Hi All: I am desirous of locating local sources of information from either of the above listed locations relative to tracing my Hudson Co. Ancestors (Irish Immigrants, NJ, c. 1850-1870). I have been working on this since Jan./2000, mainly in my home state of CT. I have decided to try again in Hudson Co. which was their original residence in the US. I have done some work w/ the Hudson Co. Clerk's Office in J. C. (Naturalization Papers) and with the US CEN on Ancestry.com. In addition, we have uncovered some bapt cert. from Our Lady of Grace R.C. Church in Hoboken and The Parish of the Resurrection in J.C for bapt data from the defunct St. Peter's Church. A lady at Seton Hall ("Kate" - Special Collections Ctr.) has been especially helpful over the years. My G-grandfather, John Whelan/Whalen was b. in IRE (Co. Unkn.) in 1830. He departed from L'pool and arrived at the Port of NYC on 28 APR 1851. He mar. MARY HALL at O.L.O.G. Church in Hoboken on 13 AUG 1856. Their seven ch., (all b. Hoboken-J.C.area) include; Margaret (1857); Delia, (1858); Michael (1860); Alice M. (1863/64); Mathilda (1866); and twins, John J. and Nicholas B.(1869). Initially, JOHN, estab his fam residence in New Durham, per marr record. MARY HALL was initially a res of Hoboken. Her known bros were MICHAEL HALL, and PATRICK, b. in IRE in abt 1824 and 1825 respectively. They were also residents of the North Bergen- Union City-Weehawken area during that time. In the 1860 US CEN, the fam residence was listed as North Bergen, under the surname sp. of WHALEN. An apparent boarder, one Patrick Flannigan, was also res w/ the fam in 1860. I suspect that he was a bro-in-law to MARY (HALL) WHELAN. John was listed as a Quarryman in that 1860 CEN. QUESTION - Where would a quarry be in the area? It would appear from the ch. later bapt. records that the JOHN WHELAN/WHALEN fam moved to J.C. (St. Peter's). I have checked the J.C./ Hoboken City Directories for this period (1857-1870), but I have been unable to determine anything definitive due to (1) the common given name, JOHN, and (2) the interchangeable surnames of WHELAN/WHALEN/WHEELAN. It would appear OK for the first couple of years with a Hoboken address of Meadow St (No longer in existence) and subsequently becomes extremely difficult w/ many newer IRE immigrants having the same surnames. The family moved from the area in 1870 and est their new res in Bridgeport, CT at that time. I am not sure quite where to start re-checking in the New Durham-North Bergen-J.C area at this time. I guess that I'm searching for locations in areas that perhaps 1850-60s Irish Immigrants might have congregated and left some type of written record. Perhaps I need the services of a good reference librarian or local Irish genealogists. Can anyone advise me of some nearby RC Cemeteries that the Irish might have had their burials in? Possibly old Catholic newspapers or school records? Any suggestions would certainly be well received. Thanks Mike Whelan Windsor Locks, CT.