A few tips for you researchers: 1. Of course you already know about birth certificates. They usually begin in 1877 2. Some counties have birth registers. This gives about the same information as a certificate. 3. Ask about DELAYED Birth Certificates. These are often overlooked, but older people whose births were never registered with the county came to the courthouse to get his/her birth registered in order to get pensions, social security, or get jobs where birth certificates were required (this can no longer be a requirement). ESTATES 1. To find date of death, details of wills, names & relationship of heirs, guardians appointed for children whose parents were deceased, widow's amount of husband's estate, final settlement of estate, and results of contested estates. If a person was in an institution, probates often have records of the monies to take care of them. PAUPERS 1. To find names, ages, place of residence, occupations, birth places of paupers; death or place of burial may also be recorded. DOCTORS 1. A county record book is kept to give the names and qualifications for those people who were doctors, midwives, dentists, nurses, Optometrists, veterinarians, architects, and teacher's records. This record gives the names of schools attended to earn the certificate and the years of service within the county. Velda Wittenbrink Moore Randolph County Genealogical Society visit: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilrcgs/