Kings Highway Genealogy

Kings Highway Genealogy Professional genealogist & Maine native helping families uncover their roots. Shining a light on the history that made us!

Focusing on Canadian citizenship by descent, heir searches, DNA analysis, and New England/Franco-Acadian research.

All these years of using this resource online, I realized I had never used the physical copy!!!!
07/02/2026

All these years of using this resource online, I realized I had never used the physical copy!!!!

07/02/2026

Heading out shortly for a brief visit to a a FamilySearch affiliate library.

Although there are millions, if not billions of records filmed and digitized in the FamilySearch collections, some are still "restricted," and can only be viewed at a search center or affiliate library.

These often are collections that have more modern vital records (modern being a very loosely defined term) and are subject to additional requirements from the original repository that shared the records.

Every state and province has different rules about what records are public or closed, and the age at which records move from closed to public also varies significantly by jurisdiction. Earlier this week, I had an in-person records request that involved precisely these rules.

Often, a professional genealogist finds themselves in the awkward position of being more familiar with these rules than the records clerk on the other side of the counter. Diplomacy and kindness must guide these discussions, and, despite what you may have heard about me, I can, on occasion, be a competent diplomat.

šŸ˜‰

--Me, watching keyboard experts argue over IRCCā€™s newest wording changes while Iā€™m actually trying to get recordsā€¦ Happy...
07/01/2026

--Me, watching keyboard experts argue over IRCCā€™s newest wording changes while Iā€™m actually trying to get recordsā€¦ Happy Canada Day.. šŸ‡ØšŸ‡¦

This is part of a short series explaining how our services relate to one another and how they can be used individually o...
06/26/2026

This is part of a short series explaining how our services relate to one another and how they can be used individually or in combination.

Our Concierge Record Retrieval service is designed to obtain official copies of records from archives, vital records offices, and other repositories.

This service works well as a standalone option when the records you need are already clearly identified.

In many cases, however, clients first need help identifying the right records through one of our other services (such as Basic Lineage Identification, Record Lookup, Record Audit, Research Project, or a Proof Report).

Weā€™re happy to support you whether your records are already well defined or still need identification work.

Please note that many repositories across North America are currently experiencing high volumes of requests, which can affect processing times.

This post is part of a short series on how our services connect and how we customize them for each clientā€™s situation.Ou...
06/25/2026

This post is part of a short series on how our services connect and how we customize them for each clientā€™s situation.

Our Proof Report service delivers a formal, GPS-compliant analysis of your genealogical question, with clear conclusions based on the available evidence.

After receiving a Proof Report, clients commonly want official copies of the key records cited in the report.

When those records are already clearly identified, Concierge Record Retrieval can be used as a standalone service to obtain them.

In cases where further identification is still required, the Proof Report builds on prior research services.

We want to be transparent that many archives and vital records offices are currently facing significant backlogs due to high volumes of requests.

06/25/2026

Another day, another few hundred experts on social mediaā€¦..

Somehow having the unpopular opinion that ā€œno one really knows whatā€™s going to happenā€ really gets under the skin of those completely and utterly convinced they know.

Todayā€™s internet debate is about how the Canadian Citizen Act of 1947 plays into recent conversations about citizenship by descent. When I opined that ā€œno one really knows,ā€ this was interpreted that I was ā€œon the sideā€ of those arguing for unlimited citizenship (Im not). But I did like my reply enough to post it here, as I believe the most ethical route includes admitting what one does not knowā€¦..

ā€œI am not saying there is an explicit philosophy of jus soli here. I am merely amused at the hundreds of experts all arriving at different conclusions based on their years of experience googling the 1947 and 1914 Acts.

As weā€™ve seen even the lawyers get it wrong. IRCC is clearly divided into factions, and the media doesnā€™t know who to believe, not that they actually care.

I have no strong opinion either way because there are, indeed, several ways to interpret the statutes as written, the case law behind those statutes, the limited and often conflicting guidance of IRCC and, of course, the contributions of the social media members who are, naturally, the real and reliable experts.

If I were a betting man, Iā€™d wager nothing on any one of these opinions; weā€™re all going to have to wait until this plays out in the courts and in Parliament.

Those that end up right all along will have been so by chance and circumstance, and likely not because of their expert social media intuition.ā€

I refuse to make things up or ā€œguess.ā€

Clients have to make the best informed decisions based on the best information actually known at the time. Social media remains an arid desert for the cultivation of best information. šŸ¤£šŸ˜šŸ¤£šŸ˜

06/25/2026

As expected, the chipmunk-laden business posts performed (as measured by the social media gods) quite poorly.

If this is a result of my proud choice to include the chipmunks, I will carry that responsibility with pride (and a grin.)

It was a logical idea to toss out how the different products all relate to each other. Many people have no idea where to start, and some think that we just start by ordering the records.

Obviously it is usually more complicated that that...and that's why we're here.

We may not turn "complicated" into "simple," but we will get you focused (pointed in the right direction, as we might say), and provide a customized plan of action for the next phase of your genealogical research!

(And I still like the chipmunks).

-Tom

This is part of a short series explaining how our services work together and can be customized for each client.A Researc...
06/25/2026

This is part of a short series explaining how our services work together and can be customized for each client.

A Research Project involves systematic research to locate the records needed to address a specific genealogical question or gap in your family line.

At the end of the project, clients often want official copies of the most important records weā€™ve found.

When those records are clearly identified, our Concierge Record Retrieval service can take over and request them.

When additional identification work is still needed, the research project lays the necessary groundwork.

Many repositories across North America are currently experiencing high demand, so timelines can vary depending on the jurisdiction.

This post is part of a short series on how our services relate to each other and how they can be tailored to your specif...
06/24/2026

This post is part of a short series on how our services relate to each other and how they can be tailored to your specific needs.

Our Record Audit service reviews the records you already have and gives you a clear picture of whatā€™s solid, whatā€™s weak, and what you should obtain next.

After the audit, clients frequently decide they want official copies of the key records.

When those records are already well identified, Concierge Record Retrieval can be used directly. When further identification is still needed, the audit helps clarify the best path forward.

Please keep in mind that many repositories are currently dealing with high volumes of requests.

06/24/2026

Good morning!

No chipmunks šŸæļø in this one. Just a coffee-fueled post whilst getting ready for another busy day.

Consulting on a multigenerational line to the Maritimes, developing a FAN network in Michigan, and several more incoming record requests to process.

Is it wrong that I am already looking forward to the afternoon coffee??

Address

Smithwheel Road
Old Orchard Beach, ME
04074

Telephone

+12073704585

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