You might have to register as a 'guest' but (I think) it would be worth it. Here's some free databases to try for those who are researching their UK roots. 1880 US Federal Census (images, every name index) - Free Index ` http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=List&dbid=6742&offerid=0%3a7858%3a0 http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/census/uk/default.aspx 1881 England Census Free Index ` http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=List&dbid=7572&offerid=0%3a7858%3a0 1881 Wales Census Free Index ` http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=List&dbid=8059&offerid=0%3a7858%3a0 1881 Isle of Man Census Free Index ` http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=List&dbid=8061&offerid=0%3a7858%3a0 1881 Channel Islands Census Free Index ` http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=List&dbid=8063&offerid=0%3a7858%3a0 England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index: 1837-1983 ` http://www.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8912 England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index: 1837-1983 ` http://www.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8914 England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index: 1837-1983 ` http://www.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8913 Jacquie

Hi all, I am trying to help my mother in law with her family. I am looking for a May SEELEY. I believe her maiden name was ELY. She was probably born in Manhattan, New York. She was the daughter of a Roland & Margaret (BRADSELL) ELY. I believe she was married to a Joseph SEELEY. The last trace we have is that she was living at 19 Boston Post Rd in 1944. My mother in-law is trying to find if May had any children or any other information about her. Thank you Leslie Freeman

Have any of our readers information of the Rock Nook Children's Home, New London CT. In the 1900 Census there is listed a relative of mine, Ruth McNaught age 9 at this institution. Ruth is listed as an inmate. My query is about this Home. There are persons listed, also as inmates, much older than an un emancipated juvenile so I *believe* this Home may have served a multiplicity of departments, i.e. Mental health patients { insane Asylum}, maybe a sector for TB patients as well as a place for the the Orphaned. Can anyone clue me in so I can have a better concept of the Rock Nook Children's Home. Thank you, Ed. Healey

_Click here: Family Old Photos....old photos by state ... faces and places in the past_ (http://www.familyoldphotos.com/state-tables.html) Please excuse the cross posting of this information, as it has been sent to a few New England state sites. Old Photos.com originally started in PA a few years ago, as a site for PA families only. However, they have expanded greatly, and the site now includes spaces for most states. It's a fantastic website with thousands of photos available, and more added on a regular basis. It's a simple matter of printing any of the photos for your own use or files. Worth checking out. Jean in CA

Help. I am looking for info on Evelyn B(?) ????? born CT Sep 1864 and her first husband ??? Maddock. They were had a son Aubrey Maddock born Oct 1890. The 1900/1910 census show her living in Westerly, Rhode Island with her second husband John S. Hinckley who she married about 1896. Mr. Maddock must have died between 1890 and 1896 and they may have lived in Norwich. Any info appreciated. John

As I read of the many on this & other lists who have become frus- trated by being unable to find the burial sites of their ancestors, family members, or others, despite many hours of researching & walking of cemeteries; I would like to point out another possibility which few, if any, consider...that being cremation. Cremation is not a new concept as the disposing of human bodies on a funeral pyre -usually one body at a time-dates back in America, at least, to Colonial times. Most of us have read of the; albeit horrific; body pyres that were utilized, usually after the biggest of the battles of the Civil War, to dispose of the often thousands of bodies which accumulated as a result of the fighting. This was done out of necessity as the digging of individual, or even mass graves, was out of the question due to lack of manpower. However, the most compelling reason to dispose of the bodies as quickly as possible was to prevent the spread of disease which was rampant at the time. Very few probably realize that of the 250,000-300,000 men of the Confederate Army who died during the war, only one quarter of those deaths were incurred in battle, with the remainder dying of disease. Union Army deaths due to disease were somewhat lesser due to the availabilty of more sophisicated medicines & techniques. Several years after the War the crematory furnace was developed & many funeral establishments had them installed in their facilities leading to the wider useage of this method. I recently spent the better part of a year attempting to find the burial places of an ancestor, a CW veteran, & his wife who both died in Chicago, with- out success. A search of the cemeteries in & around Chicago & of the National Cemeteries yielded no results either. In speaking later with a member of the branch of the family to which the deceased belonged, I learned that cremation was literally a tradition in that branch, & I was told of a scattering of ashes at sea & in various cemeteries in several states. Thus, after a period of 100 years have elapsed since the death of these two people, & with not finding any evidence of cemetery burials, I must 'assume' that even with- out any proof, that they were cremated. Also with many families not having the funds to purchase a cemetery plot, a gravestone, & other costs associated with a funeral, cremation was no doubt a lower cost alternative. Also, as the ashes are usually placed in an urn, rather than scattering the ashes, the urns could be kept at home, where the family members could feel that the deceased was "always close by." What might have happened to the urns through- out the ensuing years might well be "Another story." To those who might feel like they are 'chasing their tail' in attempting to find where their family member's remains are; this just may be another consideration to keep in mind. Bill Waterhouse Mystic, CT -END-

