They’ve been “married” nearly 90 years — not the authors, but the subjects of the Maine Genealogical Society’s special publication No. 67, one that will interest both genealogists and libraries far and wide.
“Vital Records of Dover-Foxcroft” is going to be a treasure, without question. These records are so complete that the index of 61,300 names takes up one volume all on its own.
Volumes one and two cover Dover, settled in 1799; and Foxcroft, settled in 1806. They were united into one town in Piscataquis County in 1922.
Dover records include births and deaths as early as 1753, and marriages and marriage intentions from 1813. Births and deaths for Foxcroft go back as far as 1741, with its marriages and marriage intentions beginning in 1814. Also included is data relating to pew deeds and earmarks.
The compilers of these books, John F. Battick and Nancy Klimavicz Battick, are history-minded, exacting and possess a great love for the Dover-Foxcroft area.
Jack Battick is a retired history professor from the University of Maine whose interests range from seafarers to diseases of long ago. Nancy Battick is active in both Sarah Palmer Tent, Daughters of Union Veterans and Tisbury Manor Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. The couple has long been involved with the Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society and its home at the Observer building. Nancy is former president of MGS, and Jack is the current president.
The Maine Genealogical Society produces its special publications with Picton Press in Rockport. Volume One has 876 pages, Volume Two 768 pages and the index volume 324 pages.
The cost of “Vital Records of Dover-Foxcroft” for MGS members is $229.95 plus tax and $15 shipping, a total of $256.45. The cost for nonmembers is $249.95 plus tax and $15 shipping, a total of $277.45.
Checks may be sent to Picton Press, PO Box 1347, Rockland 04841. To receive the MGS discount, those ordering must include their MGS membership number. Orders also may be sent on pictonpress.com, telephone 596-7766; or fax 596-7767.
Those who don’t belong to MGS can join for 2011 for $20 sent to MGS, PO Box 221, Farmington 04938. They will send your membership number, enabling you to save the cost of membership this year through the discount on this special publication. Members also get discounts on the other MGS special publications through Picton Press.
A three-volume resource is not inexpensive, certainly. Perhaps researchers in different areas will think about contributing to buy a set of these vital records for a local library.
•••
Speaking of the Maine Genealogical Society, there is still time to sign up for the 2011 Family History Conference on Saturday, Sept. 24, at Spectacular Event Center, 395 Griffin Road, Bangor.
Mel Wolfgang will give the keynote address, “Uncommon Research Tools That Can Lead to Uncommonly Good Results.”
Wolfgang, the founder of Jonathan Sheppard Books, also will speak at 10:45 a.m. on “Beyond the Basics: Tips and Techniques for Using Newspapers,” and at 2:15 p.m. on “More than Almhouses and Cold Charity: Exploring Family History in the Records of Public and Private Assistance in New England.”
Each breakout session offers two choices of topic. Also available at 10:45 a.m. will be “More Than Wills: Using Probate Records in Genealogical Records” with Susan Almy, register of probate in Penobscot County.
The second choice at 2:15 p.m. is “The Role of Women in the Civil War” with Lynda Sudlow, author of “A Vast Army of Women: Maine’s Uncounted Forces in the American Civil War.”
Topics at 3:30 p.m. are “Using Social Media in Genealogical Research” with Brian Bouchard, a professional in information technology; and “Often Overlooked: What the Census Tells You Beyond Name and Age,” with Helen Shaw, certified genealogist.
For more information, visit the conference website at www.maineroots.org. Those attending must preregister by Sept. 10. Registration is $40 for MGS members, $50 for others. Add $15 for the luncheon. Send registration, including your choices for the breakout sessions, to Maine Genealogical Society, c/o Celeste Hyer, 69 Loop Road, Otisfield 04270-6456.
Beginning with 2012, MGS dues will be $25, which is still a tremendous bargain.
•••
The Orland Historical Society will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 31, at the Orland Fire Station on School House Road.
Bob Wallace and Richard Glueck will give a talk on the famous luxury ship “Andrea Doria,” which was involved in a shipwreck and sank off the coast of Nantucket Island in 1956.
Wallace was in the Coast Guard at the time and his cutter was summoned to the shipwreck site to assist with the passenger rescue effort. Richard Glueck is a shipwreck buff and has a Power Point presentation to share. All are welcome. For information, call 469-354.
•••
The Belfast Historical Society and Museum is open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, through Sept. 3, or by appointment, at 10 Market St. From Labor Day to Columbus Day, it will be open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Admission is free, but donations are welcome.
The museum offers exhibits, community programs, research and publications, and information about Belfast’s maritime heritage, notable men and women, its role in the Civil War, and life over the past two centuries. Have your photo taken in the old two-cell jail and help your child find mystery items in the museum. For information, call 338-9229 or visit www.belfastmuseum.org.
•••
Dana Edgecomb will speak about records for Quaker meetings in Maine (and New England) and where to find Quaker records for the Greater Portland Chapter, Maine Genealogical Society, at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 29 Ocean House Road, Route 77, Cape Elizabeth.
Edgecomb is the author or co-author of articles: “Who was Nicholas Edgecomb of Maine, Part V” by Dana E. Edgecomb in “Edgecomb Family Genealogy and History,” Series 2, Vol. 31, pp. 19-25; “The Life and Descendants of Benjamin Heath of Conway, New Hampshire” by Dana E. Edgecomb and Betty Gillespie Pollack, New Hampshire Genealogical Record 26 (October 2009):155-197; and “The Ancestry of Benjamin Heath of Fryeburg, Maine and Conway, New Hampshire: DNA Results” by Betty Gillespie Pollack and Dana E. Edgecomb with CeCe Moore and Connie K. McKenzie, New Hampshire Genealogical Record, 28 (January/April 2011): 31-62).
For info, call Deb at 209-329-6438 or visit rootsweb.ancestry.com/~megpcmgs/.
Next week in Family Ties: Finding Nana’s grandparents in New Brunswick.
Send genealogy queries to Family Ties, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402; or email queries to familyti@bangordailynews.com.
