This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: Georgia1910 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.michigan.counties.wayne/17863.2.1.1.1.3/mb.ashx Message Board Post: >From their surnames it appears that they may be Catholic. I would try looking for a baptismal record from a church. Use a Detroit City Directory to see where the parents were living at the time of the births, then contact the Archdiocese archives to find out what church would have served that area. The Catholic church records are at the Burton Historical Collection of the main Detroit Public Library. See their website to see what church records they have and what period of time the records cover. You would have to research in person or hire someone. There is a list of researchers on the BHC website which includes the name of one of the people who has responded to your question. http://www.detroitpubliclibrary.org/burton/burton_index.htm What government agency did you write to for the birth record? If they were born outside of Detroit, the City would not have the record. If Wayne County, they do not have City of Detroit birth records but the State of Michigan should have all the records. Did you look at the LDS test website for Thomas Dougherty? With both the surnames that you have, there is a possibility that the surnames were misspelled. Where did you get the birth place of the people from? Georgia Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.