This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: pata41 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newyork.counties.dutchess/9660.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: There are no birth records as early as the 1860`s in most of NY state. The state gov`t didn`t start requiring birth & death records until 1881. There may be baptismal records but you would have to know the church the family attended. This link will take you to the orphanage in Poughkeepsie that the Kidney boys were in on the 1870 census. You may be able to contact someone there about records. http://www.childrenshome.us/ I think possibly Charles Kidney is in Iowa on the 1880 census. I`ll paste that record below. On the 1900 census, there is a Frederick (sp Fredered on index) Kidney, age 37, b. NY, parents b. NY in prison in the NJ State Prison in Trenton, Mercer co., NJ. I can`t find him after that on any census nor can I find the Charles Kidney who was in Iowa in 1880 on a later census. Pat R. Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace James O'CONNOR Self S Male W 28 IRE Farmer IRE IRE Catharine O'CONNOR Mother W Female W 65 IRE Keeping House IRE IRE Charles KIDNEY Other S Male W 15 NY Laborer NY NY Source Information: 1880 Census Place Wayne, Monroe, Iowa Family History Library Film 1254357 NA Film Number T9-0357 Page Number 171A 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.