Need some help in the Griswold Norwich area. DOD between 1854 and 1860 of [........] Hurley, no birth date Husband to Margaret, who was born in Scotland 1820, 40 in 1860 Children Hannah, born Scotland 1839, 21 in 1860 John, born Scotland 1841, 19 in 1860 Margaret, born Scotland 1844, 16 in 1860 Came to the USA after 1884 Michael, born MA 1848, 12 in 1860 Mary, born CT 1854, 6 in 1860 Would like to find info: name, DOB, DOD on Mr. Hurley. Thank you, Ed. Healey

I've "rescued" an old photograph of Abby RATHBUN MEISTER and Almon MEISTER which was taken at the Washburn Studio in New London, Connecticut. The photograph appears to have been taken in the 1890's with Abby likely in her 40's and young Almon likely about 10-12 years old at the time. Based on limited research I was able to locate the family of John E. & Abbie R. MEISTER in the 1900 census of Groton, CT. Information in that census is as follows: John E. MEISTER, age 53, born Jan 1847, married 19 yrs, born Sweden, parents b. Sweden, to USA 1875, a Ship Joiner Abbie R. MEISTER, wife, age 44, born Aug 1855, married 19 yrs, 1 child/1 living, born CT, parents born CT Almon MEISTER, son, age 12, born Mar 1888, born CT, at School In 1920 I find Almon MEISTER living in Groton, CT with census records providing the following information: Almon MEISTER, age 31, born CT, parents born Sweden/CT, a Garage Proprietor Charlotte A. MEISTER, wife, age 31, born Canada, parents born Canada, to USA 1890 Thelma A. MEISTER, dau, age 10, born CT Vivian M. MEISTER, dau, age 7, born CT Doris MEISTER, dau, age 5, born CT I'm hoping to locate someone from this family so that this wonderful old photograph can be returned to the care of family. If you are a member of this family, or know someone who might be, please contact me. Thanks, Shelley

For anyone who has Canadian roots. http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=collections/virtualmem Jacquie in California

Hey gang, Just a short reminder to the vets and newbies at this site of my free research for the asking here at Andersonville. Please email me directly with request so we dont tie up the county site. Kevin Andersonville Historic Site Historian / NPS Volunteer www.angelfire.com/ga2/Andersonvilleprison/index.html

