Between 1740 and 1753, some 150 families and individuals, mainly from the Rhineland area of Germany, emigrated to the New World and ultimately landed in Broad Bay, Massachusetts - now Waldoboro, Lincoln County, Maine. It is these people who inspired the development of this association.

The photo is of the Old German Lutheran Church in Waldoboro, built in 1772.  Click on the image to get a larger view.


BACKGROUND

The OLD BROAD BAY FAMILY HISTORY ASSOCIATION was started in the summer of 1992. We began as a small group of people who were interested in learning more about our ancestors and how they came to be in Broad Bay. The effort was introduced by W. W. "Will" Whitaker in his newsletter "Old Broad Bay - Bund und Blat" that he started in January of 1992. He was attempting to document this unique event - the settling of Broad Bay - roughly 250 years after the fact.  To obtain back copies, contact the newsletter editor  listed below.  An index of back copies is being put together and will be posted on this site when complete

The first project of our group was to start a registry, the Broad Bay Family Registry, through which people could contact others interested in Waldoboro's history and early families. Its second project was to organize some family history activities to take place in conjunction with the August 1, 1993, annual Sunday afternoon service at the historic Old German Meeting House Church in Waldoboro, Maine, where many of our ancestors worshipped.  We continue to meet each year over the first weekend in August to exchange genealogical information, learn about local history, and plan work in the communities of the Broad Bay area that will perpetuate the memory of those Individuals who came to this place and prospered or perished.

We welcome all those who are interested in learning more about this group to write us and we will gladly try to answer any questions you might have.

ANNUAL MEETING

The group meets in Waldoboro for genealogy sharing, a business meeting, and speakers near the time of the annual Sunday afternoon service at the old German Lutheran Church on the first Sunday in August.  Photos from the 2009 meeting are on the 2009 Photos page.

MEMBERSHIP & NEWSLETTER

Annual membership runs from July 1st to June 30th.  Dues for individuals/families receiving the newsletter via e-mail are $10/15 per year. Dues for those requiring a hard copy newsletter are $15/20 per year. Checks should be made out to OBBFHA and mailed, along with the Membership form, to William Conary, OBBFHA Treasurer, 9 Hilltop Rd, Plaistow, NH 03865.

Our newsletter "Old Broad Bay Family History Association Newsletter" is published quarterly.  

Every name index to volumes 1-5 (new series) 2004-2008

Back issues of newsletter now available.

NEWS

Constitution and By-Laws
The OBBFHA constitution was approved by the membership in November 2007 and the by-laws were approved in February 2008. Click here for a full copy of both documents. 

1753/54 Memorial

The dedication for the 1753/54 Memorial was held Saturday, June 21 with about thirty people in attendance. OBB President David Putnam opened the service with a brief talk on the history of the memorial and the significance of its placement. Reverend Michael Murphy offered three prayers in German and English symbolizing the arrival of the immigrants and their joy at being in a new world, their fears for the harsh winter, and a request for salvation upon their death. Ruth Riopell, June Hussiere, and Elsie Eugley (a founder of the memorial project) unveiled the memorial.

Click on the photo for a larger view. Left to right: Elsie Eugley, Ruth Riopell, William Conary, Helen Shaw, Randy Gross, June Hussiere, David Putnam.

The plaque reads:

Dedicated to the memory of those German immigrants who came to Broad Bay and perished during the winter of 1753/54. Their descendants remember them and the sacrifices they made to come to this place seeking a better way of life.  Old Broad Bay Family History Association, Spring 2008

OFFICERS & CONTACTS

President - David Putnam
28 Union St., Hamilton, MA 01982
DPutnam925@msn.com 978-468-7266

Vice President/Secretary & Newsletter Editor - Helen Shaw
77 Pascal Ave., Rockport, ME 04856
hashaw@earthlink.net - obbeditor@earthlink.net 207-236-2468

Treasurer - William Conary
9 Hilltop Rd., Plaistow, NH 03865
conarywmrb@comcast.net 603-382-8033

Director - Ruth Riopell 802 Wiscasset Rd., Pittston, ME 04345
ruth.riopell@roadrunner.com 207-582-4578

Director - Randall Gross PO Box 77, Waldoboro, ME 04572
ri144@hotmail.com 207-832-2194

Web Master - Fred Snell
7 Mercury Circle, Andover, MA 01810-2410
fred@snell.com 978-686-3647

FAMILIES

The following are the names of the early German settlers who settled Old Broad Bay, Waldoboro, Maine.  We hope to eventually provide links to people researching these families.  To have your name added to this list, please send e-mail to Fred Snell.

Air, Antoni (Anton), Bauzer, Beckler, Benner, Birchenbeul, Bornemann, Bornhelmet, Brotmann (Broadman), Burkhardt (Burkett), Carlow/Carlo, Castner (Kastner), David, Deis (Dice), Demuth, Dickendorff (Duckendorff, Dockendorff), Dochtermann (Tochtermann), Duerfiinger (Doertier), Dohlheim (Dolheim), Edell, Eichorn (Achorn), Eisele (Eisley, Isley), Ekele (Eugley), Feller (Feyler), Feilhauer, Genthner, Getsinger, Gross, Hamburg (Haburg), Hahn, Handel, Haupt (Hopp), Haus, Heibner / Huebner (Heavener), Heidenheim, Heller (Heyler, Hyler), Hein, Heisler, Heyer, Hilt, Hoch, Hoffses, Hoizapfel, Horn, Icholar, Jung, Keizer (Keiser, Kizer), Kuntzel Kinzel), Klein (Cline), Klaus (Claus), Koehler (Kaler), Kammerer (Comery), Kraus, Kramer (Creamer), Kroehn, Kubler, Kuhn (Cone), Labe, Lachenauer (Lagenauer), Lang (Long), Losch (Lash), Lauer (Lawry, Lowry), Lehr, Leissner, Lebenzoeller (Levensaler), Leicht (Light), Ludwig, Martin, Matchloffe, Mellen, Menck (Mink, Mank),Muller (Miller), Neuhaus (Newhouse), Neubert (Newbert),

Orph (Orff), Oberlach (Overlock), Pracht (Prock), Reisser (Razor), Ried (Reed, Reid), Rehfuss (Refuse), Reisaus, Reitter, Roemele (Remily), Roth (Rode, Rhodes), Rinner, Rominger, Sargers (Sargus), Schaffer, Schenck, Schmidt (Smith), Schneider (Snyder, Snider), Schonemann, Schumacher (Shoemaker), Schurtz, Schwartz (Black), Schweier, Siechrist (Sechrist), Seiders (Sider), Schumann (Shuman), Seythlinger (Sidelinger), Seitensberger (Sidensparker), Seitz (Sides), Seller (Slier), Schmaus (Smouse), Schaudeal (Snowdeal),

Soelle (Cilley), Stahl (Stall, Stole), Stein, Stilke (Stilkey), Stoerer (Storer), Steudle (Studley), Suchfort (Sukeforth), Toziner, Treupel (Drible), Uhlmann, Ulmer, Umbehend (Umberhine), Vogler (Fogler), Wegner (Wagner), Walch (Walck), Wallizer (Wallis, Wallace), Walder (Walter), Waltz (Woltz), Weber (Weaver), Weller (Willard), Wellman, Welt, Weyl, Werner (Warner), Winchenbach (Wincapaw, Wink), Wohlfahrt, Wolsgrover, Zuberbuhler.

Other Non-German Waldoboro Surnames:  Delano, Flanders, Simmons

Links to other Maine and Lincoln County sources