do not send private message(s) to the United States Project Leader.

Instead, please post an ANSWER at https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/639280/your-family-history-please-here-join-united-states-project and indicate that you are joining the Maine Project. (And while you are there, do indicate any other United States topics you expect to be working on.)

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How does one start a "one place study?" I see a help page for one name studies, but not for one place studies.

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See https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Project:One_Place_Studies for more information.

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It looks like the "one Place Study" is a group all to itself.  It looks like they study one thing at a time.  This is the right place for the State of Maine or you can try the "Unites States" group.

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In fact, a "place study" (as defined by the mavens of One-Place Studies) is supposed to be a thorough genealogical/historical investigation of a place and all of its people and institutions. Few of the "place studies" created for U.S. counties come near achieving that ambitious goal. They are best understood as county information/resources pages. The county pages for Androscoggin and Somerset counties are among our best examples of U.S. county pages and the Washington County page is on its way toward that status. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, and regardless of what they are called, these kinds of pages are valuable. We need more of these pages.

To start a similar page for a county you know about and care about, go to the Add tab, choose New Thing, and start to create a page named for the county (for example, "Penobscot County, Maine"). Those three existing Maine county pages are great templates to use for the page content.

And be sure to categorize your new page in the county category (for example, Category: Penobscot County, Maine"). Once your page has some content to show off, put a link to the page in the description section of the county category, and add a link to the page in the list at https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Project:Maine#Town_and_County_Projects

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Thank you for clarifying the process Ellen!

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The Androscoggin page is indeed a great resource. I'm somewhat anal about using contemporary place names, and given all the shifts in town and county boundaries in 19th century Maine, it can be hard sometimes to figure out what county a town was in on a certain date. The table on the Androscoggin page is a gem.

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Hi, I'd love to be involved in the Maine Project. As far as I can tell I am a 12th generation Mainer, amongst ancestors from many other places as well. I'm still getting things plugged in on WikiTree as far as my family tree goes, but am working on it and ensuring things are accurate. Would love to be involved.

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Thank you, Alex! Any help with the Maine Project would be greatly appreciated. 

You can find the Maine Project Page at: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Project:Maine 

Make sure you contact Ellen Smith, the Project Leader. 

Answer 1

VFThomas has a good list of Maine cemeteries: http://www.vfthomas.com/Mainecemeterieshome.htm

Comments

http://digitalmaine.com/arc_wpa-cemetery/

Lay-out of the cemeteries and a couple I checked had them indexed by any wars they were in.

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Wow, Steven and Lin, what great resources! Thanks for sharing!

Answer 2

i believe that some my extended Nickles/Nickless family members migrated from Carlisle, Mass up to Somerset, Maine.  Keep an eye out for them!

Answer 3

I believe that I have folks from York County, and it's all very early.

Surnames are:

1. Littlefield https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Littlefield-454
2. Christopher Dyer Sheepscott York? https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Dyer-8264
3. Richard Spear (not on WikiTree) York, Co
4. Thomas Page (not on WikiTree) York, Co

May have more. I never uploaded a gedcom, so I've been going through my own line to add profiles as needed, adopt or complete orphaned/forgotten profiles, etc. I had not checked these lines (missing people). LOL!

I like the idea of a location project.

Comments

Barbara,

Those are familiar family names in the area. The boundaries of York County changed over time.

I have Spear's in my line - they are a confusing bunch. I have sorted through many coming out of York County so I would be glad to help if you get frustrated!

Answer 4

Hi James. I have bunches of Robbins and associated families from Vassaleboro, Kennebec Co. My brick wall is here. Margaret (Clark) Robbins b. 28 Aug 1808 m. Hiram Robbins 4 Oct 1828 and raised a family in Vassalboro. Twenty five years of research has not turned up so much as an iota of evidence on her family! HELP! Hiram's father and mother also lived and died in the area. Does Cross Hill cemetery ring a bell?

Comments

I have noticed some of the Robbins family in Kennebec County in my research. I'm afraid I don't have anything to add to the search for Margaret's parents, but I will keep this search in mind.

I see that the Cross Hill cemetery has some Clark's buried there. I wonder if she is connected to any of them?

