Book of Bangor birth records great for research

Michelle Thomas is a busy woman – you could look it up. Between her family, including five children, and her many activities at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Bangor, I figure she doesn’t have much extra time for genealogical pursuits.

But pursue them, she does. Michelle has just compiled “Vital Records of Bangor, Maine Volume 1: Birth Records,” published by Picton Press in Rockport.

There are 327 pages of Bangor birth records taken from a microfilm the Mormons made from a typed transcript. The records are from the 1800s, but do not include missing records 1840-1863.

In addition, Michelle cross-referenced the records with the 1880 federal census for Penobscot County, and with “Marriage Returns of Penobscot County,” published by Picton. These efforts provide a tremendous amount of additional information.

For example, the records list an unnamed son born March 1, 1870, to Patrick and Mary E. Smith in Bangor. Michelle found such a family in the 1880 census, with the surname Smyth. The family included a son, Robert Henry, of the right age to be this child.

Or let’s look at the June 6, 1869, birth of Nellie Lary to Cornelius and Rosa Lary. She points out that this family is listed in the 1880 census as O’Larey. That’s handy to know.

In other cases, the records indicate that information came from a family Bible record or from a deposition: Ethel E. Pomroy, daughter of Charles H. Pomroy and Bertha J. Martin, born Jan. 24, 1890, by deposition of aunt, Mrs. Maude Delair, Feb. 2, 1942.

Also, the book includes 13 pages of baptism records from the First United Methodist Church, 1865-1892; five pages of baptism records from St. John’s Episcopal Church, 11836-1849; and seven pages of baptisms from Columbia Street Baptist Church, 1881-1891. Many indicate whether the person baptized was an adult or an infant.

And, as we’ve come to expect from Picton, there is a 121-page, every-name index.

The cost of the book is $47.50. Add 5 percent for sales tax in Maine, and $4 for book-rate postage and handling. (Postage on additional copies is $2.) Write Picton Press, P.O. Box 250, Rockport, ME 04856-0250.

Order by phone, weekdays, at 236-6565; or order on-line at www.pictonpress.com. The Web site also has great information on other books Picton has published. Some bookstores also carry Picton’s books.

Will there be a second book of Bangor vital records? You bet. Michelle is working on a volume of death records, which will be cross-referenced to the 1880 census, to “Marriage Returns of Penobscot County,” and to Volume 1.

The Mid-Coast Genealogy Group will at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23, at the LDS Church on Old County Road in Rockport. The speaker will be David Hoch of Rockland, who will show videos and photographs from the Rockland-Rockport Lime Co. Hoch was president of the company, where he began working in 1957. The business was founded in 1900.

Hoch will tell how and why Knox County became the largest lime producer in the country, and offer insight as to why lime schooners caught fire.

For information, contact Marlene Groves at 594-4293.

The new chapter of the Maine Genealogical Society, will meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23, in the Lecture Hall on the third floor of Bangor Public Library, 145 Harlow St. I am very pleased about this.

Dale Mower is getting the chapter going, with support from MGS members in other areas. If you’d like to correspond with him, e-mail DWMower@aol.com.

3202. DYER-KINGMAN-LANCASTER. Seeking ancestry of Walter Dyer, b. about 1819, Eastbrook; md. Nov. 17, 1838, Harriet N. Kingman, Waltham. Was he son of Robert Dyer b. about 1781 who is shown as buying land at Franklin, April 27, 1811, and said to have married Rhoda Lancaster? Robert d. 1827, struck by lightning. Rhoda md. 2) Deacon Googins. Was he son of Ephraim Dyer, who was in Sullivan prior to 1784? Need info for DAR application. Virginia Babcock Ortiz, 6 Lawrence Road, Wellesley, Mass. 02482.

3203. DAY-COCHRAN-HARRIMAN. Need info on my cousin Deborah Elvira Day, b. March 23, 1890, Codyville, to George Washington Day and Emily (Cochran). Deborah md. Frank C. Harriman about 1910. They lived in Woodland, Washington County. Any info on their children helpful. Deborah M. Cross, P.O. Box 3, Milo, ME 04463.

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