THANK YOU FOR THE CORRECTION! THOSE OF US WHO ARE NEW TO SEARCHING ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THESE DATES. Ann Marie

Friday I posted a message stating that NJ vital records start in 1878. This was incorrect! NJ vital records start in 1848. Birth, marriage, and death certificates as we know them started in 1878, but there are valuable vital records dating back to 1848, as well as even earlier marriage records. This means that if all NJ vital records were closed, genealogists might be severely restricted in their ability to research even these very early records dating back to 1848. Hopefully not earlier than that! Joan Lowry very gently corrected my misinformation in an update on the status of the bill 1390, but I wanted a correction to appear in a message subject line for those of you who might have read the first message, but may not have had the time to read Joan's update.

Thanks, Joan. You are doing one hell of great job. Kirsten was one of the indivduals that I contacted via letter asked for her support. Ken > Hello All > > The March 9 meeting for GSNJ and the Advocates for NJ History with > Assemblywoman Quigley has been rescheduled. The new date is the > sometime in the week of March 20. (I don't have my calendar at hand...) > This suggests that the bill won't be read or voted on in the Assembly in > March. There is a voting day on March 16. After that, the next few > sessions are only for votes on budget items - or so I understand. That > means that this bill probably won't come up for a vote until May at the > earliest. > > This gives us time to continue to contact the sponsors and other > legislators to recommend changing the bill. As noted in earlier > communications, the GSNJ website page on Legislative Alerts has > information on suggestions for whom to contact and what to ask them to > change. The direct link to the page is: > http://www.rootsweb.com/~njgsnj/legislation.html > > As Kirsten noted, in an email earlier today, the bill as written would > close all NJ vital records - which at the state level go back to 1848 > (not 1878) and don't forget the county marriage records that go back > further than that. The language changes that we are suggesting would > continue to restrict access to records only for 80 years for birth > records, 50 years for marriage records, and forty years for death > records. Records older than that would be available to researchers. > These are the current years used by the Dept of Health for their > "genealogical records." > > I suspect that as long as the Dept of Health has possession of these > older vital records we will continue to have to order them in much the > same way as we do currently. Changing the language in this bill is more > of a "status quo" kind of thing. What we are hoping to do is to prevent > them from making access and sharing any more difficult than it already > is. However.... > > GSNJ and the Advocates for NJ History are actively supporting efforts to > create legislation that would transfer older records to the state > archives on a regular schedule with sufficient funding to make them > readily accessible to the public. We also hope that legislation can be > put in place that will end restrictions to access of older vital > records, including the cause of death, as well as open access to many > other currently restricted records. > > When there is anything definite to report on that front - you all will > be the first to hear! And also as we hear anything new on A-1390, we'll > keep you posted. > > Regards, > Joan > > Joan M. Lowry, President > Genealogical Society of New Jersey > mailto:membership@gsnj.org > website: www.gsnj.org > > > > > > ==== NJ-GSNJ Mailing List ==== > Save the Date!!! Save the Date!!! Save the Date!!! > GSNJ 2006 Spring Conference -- Saturday, June 3rd > > ============================== > Find your ancestors in the Birth, Marriage and Death Records. > New content added every business day. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13964/rd.ashx > >

