We Are All Connected: Genealogy as a Way of Life

by Nancy Maliwesky

Today I am in awe of the symmetry and beauty of the Universe. If you asked me what religion I am, I would probably say “Genealogist”! Let me share with you this stranger-than-fiction true genealogy story and share some tips on the wonder of doing family research.

Several years ago, in my position as Director of the American Pomeroy Historic Genealogical Association, I visited the small town of Pembroke, Maine. My boss, Bill Pomeroy, had purchased a set of prescription books off e-Bay that were part of Dr. Thomas W. Pomroy’s medical practice. Dr. Pomroy was the self proclaimed “Clairvoyant Herbalist”, who practiced in New York City but maintained a summer home in Pembroke, where he grew up. His practice revolved around touching a patient, going into a trance and reciting an herbal remedy to resolve the patient’s complaint or ailment. The more I researched Dr. Pomroy, the more fascinated I became by his story, and I lobbied to have a Pomeroy Anvil Monument erected in his honor in his home town of Pembroke. This was quite a departure from our existing monuments, as Thomas descended from Richard Pomeroy, who settled on the Isles of Shoals, Maine, and was not directly related to Bill’s emigrant ancestor, Eltweed Pomeroy. Bill loved Thomas’ story as much as I did and agreed that we should try to make this monument a reality. I contacted Gail Menzel at the Pembroke Historical Society and we started to work out the details.

My husband Jerry and I drove to Pembroke, Maine from Syracuse, New York, to meet with Gail and others in the town, and to scope out possible locations for the Monument. We both fell in love with the town and its kind inhabitants. For an urban girl like me (born in Brooklyn, raised on Long Island) this small town embodied all that was good about rural life. The slower pace, the connection that the residents had to each other and the land, the unspoiled landscape, the cedar and pine scented air and the ocean, oh, the ocean, how I had missed the ocean.

While there, Jerry and I visited the Reversing Falls on Mahar’s Point. (We purchased a map to the falls out of a box nailed to a utility pole, placing the “honor system” payment of a quarter in the box, and extracting the map.) While at Mahar’s Point I couldn’t help but notice a small cemetery, and being a genealogist, I had to explore and photograph it.

When we got back to Syracuse I continued my research on this Pomroy/Pomeroy family and found an interesting connection. Thomas was the son of David Madison Pomeroy and Hannah McCollar (or McCullough). David and Hannah also had a son named Benjamin L. Pomeroy. In looking for Pomeroys in Washington County, Maine, I was surprised to find an older Benjamin L. Pomeroy living in Charlotte, Washington County, according to the 1830 U.S. Federal Census and in Dover, Piscataquis County, Maine according to the 1840 U.S. Federal Census. I also found a marriage record for Benjamin L. Pomeroy and Lucretia H. Morgan in the book "Marriages in Dennysville 1787-1830", which states that the couple were married 22 Jun 1827. (Pembroke was set off from Dennsyville in 1832). Lucretia was born 24 Feb 1808 in Dexter, Piscataquis County to Theophilus B. Morgan and Sarah Call. Benjamin, Lucretia and their children were found in Bangor, Penobscot County in the 1850 U.S. Federal Census, where Benjamin’s profession was listed as physician. I also found an article in the Bangor Whig and Courier, dated 24 Jun 1853, entitled “State v. Benj. L. Pomroy – Selling Intoxicating Liquors ”. The notice reads: “Knowles for Dft. The verdict was against evidence, I shall move for a new trial. Court. I find the 26th Rule of the Court requires all such motions to be filed within two days after the verdict. Peters. The Court will recollect cases where the practice has been different. Knowles. The practice has been otherwise – The Court will not, at this late day enforce an old rule, particularly when it is against law. If they d I shall except. Court. I see the result will be the same – delay. I shall entertain the motion this time, but it must not be considered a precedent for future practice. Knowles. Dr. Pomroy was convicted without sufficient evidence. I shall not have Dr. Pomroy go to jail on this thing, and prosecutions of those offences against the Doctor must be put a stop to when he is not guilty.” An additional search on Dr. Pomroy unearthed an advertisement for Hunter’s Pulmonary Balsam in the Jamesville Gazette (Jamesville, Wisconsin) published 13 Mar 1851 penned by Benjamin L. Pomroy. Benjamin and family would later move to Providence, Rhode Island, where he and his children were very successful.

Short story long, the Thomas W. Pomroy Pomeroy Anvil Monument was dedicated on the 4th of July, 2010 and is located on the property of the Cobscook Post Number 59 American Legion Hall on Front Street in Pembroke. Jerry and I, Bill and his wife Sandra, and their niece Laura were in attendance. We had a wonderful time watching the parade, participating in the dedication ceremony, touring the town and visiting with the townspeople.

Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago when a dear friend and I were spending time together and we started to look into her genealogy on her dad’s side. She told me that her father was born in Calais, Maine. A preliminary search did indeed find a large Mahar family (sound familiar? Hint: Mahar’s Point.) in Washington County. A few days later, as I did additional research, I found the Mahars and their kin in Pembroke and Dennysville and Charlotte at the same time that the Pomeroys lived in those places…

We found my friend’s grandfather, Harry Vinal Mahar, (born 4 Jan 1878 in Charlotte, Washington County, Maine) and his wife Eva Bell Daggett (born 6 Oct 1885 in Robbinston, Washington County) living in Calais according to the 1910 U.S. Federal Census. Based on additional research, we were able to determine that Eva Belle’s parents were Leonard Hillman Daggett (1834-1921) and Susan Ellen Morgan (1859-1924). Additional research identified Susan Ellen Morgan as the daughter of Isaac C. Morgan and Margaret H. Smith.

A search of Isaac C. Morgan found him and his presumed family living in Charlotte, Washington County, Maine according to the 1830 U.S. Federal Census. I always like to look at the image of the original record to see who lived near the person I am researching, as I can often find additional relatives that way. Didn’t my jaw drop when I found that Benjamin L. Pomroy was enumerated one line above Isaac C. Morgan! What?!? Now I had to wonder, was the Morgan family related to the Pomeroy family?

And the clouds parted and the sun shone and all was strangely right with the world when additional research into the Morgan family identified Isaac C. Morgan’s sister, Lucretia Morgan as the wife of Benjamin L. Pomeroy.

This kind of “coincidence” has occurred way too many times in my research for me to pass it off as mere coincidence, and it makes me wonder what kind of energy we transmit when we do genealogical research that allows us to find these connections. Are our ancestors calling and guiding us? Is the DNA coursing through our beings helping us to find these connections? Are we truly looking through our ancestors’ eyes? And why do I have such an affinity for these blasted Pomeroys and the places where they lived? Where does my family fit in? Whose family am I channeling anyway?

So, how does this help you, especially when you’ve hit a roadblock in your research? Such platitudes as “All the answers are there, just waiting for you to find them” aren’t really helpful, are they? My suggestion, from years of researching, is to widen your search from your specific ancestor. Get to know their in-laws, neighbors, and the community they lived in. Become an expert in the history of the area in which your ancestor lived. Read about place names, read the newspapers and court records, do some extra digging when records for your direct relatives thin out – take some time to look at that neighbor. Who knows, they could be your ancestor’s wife’s relatives!

©2015 Nancy Maliwesky

Nancy Maliwesky, one time Central New York Genealogical Society Board Member and Chair of the New York State Family History Conference worked as a professional genealogist with the American Pomeroy Historic Genealogical Society for ten years. Recently retired, she continues to pursue her passion for genealogical research and writing. She is also a singer/songwriter (the self proclaimed "Singing Genealogist") and an artist.