Old Fort Western seeks descendants of residents

Did your ancestors live in the main house at Fort Western on Augusta’s riverfront? Then Old Fort Western would like to hear from you to help the organization more accurately interpret the fort’s history.

Old Fort Western comprises a 1754 National Landmark fort, store and house.

In particular, staff want to hear from descendants of people who lived in the main house between 1840 and 1920. Here is the list of tenants, compiled from census records and city directories:

1840: Sarah Ladd, Jacob Stanswood, Jonathan Pierce, John W. McLaughlin.

1850: James and Honora Breen, Amos and Augusta Merrill, John and Dorothy A. Moody.

1860: John and Susan Farnham, Mary Thomas, Sarah Breen, Comfort S. and Amy Heupey, John W. and Angelissa Robbins.

1870: James and Mary Scanlon, Hannah Breen, Daniel and Katherine Sullivan, Daniel and Bridget Mann, John and Elizy Sullivan, Margaret Harvey, Roger and Catherine Cony, Patrick and Bridget (McQueen), Alexander and Flora Parquette (Paquet).

1880: Sarah Burns (wife of Harry Burns); Blarney Bushee, John and Margaret McCarty, Stephen and Emma Hill, Thomas and Adelaide Day.

1892: William Corey, James Mack, James W. Britt.

1900: John McCue, Bridget McCue, George Carpenter, Jerry and Hannah Driscoll, John and Bridget McNamara, Mary O’Donnell, Annie Oakley, Stephen B. Longfellow.

1910: Mrs. Isetta F. O’Brien, Frederick and Etta Hoyt, Hattie McDonald, Bridget Mack, James Mack, William Carey, H. Vincent Oakley, Gertrude Oakley, Lucille Oakley, John and Arvilla Ware, Mary Patrick, Fred Ronco, John Deerin.

1920: Richard and Susan Fitzgerald, Elmore and Mary Coleman.

“As important as the fort’s military and storekeeping past are to the city of Augusta, the Kennebec Valley, Maine, and New England, we should remember that more than anything else during its 253 years, the main house was someone’s home,” said Jay Adams, Old Fort Western’s director and curator, in a press release.

“To the extent we can learn who lived there after 1840, and hopefully be in touch with their descendants,” he said, “the more we will understand about life at the fort and in the region through very nearly our own times.”

Staff and volunteers of the fort hope that through descendants of these residents, they can learn more about the details of their lives and perhaps become aware of artifacts they may have owned.

If you have information on any of the listed individuals, contact Old Fort Western at 626-2385.

My first-ever library was in Sangerville, where I used to check out Nancy Drew mysteries. These days I live in Bangor, where the public library at 145 Harlow St. has a whole room devoted to genealogy and local history.

With good weather upon us – finally – it’s time to visit libraries hither and yon to see what they might have on our families. But first, of course, find out when each and every one is open.

Bonnie Dwyer at the Maine State Library recently sent out information about a Web site “created especially to help citizens and visitors find out about Maine’s libraries.”

Look up a library by name, by town (my favorite method) or by type at www.maine.gov/libraries/.

The Web site was created in 2003 under a special New Century grant to foster public awareness.

And if you use the site, you’ll find a lot more information than the library’s hours.

If you look up Sangerville, you’ll find a link to the library’s Web site. Go there and you’ll note that the library has an online database of people buried in its cemeteries.

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