I would like to express relief at the defeat of MAH5158. It is already difficult enough to pry records out of some cities without them being given carte blanche to put the lockdown on the rest of them. I also have a question: Does the city of Brockton not allow people to search their old records? I was told once that this was the case and was wondering how true it was. If anyone could shed some light on this for me, I would appreciate it. I have sent directly to the City Clerk of Brockton for copies of records. They charge five dollars a search, and usually make a very nice document for records that are very old (those that are just recorded in record books and have no certificate). On the down side, their searches are not very consistent. When I sent for a death record for my great-grandmother Nellie Ryan Gibbons (who died in 1950), I was told there was no record on file. Two years later, I sent for a marriage record for Nellie and her husband John Gibbons. I was! told there was no record on file for the marriage, but was sent Nellie's death certificate--the one that I was told two years earlier did not exist. This happened again when I sent for a birth record and was told that they had two different ones on file and asked which one I wanted. When I replied that I wanted both (and sent more funds for such), my money was returned with a letter stating that they were not on file!! Has anyone else had this kind of expreience with Brockton? I'd appreciate any suggestions. Thanks, Jolynn Noel Winland --------------------------------- Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better

I hate to put anyone/place down..but it is true...Brockton is terrible to deal with! They do not allow you to see the books at all...You must write down who, when..you want looked up and they charge the $5.00 whether they find them or not. And..they will only allow ONE look up per day! They are far too expensive for me...I would rather keep searching elsewhere.. Sorry.. Pam ----- Original Message ----- From: jolynn winland To: MAPLYMOU-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Saturday, July 20, 2002 4:12 PM Subject: [PLY/MA] Re: MAPLYMOU-D Digest V02 #86 I would like to express relief at the defeat of MAH5158. It is already difficult enough to pry records out of some cities without them being given carte blanche to put the lockdown on the rest of them. I also have a question: Does the city of Brockton not allow people to search their old records? I was told once that this was the case and was wondering how true it was. If anyone could shed some light on this for me, I would appreciate it. I have sent directly to the City Clerk of Brockton for copies of records. They charge five dollars a search, and usually make a very nice document for records that are very old (those that are just recorded in record books and have no certificate). On the down side, their searches are not very consistent. When I sent for a death record for my great-grandmother Nellie Ryan Gibbons (who died in 1950), I was told there was no record on file. Two years later, I sent for a marriage record for Nellie and her husband John Gibbons. I w! as! told there was no record on file for the marriage, but was sent Nellie's death certificate--the one that I was told two years earlier did not exist. This happened again when I sent for a birth record and was told that they had two different ones on file and asked which one I wanted. When I replied that I wanted both (and sent more funds for such), my money was returned with a letter stating that they were not on file!! Has anyone else had this kind of expreience with Brockton? I'd appreciate any suggestions. Thanks, Jolynn Noel Winland --------------------------------- Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better ==== MAPLYMOU Mailing List ==== ====MAPLYMOU-L/D Mail List===== +-+ Owners = List Members +-+ =Administrator Frederick M. Dittmar= ====== fred@dittmar.net ====== ============================== To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237

Hi Pam, Thank you for your suggestions and for validating my feelings! I guess I'm very lucky--in my little county in West Virginia, where I am a lookup volunteer, I can have complete access to the records. So I was a little surprised at Brockton's policies. But I will take your advice and try the Archives and Vital Statistics. I appreciate everyone who took the time to answer my question. Thanks again, Jolynn Pam <pam259@attbi.com> wrote: I hate to put anyone/place down..but it is true...Brockton is terrible to deal with! They do not allow you to see the books at all...You must write down who, when..you want looked up and they charge the $5.00 whether they find them or not. And..they will only allow ONE look up per day! They are far too expensive for me...I would rather keep searching elsewhere.. Sorry.. Pam ----- Original Message ----- From: jolynn winland To: MAPLYMOU-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Saturday, July 20, 2002 4:12 PM Subject: [PLY/MA] Re: MAPLYMOU-D Digest V02 #86 I would like to express relief at the defeat of MAH5158. It is already difficult enough to pry records out of some cities without them being given carte blanche to put the lockdown on the rest of them. I also have a question: Does the city of Brockton not allow people to search their old records? I was told once that this was the case and was wondering how true it was. If anyone could shed some light on this for me, I would appreciate it. I have sent directly to the City Clerk of Brockton for copies of records. They charge five dollars a search, and usually make a very nice document for records that are very old (those that are just recorded in record books and have no certificate). On the down side, their searches are not very consistent. When I sent for a death record for my great-grandmother Nellie Ryan Gibbons (who died in 1950), I was told there was no record on file. Two years later, I sent for a marriage record for Nellie and her husband John Gibbons. I w! as! told there was no record on file for the marriage, but was sent Nellie's death certificate--the one that I was told two years earlier did not exist. This happened again when I sent for a birth record and was told that they had two different ones on file and asked which one I wanted. When I replied that I wanted both (and sent more funds for such), my money was returned with a letter stating that they were not on file!! Has anyone else had this kind of expreience with Brockton? I'd appreciate any suggestions. Thanks, Jolynn Noel Winland --------------------------------- Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better ==== MAPLYMOU Mailing List ==== ====MAPLYMOU-L/D Mail List===== +-+ Owners = List Members +-+ =Administrator Frederick M. Dittmar= ====== fred@dittmar.net ====== ============================== To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 ==== MAPLYMOU Mailing List ==== ====MAPLYMOU-L/D Mail List===== +-+ Owners = List Members +-+ =Administrator Frederick M. Dittmar= ====== fred@dittmar.net ====== ============================== To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 --------------------------------- Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better