Important Information You Also Need to Know about LD 1781

From Helen Shaw, CG, MGS member and one who testified at the hearing:

Anyone planning to do research into vital records in Maine town offices will need to bring proof of their identity -- something with a photo: drivers liscence, passport, military ID, etc. They should expect to be asked to fill out a form stating what records they want to access. Right now, I think there is one form for each record they want to look at, but Kathy should be able to tell you more on that. Also, I am not sure if that applies to records before 1892. Again, Kathy should be able to enlighten us.

If they want to access a vital record within the current 100 year closure period they will have to provide proof of relationship to the person(s) whose record(s) they want to access. If someone wants vital records for their parent(s) they will need to bring their birth certificate naming the parents. This means if the researcher is female and has a different married name, she will need her marriage certificate showing the maiden and married name. I suppose if the marriage certificate names her parents that would be sufficient to access their records.

The issue of the state researcher ID card is up in the air. According to current law family members only have to prove the relationship -- they do not need the state card. Anyone else trying to access records within the 100 year closure period will need the state ID card. Beyond that, I have no idea; the rules committee did not finish its work on LD 1781 before LD 258 was passed and I had an e-mail recently from the committee coordinator saying it could be a good while before the committee meets again.

From Kathy Montejo, City Clerk, MGS member and one who attended the LD 1781 meetings:

Yes - forms are available at every town office and forms need to be filled out for any and all records ordered - birth, marriage, death - regardless of the age of the document. There is a standardized form designed by the state clerks association and approved by the state Vitals Office, so I believe every town office is using the same order form. Even if towns have formatted their forms differently, the forms all require the same info (name, date, person acquiring, etc.)

Helen is also correct about the need for family acquiring records other than their own to show documentation on the linkage to that record - their birth certificate for their parent's birth certificate, etc. We just need to see a paper trail for proof of eligibility to obtain the record. The marriage licenses do contain a bride's maiden name and the names of both of her parents, so that is covered.

Provisions of LD 258 explained

LD 258 is the bill to amend Public Law 601 which last year closed Maine’s vital records for 100 years. It was sponsored by Representative Deborah Sanderson (R, Chelsea). A public hearing on the bill was held on Wednesday, March 2, with the committee work session being held the next day, Thursday, March 3. Testifying at the public hearing in favor of the bill were Helen Shaw, CG, Pam Eagleson, CG, Melinde Sanborn, CG, Anne Thomas (Honorary State Regent, DAR), Peggy O’Kane (reference librarian for the Maine State Library), and several others. Testifying against the bill were Elana Jellison (rule making coordinator for the Maine DHHS, and Dr. Stephen Sears (Maine DHHS). Testifying neither for or against was Kathy Montejo, town clerk for Lewiston and board member of the Maine Genealogical Society.

So, what does LD 258 do to vital records access?

OPEN RECORDS

1. It is now in statute that all vital records before 1892 are open to anyone without restriction. Anyone can buy an informational copy or an official copy on town letterhead. NOTE: Towns may impose their own rules covering access to vital records to include specific days or hours of availability, forms that must be filled out, and personal identification to be provided. However, having state statute saying these early vital records are public records should help immensely.

Note that the exact wording of the law for the following records states that they are open after XX years from the date of the event. The years listed below are a simplification. These records may be accessed at the Vital Records Unit in Augusta or at the applicable municipal office.

2. All birth certificates between 1892 and 1936 are open to anyone without restriction. That upper year will shift as time goes on; the closure period is 75 years. Anyone can buy a non-certified copy. Only people listed in Paragraph 5 can buy a certified copy.

3. All marriage certificates, registrations of domestic partnerships, and certificates for fetal deaths between 1892 and 1961 are open to anyone without restriction. That upper year will shift as time goes on; the closure period is 50 years. Anyone can buy a non-certified copy. Only people listed in Paragraph 5 can buy a certified copy.

4. All deaths certificates between 1892 and 1986 are open to anyone without restriction. That upper year will shift as time goes on; the closure period is 25 years. Anyone can buy a non-certified copy. Only people listed in Paragraph 5 can buy a certified copy.

