The Maine-New Brunswick Connection
by F.E. McConvey
Published no date
Having genealogical queries printed with its pages is nothing new for the Saint Croix Courier. Throughout the years people have written letters to the editor in hopes of finding information on their ancestors who had lived in the area during a bygone age.
In 1981, such a letter was published, both in the Courier and the Houlton Pioneer Times. As these things happen, there were no replies from this neck of the woods. However, the responses received from a second letter prompted Jane Gerow Dudley to publish a newsletter which was certainly the last thing on her mind when she dispatched those two queries.
Born during the early part of this century, Jane Gerow learned at a tender age from her father to be proud of her Huguenot ancestry. She always found this hertiage fascinating because tehre was not one Francophone in the immediate family, nor amongest the relatives -- and, the name certainly did not look French.
Whether she knew much about her family history during her youth, I do not know. During the late 1960's, a gift from her sister, Lois opened another new door in her life. This was a bound edition of the Gerow family, dating back to Daniel Gerow (Giraud), one of the first settlers of New Rochelle, MY.
Those who embraced the Protestant religion in France during the 16th and 17th centuries were know as Huguenots. IN these troubled times, people who did not adhere to the teachings of established churches were labelled as dessenter and were often severly persecuted. Many left their native lands for the New World where they could practise their religion with little interference. New Rochelle, celebrating its tercentenary this year, was one of the cities found by the Huguenots.
During the latter portion of 1960, Jane moved to Mashiasport, ME. There, she joined the Marchiasport Historical Society. Though not a native of this state, she had always been intrigued with the history of the "downeast" area. In her own words, "My only complaint was that everyone I met was related to everyone else in this wonderful place - only I had no Maine relatives!"
In 1970 she and Judge John M. Dudley of Calais were married. Upon his retirement in 1973 their permanent residence became a log cabin, built by his father in 1910, at Pocomoonshine Lake.
It didn't take Jane very long to become involved in the history of the town of Alexander. She joined the Extention group, started a historical commitee and a newsletter. This small band, now defunct, was the forerunner of the Alexander-Crawford Historical Society, of which Jane still serves as president.
Busy though she was, Jane discoverd she was writing about other people's families, while learning very little about her own. This was remedied after the answers to her queries began rolling in.
The first edition of The Maine-New Brunswick Connection which appeared in January 1984 consisted of one single page. It presented a brief historical sketch of the Giraud family, with the surnames of Giraud (Gerow) descendants framing the article.
The latest issue contains twnety-four pages, jam-packed with new items, articles and pictures - written for, about and by these Huguenot families whoe descendants did not remain in New York, but scattered and multiplied throughout North America.
Under the heading Footprints area obituaries of those connected with these family. One, of interest in this locale, was the death of Charles Alexander McKay, who, I presume, was our colorful character known as "Bobabec Charlie."
If the names listed below appear in your genealogy, you may be interested in subscribing to this newsletter: ALYEA, BASLEY, BIRDALL, BUDD, BULYEA, BUNTING, BURGER, CHADEAYNE, CLARK, COOLEY, COUTANT, DOLWAY, DeGRAW, DENTON, DEVIN, DeVRIES,. DRAKE, DUNGAN, EAGER, FERRIS, FINLAY, FONDA, FOSTER, GARRISON, GEE, GOLDING, GREEN, HEATON, HENDERSON, HOUSE, KUIPER, LARSON, LOUNSBERRY, MARSHALL, MARTIN, MUNGER, NORRIS, PALMER, PHILLIPS, PINE, POST, PUGLEY, PURDY, RHODES, ROBINSON, RUSSELL, RYKEMAN, SECOR, SHAW, SHERWOOD, STUART, SICORD, SNYDER, STIEL, TEMPRO, THORNE, TITUS, THOMPKINS, TRUEL, VanCOTT, VANDERBULT, VanHORNE, VanWORT, WATSON, WARD, WICKS, WILLIAMS and YERXA.
Published five times within the year, an annual membership is available for $8 US from Jane Gerow Dudley, R.R.#1, Box 1616, Alexander, ME, 04694.
At the present time, I do not have enough background to tell you about the activities of the Alexander-Crawford Historical Society, but once this is received, I shall be pleased to feature that organization in a column. Memberships are available to individuals at a rate of $5 US, or for famlies at $7.50 US. This included the organizational newsletter, published five times annually. Edited by Dudley, the fee should be forwarded to her address as previously shown.
QUERIES
21. JOSEPH LINCOLN GARNETT = ELIZABETH CAROLINE BRADLEY Married in St. George, NB on Jan.1, 1835. His parents, LABAN b. Mar 5, 1772, were m. on Dec 16, 1790 in Pembroke, ME. I am descended from ELIZA JANE (LIDI) GARNETT m. SAMUEL DOHERTY. Eliza dided at the birth of triplets in Elmcroft, NB, and my grandmother, MARY DOHERTY was reared by her AUNT ABBIE, wife of DAN LEE in St. George, or Elmcroft, NB. Would like to correspond with any descendants of this family.
22. Is anyone doing the genealogy on the ST.AMAND families? Some came to the USA and were called ST.THOMAS. I have a lot of ingo. Please help.
Note: In-Laws, Outlaws and Kinfolk articles have been published on this site with the permission of the St. Croix Courier. Special thanks goes to the Courier for allowing me to reprint my mother's articles.