Hello All The March 9 meeting for GSNJ and the Advocates for NJ History with Assemblywoman Quigley has been rescheduled. The new date is the sometime in the week of March 20. (I don't have my calendar at hand...) This suggests that the bill won't be read or voted on in the Assembly in March. There is a voting day on March 16. After that, the next few sessions are only for votes on budget items - or so I understand. That means that this bill probably won't come up for a vote until May at the earliest. This gives us time to continue to contact the sponsors and other legislators to recommend changing the bill. As noted in earlier communications, the GSNJ website page on Legislative Alerts has information on suggestions for whom to contact and what to ask them to change. The direct link to the page is: http://www.rootsweb.com/~njgsnj/legislation.html As Kirsten noted, in an email earlier today, the bill as written would close all NJ vital records - which at the state level go back to 1848 (not 1878) and don't forget the county marriage records that go back further than that. The language changes that we are suggesting would continue to restrict access to records only for 80 years for birth records, 50 years for marriage records, and forty years for death records. Records older than that would be available to researchers. These are the current years used by the Dept of Health for their "genealogical records." I suspect that as long as the Dept of Health has possession of these older vital records we will continue to have to order them in much the same way as we do currently. Changing the language in this bill is more of a "status quo" kind of thing. What we are hoping to do is to prevent them from making access and sharing any more difficult than it already is. However.... GSNJ and the Advocates for NJ History are actively supporting efforts to create legislation that would transfer older records to the state archives on a regular schedule with sufficient funding to make them readily accessible to the public. We also hope that legislation can be put in place that will end restrictions to access of older vital records, including the cause of death, as well as open access to many other currently restricted records. When there is anything definite to report on that front - you all will be the first to hear! And also as we hear anything new on A-1390, we'll keep you posted. Regards, Joan Joan M. Lowry, President Genealogical Society of New Jersey mailto:membership@gsnj.org website: www.gsnj.org

I just saw the Feb 17 post by Holly Kirkpatrick. I like the way she succinctly expressed my main concerns about the bill. Maybe her e-mail could be shared at the March 9 meeting. The main concerns for me are: That a request might need to filled out for every single vital record to be examined by a given researcher. That regardless of the age of a vital record, there seems to be no language in the bill or in Assemblywoman Quigley's reply to suggest that any vital record would ever be considered freely accessible. NJ vital records officially start in 1878! Surely some of them could remain open with no chance of assisting any identity thief or terrorist. I am hoping that earlier records that are not officially deemed vital records will not be affected by the bill in any way, but would like confirmation of that. That sharing of information from vital records would not be permitted under any circumstance for genealogical purposes, unless I am reading the bill wrong. Kirsten

Dear List Members: New Jersey State Archives is proud to announce the addition of the first imaged manuscript collection to our website at the following URL: http://www.njarchives.org/links/guides/sdea4015.html The online presentation contains nearly 300 images selected from the Archives' service files of New Jersey's black soldiers enlisted in the United States Colored Troops during the Civil War. Included are muster and service certificates, letters from family members, and other records relating to the soldier's service. Not all documents have been scanned, as many are brief notations, etc., by the Adjutant General's Office. However, the image collection is rich, and we believe it will be an important genealogical resource as well as a celebration of an important aspect of Black History in our state. Special acknowledgement and thanks go to the Archives' Publications Unit, namely Joanne Nestor for her extensive scanning work, and Lois Bredlow and Veronica Calder for their work creating the webpages. We hope you enjoy the new material! We have much more in store for the website (we hope) in the months ahead... With best wishes, Joseph R. Klett Chief of Archives NJ Div. of Archives & Records Management

