I am attempting to locate information on my father's ancestors John & Mary O'Brien who started their family in the rural community of Birdsall in Allegany County, New York sometime prior to 1840. According to the 1850 US Census John was born in 1795 in Ireland and Mary was born 1805. Their first child, Abigail, was born in 1839. Their other children included: Ellen (1841), Catharine (1843), and Michael (1849) Michael later married Mary Hefferman (abt 1861) originally from Hammonsport, Steuben County (later Prattsburgh, then Hornell) and gave birth to Edward M. O'Brien (abt 1878). Edward is my Great Grandfather. Ultimately I am trying to determine the year John & Mary immigrated from Ireland. And hopefully learn Mary's maiden name so that I can locate the couple's origin. Any help would be appreciated Thank you, David J. O'Brien Scottsville, NY

Hello David, Finding pre-1850 records in western NY state is a challenge. Here is a list of items that may provide info on John and Mary O'BRIEN and descendants. In NY state most of the records are stored at the local town or county. The local libraries and historical societies may have useful collections. 1 - NY state census records for 1855, 1865 - to identify if John and Mary were still living in 1855, 1865. 2 - Cemetery records to obtain the date of death for John and Mary. If you can identify a date and location then look for the probate records for that location. 3 - Finding cemetery records may help to identify a church that they attended. 4 - Church records for the marriage of their daughters may identify their mother's maiden name. 5 - When did the daughters die ? Obituary records for their daughters may provide info on their parents. A daughter's death cert may list her mother's maiden name. 6 - Birdsall is a distance from Monroe County - nevertheless, the Rochester public library has a wonderful index to old NY state newspapers that printed small items about residents of the surrounding towns. Using that index I found a tiny article for an 1846 marriage that I could not find anywhere else. Good luck, Sheila On Wed, Dec 22, 2010 at 2:53 PM, David J. O'Brien <starsage@gmail.com>wrote: > I am attempting to locate information on my father's ancestors John & Mary > O'Brien > who started their family in the rural community of Birdsall in Allegany > County, New York > sometime prior to 1840. > > According to the 1850 US Census John was born in 1795 in Ireland and Mary > was born 1805. > Their first child, Abigail, was born in 1839. Their other children > included: > Ellen (1841), > Catharine (1843), and Michael (1849) > > Michael later married Mary Hefferman (abt 1861) originally from > Hammonsport, > Steuben > County (later Prattsburgh, then Hornell) and gave birth to Edward M. > O'Brien > (abt 1878). > Edward is my Great Grandfather. > > Ultimately I am trying to determine the year John & Mary immigrated from > Ireland. And > hopefully learn Mary's maiden name so that I can locate the couple's > origin. > > Any help would be appreciated > > Thank you, > David J. O'Brien > Scottsville, NY > ====NY-Irish Mailing List==== > Don't forget to check out the NY-Irish mailing list website. Also, > check/add your NY-Irish surnames on the Surname Registry: > http://www.connorsgenealogy.com/NYIrishList/ > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > NY-IRISH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >