Research a snap with Ellsworth library Web site

Do you suppose the Ellsworth Public Library has Muriel Sampson Johnson’s “Early Families of Gouldsboro?” Indeed it does, and you don’t have to call the library to find out.

Go to the Web site at www.ellsworth.lib.me.us, and click on “Online Catalog.” Enter any keywords you like and see what they have.

The library is a beautiful facility at 20 State St., within sight of the courthouse and City Hall in Ellsworth. There is handicapped parking down behind the library, and an elevator provides access to all three floors.

And as I like to say, when you go to a library, always check out the third floor.

Bangor Public Library has its Bangor Room for local history on the third floor, and the University of Maine’s Fogler Library in Orono has its Special Collections on the third floor.

Now the Ellsworth Public Library has its family and local history area in one place on the third floor. It features the Alvin S. Whitmore Memorial Collection of genealogy and local history materials, and computers for using the Hancock County town records on CD. That saves driving to Augusta.

And of course there are microfilm machines for looking at census records and old newspapers such as The Ellsworth American beginning in 1851.

Check out the old map of Ellsworth on the wall, too, not to mention shelves of periodicals including several years of the New England Historical and Genealogical Register.

There also is a bulletin board with information about genealogical happenings – the Hancock County Genealogical Society meets at the library and supports it with resources.

There also is a file cabinet for vertical files – those items that aren’t books but are worth keeping.

It’s wonderful to see a library building its collection of genealogical resources, and of course it makes sense to have that happen in Ellsworth, the county seat for Hancock County.

Do think of nearby libraries as a possible repository for books that need a good home and can help someone else. As assistant director Charlene Clemons puts it, think of the library as a safe place for your book or material.

And always ask the library before taking in your donation to make sure the facility has the room and can use what you have to share.

I just love census records – really I do. But I am continually reminded how often a census taker – or person indexing a census – could get creative with spellings.

This is particularly true with English-speaking census takers and residents whose first language was not English.

For instance:

. Saucier and Soucy or Soucie may be related in France, but in Quebec, and often in Maine, they really are different families with different immigrant ancestors.

. Chasse was sometimes spelled Shashe in the census in northern Maine.

. Cloutier became Clukey, and Pelletier became Pelkey.

. Members of the Dulac family living in Sangerville in 1900 were listed as “Julac” by the census taker. My husband, who is Franco-American, would pronounce Dulac as what sounds like “Dzoo-lack” to me. That could very well sound like a “J” to someone not used to hearing French spoken.

Getting the first letter of a surname wrong in the census could happen in any language, however, especially given the penmanship of days gone by.

A century ago or more, the written “L” often looked like an “S,” making it hard for a census indexer to know a Lucy from a Sucy, unless the indexer was familiar with the surnames in that area of the census. Only because I used to live in Sangerville did I think “Julac” was wrong the minute I saw it.

Looking for someone in your family tree? Try a query. Write us what you’re looking for, and we’ll include it in the column. A mailing address is required, but do include an e-mail address if you have one.

3351. RYDER-HARRIMAN-STOVER-KNOWLTON-GOODHUE. Seeking any info on Albert Ryder, who on Dec. 4, 1863, married Hannah Anne Harriman, daughter of William Harriman of Bucksport and Lucy (Stover) Harriman of Penobscot. Their children were Jennie Ryder, Nellie or Nettie Knowlton, Jennie Goodhue, Frank Ryder, Albert Ryder and William Ryder. Anything on my great-grandparents would be appreciated. Maxine Bass, 501 Union St. No. 16, Bangor 04401; mackie1944@aol.com

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