I guess I deleted too quickly and missed the original query. The 1890 Veterans census is indeed organized by county, but there is no reason you cannot apply for the veteran's military and pension record. The NARA form (NATF 80) only requires the state from which he enlisted., not the regiment. Just FYI, the only REQUIRED items on the form are NAME, BRANCH OF SERVICE, STATE FROM WHICH HE SERVED, WAR, UNION OR CONFEDERATE. . . all of which you know. Since there's no charge for the search, it's certainly worth a try. The fee is $10 if they find something, nothing if they don't. I would send in two forms - one for the military record and one for the pension (although the pension record usually covers both) if you're in a hurry. However, it's important to indicate that you want the whole file, since the $10 only covers a certain number of photocopies. If there is more material than the minimum, they will give you the price for the additional copies before they make them. The only hitch in your case may be that there are too many soldiers from New York named Joel DAVIS. I ran into that with my John THOMAS. However, that is the only failure I've ever had. If you have a death date or know where he lived/died after the war (these are non-essential blanks to fill in) or his widow's name, that would certainly help narrow down the search. But that information is not required. Up to six copies of form NATF 80 are available from the National Archives at inquire@nara2.gov. Just give them your mailing address and you'll have the forms in a couple of weeks. The search itself takes several weeks, so be patient. You will get an answer, even if it's negative. Ann ----- Original Message ----- From: Michael Burnett <mwburne@worldnet.att.net> To: <GEN-NYS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, August 26, 1999 5:33 AM Subject: Death Certificate from 1900 - 1905 not there > My ggg Grandfather, Joel DAVIS died in Horseheads, Chemung Co. NY > between 1900 and 1905, I know this because he > was listed in the 1900 federal census at age 85 and > in the 1905 NYS census he is not in the household > and his surviving wife, Matilda POWELL DAVIS wife was head. > > There is no information in the vital records death certificate > index at Albany for his death, at least not that I could find, and > I looked for every year surrounding the period of his death > and there were no Joel DAVIS' which would have been him. > I know that some of the index fishe are missing for some > surnames for certain years, but I don't believe that this was > a problem in my case. > > I am writing to the vital records office in Elmira in the hope that > they may have a death certificate for my Joel DAVIS that was > not indexed. > > My questionis, has anyone else has this happen? I know that > initial compliance with the death certificate law was quite > spotty from, say 1880 - 1885, or so, but compliance with > the death certificate requirement should have > been near 100% by 1900 and that is why I am perplexed at why > there seems to be no death dertificate for my ggg Grandfather. > > Any help/info/suggestions would be appreciated. > > Mike Burnett > mwburne@aol.com > Cave Creek, AZ > > > ==== GEN-NYS Mailing List ==== > Have you forgotten how to UNSUBSCRIBE? > Visit the GEN-NYS-L Frequently Asked Questions (And Answers!) web page: > http://www.rootsweb.com/~nozell/GEN-NYS-L/FAQ/GEN-NYS-L.html > >