Though William Mullins is not among my Mayflower ancestors, I was fascinated to see a nice photo of his four-gabled home in Dorking, Surrey, England, in the March 2008 issue of The Mayflower Quarterly.

The picture accompanies Jeane Felker’s article on visiting the landmark at 58-61 West St. How pleased she was that the first floor of the four-story building contains shops, so she was able to venture into the building where Mullins lived.

The original owners, in 1550, were the Sheffield family, which sold the property to John Jettor in 1604. Mullins purchased it in 1612 and sold it to Ethan Bothell in 1619. Three years later, Bothell had made it into four tenements.

An essay by Linda Prescott Whillden Wyse reminds us that the replica Mayflower II ship came to Plymouth, Mass., from England in 1957. What I didn’t know was that the ship stopped in other U.S. ports on its way to its new home. So it was that 9-year-old Linda had visited the ship with her dad – in Florida.

In 1997, Wyse and her husband took their sons to Plymouth to visit the ship which was such a big part of a childhood memory for her.

I, too, visited Plymouth before I ever had children or joined the Mayflower Society. And I made sure to go back with my husband and two sons to the replica ship and the thoroughly fascinating Plimoth Plantation. I hope someday to return with grandchildren.

Long before I was born, my grandmother worked for the Piscataquis Observer in Dover-Foxcroft. Years afterward, Edith (Roberts) Steeves and publisher Ora Evans sent one another and notes on their shared birthday of May 22.

“What’s ’em’ and ‘en’?” I used to ask as I watched Grammy fill in crossword puzzles. A printer’s measure, she’d tell me, neither of us dreaming that newspapers were in my future.

The Observer building is now home to the Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society, a very active group.

A recent letter from President Mary Annis tells me that the next project for the society will be to restore the facade to an earlier, historic date. The letter includes a 1933 photo so potential donors can see what it would look like.

The estimate for the work is $7,000. Tax-deductible donations may be sent to Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society, 28 Orchard Road, Dover-Foxcroft 04426. On the memo line, write “facade project.”

Edith and Ora would be pleased.

3421. BARDEN-ALLEN – Am interested in information about the Barden family of Etna, specifically Daniel Barden, born about May 1822. According to a local genealogy book, Daniel was adopted by Amos Allen of Blue Hill. I would like to know if it was an official adoption, and if anyone knows why he would have been adopted by the Allens. If anyone is missing a Barden in their family tree, it could be the Daniel Barden [Allen] in ours. The Barden name has been carried down through the years as a middle name in our family due to Daniel. Any related Barden family information appreciated. Donna Allen, Box 79, Blue Hill, ME 04614; e-mail dhallen1@yahoo.com.

3422. PRAY-PREY-GOWELL. Looking for information on Reuben H. Pray or Prey, born 1819, Belgrade area, died 1918, Blanchard. He married 1845 Jane Gowell, born 1825, Belgrade (?). She died in 1901 in Blanchard. Nothing known of Jane’s family. Reuben and Jane are my great-great-grandparents. Milton Pray, their son, is buried in the family lot with Reuben and Jane. Milton’s stone is below ground and no dates are visible. Any help appreciated. Dorothy M. Simmons, 22 Vine St., Bangor, ME 04401.

3423. WILLEY-NEAL-FARNHAM-READ-GRINNELL-HEWITT. I need help on Josiah Willey, born Aug. 12, 1838, Harmony. Town clerk does not find birth. There also were people named Wille in town. His mother was Hannah Willey, who in 1850 was living with James Neal and Josiah Willey. Josiah married Delia Farnham in 1865 in Bradford. Their children born in Bradley were: Albert Willey, April 1867; Mary, 1867; Rosa, 1869; Dora, 1871. When Josiah died, two daughters were there, one from Lynn, Mass., the other F.H. Read from Lewiston. The funeral was at Bert Grinnell’s home in Garland. Mrs. B.D. Hewitt of South Dover, sister of Mrs. Grinnell, was in town for the funeral. Elaine Goode, 309 Ohio St., Bangor, ME 04401; Mag1938@aol.com

3424. EATON-PLUMMER. Seeking parents, ancestry for Caroline Eaton “of” Athens, born about 1823. She married William Plummer, b. about 1822 in Jefferson, son of John and Rebecca (Plummer) Plummer. Also seeking Rebecca’s parents, ancestry. They had a son, Hartwell Plummer, who married Della Andrews. Danny W. Howard, 34 Cedar St., Augusta, ME 04330.

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

news.net.