Hello, I joined this List a few years ago, and seem to have unsubscribed a year later. I would like to repost my interest in learning about my ancestors* who might have married in Stonington. Several years ago I was told that in 1856 in Stonington a John DEXTER and Mary CLARK got married. I thought this was curious as Mary Anna CLARK had been born and raised in Westport, MA, and John DEXTER had been born and raised in Killingly, CT. I have just now e-mailed the Stonington Clerk's office to ask for a look-up. I would like to find out if the 1856 marriage was of "my" ancestors. Something else curious is that I was told that Mary "Molly" CLARK's older half-sister, Lavinia LAVARE, also from Westport, MA, had also married in Stonington ! She reportedly married William VINAL around 1847 ! A little background is that James CLARK had married in 1829 to the widow, Mrs. Rhoda (MANCHESTER) LAVARE in Westport, MA. She had 3 children from her first marriage, and then she and James had a daughter, Mary Anna "Molly" CLARK, in 1836. For whatever reason, James CLARK was found to be not living with his extended family in Westport, MA, in the 1850 census. It is not known that he passed away during the 1840's. But, there are other choices. There was a James CLARK who left New Bedford on a ship in ~1845. He was a greenhand and "deserted" in Australia ! But, as I just found out last night, there were CLARK's living in Stonington ! So, I'm wondering if Rhoda and James "separated" during the 1840's. A genealogy e-pal of mine wrote last night that she had come across a book about Stonington cemeteries ! And, having a good memory, she remembered my interest in finding the "missing" James CLARK, and in finding anyone with the name, Daisy WATROUS ! She found both names in this book ! My strong interest in the name, Daisy WATROUS, is that that was my grandmother's birth-name, when she was reportedly "a foundling" on the streets of Boston, MA, in Feb. 1889. The "family story" (many of which were found out not to be true) was that she was named by the Nurses at the hospital and that she was named after a famous actress or singer of the time. The Boston Public Library says they have no record of a Daisy WATROUS being an entertainer in New England. My e-pal mentioned 2 families in regards to Stonington: Daisy (DEWEY) WATROUS, and Robert and Sarah (WOODMANS) WATROUS. She also found CLARK's mentioned in the book -- along with a few MANCHESTER names ! My "suspicion" all along is that both Mary CLARK and her half-sister, Lavinia LAVARE, had "relatives" in Stonington, and that is why they both chose to get married there ! (1847 and 1856 - with James CLARK leaving Westport, MA, during 1840's) I was wondering if anyone knew anything about the CLARK, WATROUS, and MANCHESTER families in Stonington and whether they might have been related to families in Westport, MA. Thank you for your time. Betty (near Lowell, MA) * I call John and Mary DEXTER my ancestors -- because of my "hypothesis" that they were the maternal grandparents of the baby they adopted near Boston, MA, in Mar. 1892. They had lived in Killingly, CT, during their entire marriage, but strangely in 1886 they left and headed for Boston. They settled nearby in Melrose, MA. They "might" have brought a school-age girl from Killingly with them. And, in 1892 they adopted a girl who had just turned 3. The little girl's birth-name was Daisy WATROUS, and they changed her name to Mary Anna Clark DEXTER. John and Mary DEXTER had had daughters while living in Killingly, but one died as a 3-year-old, and one died at Age 14 in 1867. Clara DEXTER, b1857, was the surviving daughter, and she grew up to marry Abner YOUNG of Killingly. They also lost a very young daughter, and then had a son, Earle YOUNG, in 1882 in Killingly. For "many" reasons, I have reason to believe that Mrs. Clara YOUNG had an "unwanted pregnancy" in the summer of 1888 - which resulted in her coming up to Boston to deliver her and "stage the baby to be a foundling." For whatever reason, her parents had a change of heart and decided to take in the baby ! They were Ages 59 and ~55 at the time. FYI: Abner and Clara YOUNG's grandson, Winthrop YOUNG, was a long-time genealogist in CT, and he created a very detailed "YOUNG family document." There is only a paragraph on his grandparents, and only one brief mention of his great-grandparents, John and Mary DEXTER. And, there is "no" mention of his grandmother's much younger adoptive-sister ! (Clara was about 30 older than young "May" DEXTER.) My grandmother would have only lived with the DEXTER's from about 1890-91 until Mrs. DEXTER's death in 1899. Either in 1898 or 1899, my grandmother was sent to live in an orphanage in Boston. And, she remained in "homes" in Boston until she was 19 or 20 years old ! But, she remembered a couple of incidents. One is that she remembered a teen-age boy and girl spending a lot of time in the house ! The teen-age boy would have been her nephew, Earle YOUNG. The teen-age girl might have been a relative of Mrs. Mary DEXTER's ! She also remembered a man visiting the house one day, and overhearing a comment, "Some day that young girl 'must' learn who her real father was !!" She never did ! And, she was hidden away in a back room of the house when important company came to call ! And, I found a descendant of one of the LAVARE brothers on-line. When we compared family photos, there was a strong family resemblance between her grandmother and my grandmother ! Mrs. Clara YOUNG and William LAVARE - would have both been descended from Mrs. Rhoda (MANCHESTER) (LAVARE) CLARK.

While there are no Minards indexed in the Joshua Hempstead Diary written daily in New London from 1711-1754, he does write the name as Minerd - the Minerds listed are : Abigail, Andrew, D, David, David jr, Jabesh, Jonathan, Lydia, Rebecca, sarah, Stephen, William and William jr - there is no Martha Chapman listed - meg smeal

Anyone with ancestors or strays possibly involved in the Connecticut Susquehanna Land Company in PA may see many familiar names at the following website. Years incl are: 1797-98 | 1799 | 1800 | 1801 | 1802 | 1803 | 1804 | 1805 | 1806 | 1807 | 1808 | 1809 | 1810 | 1811 | 1812 | 1813 | 1814 | 1815 by the Wyoming County Historical Society http://www.rootsweb.com/~pawyomin/WBG1799.html Lorna

To Pat Maher: I have Amasa Minard married to Martha Chapman, with children Henry Minard, Sophia Minard, and Emiline Minard. Mid 1700s to 1800s. Do you have anything on them? Thanks, Ann Marr

If you have even the slightest lead back to England, the various counties are beginning to post the Protestation Records 1641 online. Based on info in New LOndon Co CT, I have a lead back to Dorset and found 3 or 4 likely candidates for ancestors on Dorset's Records. Just type it in search or go to the OPC of your suspected county. Now. If someone would only help me with my MAYNARD/MINARD in New London Co Ct. Hope this helps someone. Pat. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

Hi All I recently purchased 3 Volumes of Wills for Hartford. Years are 1635-1700, 1700-1729, 1729-1750. Will do look-ups but please, tell me at least an approximate date, as these are very large books. Bonnie

Just to let you know, I was sending number 3 scanned of 7 and it bounced back, don't know why, there was no typo...I'll try again. Nancy-Jo Nunez A Genealogy Enthusiast ...Member of Rhode Island Genealogy Society, Connecticut Genealogy Society, New England Genealogical & Historical Society, Killingly Historical Society, Rhode Island Historical Society, Santa Clara California Genealogical Society, Northern California Genealogical Society. Searching...searching...searching... "History is a great teacher. Read it, understand it, ponder upon the first and last chapters as well as the middle. It makes the present so much more understandable and less perplexing."