Michelle, I am new to your GSNJ email chain. I saw your email looking for volunteers and would like to get involved. Please let me know how I can help! Lisa Hale Lisa A. Hale, CIC, AIC Claims Consultant The Graham Company One Penn Square West Philadelphia, PA 19102 (215) 701-5244 direct dial (215) 837-9436 cell (215) 525-0247 fax -----Original Message----- From: Michelle Chubenko [mailto:michelle@chubenko.us] Sent: Wednesday, March 01, 2006 2:41 PM To: NJ-GSNJ-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [GSNJ] GSNJ Volunteer News - March 2006 Genealogical Society of New Jersey Volunteer News March 2006 Spring into Genealogy!! Let's beat those winter blues by welcoming a new season of exciting volunteer projects. We have some great projects lined up and we hope that you find a project that interests you. If you haven't put your name in the hat to be a volunteer with GSNJ, now's a great time to join a "fantabulous" team of genealogists! This edition will update you on the status of our new and upcoming GSNJ Volunteer Activities. ----*----*----*----*----*----*----*----*----*----*----*----* NEW PROJECTS: Please check out our listing of potential projects to find one that matches your interests and time availability... GSNJ Collections/Manuscripts Committee: *Onsite (Special Collections, Rutgers Univ.) assistance with collections: - Family/Bible Records Card Index -- Master Index Inventory GSNJ WebSite Committee: -Transcription/Data entry of GMNJ Table of Contents Master Index -Transcription of cemetery survey cards: Metuchen Presbyterian Church Project teams are being formed now... Want to volunteer? Email me --> michelle@chubenko.us UPCOMING PROJECTS: April/May 2006: -Index of Newark Sunday Call, October to December 1925 -Index of 1855 & 1865 NJ State Censuses ----*----*----*----*----*----*----*----*----*----*----*----* Thanks to all of you who have worked on GSNJ events & projects! I look forward to working with you again this Spring. Michelle Chubenko GSNJ Volunteer Coordinator http://www.rootsweb.com/~njgsnj/volunteers.htm ==== NJ-GSNJ Mailing List ==== Visit our Collections Guide: http://www.rootsweb.com/~njgsnj/collectionguide.html ============================== Search Family and Local Histories for stories about your family and the areas they lived. Over 85 million names added in the last 12 months. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13966/rd.ashx

Genealogical Society of New Jersey Volunteer News March 2006 Spring into Genealogy!! Let's beat those winter blues by welcoming a new season of exciting volunteer projects. We have some great projects lined up and we hope that you find a project that interests you. If you haven't put your name in the hat to be a volunteer with GSNJ, now's a great time to join a "fantabulous" team of genealogists! This edition will update you on the status of our new and upcoming GSNJ Volunteer Activities. ----*----*----*----*----*----*----*----*----*----*----*----* NEW PROJECTS: Please check out our listing of potential projects to find one that matches your interests and time availability... GSNJ Collections/Manuscripts Committee: *Onsite (Special Collections, Rutgers Univ.) assistance with collections: - Family/Bible Records Card Index -- Master Index Inventory GSNJ WebSite Committee: -Transcription/Data entry of GMNJ Table of Contents Master Index -Transcription of cemetery survey cards: Metuchen Presbyterian Church Project teams are being formed now... Want to volunteer? Email me --> michelle@chubenko.us UPCOMING PROJECTS: April/May 2006: -Index of Newark Sunday Call, October to December 1925 -Index of 1855 & 1865 NJ State Censuses ----*----*----*----*----*----*----*----*----*----*----*----* Thanks to all of you who have worked on GSNJ events & projects! I look forward to working with you again this Spring. Michelle Chubenko GSNJ Volunteer Coordinator http://www.rootsweb.com/~njgsnj/volunteers.htm

From: Joseph R Klett Date: Feb 27, 2006 Re: Parks & Forestry Photo Collection on State Archives Website Dear List Members: On behalf of New Jersey State Archives, I am delighted to announce that we have just posted 322 images from the Division of Parks and Forestry photograph collection (1930s-1970s) to our website at the following URL: http://www.njarchives.org/links/guides/senpa001.html The image bank includes views of historic sites, state parks and forests, and DEP/DPF events. You will find it is not only a rich source of images of New Jersey's historic locations, but also captures recreational activity throughout the decades from around the state. Special acknowledgement and thanks go to the Publications Unit staff, namely Joanne Nestor for her scanning work and Lois Bredlow and Veronica Calder for creating the web pages. For our other imaged collections, link to: http://www.njarchives.org/links/imgcollections.html With best regards, Joseph R. Klett, Chief of Archives NJ Div. of Archives & Records Mgt. ------------------------------------------------------------------ From: H-NEW-JERSEY automatic digest system <LISTSERV@H-NET.MSU.EDU> Date: Tue, 28 Feb 2006 00:01:18 -0500

