Planning a Maine Genealogy Trip - researching my Wentworth and Tarbox Ancestors
Mon, May 2, 2011 at 5:17 PM I'm in pursuit of my Maine roots! 
In preparation for a June trip to the Portland, Maine area; I have been digging into my Wentworth and Tarbox ancestors. I'm looking for burial locations, residences, churches, and any other historical or genealogical points of interest to visit and check records. First step: who am I looking for?
My Wentworth ancestry....
The Wentworth surname has been a very prominent name in my family tree. My Wentworth line begins with Elder William Wentworth, born in England abt 1607 and came to the United States in abt 1636. He originally settled in Dover, NH. In the early 1700's the family moved to South Berwick in York County, Maine. The family migrated to Buxton and then Biddeford and Saco in York County, Maine.
I've found that many of my Wentworth ancestors are surprisingly well documented in published genealogy books, historical publications, and church records due to their connection to Elder William Wentworth. But it's been very tricky! Elder William Wentworth has MANY descendants and many common names have been passed down, making it tricky to decipher which Wentworth is being referenced. For more information re: descendants of Elder William Wentworth, check out "A Genealogical and Biographical Account of the Descendants of Elder William Wentworth".
After generations of Wentworth male ancestors in my line, the surname is dropped from my tree when my 4x great grandmother Tamar Dearborn Wentworth married Nathan Tarbox. The surname name was dropped, but it wasn't forgotten! In the 13 generations of my direct descendance from Elder William Wentworth, the name Wentworth can be found in all but 2 of the 13 generations! My grandmother and I being the only 2 without this name.
Elder William Wentworth...Timothy Wentworth...Samuel Wentworth...Samuel Wentworth...Ebenezer Wentworth...Ebenezer Wentworth...Tamar Dearborn Wentworth...Georgianna Wentworth Tarbox...Virginia Wentworth Franks...Wentworth Middleton...Marjorie Middleton...David Wentworth Wright...ME!
I find that amazing! It's like the Wentworth name has been woven into my family tree, connecting it's legacy with the future surnames found in my tree. One item of curiosity is the origin of Tamar Dearborn Wentworth's namesake...no Tamar's or Dearborn's in sight.
My Tarbox Ancestry...
I really don't know too much about this line! My 4x great grandfather was Nathan or Nathaniel Tarbox and he lived in Biddeford, Maine. He was born abt. 1811 and Died May 1891 Biddeford, Maine.
He had 2 children: Granville Tarbox and a daughter through which I descend, Georgianna Wentworth Tarbox. She was born June 1840 in Biddeford, Maine and died Oct 1895 in Jersey City, New Jersey. She married Benjamin Mortimer Franks April 1959 at the John Street Methodist Church in NYC when she was just 18 and later settled in Northern New Jersey. As far as I can tell, Georgianna's parents and brother stayed in Maine. This explains a lack of information but I always wondered why Georgianna moved away at such a young age. What brought her to NYC? What was her connection to Benjamin Franks? I have no indication Benjamin lived outside of the NY/NJ area before 1859. I recently discovered that Georgianna's mother, Tamar Wentworth Tarbox, had siblings leave Maine for NYC about the same time. Some of them were Clerks and it just so happens that Benjamin Franks was a clerk and bookkeeper- perhaps it was an Aunt, Uncle, or cousin from the Wentworth family who made the love connection. Or maybe it was a connection through interest in the Oneida Community?
Do you have ancestors from Maine? What resources have you found helpful? What have you learned from visiting your ancestors stomping grounds?
Next post will cover specific places I'm planning to visit...cemeteries, churches, landmarks...and one cannot forget to research the best LOBSTER joints when going to Maine! Yummmm...
;)