Twenty years ago, Charles E. and Mary-Elizabeth McKusick of Florida found themselves searching every nook and cranny – many of them in Maine – to update some old material on the McKusick family.

Charles wrote the 1993 edition of the family history, which can be found in some libraries, but now we have his “The Descendants of John McKusick and Mary Barker 1739-2007,” which arrived on my desk through my friend Carl McKusick of Guilford.

And a fine book it is. More than 7,500 descendants are included, along with spouses and spouses’ parents, and excerpts from source documents.

These include transcriptions of a Civil War letter from Freeman Louis McKusick to his mother, Eliza Hall McKusick; a letter from Minnesota resident John C. McKusick; and a letter from Chester McKusick about the family’s presence in the West and Minnesota.

John McKusick was born in Scotland before 1720 and came to York. Eventually he was quartermaster for a privateer from Rhode Island. John McKusick and wife Mary (Barker) had sons Matthew, who married Mary Bettis; and John, who married Mary’s sister Lydia Bettis. Both families left descendants. John and Mary McKusick’s daughter Mehitable died young.

McKusick descendants – some go by the name McKissick – include identical twins from Parkman: Dr. Victor McKusick of Johns Hopkins University, geneticist and founding president of the Human Genome Project; and former Chief Justice Vincent McKusick of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.

The book is indexed and has footnotes listing sources used.

Looking back on the states and countries he visited on his way to writing this 814-page book, Charles McKusick called it “a labor of love” when I talked to him in Florida last week by telephone.

I believe that. What’s hard to believe is the modest price of this hardcover book, just $35, mailing included, sent to McKusick Family Association, P.O. Box 548, South Orleans, MA 02662-0458.

Membership in the McKusick Family Association is $12, including the quarterly The Clan Connections, sent to same address as for the book.

There also is a Web site at www.mckusick.org. Charles E. McKusick is the family historical recorder.

The 2007 McKusick Family Reunion was held in Durango, Colo., and the 2009 reunion will be held in Maryland.

Family Ties’ copy of “The Descendants of John McKusick and Mary Barker 1739-2007” will be given to Bangor Public Library.

3399. RANDALL-LEAVITT. Seeking info on ancestry of Daniel Randall and wife Abigail Leavitt. Daniel Randall, by trade a cooper, came to T5 R5 in 1803, located his lot No. 22 and worked at clearing land. He traveled spotted trails and other routes on this end. He walked back to Tuftonboro, N.H., that fall. He married Abigail Leavitt in the spring of 1804 in Wakefield, N.H., and they walked to what is now Ripley with an ox. Here their first child was born, daughter Lydia Ann Randall. My line comes down through Alvin Dean Randall, Mellen Alvin Randall, then Alvin Crockett Randall. Also looking for info on Daniel and Abigail’s family. James and Mary Randall came from N.H. in early 1800s and lived near Daniel and Abigail in Ripley. Were they brothers? Mellen Randall, 989 North Road, Ripley, ME 04930.

3400. COE-HODGKINS. Trying to track birth record for Sophia Titcomb Coe, fifth of 12 children, born Jan. 18, 1811, in Portland to John Coe and Hannah (Hodgkins). I have dates of birth for other children, all listed in Portland. Shirley S. Fortier, 739 Old Creamery Road, Williston, VT 05495-7120; Fortsjs@aol.com; (802) 878-3033.

3401. STEWART-HARWOOD-COE. Seeking birth record for James Stewart, supposedly born Feb. 19, 1835, in Portland to James G. Stewart and wife Sophia T. (Coe). James, 1835-1907, married Harriet Harwood, 1839-1928, on Aug. 17, 1865, at New Sharon (?). Might be Augusta, but Harwood Family History lists New Sharon. Have James’ death certificate, but not birth. Shirley S. Fortier, 739 Old Creamery Road, Williston, VT 05495-7120; Fortsjs@aol.com; (802) 878-3033.

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