You could also become a member of the genealogical or historical society in the area that you are interested in. Sometimes they will do free lookups for you, depending on the policies of each organization. Some will do a certain amount of looking for you without charge, and others charge modest fees. Some are vey helpful, while others are not. It just takes a certain amount of perserverence, patience and creativity. Sue Kent, WA In a message dated 4/2/2006 10:09:41 AM Pacific Daylight Time, peach_willis@yahoo.com writes: I am Georgia Willis from Orlando FL. In using rootsweb I have realized that the people who sign up for mailing lists and message boards are usually people who do not live in that area. I had been asking for help in Georgia, Arkansas, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, and Connecticut. I had not even thought to look at the message board or mailing list for Orange County FL because I did not need anything from there. When I became frustrated with no help on some of my posts and started thinking about why no one in that county and state wanted to help was when I realized that the people from that state probably were not signed up with that message board or mailing list. That's when I went to the Orange County FL message board and mailing list and there I found people just like myself asking for help from someone who lived in the area . So, I encourage you to sign up for your area mailing lists and message boards to help those like you who need help from someplace where they do not live and can not get access to the library material and such. I find it rewarding to help others while I am waiting for someone to help me.

Is anyone interested in any of the profiles listed below, contained in this book... This is a list of Illustrations contained within this book, maybe someon on this list descends from one of these... Allyn, Israel Alllyn, Lt. Stanton Avery, Rev. Frederick D. Avery, Henry W. Avery House, The Avery, Rev. John Bill, Charles bill, Gurdon Bill, Honorable Henry Bill, Honorable Richard Bill, Rev. William, D.D. Billings, Capt. James A. Brewster, Honorable John Congrational Church "frontispiece" Cook, Rev. Nehemiah B. Cook, Lt. William T. Cutting, Rev. Charles Episcopal Church, the St. James; Fanning, George Fort Decatur Gallup, Dea. Erastus Gallup, Henry H. Gallup Homestead, The Gallup, Isaac Gallup, Rev. James A. Gallup, Maj. Jacob L. Gallup, Dea. Russell Gallup, Dea. N. Sands Gale's Ferry R. R. Depot Geer, Capt. Nathaniel B. Geer, James L. Hurlburt, Rev. Ralph Knmouth, Rev. Albert E. Laqtham, Thomas Larrabee, Capt. Adam Larrabee, Honorable Henry Larrabee, Capt. Nathan F. Larrabee, Gov. William Library The Bill Methodist Episcopal Church, The Norman, Stephen H. Parsonage, The Bill Peckham, Rev. Stephen H. Plan of Forth Griswold Spicer, Capt. Edmund Spicer, John S. Stoddard, Ebenezer Stoddard, Guy C. Tuttle, Rev. Timothy Williams, Denison B. Williams, Honorable Elias Hewitt Winthrop, Gov. John Jr. Nancy-Jo Nunez A Genealogy Enthusiast ...Member of Rhode Island Genealogy Society, Connecticut Genealogy Society, New England Genealogical & Historical Society, Killingly Historical Society, Rhode Island Historical Society, Santa Clara California Genealogical Society, Northern California Genealogical Society. Searching...searching...searching... "History is a great teacher. Read it, understand it, ponder upon the first and last chapters as well as the middle. It makes the present so much more understandable and less perplexing."

I am Georgia Willis from Orlando FL. In using rootsweb I have realized that the people who sign up for mailing lists and message boards are usually people who do not live in that area. I had been asking for help in Georgia, Arkansas, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, and Connecticut. I had not even thought to look at the message board or mailing list for Orange County FL because I did not need anything from there. When I became frustrated with no help on some of my posts and started thinking about why no one in that county and state wanted to help was when I realized that the people from that state probably were not signed up with that message board or mailing list. That's when I went to the Orange County FL message board and mailing list and there I found people just like myself asking for help from someone who lived in the area . So, I encourage you to sign up for your area mailing lists and message boards to help those like you who need help from someplace where they do not live and can not get access to the library material and such. I find it rewarding to help others while I am waiting for someone to help me. --------------------------------- New Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Call regular phones from your PC and save big.