With World Acadian Congress 2014 scheduled for next August in northern Maine and parts of Quebec and New Brunswick, resources for French-Canadian and Acadian genealogy are never far from my mind.
Recently, I’ve been reading “Companions of Champlain: Founding Families of Quebec, 1608-1635,” by Denise R. Larson, published in 2008 by Clearfield Company, which is an imprint of Genealogical Publishing Co. in Baltimore.
The 178-page book includes background and history of French migration to Quebec, 20 pages of terms used in French genealogy, and 80 pages on early families of Philippe Amiot or Amyot from Picardy, Gaspard Boucher of Perche, Jean Bourdon of Normandy, Zacharie Cloutier of Perche, Jean Cote, Guillaume Couillard of Brittany, Pierre Delaunay of the province of Maine, Pierre Desportes of Normandy, Robert Giffard of Perche, Jean Guyon of Perche, Louis Hebert of Paris, Jean Juchereau of Perche, Noel Langlois of Normandy, Nicolas Marsolet of Normandy, Abraham Martin, Jean Nicolet of Cherbourg, Henri Pinguet of Perche, and Olivier Tardif or LeTardif of Brittany.
Most of the families have a page or two of genealogy, but several pages are devoted to the family of Louis Hebert, which is followed through five generations.
“Companions of Champlain” is available at Maine State Library in Augusta, Acadian Archives at the University of Maine at Fort Kent, and at the Alfred F. Totman Library in Phippsburg.
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For many years, I have passed on to the Bangor Public Library some of the review copies of genealogy and local history books that have been sent or given to Family Ties, knowing that BPL’s high use by genealogists would put such volumes where they would be available to all who are interested. As I figure out which of my own books will be kept by my children and grandchildren someday, there will certainly be more which will be offered first to Bangor Public Library.
Penobscot County Genealogical Society, which meets monthly at the library, purchases several genealogy books each year for the facility in consultation with Special Collections librarian Bill Cook in the Bangor Room, which houses largely New England resources.
In June, I was pleased to see Bangor voters approve a bond for $3 million to put a new copper roof on the library, a roof which over the years will save money compared to the frequent replacement that a steel roof would require.
Authors Stephen and Tabitha King also have pledged $3 million for planned improvements and renovations so that the library may serve our evolving needs. That leaves $3 million for the public to raise, and a good portion of that has been pledged.
Now it’s our turn. Don’t wait for someone from the Capital Campaign to ask you. Open up your pocket and give what you can. $100 is important. $25 is important. $5 is important.
If you are retired or “mostly retired” as I often describe myself, how about getting family and friends in on the act?
Here is a note I recently emailed to my children: “Dear boys, I have thought of a birthday present that would mean a lot to me. I would be so pleased if you would send a contribution to help with needed renovations and improvements to Bangor Public Library. Any amount would be appreciated by this library which has done so much to educate our family and preserve our family history. The address is: Capital Campaign, Bangor Public Library, 145 Harlow St., Bangor, ME 04401. Love, Mom”
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“Let’s Talk about Those Cousins” at the upcoming meeting of the Abbot Historical Society at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27, at the Abbot Town Hall on Route 15 right in the village. We’ll discuss cousins twice removed and how to figure them out. Could my sister be my cousin? For more information, contact the Bennetts at 876-3073.
For information on researching family history in Maine, see Genealogy Resources under Family Ties at bangordailynews.com/browse/family-ties. Send genealogy queries to Family Ties, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402, or email familyti@bangordailynews.com.