Hot Off the Press! Hot Off the Press! The second edition of "Monmouth County Articles in The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey: Summary and Descriptions, 1925-2004" compiled by Judith Green Watson is now available. The book is published by the Genealogical Society of New Jersey (76 pp., soft cover). To purchase, please visit: http://www.rootsweb.com/~njgsnj/pubs4sale.html -- Michelle Tucker Chubenko GSNJ Trustee & Webmaster

While NJ lawmakers are contemplating closing its records to genealogical researchers, other states are headed in the right direction. Here is another example: The Indiana Genealogical Society just signed an agreement with the Gen. Soc. of Utah to create a statewide marriage index for Indiana that begins with each county's earliest records and goes through 1950. The completed marriage index will include links to the images of the actual marriage records which will be digitized by GSU. And all with the cooperation of the Indiana Dept. of State Court Admin. See www.indgensoc.org/marriageproject.html for more info. 20th cent. Texas births and marriage indexes are also online, as are Illinois death indexes from 1916-1950, with prior records gradually being added back to 1850. Many of these records are held by the IL Regional Archives Depository System at various IL university libraries. All older marriage and death records were made available by the IL Office of the Secretary of State to IRAD libraries where one can write for a copy of the record. Pam

Good work, our prayers are with you. Thanks for letting us know, Julie B in NC -----Original Message----- From: Joan M Lowry (GSNJ) [mailto:jml-gsnj@earthlink.net] Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2006 1:14 AM To: NJ-GSNJ-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [GSNJ] A-1390, an update Hello Everyone - As promised - an update on the Assembly Bill 1390, vital records legislation. GSNJ and the Advocates for New Jersey History have scheduled a meeting with Assemblywoman Joan Quigley. We anticipate that the meeting will be in her Trenton office about March 9. The finalized date and time should be coming soon. So - this is good news on multiple fronts. 1) They're drafting amended language and they'll be able to take our suggestions into consideration. Meeting with us in person should make it easier for us to make sure they understand the reasons behind our suggestions so that they can incorporate them more readily. 2) A March 9 meeting date certainly implies or suggests that they won't be scheduling the bill for a vote on March 2. (Otherwise, there wouldn't be much point in meeting, right??) So - now we know that we have a bit more time than we previously anticipated. If you haven't already written - please do write to the sponsors and ask them to use the changes suggested by GSNJ. If you have already written - give them a chance to respond. I got the impression that the mail was pretty heavy on the subject and replies to everyone might be a while coming... And a huge thank you to all of you who took the time to write. It just goes to show that a grass roots response can be successful! Regards, Joan M. Lowry, President Genealogical Society of New Jersey mailto:membership@gsnj.org website: www.gsnj.org ==== NJ-GSNJ Mailing List ==== Save the Date!!! Save the Date!!! Save the Date!!! GSNJ 2006 Spring Conference -- Saturday, June 3rd ============================== View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find marriage announcements and more. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 268.0.0/267 - Release Date: 2/22/2006 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 268.0.0/267 - Release Date: 2/22/2006

William Annin is my 5th G-grandfather. In the dedication of the school, a report was written by a 6th grader. In this report, he stated that William's father, John Annin (who died in 1759-I have a copy of his presumed will) came from Annandale, Scotland and was named John Johnstone in Scotland. He came to America, due to persecution (reason stated in the young man's report) in the early 1770's - changing his surname to Annan to remember the area he was from in Scotland. Somehow the surname then was written Annin and thus it remained. Does anyone have further knowledge of where this information was obtained for this report at the dedication of the school? Thanks, Pauli from Arkansas

