I never knew just how little I know about the town of Atkinson. But I don’t feel alone, the Dover library only had two books, a “History of Atkinson, (very brief) and Charlotte Edgerly Nicely’s “Vital and Cemetery Records.” Both books were interesting, but contained little of help in my quest.
I recently had two different descendants of Atkinson families looking for records, but I have been unable to find very much. Like all towns in Maine, Atkinson was required to start keeping vital records in 1892. However, my requests pre-date that recordkeeping, and the only other pertinent, official records I can find are census records, which are, again, interesting, but of limited value when looking for reliable documentation. I sure could use some help from local residents with good memories, and/or knowledge of Atkinson records of which I am unaware.
I have been trying to find someone familiar with the J.R. (possibly James Robert) and Dorcas Hall families. He was influential in the Methodist/Episcopal church in the late 1800s and she was a school teacher. Ancestry.com had an 1882 map which shows land belonging to J.R. Hall very close to the corner where Dover, Charleston and Atkinson all meet. There is a school on the property where today the Doore Road corners toward Dover. (I have also seen part of this road called the John Hall Road).
Google Maps’ satellite photo shows that area now overgrown with trees. I would expect that this long-gone school is where Dorcas taught, but I would love some proof. Does anyone know of any records out there for either the school or the 1890s Methodist church? Or someone who may have some memories/anecdotes passed down about this Hall family? The other specific information I am looking for on this Hall family is documentation of the middle name of Thomas F. Hall, son of Lydia FOSTER, and we would like records indicating if he is the son of Liberty Hall. Any takers?
My second Atkinson quest concerns Abigail Hanson who was born around the 1820-‘30s to Charles and Eliza GAINES Hanson of Atkinson. Abigail married A.J. Harmon of Dover in the early 1850s. We have nothing besides census records for her life. She had two children; a daughter Annie, born in Dover in 1856, and a son Albert. I’d be willing to guess that Abigail’s husband was also named Albert, but again, we have no records for Abigail or A.J.
We know that the Halls, Hansons and Harmons were farmers in the Dover/Atkinson area for many generations, and seem to be well-known and respected families. Possibly someone still has family letters, diaries or other documents which mention some of these people? Are there still local relatives out there who may know something or have photos, bibles, etc?
When it comes to small towns, the digital/computer age has a great deal of catching up to do, and probably most records will disappear long before modern technology can get to them. That is why it is vital for the small town genealogists and historians to save and share as much as possible. Thanks for your help in this endless — and endlessly enjoyable — endeavor.
Editor’s note: Columnist Nina Brawn of Dover-Foxcroft, who has been doing genealogy for over 30 years, is a freelance genealogy researcher, speaker and teacher. Reader e-mails are welcome at ninabrawn@gmail.com. The Aroostook County Genealogical Society meets the fourth Monday of the month except in July and December at the Cary Medical Center’s Chan Education Center, 163 Van Buren Road, Caribou, at 6:30 p.m. Guests and prospective members are always welcome. FMI contact Edwin “J” Bullard at 492-5501.
