Hello,
In this morning's MassMoments' e-mail, there is mention of the history of the State of Maine. It's a reminder that it wasn't a State until 1820.
http://www.massmoments.org/moment.cfm?mid=81It started out as a Colony in 1620, but throughout the 1700's, etc., it was part of Massachusetts. It seems that researchers refer to 1650 to 1820 in different ways. For years I've called it "the northern Territory of MA." But I was reminded last year I should call it the Province of Maine. Others probably use other terms.
And to save space in my postings, I refer to my KIDDER and WILKINS ancestors, etc., as living in "Maine" during 1700's.
Just an FYI for you. Oh, by the way, there is a set of books about the families which were living in "Maine" in 1790. The publishers are always looking for more submissions. But, you must provide a family-tree which is proven and detailed.
My problem is that I cannot prove that William WILKINS was my ancestor. It is only an .educated guess. And, then he doesn't show up in the 1790 census, even though he was living there - probably as a widower. He was a surveyor so probably moved up and down the River a lot, and then he was reported to be a teacher and lived in the homes of his students' parents. I believe he lived past 1800, and he's not in that census, either.
And, my KIDDER ancestor was in New Brunswick in 1790, and his only child wasn't born until 1799. J. Calvin KIDDER (1799-1891) didn't move to Maine until 1830.
Betty (near Lowell, MA)
Board Administrator
P.S. "Calvin" KIDDER and Mary WILKINS had a son, Joseph KIDDER. When he returned from fighting in the Civil War, he married his cousin, Clarissa WILKINS. She was one of 10 children of George WILKINS and Mary NEAL, and George was younger brother of Mary. George and Mary's parents were Samuel WILKINS and Electra "Leeta" (unknown), so I am descended from them twice. But, this couple is one of my .concrete-block walls. in many directions. (Cannot prove that Samuel was the last child of William WILKINS.)
Oh, I can say that Samuel WILKINS was born, reportedly in "Maine" in 1770's, but he doesn't show up in 1790 census, either. One .guess. is that another couple raised him and his older sister. And, no one knows where he was raised, or where he married, or where his 10 children were born. We only know of 4 children who moved with them from Unity, ME, to Amity, ME, ~1835.
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~meandrhs/history/usdebt/ce...(Researchers have found Samuel in the special 1837 census in Amity.)