James

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Is there any way you can get me that info on the Clake's??

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Sure. Here is a link to the Find A Grave entries for Clark's at Cross Hill Cemetery.

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gsr&GSiman=1&GScid=2228550&GSfn=&GSln=clark

 

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Here are some books that might help I used some of these in my family research (copied footnotes):

1. Sewall, Rufus King, ‘‘Ancient dominions of Maine: embracing the earliest facts, the recent discoveries, of the remains of aboriginal towns, the voyages, settlements, battle scenes, and incidents of Indian warfare, and other incidents of history, together with the religious developments of society within the ancient Sagadahoc, Sheepscot, and Pemaquin precincts and dependencies.’’ pg 140. http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=yale.39002014769427;view=1up;seq=9
2. Cushman, David Quimby. ‘’The history of ancient Sheepscot and Newcastle [Me.] including early Pemaquid, Damariscotta, and other contiguous places, from the earliest discovery to the present time, together with the genealogy of more than four hundred families.’’ Bath, E. Upton & Son, printers, 1882. pg 54. http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=loc.ark:/13960/t5s75jn55;view=1up;seq=5
3. Sylvester, Herbert Milton. Olde Pemaquid. Boston, W.B. Clarke Co., 1909. pg 233. http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044086336377;view=1up;seq=243
4. Thornton, John Wingate. Ancient Pemaquid: a historical review. Portland [Me.]: Brown Thurston, 1857. pg 104. http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044017945650;view=1up;seq=104
5. Noyes, Sybil, Charles T. Libby, and Walter Goodwin Davis, ‘‘Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire’’ (Portland, Me.: Anthoensen Press 1928029, reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1972), pg 213. (I might have gotten this from NEHGS?)
6. Hough, Franklin Benjamin. Pemaquid Papers, Albany, Weed, Parson, 1856. p. 15; pp. 49-56. http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=miun.afj7197.0001.001;view=1up;seq=61
7. Collections of the Maine Historical Society: York Deaths: https://archive.org/stream/collectionsmain07socigoog#page/n234/mode/2up

Answer 5

I would like to join the Maine Project. I think I already HAVE the US History badge, though. My great-grandparents were from Maine, and I have a LOT of profiles from there - my great-grandfather was a Pike, and the Pikes were fruitful and multiplied for 4 centuries!

Comments

Thank you, Robin! Let me know if you have any questions.

I have connections to the Pike family too! Via marriages to my Gilman and Wentworth families.

One good place to start is to beginning connecting your family members to the towns they are from and the cemeteries they are buried in (and create new cemetery categories, if they don't already exist).

James

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Oh, I've got a LOT of that - Norway, Maine mostly and Cumberland County. And some of MY Pikes married Gilmans, too. Dillinghams, Mitchells, Johnsons also . . . .

So tell me, is the "project box" that thing with the flag, the US History thing?? I didn't see anything else.

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Yes, that is the project box. That is what shows up on a profile that is designated as part of the Maine Project.

The template is {{US History|sub-project=Maine}}, which, when put at the top of the profile biography will show the US History project box. This is to help identify key people in Maine history and show they are part of this project.

Here is a page on the use of project boxes:

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Help:Project_Boxes 

 

 

Answer 6

Hi,

I would like to join the State of Maine Project.

Raised as a Mainer with family going back to early settlements.

Comments

That is great, Doris! We look forward to all that you can contribute. You should contact either [[Brown-8212|Abby Glann]] or [[Andrus-373|Alison Andrus]] for a US History Project badge (as the Maine Project is a sub project to that larger project).

James

Answer 7

What do people think of a free space page based upon the Medal of Honor Project at http://www.maine.gov/sos/kids/cmoh/ . There are about 96 recipients from Maine listed. Is there already something like this started? How would you list this back to the Maine project. This would be my first attempt at something like this. I will probably need help. Would anybody like to help with this?

Comments

That would be a great idea, Francis! If you created a free space page I can take care of linking it to the Maine Project page. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how to go about it.

James

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Have created the free space page.

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Medal_Of_Honor_Recipients_of_Maine

There are 95 people on the list. Only 8 have profiles and 1 of those is red locked. Have sent a request to have it more open.

