Showing posts with label Maine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maine. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Northern Maine. Where nothing ever happens!

Northern Maine. Where nothing ever happens! It is so boring right. Well, I would have to say, that could not be further from the truth. Here are just a few things that have taken place!

Did you know that Danforth, Houlton, Presque Isle, Madawaska and Caribou were almost part of Canada and there was an International Incident in which the State of Maine declared war on Great Britain! This was called the Aroostook War. One of the men who so instrumental in getting the border of Maine and Canada established at their present location, was an American by the name of Daniel Webster. To this day there is still an island between New Brunswick, Canada and Maine that is still technically involved in a boundary dispute as to which country it actually belongs to. This Island is called Machias Seal Island.


From the Treaty of Paris, Article 2
And that all disputes which might arise in future on the subject of the boundaries of the said United States may be prevented, it is hereby agreed and declared, that the following are and shall be their boundaries, from the northwest angle of Nova Scotia, that angle which is formed by a line drawn due north from the source of St. Croix River to the highlands...

...by a line to be drawn along the middle of the river Saint Croix, from its mouth in the Bay of Fundy to its source, and from its source directly north to the aforesaid highlands which divide the rivers that fall into the Atlantic Ocean from those which fall into the river Saint Lawrence; comprehending all islands within twenty leagues of any part of the shores of the United States, and lying between lines to be drawn due east from the points where the aforesaid boundaries between Nova Scotia on the one part and East Florida on the other shall, respectively, touch the Bay of Fundy and the Atlantic Ocean, excepting such islands as now are or heretofore have been within the limits of the said province of Nova Scotia.


A lot of things have taken place, from Champlain wintering on the St. Croix River and his expedition nearly getting wiped out because of disease and starvation. Even a German spy attempting to blow up a railroad in Vanceboro.

There was a POW camp in Houlton, where German soldiers were kept during World War II. This was known as Camp Houlton. It housed 1,100 German Soldiers from October 1944 to May 1946.

Danforth had a prominent visitor stop in on the train. His name was none other than U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant.

So when you say that nothing ever happens in Northern Maine, well, that is not true. Northern Maine is full of History.

I would like to add, that some of the best stories of Northern Maine are passed down from generation to generation. If you have a story of Northern Maine that you would like to share, send me and email at mailman9394@gmail.com I would love to hear your story and look into the details to see what I can find.


Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Famous Relations

So after doing some research, I found that the Hayman Family of Danforth, had an interesting journey to the area. I start seeing them all over Washington County, mostly in the Pembroke and Calais area. The Hayman's moved there from Nova Scotia in the 1800's and they moved to Nova Scotia from New Hampshire in the 1700's. Now I have traced them back to where they married into the Drake Family. What I have found is that in this Drake Family is none other than Captain Francis Drake. That is right. There is in fact pretty famous blood running through the vain's of the people of Danforth Maine. Sir Francis Drake (1540-1596) is the Nephew of William Edward Drake (1518-1555) who is the 10th great grandfather of Levanche Hayman Mailman and John Hayman. 

Sunday, January 17, 2016

The Mailman Family of Danforth Maine

So I thought that I would start by posting about my family first just as a launching point. I have to begin somewhere, why not where I am the most familiar. So just some background, I started working on my family tree when I was in college in 2004 because of an assignment in Anthropology class. I was supposed to go back four generations but ended up going back much further than that. What I did find was very interesting.

The Mailman's of Danforth can trace their way back to Canada to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Mostly Annapolis County, Nova Scotia. The name Mailman morphed from the German name Mehlman. I am not sure why, I have read some speculation, but I do not want to publish that until I can get some more factual information. The Mehlman's hailed from an area in Germany known as the Palatinate. They left for Nova Scotia at the bidding of the English Government in order to escape the religious persecution that they face for being protestants.


Archie Mailman married a lady in Danforth, Maine, by the name of Zella Spinney. We can trace the Spinney's back to the Golding's and if you follow this line you meet some interesting people. Like Rebecca Nurse (B. Feb 21, 1621 - D. Jul 19, 1692) being my 14th Great Grandmother. Who is Rebecca Nurse? Well she was executed in Salem Mass, for being a witch after she was falsely accused by two young girls.  Her house still stands today as a museum. The 1996 film "The Crucible", staring Elizabeth Lawrence, is based on her.


Not to mention the Golding's go back to Stephen Golding of Gagetown, New Brunswick. He is known for being a loyalist during the Revolutionary War and helping the British at the Battle of Ticonderoga. There is in fact a display dedicated to him at a museum there in Gagetown.

This line of Goldings track back via parentage of Joseph, Thomas, Ephraim, Percival Jr, Percival Sr, Arthur and a long line of Goldings extending to approximately 1360. This line can be traced by back, thru marriage, to William the Conqueror. When I first traced this back I was pretty excited. That is until I read an article that said that about 25% of people of English decent can trace their lineage back to William the Conqueror. So really, not that uncommon. 

I will update this more at a later date, with more in depth and specific information.
Any questions, thoughts, information that you may have can be commented on here or emailed to me directly at mailman9394@gmail.com Thank you!