This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: jmyoung365 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newjersey.counties.burlington/2990.1.1.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Sally- DAR will accept the baptismal certificate IF the birth certificate is not available. I'm Registrar for my DAR chapter and reading directly from the DAR instructions: "For proof send the best source available, such as birth, death, or marriage certificates..." If a birth certificate is available for a state (such as NJ beginning with 1848) then that would be the best source available. If someone submitted a baptismal certificate as proof when I know NJ has birth certificates for the year in which the person was born--I'd ask for the birth certificate. Suppose I were to accept the baptismal record and a birth certificate later surfaced showing contradictory information--maybe even a different father's name? That is why the birth certificate would be required as being best evidence available. Joan 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.