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Preserving Your Familys History ’
Tips for the Beginner Genealogist by Judith Hayes
Irene Hutchinson shares vintage photos that she has preserved, along with her family’s history.
“History remembers only the celebrated, genealogy remembers them all.”
~ Laurence Overmire
Judith Hayes
One of the greatest gifts you can give your children, grandchildren, and generations to come is the story of their family’s history. Tracing family history has become a popular hobby in recent years, and several genealogy websites are now providing valuable research tools. A number offer both free and paid options, including DNA testing services, for those who are search- ing for family connections and origins. When you write down the detailed stories from your own life, you create a valuable addition to your family’s ever-unfolding chronicle. Libraries, historical societies, town records, and your computer are valuable tools for compiling the narratives that will bring history to life for generations to come.
Western Maine has a rich history, and it is written in the lives of its residents, both past and present. The earliest arrivals came from England, France, and other European countries. Many migrated through Canada, and settled in Massachusetts before the Revolutionary War. During this period, Maine was still a part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and grants for large parcels of land in the still-wild region were often given as rewards to non-commissioned officers and soldiers who served for at least 5 years during the Revolutionary War. They were called “bounty lands,” and provided a great incentive to win in battle, as a British victory would mean no grants. Both land grants and pensions were provided to veterans, widows, and heirs as compensation for military service, and to settle the undeveloped land now called Maine. The early settlers had to contend with wild animals, rocky soil, and bitterly cold winters. Today, the results of this expansion can be seen in many seven-gener- ation families that proudly call western Maine home.
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