Skeleton Key Genealogy, LLC

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Saco, ME
Skeleton Key Genealogy, LLC

Research, Genealogy, Ancestry Genealogical Qualifications
B.A. History, Bates College
J.D. Having responsibility for these records was an honor and a privilege.

University of Maine School of Law
York County (Maine) Probate Court Judge 2009-2011
Certificate in Genealogical Research, Boston University, 2013

Genealogical Research Experience
My career began as a title abstractor researching titles in the registry of deeds, and then as in-house counsel for a prominent title company in Portland, Maine. I am, therefore, very familiar and capable of research an

d analysis of deeds and other real estate related documents. Expanding beyond the arena of real estate law, I next added to my field of practice probate and estate work. This, along with my real estate practice, lead me to become very familiar and comfortable with all the materials and information found in county probate courts, including wills, estate files, adoptions, name changes, and guardianships. More recently, I was honored to serve as Probate Court Judge in York County Maine from 2009-2012. York County is the oldest county in Maine, and the Probate Court has records dating back to 1687. I worked with the Register of Probate to insure the records would be preserved and protected forever, as well as available for the public’s use. I have also been a guest lecturer at the local Community College on Trusts and Estates for the past two years. Coincident with my legal career outlined above, I began genealogical research, first for me and my husband’s family, and then for my friends and relatives. I have been conducting genealogical research for well over fifteen years. Genealogical research is a wonderful way to combine my degrees in history and the law, with my love of books and historical documents. Successfully completed the online certificate in genealogical research course through Boston University.

03/28/2016

This would be very helpful! But always pay close attention to nearby graves of ancestors for possible clues.

02/17/2015

Oh the fun only a Genealogist can appreciate. Give it a try!

Do you have a big family? Can you keep track of who is who in your family? Take this fun quiz and test your knowledge about your family.

12/22/2014

12/08/2014

For those with ancestors who lived in Waterville, Maine:
http://bangordailynews.com/2014/12/07/living/1890-census-records-for-waterville-gets-reprinted-as-new-284-page-book/

You may know that 99 percent of the 1890 U.S. Census was destroyed by fire years ago, leaving an unfortunate gap between the 1880 and 1900 censuses. Some communities have put together a kind of “substitute census” using other local records, but in Waterville, there remains a copy of the [...]

11/12/2014

On this day in 1954, Ellis Island in New York is closed, after first opening in 1892. Do you know the name of the first recorded immigrant to pass through Ellis Island?

11/06/2014

Swedish Ancestors? Arkiv Digital is free this weekend. Information is found here:
http://www.arkivdigital.net/products/adonline/try-for-free/?utm_source=newsletter-141106-eng&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter

Try ArkivDigital online for free this weekend (8-9 November 2014)

10/23/2014

YOU ARE INVITED: Saturday November 1st at 10 am, please join me at the Kennebunk Library Genealogy Group for my presentation on using Deeds in Genealogical Research. Information can be found at the link below.

http://kennebunklibrary.org/kennebunk/adultprograms.asp

Kennebunk Free Library Website, Kennebunk, Maine. View upcoming events, information about library services and programs, and more.

10/01/2014

On this day in 1924, 90 years ago, President Jimmy Carter was born James Earl Carter, Jr. son of James Earl and Lillian Gordy Carter. Carter's birth was the first for a US President because of this fact. What was it?

09/23/2014

An 18th century temperance thermometer. Have you ever tasted flip or shrub? What about perry?

09/09/2014

Happy Birthday to Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain! Does anyone have the "Grand Old Maine of Maine" in their family tree?

08/21/2014

How many did you know about?

Remember that time when the steam ship sank with all the wax statues? No? And you call yourself a Mainer? Also: One missing co**se, a missing red purse, a dead elephant and a few Portland brothels.

08/01/2014

A lignt-hearted and interesting TED talk on family history and genealogy. Enjoy!

TED Talks You may not know it yet, but AJ Jacobs is probably your cousin (many, many times removed). Using genealogy websites, he’s been following the unexpected links that make us all, however distantly, related. His goal: to throw the world’s largest family reunion. See you there?

07/22/2014

Over 100 likes! Thank you all for the "love."

07/13/2014

Guilty.

07/07/2014

Time for some History trivia:

“What a poor, ignorant, malicious, short-sighted, crapulous mass.” - John Adams, near the end of his life.

What was he referring to?

07/04/2014

An interesting article on this 4th of July about the Declaration of Independence. My guess, based on the article, is that it is a faded comma that lost its "tail" over the years and various copies.

The official transcript of the Declaration of Independence may contain an errant period that contributes to what one scholar calls a “routine but serious misunderstanding” of the document.

06/25/2014

Researching a family from Philadelphia and came across this entry in the 1785 Philadelphia City Directory. Prominence apparently trumps alphabetical order.

06/02/2014

Portland's own Neil Dow. As is mentioned in the article, he fought in the Civil War, and spent over 10 months in Richmond's Libby Prison before being exchanged for this CSA General. Can you name which Confederate General Dow was exchanged for?

The Portland Rum Riot erupted on June 2, 1855, when the city’s Irish working-class residents found out their teetotaling, saloon-raiding mayor was storing $1,600 worth of liquor at City Hall.

05/23/2014

Happy hunting!

05/17/2014

Some baseball history for a rainy Saturday.

A clamshell on a Brooklyn beach inspired Candy Cummings to invent a pitch that still vexes batters 151 years later: the curveball.

05/16/2014

A wonderful story about efforts to reclaim a forgotten cemetery in Trenton, Maine.

The story begins with the genealogical research of our family with my cousin five times removed and good friend Bob Whitaker from West Haven, Connecticut. (Yes, we even have pretty much the same name.) For almost two decades we have been searching for our ancestral grandparents in Trenton. We enjoy…

05/14/2014

Genealogy is a quiet pursuit...

05/14/2014

Have Maine ancestors? As a certified Maine Researcher, we can obtain copies of birth, death, marriage and divorce records issued throughout the State. Who can we "find" for you?

05/12/2014

The winner of the Mother's Day contest is Joya Pinkham Clark. Congratulations to Joya and thank you all for playing. There will be more contests in the future so stay tuned!

05/11/2014

In honor of Mother's Day, some vintage pictures of moms. Enjoy.

While you celebrate your mom, take a look back at mothers through the ages.

05/09/2014

MOTHER'S DAY CONTEST:

LIKE and SHARE this post to be entered to win free research on any one of your maternal ancestral lines (up to 10 hours of research).

Let's help Mom discovery her heritage!

Good luck. Winner will be announced Monday May 12, 2014.

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S**o, ME
04072

Website

http://skeletonkeygenealogy.com/

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