This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: maryellenchambers Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.ireland.may.general/8684.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Start with the USA data. Census - Start with 1920 census and work back toward her year of arrival; ie when she still used BROGAN. Then move forward. What was her address before marriage and does census show oher relatives/siblings. Death Certificate: DAta only as good as person who supplied the information but in most COD, the deceased parents and address are listed instead of just "Ireland". Marriage: When did Iowa start using marriage license?? You may find information there. Also, if RC contact church for sacramental data. Tell them you want ALL the info listed not just the standard info which is couple's name, date, sponsors and priest. In many RC churches, the parents of bride and/or groom and address are listed, just not on the offical certificate. Since she expired after women got the right to vote, did she apply for citzenship?? The 20th century applications are a fount of data. Civil War pension: was her husband old enough to be in the American Civil War. That application has a great deal of data re: the man & family. Newspaper: If she lived in a small town, check the weekly newspaper for family data. The Society page in small towns can be a great help. Since she was born before Civil Records in Ireland, you would need to know the townland/village, you have the father's name, some siblings names would help, religion and landlord name would help. Then, you could contact the church. LDS files, Griffith's Valuation, possible Tithe Applotments of 1824, Tnenant records, possible school records. Civil records did not begin until 1864 and then only birth carried a penalty for not reporting. A few years later, death and marriage had to be reported. However, your ancestor was long gone. But, you might check Civil records for her father since he might have lived beyond 1864. Remember , she was born at the end of the Great Famine. ? is, since her mother survived to deliver her, did her father. Suggestion is to start in USA and work back since your information is limited. 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.