“Touring Through Time” is one of the best ideas possible. Eleven historical societies and museums on the Blue Hill peninsula have scheduled activities for this weekend, giving visitors the opportunity to learn more about the early settlers.

The open house event will be held 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 29-30, rain or shine, at the societies in Blue Hill, Brooksville, Bucksport, Castine, Deer Isle-Stonington, Orland and Penobscot; the Brooklin Keeping Society in Brooklin and the Sedgwick-Brooklin Historical Society in Sedgwick. The Jonathan Fisher House in Blue Hill and the Wilson Museum in Castine also are participating.

There will be special displays, demonstrations, walking tours and food. Admission is free, but all of the groups welcome donations.

Special meals and refreshments include an ice cream social at 2-4 p.m. Sunday, July 30, at the Orland Historical Society; crabmeat bag lunches beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Brooklin Keeping Society; and a bean-hole bean supper at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Penobscot Historical Society. There will be a modest charge for the meals in Brooklin and Penobscot.

On Sunday, the Rev. Mark Worth of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Castine will speak on the first minister of the church, the Rev. Parson William Mason. The Rev.Lufkin of First Baptist Church of Brooklin will lead a service reflecting the early 1900s.

Most of the historical societies have some type of genealogical section with information on earlier generations.

Come explore the Blue Hill Peninsula and learn about the events and history that tie our communities together. The groups involved hope that Touring Through Time will become an annual event.

The occasion has been recognized by the State of Maine with a small grant through the Maine Tourism Marketing Partnership Program Fund to foster interpretive programs.

For info, contact the individual historical societies and museums or visit the Web site, www.bucksportbaychamber.com/touring.

The Brooklin Keeping Society will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 27, at 25 Bay Road behind the Brooklin Town Office. Nancy Whitman will present her unique collection of genealogical information, comprising more than 50,000 related people of the Blue Hill Peninsula and Deer Isle area.

The male and female lines cover the original settlers to the present. Whitman will share observations from six years of work on the project and its usefulness in terms of DNA studies as well as historical and sociological research. Interrelated generations from the 1620s to the present will be presented. She also will focus in part on the Celtic influence.

Whitman’s collection of work will be available at the Brooklin Keeping Society for researchers and genealogists 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays, and also will be a highlight of the Touring Through Time event July 29-30.

The Upper Union River Historical Society will mark its 25th anniversary with a potluck luncheon at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 29, at the Amherst Town Hall on Route 9.

The group began as the Amherst Historical Society, but has expanded over the years to include more communities in the area. A year ago, participants voted to use the new name, Upper Union River Historical Society.

“We warmly welcome descendants of the early families all along the Upper Union River,” said Connee Hanscom Jellison, “and we are proud to be honoring our founders with a potluck luncheon.”

The program will include “This Old House,” a talk by Syliva Jordan Sawyer on early homesteads of Osborn. Also on hand will be Paul Firlotte, a well-known genealogist.

There will be plenty of genealogical resources to peruse.

The Voter Family Historical Association will hold its annual family reunion at 10 a.m. Sunday, July 30, at the David Conant home on True Hill Road in Strong. The potluck dinner begins at noon. All Voter descendants, including those from John and Louis Voter, are welcome. Bring a chair, sunglasses and an item for auction. For information, e-mail taw1090@midmaine.com.

3371. GRAY-SAWYER-GROVER-MANTER-BLAISDELL-TEMPLE. Nancy Russell Gray, born 1825, Starks, married 1851, in Mercer, John W. Gray, probably her cousin. They had possibly five known children, two sons who did not reach adulthood; daughters Flora or Florence “Jennie” Jane Gray, who married Jerry Grover about 1895 and resided in Holliston, Mass., and Nettie “Lila” Lillian Gray, who married 1890, in Mercer, Russell F. Sawyer. There may have been a third daughter, Alice M. Gray, born 1852. John W. Gray left his family sometime before 1865. Daughter Nettie was put up for adoption to a family in Norridgewock, but did not live with them for long. Nancy R. Gray married James Manter about 1865, but outlived him and died at the home of her daughter in 1911 in Holliston. Seeking more information on the family, especially on the possible third daughter, Alice Gray, who married 1) William Blaisdell, 2) Charles Giles Temple. Ardell Lynds, 45 Mooer Rd., Readfield, ME 04355-3710; e-mail lyndsonline@verizon.net.

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