Maine Genealogical Society

05/16/2026

NEW ISSUE OF THE MAINE GENEALOGIST

The May 2026 issue of THE MAINE GENEALOGIST has just been released and features four thought-provoking articles on our Maine ancestors. One might ask, why read an article about someone else's family? If it were merely a straightforward account of that family's ancestors and descendants, it might hold limited interest for other readers. But when an article explores challenging research problems—particularly ones we may encounter in our own work—the methods and reasoning used to solve them can be both instructive and widely applicable. In this issue, each article presents a compelling genealogical problem, and each offers an equally compelling solution. Access to these articles and more make up just one of the benefits of MGS membership. Visit www.maineroots.org for more information.

05/09/2026

⭐️⭐️ NEW FROM MGS: THE LORD GENEALOGY! ⭐️⭐️
Maine Genealogical Society is excited to announce the release our 101st Special Publication: THE LORD GENEALOGY, DESCENDANTS OF NATHAN LORD OF KITTERY, MAINE, THROUGH SEVEN GENERATIONS. Nathan Lord came to Kittery, Maine, from England by 1638 at the age of five, and he eventually founded one of Maine's earliest and most prolific families. This massive 2-volume opus by award-winning genealogist Priscilla Eaton, FASG, meticulously documents over 4,000 of Nathan Lord's descendants over seven generations. Errors in earlier treatments of the family have been corrected, and the identities of many individuals are established here for the first time. Head over to our online store at https://maineroots.org/shop/family-genealogies/product/137-mgs-special-publication-101 and get your copy now!
NOW AVAILABLE & SHIPPING: $90 retail, or $65 to MGS members (2-volume set)

The Maine Genealogical Society (MGS) is a non-profit charitable and educational organization. It was founded in 1976 to collect, exchange, preserve

04/04/2026

👉🏻 MGS SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS UPDATE: sales have been great these past few months, and we thank all of you who have added Maine Genealogical Society's essential publications to your bookshelves! A few titles have recently sold out, and several others are down to just a few remaining copies. If you don't yet have a copy of THE LITTLEFIELD GENEALOGY: UPDATED AND REVISED EDITION, or our vital records transcriptions of the towns of EDDINGTON, ENFIELD AND GREENBUSH (two towns in one book), ETNA, MOUNT VERNON, or WOOLWICH (hard cover), get a copy now before it's too late! If you're not a member yet, consider joining us for discounted book prices, free webinars and conferences with expert genealogists, the MGS newsletter, and our scholarly quarterly journal, THE MAINE GENEALOGIST! Our full catalog is online at www.maineroots.org/shop, and you can purchase a Maine Genealogical Society membership at www.maineroots.org/shop/membership. We wish you all a very Happy Easter!

03/11/2026

At 7pm on Wednesday, September 8, 1976, the Farmington, Maine, Community Center hosted a group of 30 family history enthusiasts with a shared dream: creating a society to promote genealogical research in the State of Maine. At the end of that meeting, the MAINE GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY was born, filling a void created in 1922 when an earlier society of the same name was absorbed into the Maine Historical Society. Fast forward to 50 years later: that new society formed in 1976 has blossomed into a dynamic organization with hundreds of members from all over the United States and other countries around the globe, affiliated chapters across the state, a highly-respected scholarly journal, THE MAINE GENEALOGIST, the groundbreaking MAINE FAMILIES IN 1790 series, more than a hundred Special Publications providing invaluable source material to researchers, the MaineRoots website and its growing collection of members-only material, and we’ve now branched out to in-depth hybrid learning experiences such as conferences and webinars for members! If you haven’t joined MGS yet, and no matter where you’re located, we’d love to welcome you as a member. Sign up at https://maineroots.org/shop/membership and come share our passion for Maine genealogy!

03/03/2026

👉🏻 MGS SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS UPDATE: our indexed vital record transcriptions from Maine towns, award-winning family genealogies, and volumes of MAINE FAMILIES IN 1790 are a great source of pride for MGS. Our featured publication this month is THE BRAGDON GENEALOGY, an impressive and meticulously documented 760-page genealogy of one of the earliest and largest Maine families, featuring hundreds of family sketches and detailed biographical information. We have over 35 other titles in stock, many almost sold out, with discounted prices for MGS members (another great reason to join MGS). Have a look at our online catalog at www.maineroots.org/shop, and place your order before it’s too late!

