Even more Maine vital records are on the way – I wouldn’t kid you about that. Better yet, they will be available at even more libraries than I realized.

Last week’s column pointed out that Fogler Library at the University of Maine has microfilm reels of Maine vital records for 1892-1907 and 1908-1922, plus “delayed returns” for certain towns before 1892.

Jim Henderson, director of the Maine State Archives in Augusta, just sent a nice note explaining that the 56 reels of microfilmed vital records for 1923-1936 have just been shipped – not only to Fogler Library, but also to six other facilities throughout the state.

By February 2004, he hopes to mail the microfilm for 1937-1955 vital records, as well.

Making the vital records available in several locations did not happen by accident. Staff can tell you how popular the vital records reels are at the archives.

Besides the archives, the vital records are now available at:

. Augusta, Maine State Library, which is in the same building but has longer hours than the archives.

. Orono, University of Maine Fogler Library. For hours, call 581-1664.

. Portland, Maine Historical Society.

. Portland, Portland Public Library.

. Presque Isle, University of Maine at Presque Isle Library.

. Searsport, Penobscot Marine Museum.

. Springvale, Springvale Public Library.

“This is an initiative of the State Archives to distribute these materials around the state,” Henderson wrote. “Many of these images were re-filmed from the originals for this project to improve their visual and printed quality.

“The whole project began in August of 2001,” he explained. “In a few months, we will have distributed the final set in this series: 1937-1955 vital records.”

Before becoming director of the state archives, Jim was for several years a political science professor at the University of Maine. I took his Latin American Governments summer class in June 1973, so it was doubly nice to hear from him.

And I should mention that members of the Penobscot County Genealogical Society were just thrilled to learn that we no longer have to travel to Augusta just to see the VRs.

When last we left Jeremiah Colburn, early settler of Orono, we had gleaned from the “History of Penobscot County” that he was born 1726 in Dracut, Mass., and died 1808 in Orono.

I wondered whether public records would bear out those dates and places.

Colburn should be listed in the 1790 Census for Maine, and he is. Keep in mind that Orono wasn’t incorporated until 1806, so the 1790 census lists him as living in “Conduskeag,” which took in a good chunk of the Bangor area at the time.

Even better, Colburn is a head of household with an entry in Volume 1 of “Maine Families in 1790,” a series published by Picton Press with the Maine Genealogical Society.

Jeremiah, it turns out, was the fifth generation of the Colburns in this country. His entry in “Maine Families” lists him as born Dec. 3, 1731, in Nottingham West, N.H., to Jeremiah and Sarah (Jewell) Colburn.

So which date and place are correct? My dear friend Marjorie Marsh Quigg, who has been known for decades for her careful research, gives a good source for her info – New Hampshire Health and Welfare Records in Concord.

She also found a different death date for Jeremiah in Orono vital records – Feb. 15, 1811. Moreover, she confirmed that Jeremiah Colburn, Joshua Eayres and John Marsh were the only white settlers north of Bangor when they came to this area by checking surveyor Park Holland’s “Field Notes.”

Jeremiah’s children with wife Frances (Hodgkins) Colburn were: Fanny, Fanny. Sarah, William, Elizabeth or Betsey, Fanny and Jeremiah. Sarah is Marjorie Colburn’s ancestor, having married John Marsh.

Marjorie Quigg is among the few genealogists I know with more than a dozen Mayflower ancestors – 14 came to Plymouth, Mass., in 1620, plus wives and children on the ship.

My favorite Mayflower passenger is my ancestor Mary Allerton, who at age 4 came over with parents Isaac and Mary, and siblings Remember and Bartholomew.

This is a good time to send along queries. Happy Thanksgiving.

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

familyti@bangordailynews.net.