Thanks to everyone for all the great feedback I've had regarding how to find birth records for my ancestors in Hessen-Darmstadt. It sounds like the key is that I have to find at least the town where my ancestor was born and then I can go to the LDS website to order microfilms containing church records for that area of Darmstadt (helps if you can read German, which my wife luckily does). I have/received a number of ideas for finding their birthplaces and am trying many approaches at once. One idea that I thought of that I haven't heard yet from anyone is the Darmstadt Emigration Index that's on microfilm at the LDS. Have any of you ever searched this index? I wonder how much detail is listed on each individual and of course whether or not they list town of residence before emigration? Thanks again, Brian --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.507 / Virus Database: 304 - Release Date: 8/4/2003