That is wonderful - music to my ears. "Joan M Lowry (GSNJ)" <jml-gsnj@earthlink.net> wrote: Hello Everyone - As promised - an update on the Assembly Bill 1390, vital records legislation. GSNJ and the Advocates for New Jersey History have scheduled a meeting with Assemblywoman Joan Quigley. We anticipate that the meeting will be in her Trenton office about March 9. The finalized date and time should be coming soon. So - this is good news on multiple fronts. 1) They're drafting amended language and they'll be able to take our suggestions into consideration. Meeting with us in person should make it easier for us to make sure they understand the reasons behind our suggestions so that they can incorporate them more readily. 2) A March 9 meeting date certainly implies or suggests that they won't be scheduling the bill for a vote on March 2. (Otherwise, there wouldn't be much point in meeting, right??) So - now we know that we have a bit more time than we previously anticipated. If you haven't already written - please do write to the sponsors and ask them to use the changes suggested by GSNJ. If you have already written - give them a chance to respond. I got the impression that the mail was pretty heavy on the subject and replies to everyone might be a while coming... And a huge thank you to all of you who took the time to write. It just goes to show that a grass roots response can be successful! Regards, Joan M. Lowry, President Genealogical Society of New Jersey mailto:membership@gsnj.org website: www.gsnj.org ==== NJ-GSNJ Mailing List ==== Save the Date!!! Save the Date!!! Save the Date!!! GSNJ 2006 Spring Conference -- Saturday, June 3rd ============================== View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find marriage announcements and more. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx Thank you! Terry Smith Administrative Assistant Gateway Foundation 720 Olive St., Ste 1977 St. Louis, MO 63101 314-241-3347 314-241-3559 (Fax)

Kudos to you, Joan - and to Advocates for New Jersey History -- and all who have jumped in to the fray to halt the original A-1390. I'll be happy to write again to encourage the inclusion of GSNJ suggested language in the bill (and later, to encourage the turnover recommendations mentioned in your other e-mail). And thanks too for keeping us posted! Pat Peoples ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joan M Lowry (GSNJ)" <jml-gsnj@earthlink.net> To: <NJ-GSNJ-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2006 1:14 AM Subject: [GSNJ] A-1390, an update > Hello Everyone - > As promised - an update on the Assembly Bill 1390, vital records > legislation. > > GSNJ and the Advocates for New Jersey History have scheduled a meeting > with Assemblywoman Joan Quigley. We anticipate that the meeting will be > in her Trenton office about March 9. The finalized date and time should > be coming soon. > > So - this is good news on multiple fronts. > 1) They're drafting amended language and they'll be able to take our > suggestions into consideration. Meeting with us in person should make > it easier for us to make sure they understand the reasons behind our > suggestions so that they can incorporate them more readily. > > 2) A March 9 meeting date certainly implies or suggests that they won't > be scheduling the bill for a vote on March 2. (Otherwise, there > wouldn't be much point in meeting, right??) So - now we know that we > have a bit more time than we previously anticipated. > > If you haven't already written - please do write to the sponsors and ask > them to use the changes suggested by GSNJ. If you have already > written - give them a chance to respond. I got the impression that the > mail was pretty heavy on the subject and replies to everyone might be a > while coming... > > And a huge thank you to all of you who took the time to write. It just > goes to show that a grass roots response can be successful! > > Regards, > Joan M. Lowry, President > Genealogical Society of New Jersey > mailto:membership@gsnj.org > website: www.gsnj.org > > > > > ==== NJ-GSNJ Mailing List ==== > Save the Date!!! Save the Date!!! Save the Date!!! > GSNJ 2006 Spring Conference -- Saturday, June 3rd > > ============================== > View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find > marriage announcements and more. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx >

Hi Folks I was hoping to only do one email tonight with "A-1390" in the subject line - but thought I should respond to the emails about "redrafting" A-1390 and "drafting a new bill" from Curt and Mike. GSNJ and the Advocates for New Jersey History are indeed working together to draft a separate bill that we hope might be sponsored and passed. This bill will include language directing the Dept of Health to turn over more of the older records to the NJ State Archives and to continue to do so on a regular schedule as years go by. The Archives and Dept of Health have actually discussed this idea over the last several years. Hopefully this might get the ball rolling on that score. As soon as there is any definitive news on this subject - I will be sure to let everyone know. (Then we can all sharpen our pencils again and write in favor of this!) As noted in my previous email, GSNJ and the Advocates for New Jersey History are also working together on getting the language in A-1390 fixed before it goes to a vote in the Assembly - but these are (at present) separate projects, with some points in common. We'll keep everyone updated as we learn anything. Regards, Joan M. Lowry, President Genealogical Society of New Jersey mailto:membership@gsnj.org website: www.gsnj.org

