Maine Genealogical Society

Upcoming Virtual Sessions

• May 21st, 6:00pm - 8:00pm, Connecting Your Research with B.J. Jamieson
• June 18th, 6:00pm - 8:00pm, Probate Records with Kathleen Ayers 

Zoom link to be provided in a separate email for members only closer to the presentation date. No need to register.

MGS 2025 Annual Conference

Saturday, August 23rd, 2025

At the Randall Student Technology Center University of Maine at Augusta

Meet us in the Fireplace Lounge for

“A Day with Judy Russell” The Legal Genealogist!

Topics:

Putting Those Records to Work

Every document we locate in genealogical research has its clear use: a census record will help us identify family members and trace them over time; a court record will tell us what was happening with that person at that time; a will or probate record will help recreate a family at a specific point in time. But every document we locate can be mined—directly or in combination with other records—for more: a deeper richer context for our family members and their place and time.

Linking the Generations with Court and Land Records
It’s the single biggest issue genealogists face: how do we connect one generation to the next with evidence we can rely on? Vital records are excellent documentation, but they often don’t exist for the time and place we’re researching. That’s when we have to find workarounds to make sure we’re not simply putting people into family lines because they share the same names. Using court and land records, we can often find the evidence we need to link the generations accurately.

Courting America: Using Court Records for Genealogy

It is no secret among genealogists that court records are among the most valuable

and versatile records that can be found to help flesh out a family’s history. From
jury lists to loose papers filed with the courts, these are records that can help us

document family relationships, life events, community happenings and more.

“Don’t Forget the Ladies” – A Genealogist’s Guide to Women and the Law

In early America, women were all too often the people who just weren’t there: not in

the records, not in the censuses, not on juries, not in the voting booth. The common law relegated women to “protected” – second-class – status and understanding how they were treated under the law provides clues to finding their identities today.

More details will be available in the coming months.

18th New England Regional Genealogical Conference!
Join us in Manchester, NH from October 29th through November 1st, 2025.
Come early and dive into Pre-Conference activities on Wednesday, October 28th.
Details are included in this issue of our e-zine.

• Important changes to this year's conference sessions
• A preview of exciting Pre-Conference tracks
• Information about our host Hotel – Doubletree by Hilton along with reservation information
• Updates from our welcoming Hospitality Committee
• Ways to support and participate as a sponsor
• An invitation to genealogy bloggers
• The latest news about our bustling Exhibit Hall
• Information about our popular Society Fair
• How you can join our dedicated volunteer team
• Details about our comprehensive accessibility services

Below is the link to the E-zine page on the NERGC.org website, here you will find both issues.