Hello Again, I believe I have done everything you have suggested. I have a newspaper clipping for James Doran who died in 1914........nothing. I've been to the cemetery and they aren't even sure where he is buried. I have the marriage license, children's birth records, death records, census records including church and county. I got James' naturalization papers........nothing. I've paid someone in the county's historical society a lot of money.....and nothing has turned up for place of birth. The church where they were married in 1880 held no information. The only lead I got was on a census for their only living daughter (my grandmother) who died in 1936. She said on an earlier census her father was from north Ireland and mother from South Ireland. Her mother left Ireland in 1870 and father 1875, so I wasn't even sure if the north and south were applicable. I was cross referencing the Griffiths Valuation and just decided to pay for the 2 surname parish findings. I do have a question: Why is Belfast City listed as a County? And what County is it actually in...is it Down? Shankill Parish holds the largest number of households being 10. Thank you for your help.......and being patient with me. Barb ________________________________ From: [email protected] on behalf of Jean R. Sent: Tue 10/24/2006 3:18 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [IGW] County Down - Ideas for USA Research Barb - Generally, the secret to research is to concentrate on research in the KNOWN places the individuals lived. If I were you, I would contact the county historical society in the USA county in which they resided, ask for their help in finding documents on your particular families such as wills, marriage applications (which often gave info. on the parents of the bride and groom), land records (which often gave last place lived), other court records, cemetery records, b/m/d abstracts, newspaper clippings, census extracts, etc. Almost every document they come up with will provide more clues. Most historical societies have ready access to old maps with settlers' names, books and publications of their own and others. Periodicals published by USA county historical societies have every-name indices in their winter issues which they can quickly refer to. Have you tried sending away for microfilmed USA newspapers to look for death notices? If a definite date is known, request the newspapers for the two days following the death via your reference librarian and the free interlibrary loan program. The librarian has references to tell her which newspapers to request for a particular location and time period. Death notices may further provide details on a location in Ireland and give names of still-living relatives you may not be aware of. It is possible that a death notice appeared in a newspaper where they formerly lived, as well. The reference librarian can also help you obtain old USA county history books in addition to those found on the shelves. I found many of my relatives listed on genealogy library microfilmed death indices when I had only a general idea of when and where the deaths occurred. These films are organized by state and approximate 10-year increments, names are alphabetical and soundexed. Data given includes name of deceased, place of death (may have to rewind film to beginning for location code), age at death, name of spouse, and the number of the death certificate. If the death occurred many years ago, you may be able to locate the death certificate that state's archival library. Contact all known living relatives to find out what they know. Ask for their help and to look through their old albums for clues. Christmas is a perfect opportunity to do so. Leave a detailed query on a Rootsweb Message Boards, particularly, a surname board. Did you check the 1920 and 1930 USA Federal Censuses? Even if they were deceased by that time, their children may have given a particular county in Ireland when asked for place of birth for each parent. It does appear in some instances census enumerators recorded specifics such as a particular county and/or "No. Ireland" or "Free State" (Republic) for places of birth. Jean . ----- Original Message ----- From: "Beckstrom, Barbara A" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, October 23, 2006 8:13 PM Subject: Re: [IGW] County Down Margaret, Thank you so much. I've been searching this family for years. Every record in the states I find......lists only Ireland as place of birth. I've hit a brick wall everywhere. Thank you again. Barb ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message