When looking for marriage, birth and death records dated before 1900 you will usually find that they are not available in the state and county vital records. A few places will have them but if you have tried that and had no luck, you need to go to churches, cemeteries and probate court. To find the churches and cemeteries in existence during that era try county histories, town histories, state histories. Also, ask the local librarian. This may mean that you have to do it the way us old-timers did and that is write letters. When writing letters asking a church or cemetery to look up a record for you, send a stamped self-addressed envelope for any copy they might find. Also, a small donation goes a long way including a letter asking if there is any fee for the service or copy. Most of the churches do not have the personnel to do genealogical searches but sometimes have volunteers that will do the search and like getting donations. Another source is the state archives. Old probate records may be at the state archives. Do a search that says Alabama (or whatever state you are looking for) state archives and you should find them. Most are on line but not all will look things up for you. Remember nearly all states and counties are hurting for money and the first thing to be cut is going to be genealogical searches as they are not as important as searches for courts, the police, education, roads, health, schools. These searches are also the first to get fees put on them and get their fees raised. Not everything is free and on line. Bette