David Thompson memoir explores rural Maine childhood and family search for Lucy

David Thompson is preparing a memoir about growing up in Kingman, Maine, and his family’s long search to understand the identity and heritage of his great-grandmother, Lucille “Lucy” Bois. The book ties childhood memories to family testimony, historical records and an unresolved question about Mi’kmaq ancestry.

Why it matters: - The memoir connects a personal coming-of-age story to a broader family investigation into ancestry, identity and historical record. - The project highlights how family memory and documentary evidence can diverge, especially in searches tied to Indigenous heritage. - The book could add a personal narrative to ongoing conversations about genealogy, cultural identity and recordkeeping in rural New England.

What happened: - Author David Thompson is preparing Of Mi’kmaq Heritage? In Rural Maine, a memoir about growing up in Kingman, Maine, and tracing the life of his great-grandmother, Lucille “Lucy” Bois. - The memoir draws on childhood recollections, family testimony, historical records and a continuing search for ancestral identity. - Thompson’s childhood memories in rural Maine include railroad work, fishing, school days and extended family gatherings. - The book centers on Lucy, whose name surfaced repeatedly at family gatherings before Thompson understood her place in the family history.

The details: - A key discovery involved two family trunks linked to Lucy and containing a light-colored leather dress and a beaded bag. - Thompson says family knowledge of the orange house where Lucy lived, actions taken by his mother and Uncle George, and a photograph in his grandmother Julia’s home support his belief that the trunks and contents belonged to Lucy. - The photograph was about 4 by 7 inches and was identified to visitors as showing “an Indian Princess.” - Thompson believes the image shows Lucy wearing the leather dress. - Family accounts describe Lucy as a woman of Mi’kmaq heritage who served as a midwife and was associated with traditional healing. - Historical records identify her as Lucy Morneau, while family tradition remembers her as Lucille Bois. - The tension between those names and records remains central to the family’s research. - A letter discovered in 1960 prompted relatives to examine family records, visit cemeteries and interview older generations. - Cousins Jim and Louise Price expanded the research starting in 1963. - Family reunions beginning in 2018 renewed the effort and brought descendants together to compare records and preserve memories. - Thompson is developing the memoir with The Book Publishing Pros. - Print and Kindle editions are planned, with publication and pre-order details still to come. - The source includes a signup page for publication news and book updates: Of Mi’kmaq Heritage? In Rural Maine — David Thompson Memoir

Between the lines: - The question mark in the title signals that Thompson is presenting the book as an inquiry rather than a settled family history. - The memoir appears to balance oral tradition against archival evidence, which may resonate with readers interested in genealogy and Indigenous ancestry research. - The story also shows how one object, one photograph and one letter can shape decades of family investigation.

What's next: - Thompson is continuing to develop the memoir with The Book Publishing Pros. - Publication timing and pre-order information will follow. - Thompson’s signup page is intended to collect readers interested in future updates and release news.

The bottom line: - Of Mi’kmaq Heritage? In Rural Maine turns one Maine family’s search for Lucy into a memoir about memory, records and identity.