I have been researching the name Coale. My great grandfather was Thomas Edward Coale - born 1871. I just recently found out from a daughter's death certificate that he was born in Wayne County to a John H. and Margaret A. Coale. Can someone tell me if there is a way to check births in 1871 in Wayne Co. without going to the courthouse? Thank you. Pat

Pat You may be out of luck since as our website home page states: There was a resident of Wayne Co. (name not known) that wanted a new court house. On the night of November 17, 1886, he set fire to the court house. That fire destroyed all the vital records and most of the other county court records in the Recorder's Office. Finding someone else researching the family may results in bible records or other help in determining birth but you really can't count on the court house in providing extensive records before 1886. It is so frustrating for those of us wishing to find information on our families that we know were in Wayne County prior to this time and would like to have birth or marriage or death records. Sandy Pat Leatherman wrote: >I have been researching the name Coale. My great grandfather was Thomas >Edward Coale - born 1871. I just recently found out from a daughter's death >certificate that he was born in Wayne County to a John H. and Margaret A. >Coale. Can someone tell me if there is a way to check births in 1871 in >Wayne Co. without going to the courthouse? Thank you. Pat > > >==== ILWAYNE Mailing List ==== >Any questions/problems regarding the Wayne County, Illinois list, >contact the listowner, Dianna Williams mailto:[email protected] >Visit the Wayne County, Illinois Genealogy web site at: >http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilwayne/ > > > >