The Maine Genealogical Society has a renovated Web site that I’m sure will interest you.

To check it out, visit www.rootsweb.com/~megs

Read about the Maine Families in 1790 project, as well as the many other “special publications” that have been joint efforts of the society and Picton Press.

You will also find useful the links to these Maine Genealogical Society chapters:

. Greater Portland Chapter, Cape Elizabeth.

. Hancock County Genealogical Society, Ellsworth.

. Pejepscot Genealogy Society, Brunswick.

. Penobscot County Genealogical Society, Bangor.

. Sandy River Valley Chapter, Farmington.

. Taconnett Falls Chapter, Waterville-Winslow.

. Wassebec Genealogical Society, Dover-Foxcroft.

The revamped Web site is very user-friendly and is the work of Dale Mower of Bangor, vice president of the state society and president of the Penobscot County Genealogical Society.

Consumption was a common cause of death in the late 1800s, according to death records of the town of Willimantic reprinted by Deborah Roberge in the March issue of “The Pine Cone and Tassel” newsletter. Nephritis, whooping cough and typhoid were other causes, as was “brit’s dis.” Bright’s disease was often used to describe kidney disease.

The focus of this issue of the newsletter is Piscataquis County, including Revolutionary War sketches, a listing of Civil War soldiers of Monson and some resources for Piscataquis County research.

Also included are some Maine descendants of Early Hampton, N.H., families. For example, Elisha Marston and wife Mehitable (Phinney) lived in Machias, while brother John Marston and wife Jerusha (Cushman) lived in Brunswick. They were the sons of Elisha and Judith (Morrill) Marston.

Roberge publishes six issues of the newsletter a year, with the next volume beginning in May. To subscribe, send $24 to Pine Cone and Tassel, P.O. Box 533, Waterville, ME 04903-0533.

3319. CIMBOLLEK-GRAY. Looking for genealogical information and old photographs of my late grandfather, Charles H. Cimbollek, his siblings and parents Anton and Wilhelmina Cimbollek. Charles, born in Bangor, was twice married to my grandmother, Edith G. Gray, in 1912 and 1922. Their children were Virginia Wilhelmina and Mildred Madeline Cimbollek. Mildred was my mother. The Cimbolleks lived in Bangor in the late 1800s, early 1900s. Would like to know where they came from in Europe and how they got to Maine. Penny-Jo Ames, P.O. Box 59, East Orland, ME 04431; 469-7788; pennyjo123@aol.com.

3320. HALE-CHANDLER-JENNISON. I am a collector and researcher of kerosene lighting from the 1800s. I’m currently doing some research on Judge Elias J. Hale, 1822-1895, of Foxcroft. He married Emily Sarah Chandler in 1858 as his second wife. He had a brother, Augustus M. Hale, who teamed up with John Chandler Jennison on a kerosene burner patent. I’m trying to determine if Jennison was related to the Hales via Emily. Also trying to find a decent quality photograph of Elias. Any help appreciated. Thomas E. Diosy, 400 Fishell Road, Rush, N.Y. 14543; diosy@rochester.rr.com.

3321. HUGHS-BLONDITT-MILLIKEN. Searching for information about my great-grandparents, George H. and Abbie E. (Blonditt) Hughs. Abbie was born in Ellsworth to Theodore and Almira (Milliken) Blonditt. I believe she had twin brother Eddie and other siblings. Have reason to believe that George Hughs was lost in a shipwreck around 1900 near New York or New Jersey, and that he may have originally been from Scotland. He married Abbie on July 31, 1883, in Ellsworth. After he was lost at sea, Abbie was remarried twice, first to Nathan E. Kenney in 1903, then to William F. Pickering in 1924. She died Jan. 29, 1937, in Bangor. Would like to learn more about George and his family. Gail VanWart, 52 Ellery’s Lane, Dedham, ME 04429.

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.