Hello Shirley & List, As a native Cecil Countian, let me brag on them for a minute if you will. The List is quiet, too much so. I thought while growing up at Elk Landing in Elk Neck just outside of Elkton, that I was living in a desolate po-dunk farm town that had nothing much to offer. Their rich history and participation in the founding of this country meant little to me at the time. I have since learned differently. I removed to California in 1980. I now live in Atlanta. I was in CCM for my father's funeral last August and had an online friend that needed records, [Couthouses give me solace]. I went to our Courthouse and was bowled over by the professionalism of the Clerks and their staff. Their records supercede even that, in that they are predominantly intact from the beginning of Cecil County and are in immaculate condition. I was SO impressed! Anything you may want to find IS at the Courthouse and while it may cost a couple of bucks, it will be original and pristine. As a researcher, I cannot remember when I have found any county in this country who takes so much pride and care in their records, painstakingly doing far more than any I have ever researched. I encourage all of you to give them a try. This level of state of the art archiving costs Cecil County a lot of money, so consider doing what you can to support them. What many of you may not know, is that your neighbor Virginia tried to pass a Bill [SB 818] just last month in their most recent Legislative Session, that would allow Clerks to THROW OUT all Wills and all Will files after 5 years! Thanks to us online genealogists, it was defeated. I don't hear anything of the kind emanating out of Maryland. Please don't take your records and their availability for granted. This is happening enmasse all over the country due to state budget cuts and the current federal administration. I leave you with that thought. Thanks for listening, Debra Rookard Member, Elk Landing Historical Society http://www.elklanding.org/faq.html Member, Washington County Virginia Historical Society http://www.rootsweb.com/~tncampbe/ Member, Campbell County Tennessee Historical Society http://www.rootsweb.com/~tncampbe/ GenExchange County Coordinator, City of Williamsburg http://www.genexchange.org/county.cfm?State=va&County=williamsburg ----- Original Message ----- From: "Shirley" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, March 10, 2003 3:41 PM Subject: Re: [MDCECIL] BENJAMIN PEARCE and NANCY HOUSTON : Hi Donna, : Your so sweet to offer. And no I haven't got this info. : I'm finding Cecil Co., is hard to find info for, or research. : I'm in Calif. and I have to rely on purchasing books that are out on : Cecil co., and I am finding they are limited. : Would you be able to pass the info to me? : Plus, the spelling on Houston, may be something like Hoston/Huston, : could you check that for me if it's not too much trouble. : Thank you, : Shirley