The free database is now up at the New England Historic Genealogical Society. It's a three-day free access to 'Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850'. It's extremely slow- loading and after you go through four or so pages, you get a 'page not found' notice. You have to fill out a very brief survey and they tell you to bookmark the search page otherwise you have to take the survey again if you want to go back to it. If you can access this at an 'odd' time, you might have quicker and better access than at peak times. The middle of the night or the very early morning hours should be about right.<g> New England Historic Genealogical Society(NEHGS) - New England Ancestors http://www.newenglandancestors.org/ Sally Rolls Pavia <mailto:sallypavia2001@yahoo.com> sallypavia2001@yahoo.com "Those who dislike the cat . were in a former life, a rat." List Owner: <mailto:GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES-L-request@rootsweb.com> GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES-L-request@rootsweb.com Archives: <http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES> http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES "All incoming and outgoing email checked by Norton Anti-Virus"