Eve Schultz Slater wrote: <SNIP> >Any why do they list the ages of all these people? Any help is appreciated!! Hi Eve, The mention of the ages I THINK is somewhat of an identifier. In my WADEL line, for example, I have several men named Jean, Jean Thiebaud, Thiebaud, Jean Jacques, and Jacques. Adding the age helps to identify WHICH Jean Jacques or Jean.... Think of it more in these terms - it is genealogical information that is much like a gift because with the knowledge of the age of a person, you know approximately in what year to search for a birth record - assuming that the person is related to your family. The other words that you are unable to identify that appear before and after their names are most probably other identifying characteristics such as their relationship to the deceased, occupation, where they lived, etc. These people were most likely the ones who reported the death. These records are written up pretty much like any other legal document in which witnesses are clearly identified with their name, occupation, residence. I hope this helps. Linda in Costa Rica Monroe County, NY Records and Family Genealogy http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~monroenys/ Monroe County, NY History http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~monroenys/