Web site has data on Hessian ancestors

A couple of weeks ago, we told you about Anette Rodrigues’ interest in the Hessians, especially those who settled in Maine.

Jerry Davis sent along a copy of a note he sent to Anette, saying that his forebear Henry Debus was a Hessian who deserted in New York state after the Revolution.

He went on to tell of a useful resource, the Joseph Schwalm Historical Association, a nonprofit organization with archives at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa. The association is “dedicated to researching, collecting and disseminating data relating to German Auxiliaries to the British Crown who fought in the Revolutionary War and their descendants.”

The group was able to help Davis find information on his Hessian ancestor.

You may contact the association at Joseph Schwalm Historical Association Inc., P.O. Box 416, State Line, PA 17263-0416; or through the Web site at www.jsha.org.

For a listing of some of the Hessians covered in the collection, check the Web site at http://pages.prodigy.net/halschwalm/jshacomb.html

You’ve been wanting to take a genealogy class, right? Phil Getchell will teach a 10-week class through Bangor Adult Education beginning 6:30-9 p.m. Oct. 16. The Thursday night class will have its first three sessions at Bangor High School and the next seven at Bangor Public Library. The cost is $30 for Bangor residents, $40 for nonresidents. Preregistration is required. Register by going to the Adult Education office at Bangor High School, 885 Broadway. For information only, call 941-6310. The Web site is www.bangoradulted.org.

A beginning genealogy series will be offered at 7 p.m. Mondays in October at the Ellsworth Public Library, co-sponsored by Hancock County Genealogical Society. Topics covered will be the basics of genealogical research with Wayne Smith; researching at the county offices of deeds and probate with Mark Honey; research using resources of the Daughters of the American Revolution; and computer programs with Max Brenninkmeyer. For information, contact Charlene Clemons at the library.

The newsletter of the HCGS reports that Ellsworth Public Library has acquired new books of interest to genealogists – “York County, Maine Will Abstracts 1801-1858;” “Maine Families in 1790 vol. 8;” “Vital Records of Addison, Maine 1850-1892;” “The Great Migration – Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635;” “The Johnson Family of Sullivan, Maine;” and “Sampson Shore and his Shorey Descendants.”

The Oct. 18 meeting of the society, set for 2:30 p.m. at the library, will feature Cheryl Patten, president, Maine Old Cemetery Association.

On Sunday, Oct. 26, the Penobscot Valley Genealogical Society of Bangor and Wassebec Genealogical Society of Dover-Foxcroft will have an information booth 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Bangor Mall.

And on Nov. 19, I will repeat the talk I gave recently at the Maine Genealogical Society, “Researching with Newspapers,” during the meeting of PVGS at 6 p.m. in the Bangor Room of Bangor Public Library.

Thank you to Nina Dauphinee of Bangor for sharing information on her five-generation lines. One line descends through daughter Maxine Nutt, grandson Steven Dolliver of New Hampshire and great-grandson Steven Dolliver Jr. to great-great-grandson Aaron Dolliver of New Hampshire.

The second line also comes down through grandson Steven Dolliver to great-granddaughter Kimberly Dolliver to great-great-granddaughters Jade and Morgan Dolliver.

Mrs. Dauphinee is the widow of Clifford “Ben” Dauphinee, who worked for the Bangor Daily News for 42 years.

Ruby McTague writes that the 103rd Roberts Reunion was held Aug. 15 at South Sangerville Grange Hall. The potluck dinner, she said, “was delicious, as always.” The meeting included a discussion of where ancestors Amos and Christiana Roberts lived in Sangerville.

Twenty-four people attended. The oldest was Mildred Bates, the youngest Amber Jane Hall. Traveling the shortest distance was Judy McNaughton Williams from Sangerville, while Gini Inman came the farthest, from Florida.

My grandmother, the late Edith Roberts Steeves, just loved attending this reunion years ago. Me, too.

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