CLOSED RECORDS

5. Access to birth certificates less than 75 years old. You need to be a family member listed in Paragraph 5 or have a CDC/ODRVS researcher card to look at these records. Only people listed in Paragraph 5 can buy a certified (or non-certified) copy. People with a CDC/ODRVS researcher card can buy a non-certified copy.

6. Access to marriage certificates, registrations of domestic partnerships, or fetal death certificates less than 50 years old. You need to be a family member listed in Paragraph 5 or have a CDC/ODRVS researcher card to look at these records. Only those listed in Paragraph 5 can buy a certified (or non-certified) copy. People with a CDC/ODRVS researcher card can only buy a non-certified copy.

7. Access to death certificates less than 25 years old. You need to be in a family member listed in Paragraph 5 or have a CDC/ODRVS researcher card to look at these records. Only those listed in Paragraph 5 can buy a certified (or non-certified) copy. People with a CDC/ODVRS researcher card can only buy a non-certified copy.

All family members (as listed in Paragraph 5 of the law) must provide documentation of their identity and their relationship to the persons whose vital records are being accessed.

Rules for genealogists (paid or not) who are acting as an agent for a family member listed in Paragraph 5 are still being written and may change. We know so far these genealogists must have a CDC/ODRVS researcher card and that they may buy certified copies of vital records for the client. Also, the client must provide a notarized letter of authorization for the genealogist and documentation of their identity and relationship to the persons whose vital records are being accessed.

Laurendeau, Lorandeau, Laurandeau, etc.

My name is Jean Laurendeau from Montréal. I own a website which devotes itself has to name and tell the history of our Laurendeau (Lorandeau, Laurandeau, etc.) families.

Laurendeau searching for their ancestors, send me the names of their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. Through the names of their recent ancestors, they have a 99.9% chance of being connected with the first Laurendeau ancestors in Canada.

I hope to read a request from some of your members soon.

Jean Laurendeau, Montréal au Québec
chercheur sur la généalogie et l'histoire des Canadiens-français d'Amérique

auteur du site internet (Website): www.jean-laurendeau.com
Merci d'utiliser notre nouvelle adresse courriel (Email): GenealogieJeanLaurendeau@gmail.com

Vital Records of Wiscasset, Maine Now Available

The town of Wiscasset is situated on the Sheepscot River in the southeastern part of Lincoln County and is the county seat. The town was first settled in 1663 but the settlement was abandoned during the French and Indian Wars and the King Philip's War in 1675. Not until 1730 did settlers return to the area.

The town was first included in the region called South Precinct of Pownalborough. The town of Pownalborough was incorporated as the twelfth town in Maine on February 13, 1760 and originally included what are now the towns of Wiscasset, Dresden, Alna and Swan Island. Land was set off forming the towns of Dresden and Alna on June 25, 1794 with the name of Pownalborough being retained for the remaining portion until June 10, 1802 when it was then changed to Wiscasset.

Maine Genealogical Society Special Publication No. 66. 640 pages, 24,339 entry Every Name Index; hard cover. 2011.

MGS Member price is $74.95, a discount of $10.00 from the non-member price.

Coming to our workshop on April 23rd? This book, and many others, will be on sale there!

For more information, visit the Special Publications catalog on the MGS website.

Robertson Query

I’m looking for information on the marriage of Robert Robertson or Hugh Robert Robertson to Mary Richardson or Mary Richardson Grover sometime around 1790-1810 on either Deer Isle, Maine or Sedgwick, Maine or possibly some other town in that area of Hancock County. The Robertson’s supposedly moved to Blue Hill between 1820-1830. Thank you in advance for any help you can send me.

DJ Deans Member 4295
djdeans@roadrunner.com

Not to Late to Register for Federal Records Workshop!

Have you registered yet for the Maine Genealogical Society Spring workshop?

Using Federal Records in Genealogical Research with John Philip Colletta
Saturday, April 23, 2011, 8am - 4pm
Winslow VFW Banquet & Conference Center

Have questions about how to find your ancestors in the Passenger Arrival Lists? What about finding their allusive naturalization records? Ever thought to use passport applications or Civil War draft registration records in your research?

Come find out more about these types of federal records and others. MGS is pleased to bring another national level genealogy speaker to Maine! Dr. Colletta is one of America's most popular genealogical presenters. Entertaining, knowledgeable and experienced, he has conducted genealogy workshops for over 20 years. He is the author of several books, including They Came in Ships - A Guide to Finding Your Immigrant Ancestor's Arrival Record.

