Wow! A real hero to genealogists. Sue Richart On Fri, Jan 16, 2009 at 1:12 PM, > wrote: > I found this obit in the newspapers.....hope it helps! > > Dianne > * * * * * * > (Mortuary Notice) > Date: 1891-10-31; > Paper: Worcester Daily Spy > Page 3. > > Obituary > N.A. Apollonio, City Registrar of Boston for forty years > > Boston, Oct.30th - Nicholas A. Apollonio, the second > registrar of Boston, and the occupant of that office for > more than 40 years, died this morning. Nicholas Allesandro > Apollonio was born in Stonington, Conn. March 10, 1815. In > early life he removed to New York City and became known > through his newspaper writings, under the cognomen of > "Seekright," the New York Spirit of the times. These > articles were copied in the London papers of that day. > He came to Boston in 1845 and became the editor of the > Youth's Guide. He was a member of the free soil city committee > from 1848 to 1854, and in 1854 was a candidate for city regis- > trar and was elected by the concurrent vote of the city council. > Until 18[50?] the Massachusetts laws relating to the regis- > tration of vital statistics were very defective, and it was mainly > through Mr. Apollonio's persistent efforts that he succeeded in > securing what is now considered one of the most efficient > registration systems in the country. >