This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/UAB.2ACE/1793.1.1 Message Board Post: Thank you so much for your reply! Yes, that is the John Ripy for whom I search. My confusion came in as Anderson County did keep death records starting at least in 1852, kept them through 1859 then stopped until 1874. Your idea about an elected official's discretion about keeping such records is an excellent one. Thank you!