Web sites offer aid to genealogists

A mourning sampler, in itself, is a wonderful historical item, but Ardeana Hamlin’s story about the sampler she did for her late sister leads us to the work that Nancy Hamlin Davis did recording gravestone inscriptions in portions of several Somerset County towns.

The records for the 35 cemeteries that Davis copied are on the Web site for the Old Canada Road Historical Society, www.rootsweb.com~meochrs.

Many other genealogical resources are available at this site, too, including some obituaries, military and marriage records. Or how about maps of 1860 Moscow?

Putting “Old Canada Road” in a search engine for the Internet will lead you to several sites. One excellent one is Maine’s French Communities at www.francomaine.org. Choose from an English version or a French version.

Robert Chenard of Waterville also has a wealth of information for genealogists at http.members.mint.net/frenchcx/canroad.htm.

Where would you go to look for a star that was shot out of the Twentieth Maine flag at Five Forks, Va., during the Civil War?

Try the Dexter Historical Society Grist Mill Museum in Dexter. After all, it was color bearer Sgt. George A. Durocher who salvaged the star.

The discharge papers of Pvt. Thomas Gilbert, 1st Maine Artillery? The ribbons belonging to Otis O. Roberts, of the Sixth Maine Infantry? Charles Ansell’s World War I medal? They’re in the museum, as well.

Dexter is not a big town, but the accomplishments of the historical society since its beginnings 35 years ago are truly impressive. The collection includes old furniture, mill equipment, the town’s World War I Honor Roll, genealogical materials, a fireman’s dress shirt and hat from 1890, and the Mount Kineo soda bottles I remember from my childhood.

The society owns not only the grist mill, right in the center of town, but the Miller’s House, the 1845 Carr Schoolhouse and the Abbott Mill Office Building.

Much work is still needed on the office building, and the society is working to raise $75,000 for that effort. To send a contribution to that project, or to join the society for $10 a year, write Dexter Historical Society, P.O. Box 481, Dexter, ME 04930.

Most of all, do go visit the museum 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays, 1-4 p.m. Saturdays through August. In September, it is open afternoons. The society has for sale a nice collection of souvenirs from the town’s bicentennial, and a wonderful historical calendar. The Web site is www.dextermaine.org/museum.

The Society of Mayflower Descendants will meet on Aug. 3 at New Meadows Inn in West Bath. The luncheon will be held at noon, then the program on “Food of Our Fathers” by Richard Day, historian of the Damariscotta Historical Society. For reservations, write Anne Deletetsky, 22 Cleaves St., Auburn, ME 04210.

The Thornton Family Reunion, for descendants of George and Whelimina Thornton, will be held Aug. 4 at the reunion grounds on Farrow Lake, also known as Farrar Lake, in Topsfield. To get there, go by Musquash Lake and take Snakedom Road. Vaughn Thornton of Greenville urges those attending to bring items for the auction.

The Smith Family Reunion, for descendants of Thomas and Phoebe Smith and of James and Christina Smith, 1818-1819 emigrants from Scotland, will be held all day Aug. 3 at the Nackawick Lions Club in Nackawick, New Brunswick. The potluck lunch is at noon, American time. For info, contact Pam Dupont at 469-3594.

The Hartley Family Reunion will be held Aug. 4 at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park in Woodstock, New Brunswick. For info, call (506) 328-8783.

3192. MESSER-DARLING-MALLETT-DAY. Need information and descendants for Marion E. Messer, b. June 15, 1837, Enfield, daughter of Lemuel and Phoebe (Darling) Messer. Marion md. 1) Horace Mallett of Lee; 2) Stephen E. Day, son of Elisha Sr. and Jane Day of Codyville. Stephen and Marion Day buried at Enfield Village Cemetery. Known children: Minnie, b. April 27, 1869, md. William E. Foster, she d. March 27, 1895, at Old Town; twins Henry and Horace, b. Jan. 1870; Howard, b. July 1892, was adopted. Deborah Cross P.O. Box 385, Brooks, ME 04921.

3193. MORRISON-FOGG. Seeking info about David (or Daniel) Morrison, b. 1837, Newburgh. Also parents of his mother, Triphenna (Fogg) Morrison, b. 1817, Newburgh. Celia M. Gray, 73 Ruth Ave., Hampden, ME 04444; or e-mail CMGGEN@aol.com.

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