Dear Friends, This is meant to encourage you to never give up! My g-grandmother, Mary O'CONNELL's Baptismal certificate was found at St. Mary's of the Assumption Church in Staten Island! They just phoned me. Woo-woo! A little backgound. Long ago, I saw her POB listed on the 1900 census as "S.I." but I assumed it meant "L.I." and ignored it, as Directories showed her father working in Manhattan. Years later, the family's Emigrant Savings Bank record showed a change of address to Staten Island. When this detail appeared twice, I thought it was time to follow through on it. I researched ferry maps and the years that early Catholic Churches began on Staten Island, and determined that St. Mary's was the closest to " Van Pelt Ave, N Shor SI," the address from the Emigrant Bank account. Since I did not hear from the church, yesterday I rough drafted a search request to another parish on Staten Island. Now that's unnecssary. Of course the additional bonus is that the names of Godparents will lead me to other finds, I'm sure of it. So, folks...keep on keeping on! Barb N of NYC ************** Make your life easier with all your friends, email, and favorite sites in one place. Try it now. (http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp& icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000010)