You won't find a birth certificate, however you may find a birth announcement. Call the main branch in Franklin Co and ask them how far back their local newspapers go and if they travel through Inter-Library Loan. There are four common ways to find birthdates from before civil registration times. First, birth announcements in the local newspapers. Second, social security application form. Third, tombstones will frequently list birthdates. Fourth, bible records. I just want to stress the fourth one a minute. I find many people just trace back back back and never give a thought to tracing forward. I have found much more information by tracing all siblings down to today and querying the living, then I ever found by tracing dusty records back. The living descendents of your ancestor have living history such as 'he left his first wife and went to work as a prison warden for 7 years and then came home and his son never wanted to talk to him again.' You can't get that out of a land transaction... Also the living may have that elusive bible record that you are seeking. -Will In a message dated Tue, 6 Nov 2001 9:42:45 PM Eastern Standard Time, Kayo549@aol.com writes: > > This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. > > Surnames: Cash/Stone > Classification: Query > > Message Board URL: > > http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/GV.2ADI/211.1.1 > > Message Board Post: > > Thank you Will..yes..that means he was born about 1858,in Franklin Co. AR. But I have not been able find a birth record..or what the initials J.M. stands for. I have found a James Madison and a John Merrick..but neither one fits. Any ideas? Thank You very much. > > > ==== ARFRANKL Mailing List ==== > In addition to exchanging information here, we will also post large blocks of specific information, photographs, histories, etc., to the Franklin County Webpage. Your contact admin is donkelly@grovenet.net > > ============================== > Search over 1 Billion names at Ancestry.com! > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/rwlist1.asp