Free HCGS fair great resource

Visit the displays, take in a workshop and, by all means, mine the knowledge of a variety of family history experts on Saturday in Ellsworth.

Free.

The event is the annual fair of the Hancock County Genealogical Society, set for 9 a.m.-2 p.m. July 15 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Beechland Road, off Route 3 in Ellsworth.

Society members will be on hand to help with genealogy questions related to Hancock County families and the church’s Family History Center will be open throughout the fair.

Workshops are:

. 9:15 a.m., “Beginning Genealogy,” with Ron Fortier. Where do you start?

. 10:15 a.m., “Forms and Sourcing Info,” with Charlene Clemons. Now that you have started your research, how do you keep track of all the information? Clemons is a librarian at Ellsworth Public Library, and is very knowledgeable about its newly expanded genealogy area.

. 11:15 a.m., “Census 1790-1930,” with Patty Leland, president of HCGS. Learn how to extract information from census records using an actual case study.

. 12:15 p.m., “Deeds and Probates,” with Alice Long. Learn how to find genealogical information in these records.

. 1:15 p.m., “Cemeteries,” with Patti Leland.

Special attractions will include Patsy Jordan’s “Have Genealogy, Will Travel,” display, a camper filled with genealogy.

“Her research is ongoing,” Leland said, “so even if you visited her camper before, be sure to do so again.”

Displays and information will be offered by the Ellsworth Historical Society, Ellsworth Public Library, Hancock Historical Society, Southwest Harbor Historical Society, Mount Desert Isle Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Trenton Cemetery and Keeping Society, Swan’s Island Educational Society, Blue Hill Historical Society, Wilson Museum of Castine, Legacy Crafts, Pine Cone and Tassel Newsletter, Ron Fortier’s “The Hodgkins and Young Families of Trenton and Lamoine” and Eastern Illustrations & Publishing Co.

And don’t forget to check out the 1860 map of Hancock County.

Refreshments will be available for a small donation.

Books available for purchase include “Ellsworth: Crossroads of Downeast Maine: A Pictorial View” and “Trenton Cemeteries: A Transcription of Trenton’s Cemeteries.”

HCGS is a chapter of the Maine Genealogical Society.

For information on the Hancock County Genealogical Society or the fair, contact Patti Leland at 276-5305 or e-mail pattileland@adelphia.net.

The 71st reunion for the Descendants of Joshua Williams will be held 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, July 22, at the Great Pond Town Hall, Hancock County.

The family reunion meeting will begin at noon, and at 1 p.m. there will be an organizational meeting to form a nonprofit organization to support the efforts of acquiring, repairing and preserving the old church building at Great Pond to make it accessible for community use. All are welcome to attend.

Guests are asked to bring chairs, lunch, a small gift for auction and pictures of early settlers.

For information and directions, contact Margaret McKenney at 843-5838, or Joni Archer at 584-5004, or e-mail cybergirl@techie.com.

The 106th Roberts Family Reunion will be held Sunday, Aug. 20, at the South Sangerville Grange Hall. Attendees gather mid morning and the dinner bell rings at 1 p.m. Bring news of your family and catch up on others’. Bring a dish, paper plates and cutlery.

The Roberts family descends from Jonathan and Elizabeth (Webb) Roberts, early settlers in Buckfield. Their son, George, and Mary (Brown) Roberts and their children Amos, Jonathan, Alanson and Mary Ann, were early settlers of South Sangerville, about 1834.

For more information, write: Ruby McTague, 2451 Main Road, Dedham, ME 04429; or e-mail Celia Ann Roberts at croberts@simsburylibrary.info. Roberts is president of the Roberts family group, Karyn Seamans is treasurer and Margaret McKenney is vice president.

The Corinth Historical Society has announced new hours for its museum at 306 Main St. in Corinth. The museum is open 2-7 p.m. Wednesdays.

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