Some libraries also have access to Ancestry, such as the New York State Library. I would assume that other State Libraries also provide access. Ancestry.com can't be beat for it's search capabilities - such as searching by soundex and wild card, especially for names that are unusual or not indexed correctly (which are many). I sometimes find people by searching only on a first name, or a truncated first name in a particular place (if the first name is a bit uncommon) Rebecca ----- Original Message ----- From: "austin fadden" <aefadden@yahoo.com> To: <ny-troy-irish-gensoc@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 3:57 PM Subject: Re: [NY-TROY-IRISH-GENSOC] Irish Acts of Kindness at TIGS > I also do not have access to Ancestry.com due to the expense. However > by joining my local library I have acess to Heritage Quest. I have been > able to find photcopies of census records and some real surprises. > When looking up one individual or family, I have stumbled across other > family members on the same census sheet > Most recently found the 1900 census for my ggrandfather in PA and found > his widowed aunt living next door. She had last been seen in the 1880 > census in OH. Widowed in 1884, I wasn't sure if she remarried and could > not find any leads on the children. Of course it doesnt help that her son, > John P, shows up as Patrick in 1880 and as John in 1900. > > Heritage Quest can also present problems due to the search index, it is > mostly keyed to head of the house, I have had most of my luck when > searching by last name and state only, then if necessary by county > > > > > > A.E Fadden > > > The difference between genius and stupidity > is that genius had its limits. > - Albert Einstein > > > --------------------------------- > Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it > now. > ===NY-IRISH-GENSOC Mailing List=== > Did you pay your 2008 Dues? > Troy Irish Genealogy Society > http://www.rootsweb.com/~nytigs/ > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > NY-TROY-IRISH-GENSOC-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.21.3/1307 - Release Date: 3/2/2008 > 3:59 PM > >