This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/BUB.2ACI/6071.1 Message Board Post: Gerald, I took a look at the 1840 & 1850 census fro Allegany Co. & found a R. Whitney in 1840 in the town of Wirt. There were three people in the household 1 male of 40-50, 1 female 30-40 & 1 female 10-15. In 1850 the record is: Reuben Whitney, age 52, b. Conn., a farmer, Elizabeth, age 44, b. NY & Lydia, age 20, b. NY. They are on pg. 139 in the town of Wirt, Allegany Co. There was no other Reuben or R. Whitney in the county. You can check the USgenweb Allegany Co., site for info. on the courthouse & perhaps mention of the Whitneys. NY state did not require birth/death certificates until after 1880, so you probably won`t find any public records on the family except for land dealings & possibly a will. The address is http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyallega/ Pat R.