Every few years I have to mention “Redcoats at Castine,” the book read to my sixth-grade class in Sangerville by our teacher, Alice Littlefield Mossler. Though the Penobscot Expedition was not a successful one for the rebels, it remains a fascinating part of the Revolutionary War.

Doris J. Woodward, a resident of Spokane, Wash., has highlighted the efforts of two families from Georgetown in the battle at Bagaduce (or Majabigwaduce), now Castine, in the November issue of The Maine Genealogist.

“The Hinckleys and the Olivers: Georgetown and the Penobscot Expedition,” is the lead article in this issue, the quarterly of the Maine Genealogical Society.

In addition to exploring some of the genealogy of these families, Woodward researched their numbers at Bagaduce – 10 soldiers with the surname Hinckley, and 21 with the surname Oliver. Capt. John Hinckley, company commander who was killed at Castine, was the husband of Hannah Oliver of Georgetown.

“By telling the story of John Hinckley and his comrades-in-arms,” Woodward wrote, “we also honor the unsung heroes of all our wars. The sacrifice of Georgetown men served to underline the heroism that the country was to experience over the next 200 years.”

Woodward is editor of The Bulletin, the quarterly published by the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society.

Other features of this issue of The Maine Genealogist are:

. “Probate and Miscellaneous Notices from the Eastern Herald and Gazette of Maine of Portland,” supplemental notices for 1797 and notices for 1798, by James L. Hanson.

. “Sisters Martha (-) (Stevens) Stackpole and Judith (-) Downes of Somersworth, New Hampshire: Were They Daughters of Moses and Martha (Lord) Littlefield?” by Kenneth Freeman Mosman of Nebraska and Beverly Ruth Frerichs of Iowa.

. “Wing Family Bible,” contributed by Leslie D. Sanders.

. “Family Records of Sumner, Maine,” (continued). Surnames include Rowe, Foard, Abbott, Cox, Frye, Gerrish, Bisbee, Robinson, Cobb, Doble, Comstock, Gowell, Crockett, Hearsey, Woodsum, Fletcher, Heald, Parlin, Bonney, Keen, Cushman, Davy, Newhall, Pillsbury and Elliott.

One of the families is that of Sumner Robinson and wife Lydia F. (Clark).

I’m thinking that my great-great-grandfather, Sumner Robinson Bennett of Abbot, was named for Sumner Robinson. Sumner Bennett’s mother was Lucy (Clark) Bennett of Livermore, not far from Sumner.

You can find The Maine Genealogist in some libraries, or you can receive this quarterly journal – in addition to a quarterly newsletter – by joining MGS for $20 a year. To receive publications by first class mail, add $5 a year.

Because of postage, membership in Canada is $29 in U.S. funds, and $34 for residents outside the U.S. and Canada.

Life membership is $400.

The Maine Genealogical Society has a Web site at www.rootsweb.com/~megs/.

Some of the MGS chapters also have Web sites. Local chapters are:

. Penobscot County Genealogical Society, Bangor. Next meeting, 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, Bangor Public Library.

. Wassebec Genealogical Society, Dover-Foxcroft.

. Hancock County Genealogical Society, Ellsworth.

. Wawenoc Genealogical Society, Belfast.

. Taconnett Falls Chapter, Waterville-Winslow.

. Aroostook County Genealogical Society, Caribou. Next meeting, 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, Lions Building, 111 High St.

. Greater Portland Chapter, Cape Elizabeth.

. Pejepscot Genealogical Society, Brunswick.

. Sandy River Valley Chapter, Farmington.

MGS member Cheryl Willis Patten, who is equally active in the Maine Old Cemetery Association, is the 2005 winner of the Donna Holt Siemiatoski Award given by the New England Regional Genealogical Conference for her leadership and volunteer service. Congratulations, Cheryl.

Do plan to attend the 30th anniversary conference of the Maine Genealogical Society on Saturday, Oct. 14, at Verillo’s Convention Center in Portland. The featured speaker will be John Colletta, who conducts workshops for the National Archives and teaches courses at the Smithsonian Institution.

Visit www.maineroots.org for updates on the conference, and of course, keep reading Family Ties.

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