This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: s_hedeen Surnames: Sewell, Sewel, Sewall, Soule, Sowell, Sowells Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newyork.counties.dutchess/9703.2.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I've looked for these records as well. I read in a few places where the records were kept in the local jurisdictions by town clerks. At some point many of the jurisdictions were storing so much paper that in many cases the documents were destroyed locally; in one case a clerk of one of the counties (NY) felt that the information might be helpful and stored stuff in her house where her descendants then looked after it for a period of time. Don't know if it then got donated to a library or was disposed of. Some of the records actually made it to Albany to be stored; some made it to local libraries; lots were destroyed; it has also been suggested that many local jurisdiction still have cartons of the stuff stored somewhere. New York state is very tough. They didn't adopt MA's record keeping methods--which were not complete, but very good for the day none the less. I have Sewell families who I suspect married in Dutchess or what is now Columbia County around 1760--1770 and have searched for years with no luck. With out knowing exactly where they resided in those counties in two instances, to take a trip and do a hunt and peck in every local jurisdiction would be impossible. I know for certain they were in Beekman Precinct Dutchess Co., NY between 1757 and late 1762 as I found land records of land they sold in MA from Dutchess and their environs were mentioned in the MA land records. I lose track there after until much later when they end up in VT and are shown on census. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.