This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: theresampetoskey Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.illinois.unknown/12302.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Usually you'd start with the birth certificate and or a birth anouncment from the local paper a baby babtismal certificate would give you the parents, grandparents, and godparents names or at least mine does. Wedding anouncments often listed the parents, some wedding certificates do, any census 1880 or after lists the entire household by name age, sex, berthplace all that, 1870 didn't but I think some of the earlier ones did also. Death certificates are hit and miss depending on if a birth certificate was available at the time the certificate was filed. The only time parents names are put on is if the birth certificate is available or someone is able to give the coroner / local church before that the names. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.