A well-done family history is a labor of love. An updated third edition, published less than a decade after the first, is surely above and beyond the call of duty.

That’s a good description of “The Descendants of James Candage/Cavendish of Blue Hill, Maine,” compiled by Charles S. Candage and Janet Candage Rourke.

I’ve known Rourke for 25 years through the Daughters of the American Revolution, and have been aware that in recent years she’s been very busy with one project or another.

If you’ve seen the earlier editions, you will note that this one includes more female lines, and more extensions of previous lines. In addition to more Candages, added surnames are Carter, Conary, Cousins, Davis, Farnham, Hays, Henry, Gray, Jones, Locke, Nevells, Pert, Quimby, Reed, Raymond, Robbins, Sutherland, Webb, Webber and Williams.

The family histories alone take up 384 pages. The 70-page index comprises obituaries, wedding notices, accomplishments, photos and other items that are interesting, even if you don’t count yourself a Candage. The index of some 10,000 names is 56 pages.

Charles Samuel and Ruth (Pitman) Candage, both now deceased, did a lot of genealogical work, and not only on the first edition of this book.

The third edition has an “in memoriam” to them, and also to the late Elizabeth C. Westcott of Bucks-port.

The name Candage was originally Cavendish, from England, Rourke explains. James, born 1730 in Massachusetts, appears to be the son of Thomas Cavendish Jr. of Marblehead.

James married Elizabeth Millett of Gloucester, so it appears that all of us with Millett forebears from Gloucester – including my Bennetts – are cousins to the Blue Hill Candages.

Growing up in Ellsworth, Rourke had no idea there were so many Candages, but she certainly knows now.

The book includes a picture of the memorial to James Candage by the entrance of South Blue Hill Cemetery, information on the Joseph Candage II homestead, and information on the family of Samuel Roundy Candage from the double-sided gravestone in Seaside Cemetery, Blue Hill.

Rourke said she hoped the book would be “a resource from which future generations can expand their family histories.” I think that’s pretty much guaranteed. It is carefully researched and well-done, and it’s obvious that the compiler spent a lot of time collecting updated information from many cousins.

Even though the book has 200 pages more than the second edition, she certainly has made every effort to make the Candage/Cavendish volume affordable. The price is only the cost of printing itself and shipping – $33 book rate, which may take two to three weeks for delivery; or $36 for five-day priority mail.

The address is Janet C. Rourke, 29 Sunrise Terrace, Orono, ME 04473. For information, you may call 866-2039, or send e-mail to janetrourke@yahoo.com.

The Washington County Genealogy Society will hold its first meeting of the season at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 23, at Peavey Memorial Library in Eastport.

The meeting is open to the public. Those interested in research are invited to come to see what connections they might have to families from this area of Maine.

Membership is $10 a year, including subscription to the quarterly newsletter, Woods and Weirs.

For information, contact President Frances Raye at 853-6630, or Secretary Valdine Atwood at 255-4432.

3173. DAY-COCHRAN-ASHWORTH. Seek information and descendants of George Allen Day, b. Oct. 20, 1894, Codyville, Washington County, son of George Washington Day and Maud Emily (Cochran) Day. He md. Grace Ashworth, Jan. 12, 1915, at Pittsfield. Known children: Allen N. Day, b. 1915, Baileyville; Allen Arthur Day, b. 1916, Canton; Charles W.E. Day, b. 1920, Brewer. Deborah M. Cross, P.O. Box 385, Brooks, ME 04921.

3174. WILLEY-NEAL-COLE. Seekings parents, and their origins, for Josiah B. Willey, b. 1838, Harmony. Census of 1850, it appears that mother was Hannah. Family living in household of James Neal in 1850, Harmony, until James d. 1866, bd. Abbot. Hannah d. 1879, Milo, bd. Abbot. James Neal asked Cyrus Cole to take care of Hannah when he died. In the cemetery are Willey, Cole, Draper. Margaret Goode, 309 Ohio St., Bangor, ME 04401; or e-mail Mag1938@aol.com.

3175. PRAY-GOWELL. Looking for information on Jane Gowell, b. 1825, Belgrade, md. Reuben H. Pray in 1845. Their marriage record is located at Kennebec County Courthouse. Would like to obtain copy; would reimburse cost. Dorothy Simmon, 22 Vine St., Bangor, ME 04401; or e-mail Mag1938@aol.com.

Send queries to Family Ties, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402; or send e-mail to familyti@bangordailynews.net.