The MGS spring workshop will be held on Saturday, April 23 at the Winslow VFW Banquet & Conference Center. The Conference Center is near Waterville and is located just a few miles from I-95.

Here is a link to the Conference facility website:
http://www.winslowvfw.com/index.php

Registration fee is $40 for MGS members and $50 for non-members. Fees include a luncheon buffet and all workshop materials.

Dr. Colletta’s books will be for sale and he will be available to autograph them for conference attendees. MGS Special Publications will also be available for purchase – a chance to save on shipping costs!

Here is the link for more information and for a registration form: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~megs/


Hope to see you there!

Federal Records Workshop Saturday 23 April 2011

Are you planning on attending the Maine Genealogical Society Workshop on Saturday the 23rd of April 2011 on Researching Federal Records? Well then you should stop and check the Taconnett Genealogical Library on 10 Lithgow Street in Winslow, ME. The library will be open on Friday April 22nd from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. This library has a great collection and even if you have no specific search objective at this time, you are welcome to stop in and see what's there.

John Franklin McIntosh

Looking for parents & grandparents of John Franklin McIntosh (b.9Mar1862 in either Calais, ME or NB, Canada - d.11Mar1940 ME). John m. Cora Alice Small (4 children) & Blanche Nay Newell. Father may have been David McIntosh & mother Margaret McCloskey. Who were David’s parents?? Andrew McIntosh & Katherine McKenzie originally from Scotland??

Richard G. McIntosh MGS#4509
21 Rivermeadow Drive
Steep Falls, ME 04085
shirleyanddick01@roadrunner.com

Judkins

Seeking proof for Mayflower Society on birth of Perry Diman JUDKINS. (b. 30 SEP 1811 Greenwood, ME, d. 18 DEC 1867 in Cambridge, MA) He married 1 JAN 1837 Fanny P. TOWNE (b. 17 MAY 1816 Norway, ME, d. 8 FEB 1903 Oxford, ME, bur Norway Center Cemetery). Perry Diman JUDKINS was the son of Moses JUDKINS (b. c. 1773 IN Hopkinton, NH, d. 1850-60 possibly Greenwood, ME) He m. 6 OCT 1801 Poland, ME, Aphia/Appa PERRY (b. 19 AUG 1783, d. Fayette, ME).

Perry Diman JUDKINS was a blacksmith in Norway, ME for many years. I do not know where he is buried.

Melanie Farmer #1300
email: melanie.farmer@gmail.com

Member Searching for Joseph Leavitt

Here is one of my most stubborn brick walls. Figured I'd try it from a new angle. I actually have no Smiths as direct ancestors since it is such a rare name, but...My ggg-grandfather Joseph LEAVITT born 18 Oct 1782 probably Brentwood NH married Sarah McALLISTER as her third husband 29 Aug 1803 in Davistown (Montville), then Lincoln Co. Sarah was born about 1772 in Balltown, and married first Joseph SMITH 10 Oct 1790 in Balltown, 2 dau 1790 and 1794. He died 1794-1799 and she m2 Mr CLARK, one dau 1800.

I have found insufficient proof of Joseph Leavitt's ancestry. His parents might be Nehemiah Leavitt b 1738 Brentwood NH who died the same year Joseph was born. Wife Judith Roberts remarried and moved to Royalton VT. Anyway there are many Smiths around this Brentwood family, and in Waterboro where a cousin lived who came from Brentwood. That got me thinking, 200 years ago, WHY would a 20-yr-old Joseph Leavitt marry a 30-yr-old with 3 kids? HOW and WHY would they have met? Usually it was some sort of family introduction. Joseph Leavitt had no parents around. Was Joseph Smith some sort of cousin whose children he wanted to take care of?

So... my question now is: WHO is JOSEPH SMITH of Balltown/Jefferson 1790, and where did he come from? Is anybody sorting out the SMITH family of this area?

Thanks.
Roland Rhoades MGS 1151
Maine Families Genealogist
www.RolandRhoades.com
seeker@maine.rr.com
2010: 30 Years as a Genealogist & 50 Years as a Numismatist