Hi Sierra, Birth records for Coles County are very few until at least 1880, and even then not all births were registered, that is until after 1916. There are some before that date, but very, very few. Linda Listowner At 09:57 AM 8/27/98 -0700, you wrote: Hi List, Does anyone know how far back birth records go. Would like to get a birth certificate for 1872 if possible. Thanks, Sierra, California ( HOWELL, WALLACE in Mattoon, Coles Co., ) -- Ye Olde Collectibles Shoppe http://www.angelfire.com/biz/yocs/index.html For genealogy on Boynton, Howell, Drew, Morgan, West, Notter, Hanks, Putnam and many others -- http://www.geocities.com/~family_treez