Canadian resources at UM library

The third floor of Fogler Library at the University of Maine is a great place to browse Canadian resources. I start by looking for the books cataloged “CS.”

One helpful series is Vital Statistics from New Brunswick Newspapers, compiled by D.F. Johnson. The Maine State Library in Augusta has more of these, but Fogler has volumes 32-38, covering 1872-1879.

Other books useful to the genealogist include:

. “A Catalogue of Public Genealogies of Nova Scotia Families,” by Allan Everett Marble. The Maine State Library also has this book.

. “The New Brunswick Militia Commissioned Officers’ List 1787-1867,” by David R. Facey-Crowther. The same author also wrote “The New Brunswick Militia, 1787-1867.”

. “Nova Scotia Vital Statistics from Halifax Newspapers, 1848-1851.” Maine State Library also has this book, as well as the one for 1852-1854.

. “Nova Scotia Vital Statistics from Newspapers,” by Terence Punch. 1769-1812, 1813-1822, 1823-1828, 1829-1834, 1844-1847. The first four of these volumes are at Fogler, Maine State Library and Bangor Public Library. The fifth is at both Fogler and Maine State Library. Maine State Library also has the volume for 1852-1854.

. “Nova Scotia Immigrants to 1867,” by Leonard H. Smith.

. “Of Fish and Family: Histories of Tilting, Set Against a Background of Historical Developments in the Newfoundland Fisheries, 1700-1940,” by John Carrick Greene.

It is really such a small world. I always enjoy reading Weirs and Woods, the newsletter of the Washington County Genealogical Society, and that was especially true of the summer issue.

I remembered from the spring issue that my dear friend Valdine Atwood had been sorting through 2,000 death records from the Machias Bucknam Funeral Home Records.

How surprised I was to read that Val was on duty at the Burnham Tavern when the person who had donated the records to the town, William Ray Bucknam, came in to the museum.

Val hopes to complete work on alphabetizing the records this fall.

By the way, you can join the society by sending $10 to WCGS, c/o Valdine Atwood, 2 Free St., Machias, ME 04654.

For an almost unbelievable story, check out the recent newsletter of the Brownville-Brownville Jct. Historical Society. It tells of Axel Carlson, who fell 67 feet from the Onawa Trestle in 1912 and suffered many serious injuries. After five months he began to recuperate and eventually went back to work on the railroad for 32 more years. He lived to be 94. They make ’em tough in Piscataquis County, don’t they?

To join the Brownville Historical Society, send $5 to the society at 72 Church St., P.O. Box 750, Brownville, ME 04414.

3293. BRAGG-PETERSON. My grandfather, Alton A. Bragg, supposed to have been b. Nov. 16, 1885, Bridgton, to Fred Bragg and Henrietta (maiden name?). Alton moved to Caribou 1918 or 1919. He and Jennie Caroline Peterson raised six children, never talked about previous life or returned to southern Maine. He died Nov. 23, 1949. I never found a marriage record for Alton and Jennie. Mildred C. Bragg Bennett, 519 New Dunntown Road, Wade, ME 04786; mbennett@mail.mfx.net

3294. MOSHER-ATHERTON. Working on my family tree and need information on my father’s line. He was Earle Stanley Mosher, and his mother was Mary Esther Atherton, b. Clifton. His father was George Lester Mosher, b. Old Town. If you can help, call collect, (508) 563-3909, or write Robert A. Mosher, 108 Barlows Landing, Pocasset, MA 02559.

3295. NUTTER. My family has a William Weston Nutter – my father, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather all with that name. Our Nutters lived around Dexter, St. Albans area, and possibly Portland. Would appreciate any information. Have come across a Mary Polly Nutter, d. 1811. Parents are William Nutter and Polly Nutter, but no info on the parents. Rebecca Cross, 141.5 Amherst St., Nashua, NH 03064; douglas.cross@world.att.net.

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