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The page looks great, Francis! Thank you! I have made two links to it on the Maine Project page. One under the Free Space section and one under the Related Projects and Pages section.

James

Answer 8

I am have been researching Buxton, York, Maine, and have found some references that others may find of use, if we could post them for others to access, it would be great.

Coffin, Rev. Paul D.D.. The Records of the Church of Christ in Buxton, ME. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Press of John Wilson and Son, 1868. Digital images. Cornell University Library. Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/cu31924028809908.

G. T. Ridlon, Sr., Saco Valley Settlements and Families. Historical, Biographical, Genealogical, Traditional, and Legendary. Portland, Maine: Published by the Author, 1895. Digital images. Brigham Young University. Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/sacovalleysettle00byuridl

J. M. Marshall, A Report of the Proceedings at the Celebration of the First Centennial Anniversary of the Incorporation of the TOWN OF BUXTON, MAINE, Held at Buxton, Aug. 14, 1872. Portland, Maine: Dresser, McLellan & Co, 1874. Digital images. Cornell University Library. Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/cu31924028809899

 

Comments

Thank you, Kay. Those are great links to Buxton sources.

James

Answer 9

I'd like to help with this project. My ancestors came from across the pond in the 1600's. My 10th ggf, William Lamson arrived in Ipswich, Mass, around 1635, and the family further settled into Maine and downeast Maine in the early 1800's. My 9th ggf, Tristram Coffin (1609-1681), is one of the founding fathers of Nantucket. I live in Windham, and work full time, so on a limited basis I am willing to check cemeteries, and town halls and such, here in Cumberland county.

Jim Lamson

Comments

Welcome Jim, and thank you for the offer of help! I see you already have added the "Maine" tag to your profile. You could also contact either [[Brown-8212|Abby Glann]] or [[Andrus-373|Alison Andrus]] for a US History Project badge, so you can follow all of the discussions.

(I am a descendant of Joseph and Barnabas Lamson, of Concord, Massachusetts).  - James Paxton

Answer 10

I have a few Maine ancestors in the tree. I would like to join so I can learn more about them. They are a few brick walls I'd like to see torn down.

Comments

Welcome, Chris. I hope we can help with your research. You should add "Maine" to the tags in your profile and contact either [[Brown-8212|Abby Glann]] or [[Andrus-373|Alison Andrus]] for a US History Project badge, so you can follow all of the discussions.

James Paxton

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Maine and US History tags and such are all added. And I have a US History badge. =) Just need a LOT of help with some brick walls. I sent you a private message. Will need some help. I'll let you know what profiles I need help with.

Thank you!

Answer 11

Ok, very strange. I left an answer here about a month or so ago and joined US History so I could help here. I see nobody got ahold of me because my post vanished.

Well, I'm back, I'm in the washington county area, and I'm currently working on historical names per state in a large spreadsheet. Maine was NOT fun.

Feel free to hit me up.

Comments

Thank you, Steven! Any help connecting un-connected Maine profiles, adding sources to un-sourced profiles, and adding more Washington county cemeteries would be a big help!

James

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Steven, where can we see your large spreadsheet?

Answer 12

I'm a bit busy to join the project, I'm afraid. However, I've added myself as a lookup resource for Islesboro, Maine, vital records. See https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:Maine_Genealogy_Resources

Comments

Thank you, Bruce! It is always good to have extra help with local sources.

 

James

Answer 13

I have been categorizing numerous historical Maine Peoples too the Maine Project who were all of York County Massachusetts  Bay. And also Salibury,Norfolk/Essex,Massachusetts Bay. CD =)

Comments

Thanks for your contributions, Troy!

 

James

Answer 14

I'd like to join the Maine Project, please. Both my parents are Mainers and my mother's paternal and maternal family are all Maine.

 

Kelley.

Comments

Thank you, Kelley! We welcome any help you can offer to Maine Family research.

You should add "Maine" to the tags in your profile and contact either [[Brown-8212|Abby Glann]] or [[Andrus-373|Alison Andrus]] for a US History Project badge, so you can follow all of the discussions.

