Somes Genealogy
a project of
V. F. Thomas Co. - P. O. Box 84 - Hulls Cove, Maine  04644
info@vfthomas.com

(updated 4 July 2024)

Welcome to the Somes family genealogy. Family units are arranged alphabetically by the first name of the father (or single-parent mother). Links are provided to enable you to move up and down each lineage. To follow a line back in time (ancestors), click on the underlined portion of “(son of …)” or “(dau. of …)” beneath the name of the person you want to trace back. To follow a line forward in time (descendants), click on the name of the person whose offspring you want to see. A plus sign (+) following a name means that that person had one or more children, but that family group has not been added to this web page. To view documentation, including census data, click on the link “documentation and notes” below a family.

How you can help. All information, especially source material, for inclusion in this web page should be sent to info@vfthomas.com or mailed to “Somes Genealogy” at the address at the top of this page. And, of course, please report all errors.

A little work by each of us will save a lot of work for all of us.



If you wish to explore a different surname, click here.



Abraham Somes, wife Hannah (Herrick), and their then four children (daughters Hannah, Patty, Lucy, and Prudence) were the first settlers of European descent on Mount Desert Island. Virginia Somes Sanderson, in her 1982 book The Living Past, quoted from a letter written by Abraham Somes that described his arrival on Mount Desert Island. He said that he “came down immediately after the War was over and peace ratified between Great Britain and the French and Indians—so that I could be safe in moving into the Wilderness; I came to this place which was in the autumn of the year 1761 and made a pitch on this Lot [where] I now live and in June, the year following, I moved my family and settled on the same lot and have occupied the same ever since”.

Abraham Somes was one of 10 signers of a 1768 petition to Governor Bernard of Massachusetts, requesting his intervention in a dispute with people living on the mainland who were cutting hay on Mount Desert Island or stealing hay already cut by the early settlers.

In 1790, the year of the first decennial census, Abraham Somes’s family (then composed of 4 free white males 16 and upwards, 3 free white males under 16, and 2 free white females) was the only Somes family reported for the island. This is not surprising, though, given that Abraham was only 29 years old in 1761, and that his four oldest children were female and would not carry the family name upon marriage.


only Somes household in 1790 census of the town of Mount Desert free white males 16 and upwards free white males under 16 free white females
Abraham Somes 4 3 2 
   

Abraham Somes
   (son of Timothy Somes Jr. and [...])
   m. 3 December 1730   Gloucester, Massachusetts
         Martha Emerson

children:
   Abraham Somes   b. 14 March 1732   Gloucester, Massachusetts   -   m. (1) 25 December 1753   Hannah Herrick;   (2) 2 April 1794   Joanna Beal   -   d. 7 September 1819   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   John Somes
   Isaac Somes
   son
   son
   son
   Daniel Somes

Note: The Gloucester, Massachusetts, records refer to the son Abraham above as “Abraham Jr.”. However, Mount Desert records consider that son as “Abraham” and his son as “Abraham Jr.”. That practice is followed here.

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Abraham Somes
   (son of Abraham Somes and Martha Emerson)
   b. 14 March 1732   Gloucester, Massachusetts
   m. (1) 29 December 1753
               Hannah Herrick
                     (dau. of Samuel Herrick and [...])
                     b. 6 October 1735   Gloucester, Massachusetts
                     d. 16 March 1790
                        bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
         (2) 2 April 1794
                  Joanna Beal (widow of Edward Beal)
                        d. 17 December 1831
                              bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   d. 7 September 1819
         bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine

children by Hannah Herrick:
   Hannah Somes   b. 16 September 1754   Gloucester, Massachusetts   -   m. Samuel Reed
   Patty Somes   b. 24 December 1756   Gloucester, Massachusetts   -   m. James Flye   -   d. April 1846
   Lucy Somes   b. 4 May 1759   Gloucester, Massachusetts   -   m. 22 February 1780   Mount Desert Island, Maine   Nicholas Thomas
   Prudence Somes   b. 23 June 1761   Gloucester, Massachusetts   -   m. Abraham Reed
   Abraham Somes Jr.   b. 19 December 1763   -   m. Rachel Babson   -   d. 12 July 1845   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   Mercy Somes   b. 11 December 1765   -   m. Amaziah Dodge   -   d. 12 July 1845
   John Somes   b. 13 December 1767   -   m. 27 October 1792   Judith Richardson   -   d. 9 February 1849   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   Daniel Somes   b. 5 February 1770   -   m. Clarissa Beal   -   d. 24 June 1831   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   Lois Somes   b. 25 March 1772   -   m. [...] Dodge
   James Somes   b. 26 March 1774   -   m. Betsey Gott (dau. of Daniel Gott and [...])
   Jacob Somes   b. 21 January 1777   -   d. lost at sea
   Betsy Somes   b. 31 January 1779   -   m. William W. Thorn
   Isaac Somes   b. 5 February 1781   -   m. Sally Kittredge   -   d. 3 February 1846   Fairfield   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine

documentation and notes

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Abraham Somes
   (son of [...])
   b. age 27 y. as of 1850 census   Maine
   m. Abigail [...]
            b. age 37 y. as of 1850 census   Maine

children:
   John H. Somes   b. age 5 y. as of 1850 census   Maine
   Elmira A. Somes   b. age 1 y. as of 1850 census   Maine

documentation and notes

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Abraham Somes Jr.
   (son of Abraham Somes and Hannah Herrick)
   b. 19 December 1763
   m. Rachel Babson
         b. age 62 y. at death
         d. 21 March 1839
               bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   d. 12 July 1845
         bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine

children:
   John Colson Somes   b. age 65 y. at death   -   m. Joanna Ober   -   d. 30 May 1862   -   bur. Center Cemetery   Tremont, Maine
   Isaac Somes   b. 14 February 1803   -   m. Charlotte P. Dodge   -   d. 7 October 1875   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   George B. Somes   b. age 76 y., 2 m. at death   -   m. (1) Mary Jane [...];   (2) Almira E. [...]   -   d. 6 September 1886   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine

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Abraham Somes III
   (son of John Somes and Judith Richardson)
   b. age 66 y., 8 m., 10 d. at death
   m. Adeline Freeman
            b. 3 November 1815
            d. 5 November 1892
                  bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   d. 25 August 1868
         bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine

children:
   Thaddeus Shepley Somes   b. 2 April 1839   -   m. Emilie Clarissa Meynell   -   d. 13 January 1913   Berkeley, California   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   Emma Frances Somes   b. age 22 y., 10 m., 15 d. at death   -   d. 12 April 1865   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   Lot Augustine Somes   b. age 8 y., 3 m., 11 d. at death   -   d. 23 November 1852   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   William P. Somes   b. age 6 y., 3 m. at death   -   d. 13 October 1852   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery, Maine

documentation and notes

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Daniel Somes
   (son of Abraham Somes and Hannah Herrick)
   b. 5 February 1770
   m. Clarissa Beal
            b. age 65 y. at death
            d. 27 August 1841
                  bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   d. 24 June 1831
         bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine

children:
   Lewis Somes   b. age 72 y. at death   -   m. Mary Ann [...]   -   d. 10 October 1872   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   Daniel Somes Jr.   b. 1803   Massachusetts   -   m. Sally S. Trask   -   d. 2 November 1882   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   Edward B. Somes   b. age 5 y., 9 m., 7 d. at death   -   d. 14 April 1812   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   Clarissa B. Somes   b. age 14 y., 2 m. at death   -   d. 1 September 1824   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   Edward B. Somes   b. age 14 y., 6 m. at death   -   d. 7 October 1833   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine

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Daniel Somes Jr.
   (son of Daniel Somes and Clarissa Beal)
   b. 1803   Massachusetts
   m. Sally S. Trask
            b. 29 December 1817   Maine
            d. 29 May 1904
                  bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   d. 2 November 1882
         bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine

children:
   Harvey Somes   b. age 5 y., 6 m., 15 d. at death   -   d. 29 August 1842   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   Caroline F. Somes   b. age 11 y. as of 1850 census   Maine   -   m. [...] Moore
   Edward P. Somes   b. 1841   Maine   -   m. Alta M. [...]   -   d. 1906   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   Henry J. Somes   b. age 42 y., 11 m., 10 d. at death   Maine   -   m. Emma  J. [...]   -   d. 8 March 1887   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   Isaac Somes   b. 11 July 1846   Maine   -   m. Dencie [...]   -   d. 15 July 1922   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   Eva Somes   b. age 1 y. as of 1850 census   Maine
   Charles P. Somes   b. age 70 y., 3 m., 18 d. at death   Maine   -   m. Adelle F. [...]   -   d. 7 February 1922   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery, Mount Desert, Maine
   Ida Somes   b. age 8 y. as of 1860 census   Maine
   William T. Somes   b. age 18 y. at death   -   d. 15 September 1872   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   Lyman H. Somes   b. age 2 y. as of 1860 census   Maine

documentation and notes

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George B. Somes
   (son of Abraham Somes Jr. and Rachel Babson)
   b. age 76 y., 2 m. at death
   m. (1) Mary Jane [...]
               b. age 23 y. at death
               d. 18 June 1845
                     bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
         (2) Almira E. [...]
                  b. age 59 y., 4 m. at death
                  d. 1 January 1879
                        bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   d. 6 September 1886
         bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine

child by Mary Jane [...]:
   Richmond L. Somes   b. age 75 y. at death   Maine   -   d. 17 November 1917   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
child by [...]:
   Mary Black Somes
children by Almira E. [...]:
   George A. P. Somes   b. age 7 y. as of 1860 census   Maine
   Charles E. Somes   b. age 30 y. at death   -   d. 8 May 1885   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   Mary B. Somes   b. age 9 m. as of 1860 census   Maine

documentation and notes

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Isaac Somes
   (Abraham Somes Jr. and Rachel Babson)
   b. 14 February 1803
   m. Charlotte P. Dodge
         b. 3 September 1800
         d. 6 September 1872
               bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   d. 7 October 1875
         bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine

children:
   Charlotte Julia Somes   b. age 29 y., 1 m., 14 d. at death   -   m. D. S. Thompson   -   d. 16 October 1856   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   George A. Somes   b. age 11 m. at death   -   d. 5 September 1836   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   Lyman W. Somes   b. age 17 y. as of 1850 census   Maine

documentation and notes

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Isaac Somes
   (son of Daniel Somes Jr. and Sally S. Trask)
   b. 11 July 1846   Maine
   m. Dencie [...]
            b. 18 July 1858   Maine
            d. 30 May 1927
                  bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   d. 15 July 1922
         bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine

children:
   William T. Somes   b. April 1879   Maine   -   d. 1945   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   Andrew Somes   b. December 1881   Maine
   Georgia N. Somes   b. January 1890   Maine   -   m. 8 February 1910   Hollis M. Smith

documentation and notes

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Jacob Somes
   (son of John Somes and Judith Richardson)
   b. 30 April 1799
   m. Rebecca T. Seavey
            b. 4 July 1817
            d. 25 November 1904
                  bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   d. 2 September 1876
         bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine

children:
   Adelma Frances Somes   b. 27 November 1837   Mount Desert, Maine   -   m. 30 January 1860   Ellsworth, Maine   Hosea J. Joy
   Ann R. Somes   b. 10 y. as of 1850 census
   John Jacob Somes   b. 28 October 1841   Maine   -   m. Leonice H. [...]   -   d. 14 August 1930   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   Catharine J. Somes   b. age 6 y. as of 1850 census
   Mary E. Somes   b. age 8 y. as of 1860 census

documentation and notes

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John Somes
   (son of Abraham Somes and Hannah Herrick)
   b. 13 December 1767
   m. 27 October 1792   Mount Desert, Maine
         Judith Richardson
               (dau. of James Richardson and Rachel Gott)
               b. 30 November 1767
               d. 25 March 1850
                     bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   d. 9 February 1849
         bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine

children:
   John Somes Jr.   -   b. 24 September 1794   -   m. Julia L. Kittredge   -   d. 10 November 1886   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   Judith Somes   b. 16 September 1796   Mount Desert, Maine   -   m. 11 September 1815   Ebenezer Babson   -   d. 4 November 1880   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   Jacob Somes   b. 30 April 1799   -   m. Rebecca T. Seavey   -   d. 2 September 1876   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   Abraham Somes III   -   b. 15 December 1801   -   m. Adeline Freeman   -   d. 25 August 1868   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   Benjamin Somes   b. 8 January 1804   -   d. 25 July 1850   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   Emily Somes   b. 17 July 1806   -   m. John M. Noyes
   Julianna Somes   b. 15 October 1810   -   d. 20 May 1812   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine

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John Somes Jr.
   (son of John Somes and Judith Richardson)
   b. 24 September 1794   Maine
   m. Julia L. Kittredge
            b. 16 October 1812   Maine
            d. 28 March 1866
                  bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   d. 10 November 1886
         bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine

children:
   Judith Somes   b. age 13 y. as of 1850 census   Maine
   John William Somes   b. 16 May 1838   Maine   -   m. Lucie F. [...]   -   d. 17 May 1913   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   Henrietta R. Somes   b. age 9 y. as of 1850 census   Maine
   Sarah Julia Somes   b. 19 July 1848   Maine   -   d. 25 March 1915   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine

documentation and notes

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John Allen Somes
   (son of John William Somes and Lucie F. [...])
   b. 21 September 1872
   m. 27 June 1894
         Ada Mae Richardson
               (dau. of Mark T. Richardson and Mary J. [...])
               b. 4 October 1872
               d. 9 November 1949
                     bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   d. 8 September 1930
         bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine

child:
   Mark Whiting Somes   b. 11 April 1895   -   m. 9 July 1917   Nellie Irene Fitzhenry   -   d. 7 March 1919   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine

documentation and notes

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John Colson Somes
   (son of Abraham Somes Jr. and Rachel Babson)
   b. age 65 y. at death   -   d. 30 May 1862   -   bur. Center Cemetery   Tremont, Maine
   m. Joanna Ober
            b. age 69 y., 5 m. at death   Maine
            d. 23 July 1868
                  bur. Center Cemetery   Tremont, Maine

children:
   Rachel H. Somes   b. age 11 y., 10 m., 19 d. at death   -   d. 25 December 1830   -   bur. Center Cemetery   Tremont, Maine
   Abraham Somes   b. age 28 y., 7 m. at death   -   d. 31 Deember 1851   bur. Center Cemetery   Tremont, Maine
   Matilda Somes   b. age [2 digits] d. at death   -   d. 15 Ma[...] 1825   -   bur. Center Cemetery   Tremont, Maine
   Isaac W. Somes   b. age 24 y. as of 1850 census   Maine
   Ermina Townley Somes   b. 5 April 1830   Maine   -   m. William Harper Jr.   -   bur. Center Cemetery   Tremont, Maine
   George R. Somes   b. age 24 y., 10 m., 28 d. at death   Maine   -   d. 1 October 1858   -   bur. Center Cemetery   Tremont, Maine

documentation and notes

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John Jacob Somes
   (son of John Somes and Rebecca T. Seavey)
   b. 28 October 1841   Maine
   m. Leonice H. [...]
            b. 13 September 1850   Maine
            d. 24 April 1912
                  bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   d. 14 August 1930
         bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine

children:
   Harry G. Somes   b. age 10 y. as of 1880 census   Maine
   Agnes H. Somes   b. 18 June 1872   Maine   -   m. M. F. foley   -   d. 27 September 1900   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   Kate S. Somes   b. age 6 y. as of 1880 census   Maine
   Grace L. Somes   b. age 3 y. as of 1880 census   Maine

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John William Somes
   (son of John Somes Jr. and Julia L. Kittredge)
   b. 16 May 1838   Maine
   m. Lucie F. [...]
            b. 13 March 1840
            d. 2 July 1889
                  bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   d. 17 May 1913
         bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine

child:
   John Allen Somes   b. 21 September 1872   -   m. 27 June 1894   Ada Mae Richardson   -   d. 8 September 1930   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine

documentation and notes

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Lewis Somes
   (son of Daniel Somes and Clarissa [...])
   b. age 72 y. at death
   m. Mary Ann [...]
            b. age 72 y. at death   Maine
            d. 21 December 1883
                  bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   d. 10 October 1872
         bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine

child:
   Lewis Somes Jr.   b. age 81 y. at death   -   m. (1) Emma K. Newman;   (2) 4 April 1896   Emma J. Salisbury   -   d. 19 May 1913   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine

documentation and notes

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Lewis Somes Jr.
   (son of Lewis Somes and Mary Ann [...])
   b. age 81 y. at death   Maine
   m. (1) Emma K. Newman
            (dau. of Samuel S. Newman and Nancy Stanley)
            b. age 52 y., 1 m., 11 d. at death   Maine
            d. 4 February 1892   Mount Desert
                  bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
         (2) 4 April 1896
               Emma J. Salisbury
                     b. age 69 y. as of 1910 census   Maine
   d. 19 May 1913
         bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine

children:
   Carrie S. Somes   b. age 6 y. as of 1870 census   Maine
   Arthur [N. or L.?] Somes   b. August 1869   Maine
   Mary A. Somes   b. 1879   Maine   -   m. 31 January 1899   Isaiah T. Ober   -   d. 1944   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine

documentation and notes

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Mark Whiting Somes
   (son of John Allen Somes and Ada Mae Richardson)
   b. 11 April 1895
   m. 9 July 1917
         Nellie Irene Fitzhenry
   d. 7 March 1919
         bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine

child:
   John William Somes   b. 1918   -   d. 11 August 1981   Bar Harbor, Maine   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine

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Thaddeus Shepley Somes
   (son of Abraham Somes III and Adeline Freeman)
   b. 2 April 1839   Maine
   m. Emilie Clarissa Meynell
            b. 29 August 1842   New York
            d. 19 July 1920
                  bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   d. 13 January 1913   Berkeley, California
         bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine

children:
   Harriet E. Somes   b. age 10 y. as of 1880 census   Maine   -   m. 25 December 1894   Arthur G. Sanderson   -   d. 2 November 1964   Ellsworth, Maine   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine
   Blanche L. Somes   b. 1 July 1878   Maine   -   m. 1 September 1904   Lino M. Colwell   -   d. 5 November 1946   -   bur. Brookside Cemetery   Mount Desert, Maine

documentation and notes

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