02/22/2026

The February issue of THE MAINE GENEALOGIST is now available to members of the Maine Genealogical Society. Who were the parents of my ancestor? That is the universal challenge in genealogical research. While it is great when we find an original-source document explicitly answering that question, it is even more satisfying to prove the relationship through careful research and analysis. The articles in this issue focus on that question and present innovative methodology in finding the answer. In two of the articles, it was necessary to gather and match records from different countries. In another, the key was understanding the context of the enigmatic term "aunt-in-law."
Access to these articles and more make up just one of the benefits of MGS membership. Visit www.maineroots.org for more information.

02/02/2026

The webinar program is free for Paid members of MGS. If you haven't joined MGS, it's not too late register at Maineroots.org. February 11, 2026 – David Allen Lambert
Colonial Wars
This class will discuss how to determine if your ancestor fought, review a veritable timeline of colonial wars in New England, Atlantic Canada, and Quebec during the 17th and 18th centuries, and provide the historical context for these conflicts.

The Maine Genealogical Society (MGS) is a non-profit charitable and educational organization. It was founded in 1976 to collect, exchange, preserve

02/01/2026

MGS SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS UPDATE: Sales over the past few months have been excellent, and we thank all of you who have added Maine Genealogical Society’s publications to your bookshelves! If you haven’t visited our website lately, now’s the time to discover our indexed vital record transcriptions from Maine towns, award-winning family genealogies, and volumes of MAINE FAMILIES IN 1790! We have over 35 other titles in stock, many almost sold out, with discounted prices for MGS members (another great reason to join MGS). Have a look at our online catalog at www.maineroots.org/shop, and place your order before it’s too late! (P.S. We have some great new titles in the works for 2026—stay tuned… 🤫)

01/12/2026

Webinar for active paid members of MGS for 2026. January 14, 2026 – Karen A, Fortin 6-8 pm
Bringing Your Ancestors to Life: Going Beyond the Facts
Using a case study approach, this presentation will explore how you can use traditional
resources such as vital records, census records, land records, newspapers, and more to
uncover the lives, experiences, and even personalities of our ancestors.

01/03/2026

MGS SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS UPDATE: Maine Genealogical Society wishes all of you a happy and healthy 2026, filled with genealogical discoveries and vanquished brick walls! Looking back on the past year, we’re proud to announce our 4 bestselling publications for 2025:
1) VITAL RECORDS OF LIVERMORE AND EAST LIVERMORE, MAINE
2) THE LITTLEFIELD GENEALOGY, DESCENDANTS OF EDMUND LITTLEFIELD, UPDATED AND REVISED EDITION
3) VITAL RECORDS OF LEEDS, MAINE
4) LINCOLN COUNTY, MAINE, MASTER INDEX TO DEEDS IN VOLUMES 101–189
If your New Year’s resolution is to make leaps and bounds in your research, we encourage you to check out our online catalogue of publications at http://www.maineroots.org/shop. And why not join MGS at the same time? You’ll get a year’s subscription to The Maine Genealogist, discounted prices on all our publications, and other great perks!

12/27/2025

Discover Your Family Story With Exclusive Free Webinars from the
Maine Genealogical Society!
Ready to take your genealogy research to the next level? From January through June, the Maine Genealogical Society (MGS) is thrilled to host a powerhouse lineup of nationally recognized speakers, as well as highly respected local experts—and you can attend every webinar for FREE as an active, paid MGS member!
These engaging Zoom webinars are designed to deepen your skills, expand your research toolkit, and inspire new discoveries. Whether you’re a seasoned researcher or just beginning your family history journey, MGS is bringing top-tier expertise from across the country and right here at home directly to your screen.
Why Join MGS Now?
⭐ Free access to all January–June webinars
⭐ National and local speakers without the travel cost
⭐ Live and interactive sessions on Zoom
⭐ Opportunities to connect with fellow genealogists across Maine and beyond
⭐ Full member benefits all year long
⭐ Membership is only $25 per calendar year—less than you’d pay to attend just one professional speaker elsewhere. With MGS, you’ll enjoy six expert presentations for the cost of one!
Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to grow your knowledge and uncover new chapters of your story. Join at:

The Maine Genealogical Society (MGS) is a non-profit charitable and educational organization. It was founded in 1976 to collect, exchange, preserve