This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.florida.counties.hillsborough/3017.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Here is one of the best sites for instructions on obtaining vital record information in the United States. You can also search the Social Security death index from this site. Please note that all persons having Social Security numbers are not listed in the death index. Only those whose death's were reported to Social Security to obtain benefits under are listed in the index. You can write to the Social Security administration to obtain further information also. A person's original SS application will give you their parents names and where they were from also. http://www.vitalrec.com/ - United States Vital Records Information, the most comprehensive resource for locating vital records on the internet http://www.ssa.gov/foia/html/foia_guide.htm - site to apply for copy of original SS aplication of deceased person For Hillsborough County, Florida here are some helpful sites that are free to search. There are many others but this might help youget started. http://www.tampatrib.com/ - The Tampa Tribune - Main Hillsborough County newspaper http://www.hcplc.org/hcplc/ig/ - Hillsborough County library - has many genealogical recsources. You might have to dig a little but explore the site. http://www.hillstax.org/tax/propertytaxmain.asp - Hillsborough County property Tax collector - http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~hillsfacts/ - Hillsborough County Florida History http://www.rootsweb.com/~flhillsb/hills.htm - Hillsborough County Genweb Project http://www.lib.usf.edu/tampa/spccoll/ - Special Collections for University of South Florida located in tampa - contains actual images of Hillsborough County marriage licenses http://www.hillsclerk.com/ - Hillsborough county clerk's office Good luck!