Sorry l I forget to edit out all the thread etc I hate gmail for that! In addition when I say I have not have luck with churches I have tried to get records from MANY denominations--even outside of NYC ---if you email them MOST don't even reply. They probably consider us a nuisance especially when you are dealing with NYC and metropolitan areas. Many folks have not been to NYC and the surrounding counties BUT I grew up on Long Island and know NYC a bit too having grown up not far from there. There are TONS of people living there and TONS more who's ancestors lived there at one time or another. You will have better luck in smaller towns to be sure. NYC and the "surrounding metropolitan areas" have TONS of people and cannot possibly cater to genealogy researchers due to sheer volume. Don't expect much help when it comes to just about anything---not even the library. These folks are just too busy with everyday things and they really could care less about our "urgent genealogical needs". If you have never been to NYC or the counties surrounding it, you cannot possibly imagine the scope of them doing research for anyone who contacts them. Be grateful that many cemeteries put info on line and if you call them they will give you even more. MOST cemeteries can give you the DOD and a lot of other info. Rule of thumb I use if they only have burial date is that the person died 3 days prior. That is pretty typical. Joyce On Tue, May 17, 2016 at 6:47 PM, Joyce Presnall <wldgrdnr@gmail.com> wrote: > What folks need to remember is that the churches function is to run the > church--NOT to do genealogical research. > > I have run into issues with every church I have encountered save one. I > ALWAYS offer to make a sizable contribution to them for assistance (and NOT > just a measly $10-$20) BUT the Catholic Churches are a problem--most want > an arm and a leg for info re burials. While I have issues with that, I > cannot do anything about it but accept it and move on. > > I just go around them and try to find info another way... > > It is not our "right" to have churches digging through all their records > looking for our ancestors. > > That is why it is important to do Find a Grave entries for your folks if > you find them. > > Don't depend on churches and cemeteries to give you info. They are running > a business--not a charity. Be grateful when a cemetery gives you info for > free--and express your gratitude to them. They do not have to do it! > > Genealogy is not a cheap hobby--- > > Folks need to face that fact. We are lucky to get a lot of info for free > but we cannot expect businesses to spend THEIR money to make us happy. > > Joyce > > On Mon, May 16, 2016 at 12:08 PM, Michael via <ny-irish@rootsweb.com> > wrote: > >> I have encountered a few priests in NY and in Ireland who felt that the >> parish registers were the churches (their) private property and felt no >> obligation to relinquish any info on YOUR/OUR family’s sacraments, and had >> no motivation to accommodate research requests. I’ve heard it right from a >> priest. I see nothing offensive about stating that some priests feel this >> way. >> >>