William Googins was born on August 20, 1838, in Old Orchard now
Old Orchard Beach,
Maine. He was the seventh child and fourth son of
Nathaniel Littlefield Googins (1798–1879) and
Lucy Thurston (1803–1870). He spent most of his early life in Old Orchard. Googins enlisted in the
volunteer 27th Maine Infantry Regiment as a
private in Company A, and was mustered into service on September 30, 1862. He was one of 300 or so people to remain in service after their term expired. After the war, William Googins married
Priscilla Libby Prescott (1848–1886) – a descendant of many royal families. Their union produced six children; •
Maude Lucy (1869–?) Maude modeled for some of
Winslow Homer's paintings. •
Roswell Sumner (1871–1966) •
Charlotte Hannah (1873–1965) •
Lawrence Melville (1877–1900) Died in the
Boxer Rebellion •
Helen Mildred (1878–1971) •
Priscilla May (1886–1887) ==Medal of Honor==