Hello Everyone - As promised - an update on the Assembly Bill 1390, vital records legislation. GSNJ and the Advocates for New Jersey History have scheduled a meeting with Assemblywoman Joan Quigley. We anticipate that the meeting will be in her Trenton office about March 9. The finalized date and time should be coming soon. So - this is good news on multiple fronts. 1) They're drafting amended language and they'll be able to take our suggestions into consideration. Meeting with us in person should make it easier for us to make sure they understand the reasons behind our suggestions so that they can incorporate them more readily. 2) A March 9 meeting date certainly implies or suggests that they won't be scheduling the bill for a vote on March 2. (Otherwise, there wouldn't be much point in meeting, right??) So - now we know that we have a bit more time than we previously anticipated. If you haven't already written - please do write to the sponsors and ask them to use the changes suggested by GSNJ. If you have already written - give them a chance to respond. I got the impression that the mail was pretty heavy on the subject and replies to everyone might be a while coming... And a huge thank you to all of you who took the time to write. It just goes to show that a grass roots response can be successful! Regards, Joan M. Lowry, President Genealogical Society of New Jersey mailto:membership@gsnj.org website: www.gsnj.org

Lynda Bell wrote: > Does anyone know where one can find records of an indentured apprentiship in 19th century Somerset County or NYC? > > I believe my great grandparents were bound out as children to families in Millstone, NJ. According to the book, "Nineteenth Century Apprentices in New York City," by Kenneth Scott, William Pender was bound out to William and Frances Beardsley of Millstone in 1861 by the Commissioners of the Alms-House & Bridewell of New York. A Mary Kelly (possibly my great grandmother) was bound out to Charles and Andromache Beardsley in 1853. The book states that reports from the town overseers may have information about the child. > > TIA, > Lynda Bell > Columbus, Ohio > > > ==== NJ-GSNJ Mailing List ==== > GSNJ Newsletter: > http://www.rootsweb.com/~njgsnj/newsletter.html Lynda, Have you consulted the original records for these children? The NYC Alms-House records are available at the NYC Municipal Archives on microfilm. Here's the link to their description of the record group: http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/html/collections/collections_almshouse.shtml Also, it does look like these records on microfilm are available through a LDS Family History Center via their microfilm rental program. You can view the FHL holdings via their online catalog: http://www.familysearch.org/ Place Search: New York, New York (City) Topic: Poorhouses, Poor law, etc. As for the local records for Millstone, I would suggest contacting the Somerset County Historical Society for guidance on the location of the "Overseers to the Poor" records for the timeframe you're interested in. Somerset County Historical Society Van Veghten Dr. / P.O. Box 632 Bridgewater, NJ 08807 http://home.earthlink.net/~schs/index.htm Hope this helps! Michelle -- Michelle Tucker Chubenko Professional Genealogist: http://www.chubenko.us/profgen/index.htm "Things don't turn up in this world until somebody turns them up." - James A. Garfield

I was at the State Archives a few days ago and one of the staff told me the bill was being redrafted. Curt Miller -------------- Original message -------------- From: GmDjones51@aol.com > Hi Barbara, > > I got a phone call today from Assemblyman Penacchio's office. His aide > thinks the bill has not been posted because Speaker Roberts has some concerns > with > it. I called Robert's office-after e-mailing him my concerns and the West > Virginia info-and no one there had any information to impart. They did assure me > the Speaker would read my e-mail. > > After that, I called the Family History Center in Utah and let them know > about this bill. They told me they have Vital Records up to 1900 for NJ. I asked > the gentleman did he think they'd have to pull those records if this bill > passed and he said he wasn't sure. > > Then I called the State Archives and was told unofficially that-and this is > strictly office chatter-another bill was being drafted that would transfer the > Vital Records to the Archives. The young lady didn't know any particulars. > Like I said, "it might have just been a rumor." > > That's about it for now. > > Mike > > > ==== NJ-GSNJ Mailing List ==== > New Jersey Legislative Alerts: > http://www.rootsweb.com/~njgsnj/legislation.html > > ============================== > Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the > last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx >

