Hi Melissa, I could hear your frustration in your note you sent to the list. I volunteer at a FHC of the LDS church and a couple things I tell patrons when in the same situation is: 1. check the 1850 US census or the 1851 Canadian census for your THOMAS if that's the time frame for your ancestor. 2. There is a microfilm or microfiche at the FHL in Salt Lake called Border Crossings having to do with Canadians entering into the US and vice versa . I have no idea the time frame, however it comes as a suggestion from an Englishwoman who serves in the library with me. 3. Possibly, a naturalization or better yet the declaration of intent for naturalization record could be seen on film or fiche. Those are often indexed. 4. Maine is a great state for keeping birth and death records. Its on film indexed by surname again at the FHC. I've used it. 5. Its best to go from the known to the unknown with regard to the facts and ancestors. Often death records will give place of birth and names of parents, like the ones in Maine. 6. The family history library is now on the net. It includes their card catalog, ancestral file and IGI. The site address is: http://www.familysearch.org/ Hope this helps Jan