Thank You Thema
by F.E. McConvey
Published 03 February 1988
Do you know Thelma? Perhaps not, but if it weren't for her, there would be no IN-LAWS, OUTLAWS AND KIN FOLK for you to enjoy.
It was a hectic day at the end of September. The morning had slipped by too quickly; very little had been accomplished. It was already past my normal lunch hour.
With a sigh of relief, I finally flopped onto my steno chair and prepared to devour my lunch. The phone rang. I tossed an icy glare in its direction. . Undaunted it rang again.
Oh, what to heck, thought I, leaning across the desk to reach the receiver. Little did I know, even as I spoke, that an entire new avenue was opening in my life.
Thelma Eye Brooks had arrived in town only that morning. Shortly after she breezed into the archives, Marguerite Garnett popped in, only for a minute. During the short coversation that ensued, Thelma learned about my research on the families of St. Croix Parish and decided she should contact me.
What a lady! Just recently retired, she tootles around in a Winnebago sized for one. In the storage area above the cab safely rides her many volumes of genealogical records.
We spent an enlightening evening together, becoming acquainted and exchanging information. There were so many notes to take, she often lamented because travelling did not agree with her photocopier.
Retirement has not slowed Thelma down - it has enabled her to devote more time to the pursuit to her first love, genealogy. In addition to working on her own family history. Thelma publishes a bimonthly newsletter.. Called the HERMON ROOTS NEWS, it offers genealogical data on the founding families (and their descendants) of Hermon, ME. If there is a HEWES, SWAN, PUMROY, BLAGDON, CARLIN, NEAL, SMITH or PAGE in your family, you may be interested in this publications. To order an annual subscription, remit $3.60 US to Thelma Brooks, Box 136, Waterville, ME 04901. Back issues are also available.
This busy lady also writes BRANCHES AND ROOTS, a genealogical column that appears in 55-PLUS, Maine's Weekly for Retirement Living. Queries may be sent to this column c'o the paper at 25 Silver St., Waterville, ME 04901.
On the following morning, Thelma was on the road to Newcastle where she hoped to find more facts on her maternal line.
A chance meeting, a new friend - a big change. Thank you, Thelma.
QUERIES
19a. SAMUEL SPRAGUE VI b. Nov 20, 1782 at Brington, MA. Moved to Pembroke, ME c.1786 with parents, SAMUEL & MARY SPRAGUE.
Q. Did he marry and have children in Pembroke, ME?
Moved to Back Bay, NB (near St. George) c1808. M. SARA LEE-?-, b. 1805 in USA. Arr. NB 1821; SLOAN b.1816 m. MARY GREENOUGH (GREENO) from NS; possibly more.
M. REBECCA-?-. (poss 3rd marr.)
REQUIRE MORE INFORMATION ON SAMUEL SPRAGUE, HIS MARRIAGES AND CHILDREN.
19b. SLOAN SPRAGUE = MARY GREENOUGH (GREENO) CH: NATHANIEL (Than or Thaniel) b. c 1842; SAMUEL b. c1844 m. REBECCA GARNETT (?); SUSAN b. c 1845; JOHN THOMAS b. Apr. 12, 1847 at Back Bay, NB (?) or Eastport, ME(?). d. Feb 6, 1933 at Milltown, NB. m. MARGARETT JANE ROY (these my great-grandparents); SLOAN b. c1848 m. GRACE JOHNSON(?); SARAH b. c1850 m1 EDWARD WESTWORTH (?); m2 EUGENE RICHER (?); SOPHRONIA (Fronie) m. -?- GARNETT (?); DANIEL; ANDREW m CATHERINE (LEAVITT) HATT (?). (It is believed that CATHERINE was the daughter of MARY & ELISHA LEAVITT and that sCTOhe m1 EDWARD HATT m2 ANDREW SPRAGUE; JAMES m NETTIE BARTLETT (?); ALLEN FREDERICK b. Sept. 2, 1854 at Back Bay,m NB. Oct 4 1934 at Back Bay, NB. m JOSEPHINE KINNEY; SUSAN; REBECCA d. age 7 at Back Bay, NN; MARY m. ANCIL BICKFORD. Moved to NH?
Several of these children died in their youth and are buried with their parents on the old homestead in Back Bay, NB
REQUIRE ANY INFO ON THE SURVIVING CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.
19c. ELISA LEAVITT (b. 1805 USA) = MARY (POLLY) SPRAGUE CH: NATHANIEL b. 1833; WILLIAM b. 1835; ELISHA b. 1837; REBECCA b. 1840; MARY b. 1841; DANIEL b. 1949; *CATHERINE (?) (poss m. ANDREW SPRAGUE, see 19b); *DAVID(?) b. c1826 m. ELEANOR --?--, b. c1831.
*NOTE: These children may not belong to this family. Parents could possibly be DAVID LEAVITT = CHRISTIANA -?-.
Several people have told the story of CATHERINE LEAVITT, but I can find nothing to substantiate it. I cannot find any records under the name CATHERINE. Could this be her middle name? I have also been told that she is the connection between the families of HATT, LEAVITT and SPRAGUE.
Q. Can anyone confirm this information?
WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFO ON ALL OF THESE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.
19d. the NB Census of 1851, Saint George Parish lists three LEAVITT families. One of these is covered in the Query 19c. I WOULD LIKE ANY ADDITIONAL INFO AVAILABLE, IN ORDER TO SORT OUT THE OTHER BRANCHES.
DAVID LEAVITT b. c.1791 = CHRISTINA b. c1804. CH: CHRISTIANA b. c1825; ELISHA b.c 1830; COLIN b. c 1832; GILBERT b. c.1834; SAMUEL b. c 1839; EBENEZER b. c 1845.
All of these children were born in NB.
Q. Is this family any relation to the LEAVITT family listed in 19c? If so, what is the relationship?
19e. DAVID LEAVITT b. c1826 = ELEANOR -?- b. c1821 NB. CH: ISRAEL b. 1850.
Also in this household were: **SAMUEL SPRAGUE b. c1783, Amer. Arr. NB c1808 = REBECCA b. c1785 in NB. and SUSAN TOWNSEND b. c1783. Sister-in-law.
**This is the SAMUEL SPRAGUE in 19a.
Q. When did wife SARAH LEE die? When did he marry REBECCA? Who was REBECCA?
Q. What relation is this DAVID LEAVITT to the other LEAVITTS in 19c & 19d?
Q. Who is SUSAN TOWNSEND? Sister to REBECCA? Any info on any of these families will be of assistance in sorting them out and establishing a link to the HATT family. Indo on the LEE family would also be appreciated.
19f. One of the LEAVITTS (now deceased) had a book or notes on the family. I believe her name was FLORA and she spent her last few years at the Collingwood Nursing Home in Blacks Harbour, NB. I think her sister married FRANK WOODARD of St. Stephen.
Does anyone have this book and/or notes? If so, could it be photocopied for me, or the information shared?
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.