St. John Valley marriage repertories set updated

For more than 20 years, we have used the Rev. Henri Langlois’ marriage repertories, edited by the Rev. Ernest Lang, as a major resource for genealogy in the St. John Valley. The eight volumes of photocopied typescripts were indexed only by surname of the groom. To look up a bride, you had to know the groom.

Who would believe that someone would spend two years entering the more than 29,601 marriage records into a computer in order to create a female index, as well?

That someone is Diane LaVerdiere Voskuhl, a Waterville native who lives in Virginia.

The result is the six-volume “Genealogies of the Catholic Families of Maine, New Brunswick and the Province of Quebec.”

In URSUS, the online catalog of the University of Maine and other libraries, the source is listed as “The New Revised and Enlarged Works of the Genealogies of the Catholic Families of Aroostook County, Maine and the Catholic Diocese of Edmundston, New Brunswick.”

I discovered the books at the Maine State Library in Augusta, call number 929.37151 V967n 1999. MSL has had the softcover books redone with hard covers. At the University of Maine at Fort Kent’s Acadian Archives, the series is catalogued as CS88.N37 D53 1999.

A third set may be found in Biddeford’s MacArthur Public Library, where the Franco-American Genealogical Society of York County keeps its collection. Contact the library for information about access to the collection.

Only 10 sets were made up in the first printing, so Maine is fortunate to have three of them in well-placed sites available to the public.

In addition to both male index and female index, the books offer additional and updated marriage records compiled by Voskuhl. And like the originals, the marriage records include the parents of both the bride and groom, where known. Example:

ROUSSEL, PHILOMENE fille de Cyrille et Anastasie Fournier

BOSSE, PIERRE fils de Pierre et Marie Eulalie Bois

Maries a St. Modeste Rimouski PQ 1858-09-28

Philomene Roussel, daughter of Cyrille Roussel and Anastasie (Fournier); and Pierre Bosse, son of Pierre Bosse and Marie Eulalie (Bois), married Sept. 28, 1858, at St. Modeste Catholic Church in Rimouski, Province of Quebec. Then you would look up the marriages for each set of parents.

The books are available on CD-ROM for $65 from Diane Voskuhl, 8220 Halprin Drive, Norfolk, VA 23518-2208. Her e-mail address is rkvoskuh@infi.net.

The series in book form is sold out, but Voskuhl said that more would be printed this summer if at least five sets are presold. The cost, postage and handling included, is $300, and orders would require $100 of that as a deposit. Each of the six volumes is 500 pages long.

Many people have helped make this project possible, including her husband, Robert, who worked with Voskuhl; and Maine researchers Leon Guimond and Allen Voisine.

Voskuhl’s mother was from Frenchville, and her line goes back to St. Basile, New Brunswick, then Riviere Ouelle in Quebec. Voskuhl still goes to Quebec every year for research at Laval University.

I encourage you to look at these books, and to marvel that one woman devoted two years to improving this wonderful resource and making it available to us.

The Taconnett Falls Chapter of the Maine Genealogical Society has moved its library to The Center, 93 Main St., Waterville.. An open house will be held 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Regular hours are 1-4 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday, and Monday evening by appointment. For information, call Thelma Brooks at 873-5590, or e-mail theleye@mint.net.

On Saturday, the Hancock County Genealogical Society will meet at 2:30 p.m. in the Riverview Room at Ellsworth Public Library. Austin Carter will speak about archives research, including the Mormon Library in Bangor.

Also on Saturday, the Washington County Genealogical Society will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 28, Torrey Hall, University of Maine at Machias. I’ll be speaking on genealogical resources at Bangor Public Library and the University of Maine., and will display a 107-year-old patchwork quilt

3093. LADD. Seeking photo of my great-grandmother, Ada Mae Ladd, wife of Joseph P. Ladd. She was b. 1868, d. 1961, Brooksville. Will reimburse cost upon request. D.M. Redman, 18 First St. #4, Bangor, ME 04401.

3094. WITHEE-MEADER. Seeking information on the family of Maude S. Withee, twin sister of Mabel. Maude md. July 8, 1911, in Ellsworth, Andrew Meader, son of Jesse and Olivia (Moon) Meader. Andrew and Maude had daughters Alice and Theresa. Theresa probably md. Henry Bartlett. Dottie Lapaire, 18 Holt Drive, Ellsworth, ME 04605; telephone 667-1014.

Send queries with Maine connections to Family Ties, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402-1329; or send e-mail to familyti@bangordailynews.net.