In a message dated 10/28/2006 3:42:46 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [email protected] writes: for over 30 years I have been hitting my head on a brick wall! looking for parents of Joseph Doty, my great great grandfather. His 1st marriage was in N.Y. wife name ?, 2ns wife: (my great great grandmother: Eliza Coffee/Mrs. Monda. Joseph and Eliza had 4 boys. Willis, Edwin, Oscar, Joseph A. I would like to prove my line back to the Pilgrim Edward Doty. Joseph Doty was born according to his civil war papers: 30 Dec. 1852 in New York Your information on New York is rather vague. You are going to probably have to look in all 52 counties in order to find your folks unless you just happen to come across something more definitive, like a specific county or a specific city or town. I'm surprised your civil war papers didn't have something more specific about his exact place of birth besides just 30 Dec 1852 in New York. My great grandfather cited his place of birth on an affidavit for his pension. I suggest you re-read your documents more closely. Look for affidavits where he names his wife and kids. Look at any affidavits from his friends who knew him because they had to state how they knew him and that he wasn't of unsound character as well in order for him to get his pension benefits. My great grandfather was from New York as well and his civil war papers put him in an exact location so that I could continue researching his side of the family. So look again at what you've got. Christie Trapp