July 2015 Blog Posts (3)

Pauper Records in the 1800s

I am transcribing the VRs of Mount Vernon, Maine, and have recently discovered many pauper records from the 1840-1870 era. This has led to much curiosity about how paupers were treated during this period. It looks like people bid at the town meeting to keep paupers in their homes. However, the curious part is that it looks like they were bidding to take care of their own parents or other relatives. Another curious aspect is that sometimes they were paid in shillings - why would this happen…

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Added by Sally Furber Nelson on July 25, 2015 at 1:33pm — 6 Comments

Breakthrough!

I found my birth mothers first marriage certificate, and from that I was able to locate her first husband. I contacted him and was directed to his and my mothers daughter. She talked to me and contacted my mother. My mother accpeted contact and from there I was able to find out the name of my father. I still have work to do but I am at a point I never thought I would be as someone that was adopted.

Added by Robert Kevin Reid on July 21, 2015 at 10:58am — 3 Comments

Woodbury Davis

Hello, I am researching my great great grandfather, Woodbury Davis. NOT the famous one, although born around the same time. Birth around 1813 to 1815, married my gg grandmother Hannah Snow b.1830 in South Thomaston, in 1849, Rockland. His occupation was listed as ship's carpenter, but after marriage they moved to Waldo. Found the family in 1860 census in Thorndike, farming. My great grandmother Cora was born 1859. Does anyone know where he came from, who his family was?

Added by Jean D. Paradis on July 1, 2015 at 4:07pm — 2 Comments