<< Hi: Is it possible to locate any directories or information concerning a person that lived and worked within Aston County during the 1870's. My great grandfather, David COBOURN according to the 1880 census was a blacksmith and evidently his son William continued this trade within the same area. My grandfather was Jeremiah COBOURN, born in Rockdale in 1875. So far in tracing my paternal side the COBOURN family has resided in Delaware County. Thank you for any assistance or advice you can give me. Walt Cobourn, Port St Lucie, Fl cob1326@msn.com >> Hi Walt, Sorry, I don't know of any directories for Aston Twp., Delaware Co., PA. The easiest way to find info on a family, is to use the Federal Census records, of Delaware Co. to trace the COBOURNs from 1920 back to 1790, if it applies. Second, I would contact Paul DOUGHERTY at the Aston Historical Society at (610) 497-1255. Their hours are: Monday: 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM Wednesday: 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM You may want to contact Calvary Episcopal Church & Cemetery in Rockdale, Aston Twp., PA. To see if any COBOURNs are buried there but have their give names -- not just a surname -- then have them do a search. When a small historical church does research for you it is always very nice to give them a donation for their help. These people have always been very helpful. Calvary Episcopal Church Mount Road Aston, PA 19014 (610) 459-2013 Also, contact Mt. Hope Church & Cemetery in Aston, they maybe able to help, too. I have found in the past that they will tell you their records are not well kept & the person is not buried there. If you walk through the cemetery you may just find some family gravestone & when you go back to the office & tell them this, they then find the records. Mount Hope United Methodist Church 882 Concord Road Aston, PA 19014 (610) 459-0248 Next, I would contact the Delaware County Historical Society, (DCHS). Especially, after you have dates of deaths you can have them lookup obits for you & ask them if they have any info on the COBOURN Family of Aston. Furthermore, ask them if they know of anyone doing research on this surname? The (DCHS) can also do census & cemetery searches for you. Before 1789 Delaware Co. was part of Chester Co. -- if you trace your family back that far, you then would look in Chester Co. records. Here is (DCHS) website: <A HREF="http://www.delcohistory.org/dchs/">PA DCHS</A> http://www.delcohistory.org/dchs/ Have you subscribed to the COBOURN mailing list & sent out queries? Have you subscribed to the Delaware Co., PA mailing list & sent out queries? Are there any COBOURNs still living in the Aston area that may be able to assist you in your research or share family info with you? This is also one of the easiest ways to find info--just phone them! :) Here are other websites related to Delaware Co., that maybe of help: <A HREF="http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/delawap.html">PA Dela. Co. Archives</A> http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/delawap.html <A HREF="http://www.co.delaware.pa.us/ ">PA Dela. Co. Courthouse & Government Center,</A> http://www.co.delaware.pa.us/ <A HREF="http://www.techcrafters.net/Gen/Delaware/">PA DELAWARE Co. Gene.</A> http://www.techcrafters.net/Gen/Delaware/ <A HREF="http://www.delcohistory.org/">PA Delaware County History</A> http://www.delcohistory.org/ <A HREF="http://www.oldchesterpa.com/">PA "Old Chester"</A> http://www.oldchesterpa.com/ If any COBOURNs were born or died in PA in 1906 or thereafter, you can send for their birth or death certificates. Here is that website: <A HREF="http://vitalrec.com/pa.html">PA Vital Records Info - birth - death </A> http://vitalrec.com/pa.html I have the following info, in my notes, on Revolutionary War Vets buried at St. Martin's Cemetery: COBOURN, Joseph ?-1829 Upper & Lower Chichester Militia * Received stone 23 Nov 1999 PA Pvt., 3rd class 1782 Muster Pool Chichester PA Company Spring & Fall Season Joseph will be included in the Soldier's Walk being built at "Old St. Martin's Cemetery" in Marcus Hook, Delaware Co., PA. This congregation dates from 1699 & there has been a church & cemetery on this land since then. It was non-denominational & then became Episcopal. The new St. Martin's Church is on Meeting House Road in Boothwyn, Upper Chichester Twp., PA. Here are the other COBOURNs buried at St. Martin's Cemetery: COBOURN, Joseph -1829 d. 5 Apr 1829, age 53 yrs COBOURN, Lydia -1863 d. 28 Jan 1863 , age 87 yrs COBOURN, Margaret T. -1805 Wife of David COBOURN d. 15 Aug 1805, age 29 yrs 2 mo 11 days COBOURN, Rebecca C. or B. -1817 d. 1817, age 4 yrs? COBOURN, Susanna B. no dates COBOURNE, Joseph -1833 COBURN, Eleanor Sep 1896 COBURN, Hannah Oct 1822 COBURN, Lydia -1849 In the "Concord Township." book's by Robert P. Case, Ph.D. & Virginia DeNenno. These books you can get though inter library loan or purchase them if you would like: Vol. I, in the index is: COEBOURNE, Joseph Robert Joseph & Thomas (grist mill) COEBOURNE Mill Road Vol. II, in the index is COEBURN'S Mill I think you will not only find your family in Aston Twp. area but in Lower & Upper Chichester, Bethel & Concord Twps. Please take note to the many different spellings of COBOURN when you are doing your genealogy research. COBOURN - COBURN - COCKBOURNE - COEBOURNE - COEBURN - COLEBORNE - COLEBOURNE - COULBORNE. A COLEBORNE Family was in Somerset Co., MD, before 1677. You will find that many families in Delaware Co.,-Chester Co., came up from the State of Delaware & the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Hence, you may eventually find out this is your family line! :) I hope this has been of some help to you & if you have any questions please e-mail me! :) Happy hunting, Helen (DCGS) CORRECTION: Aston County (should be Aston Township) in Delaware Co., PA