It’s always good news to find out that more cemetery records are available online.

The January issue of the Penobscot County Genealogical Society points out that a database of Old Town cemetery records through Dec. 31, 2002, is available on the Old Town Public Library Web site at www.old-town.lib.me.us.

Linwood B. Wickett did a fine job compiling these records.

You may look up your ancestor by cemetery – Forest Hill, Catholic and private; Lawndale, Maple Grove, Riverside, St. Joseph and West Old Town – or check the master database if you don’t know the cemetery.

When you pull up the database, don’t forget to change your setting from 55 percent to 100 percent so that you can read it.

If you know of cemetery records online, let us know and we’ll share that information in Family Ties.

There are several opportunities coming up for genealogists to learn more about their craft.

Locally, Dale Mower, president of the Penobscot County Genealogical Society, will present “The Search for Sarah – Finding Answers in Military Pension Files: A Case Study,” during the next society meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, in the Lecture Hall at Bangor Public Library.

Mower, who also is second vice president of the Maine Genealogical Society, will take the audience on a journey to find information on Sarah Shannon, Irish immigrant and great-great-grandmother of Mower’s wife, Patti.

He will explain the process of obtaining copies from the National Archives and Records Administration, and share excerpts from the files of Mexican War soldier James McMullen and Civil War soldier James Logan.

Mower is also webmaster for the Wassebec Genealogical Society in Dover-Foxcroft, USGenWeb volunteer for the town of Greene, and a member of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and several genealogical societies.

By the way, I really like the Web site of the Penobscot County Genealogical Society at www.rootsweb.com/~mepcgs

It is most useful. To join the society, send $5 to PCGS, c/o Bangor Public Library, 145 Harlow St., Bangor, ME 04401.

Save the date of Saturday, Oct. 8, so you can attend “Roots to Success,” a genealogy conference presented by the Maine Genealogical Society at Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield.

Typically, these conferences draw more than 100 genealogists from around the state. Participants enjoy the opportunity to learn and visit with new cousins and old friends.

Because the focus this year is serving the genealogical community, the registration fee will be just $10 for members and $15 for nonmembers.

Planned is an all-day

program for curious and beginning genealogists.

Watch Family Ties for further information as it becomes available, or check the conference Web site at www.maineroots.org.

The Maine Historical Society will sponsor a one-day bus trip from Portland to Boston so that participants may spend the day doing genealogical research at New England Historic Genealogical Society and the Massachusetts State Archives at Columbia Point.

The bus will leave Portland at 8 a.m. and return at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 19.

NEHGS, established in 1845, holds more than 200,000 genealogical and historical volumes, more than 1 million manuscripts, as well as census records, vital records, deeds, probates, military records and information in print, microtext and CD-ROM.

The state archives holds Massachusetts vital records for 1841-1910, 19th century passenger lists for the port of Boston, census records, state military and judicial records, Plymouth Colony records and papers pertaining to the early settlement of Maine.

The society also welcomes along those who would just like to spend the day sightseeing in Boston.

The cost for the trip, not including admission to the NEHGS Library, is $35.

To register, call 774-1822.

The Trescott Historical Society and Social Club will meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, at Lubec Memorial Library.

Peter Boyce of Lubec, who spent 23 years in management in Maine’s fish and sardine packing industries, will talk about the growth, gradual decline and eventual demise of the industry.

The Eddy family reunion will be held Saturday, Aug. 13, at the Eddy Homestead in Eddyville, Mass. For price and registration information, contact Sylvia Breck, Box 354, Duxbury, Mass. 02331-0354.

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