James

Answer 15

I'd like to join. My mother's family, maternal and paternal, are Mainers.

Comments

Thank you for the offer to help with the research! You should add "Maine" to the tags in your profile and contact either [[Brown-8212|Abby Glann]] or [[Andrus-373|Alison Andrus]] for a US History Project badge, so you can follow all of the discussions.

Answer 16

Hello, I am interested in Maine History, particularly Hancock County, and would like to contribute to the project.

Comments

Welcome, Darryl! Any contributions you can make to Maine profiles will be greatly appreciated.

You could add "Maine" to your followed tags to make sure you see any discussions on G2G.

You might also want to contact either [[Murtaugh-30|Sarah Heiney]] or [[Smith-62120|Ellen Smith]], Leaders of the U.S. History Project for a US History Project badge.

Answer 17

I am Michele Rosa. My mother's entire lineage dates back to the 1630s in Maine and then to two Mayflower families. I have volumes of family research journals and Genealogical Journals produced by the Librarian Maine Genealogical society.  I would like to start in a project centering around the 1700s and random profiles. My email is masherrosa41@gmail.com

Comments

Thank you, Michele! We look forward to anything you will be able to add to Maine history and Maine profiles. We have a few early Maine profiles, but some need cleaning up and we need to add many more. :)

James

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I am not going too take your answer for granted when it comes too Maine Province Michele Rosa. My name is Troy Smith I have a lot of the profiles I have been working on attached too my profile under PGM.(Although I may not be a PM of those profiles I have reviewed and contributed much too them) My email is troypsmith@hotmail.com if you ever want too discuss post 1750-C.1630 "Maine Province/Patent of Georginia Genealogy". Hope too hear from you soon. XD

P.S. I find having a genealogy buddy better than anything else for the subject because it's most consistent. Cheers

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Fantastic! I have a lot of genaeology journals done by a family friend in the 50s-80s. I just grabbed one off the stack and working my way through. Right now I am on Kittery for the Brown, Duncan, Fernald, Cutt ect. lineage. Half of the battle are these daunting profile made up from FamilySearch. It takes a tremendous time to write a bio, source it and then go fix the attached people.

Answer 18

I've been working on the Maine Project without actually knowing it! ;) I have several ancestors from Maine, especially the Washington County area.

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:) I completely understand! I frequently am working on Maine profiles that are more part of my name studies or cousin connections without thinking about how they fit into the Maine Project. But, in the long run, the more Maine profiles we create, document, and connect the more the Maine Project will benefit.

James

Answer 19

Hi! I'd like to help with the Maine Project. I'm a lifelong Mainer with family in Cumberland and Oxford counties going back to the early 1700s when they came up from Massachusetts Bay. I've been sourcing unsourced Maine profiles and I've created a few cemetery pages for Cumberland County. I've also been in contact with Lisa Franklin about getting a cemeterist badge once my WikiTree membership hits 30 days.

Comments

Thank you, Liat! Welcome to the Maine Project. The work you have been doing by sourcing Maine profiles and helping to build the cemetery pages is greatly valued.

I peeked at your profile and it looks like we are distant cousins via our Tenney ancestors. :)

Here is a link to the Maine Project Home Page:

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Project:Maine

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I saw that too, James! I've also got a few Bunkers somewhere down the line.

Answer 20

Giving it a shot. I'm making a Washington County Maine OPS page modeled after the Somerset County page to have some consistency. I did however leave it open so others can help.

Comments

That is great, Steven. I found the page and have connected it to the Maine Project page.

It looks great and we should all enjoy helping to build it.

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https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Washington_County%2C_Maine_Place_Study

Already linked in 2 categories.

(btw, where IS the Maine project page?)

(never mind. Found it)

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Steven - good job on the Washington County page.  You should show your location on the map - you may be the farthest north contributor on WikiTree.  49 degrees N?

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Just over 45 actually. Alaska and upper Canada and even northern Maine locations might beat me out.

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 Alaska and upper Canada don't count, this about Maine!  Drinkwaters are blowing up the Maine count.  

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Still holding out for the Drinkbrandy or Drinkvodka family. :P

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There's always Drinkwine.  Not a strong, but will do in a pinch.