My lucky break was in the RC register of the marriage (which I had learned from the civil records) which named the parents of both paries. The Archdiocese of Boston Archives welcomes researchers to examine records held there themselves. The staff will do the research at the rate of $25 per hour. Before doing so, they need a written request detailing the information desired. They will send an estimate for the cost of the research. Donations to the Archives are gratefully received. The Archives holds baptismal and marriage records for about 140 parishes in existence before 1910. First Communion and Confirmation records dated before 1910 are only held for some of the parishes. Very few death and burial but cemetery records exist. There is no central index of names of recipients of the Sacraments in Boston. Therefore, you must include either the name of the parish or the officiating priest with your request. If you supply the familys address, they may be able to identify the parish where the sacrament was administered. You can find the address, which is listed alphabetically by family surname, in the appropriate yearly edition of the Boston City Directory or in the directories of the appropriate city or town. Contact the local library for information on how to obtain microfilm copies of these directories. The Church records do not contain the place or county of origin in Ireland or elsewhere. Family relationships, other than the parents of the baby baptized, are not recorded. The ages, addresses or occupations of individuals are not recorded. First Communion and Confirmation only have the names of children and the officiating priest. Another source of genealogical information is civil records held by the cities and towns. These vital records are easily accessible because of alphabetical indexes. The civil marriage records will have the name of the priest and the parish. Birth records have the address of the parents at the time of the event. For records through 1895, write directly to the Massachusetts State Archives, Columbia Point, Dorchester MA 02125; the records after 1895 are kept at the Bureau of Vital Statistics, 470 Atlantic Ave., Boston MA 02210. Alternatively, you may contact the individual city or town halls. Ellen