Certainly quoting examples from other states is appropriate to GSNJ's current topic of NJ Records Access legislation. But, what does the news release below really SAY? FamilySearch Archives, aka the "Genealogy Society of Utah," did all the work and presumably the State of WV contracted them for some fee. Wonder why the fee arrangement is not mentioned? Who/ where were the "2500 volunteers"? For some reason the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints (aka the LDS or "Mormons") is not mentioned, yet the name "FamilySearch" clued me that's who it is. The way this is written may lead readers to believe that West Virginians (not Mormons in Salt Lake) provided such impressive volunteer hours, but I will be amazed if that's true. (When was the last time you recruited even TEN volunteers to do ANYTHING -- unless tied to their religion, which is why Mormons do gen. work?) I'm not a NJ voter, but may I challenge some New Jersey voter already interacting with Legislators about Bill amendments and alternatives to contact both WV state officials and FamilySearch and sleuth down how this impressive project was done? What did it cost the State to get it on line and now maintain it; and did "FamilySearch" in fact do everything up to that point? If so, was it somehow at no charge to the State? (Or did W. Va. pre-agree on a "Donation")? If done entirely as a labor of love, that's remarkable, but let's credit the right people, and if so, how did they choose W. Va.? Quoting NAAHKITTY@aol.com: > Hope this isn't cross posting inapprpriately. >> Sent the following to the NJ-L list earlier. >> Perhaps we should tell the NJ lawmakers what other states are doing > concerning vital records. > > Laurie Beth Roman > > Like this press release from back in November: > > Genealogists with West Virginia Roots Score Big Time State puts free database > of vital records online Salt Lake City, Utah- Thanks to the help of > FamilySearch Archive (Genealogy Society of Utah), searching those elusive > ancestors with West Virginian origins or connections may now be just a mouse click away. > FamilySearch scanned and indexed the records and the West Virginia Division > of > Culture and History is hosting them online. The free database consists of > millions of West Virginia births, deaths, and marriages-a goldmine for > genealogists > and historians. Researchers and curiosity seekers can now search and view > scanned images of original birth, death, and marriage records from six > counties, > as well as most statewide death certificates from 1917-54 at > www.wvculture.org/vrr. > > The database has over 3.5 million names linked to 1.4 million original images > of birth, marriage, and death records from Calhoun, Gilmer, Hardy, Harrison, > Mineral and Pendleton counties. The record dates vary by county and type of > record, but typically range from 1816 to 1929. Birth records are for the > period 1853-1930, county death records for 1853-1969/1970, and county marriage records from the creation of the county until the late 1960s, all of which are searchable by name, county, and date. > > FamilySearch filmed, scanned, and created the automatic index at the heart of > the online database. Paul Nauta, manager of Public Affairs for FamilySearch > said, "Birth, marriage, and death records together in a single database are > particularly attractive to researchers because multiple generations of > ancestors can be found on one document, and you can track their growth and whereabouts over time as noted by births, marriages, and deaths in the family." All users have to do is type in an ancestor's name to search the free database. They can > also view a high quality, scanned image of the original document. The project > required 2,500 volunteers and 64,000 hours to complete. West Virginia plans > to add records from additional counties in the future. > > FamilySearch is a nonprofit entity committed to preserving and increasing > access to vital records of genealogical significance and producing > high-quality products and services for the family historian. FamilySearch maintains the world's largest repository of genealogical resources with vital records from over > 110 countries, territories, and possessions and provides free access through > FamilySearch.org, the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, and over 5000 > branches (family history centers) in 70 countries. > ---------------------------------------------------------------- This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program.