This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: pqrstny Surnames: Smith, Ryan Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newyork.counties.franklin/6920.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Please help me to understand the documents and tell me if I am interpreting this correctly. Your great grandmother's name was Bessie E. Ryan. She was marrying Adelbert Crusekas (sp?) on Sept 15, 1896. At the time of the marriage, Adelbert lived in Watertown. He was born in Orleans, Jefferson County, NY; father's name Jacob H. Crunkis (sp?), mother's maiden name ___ House. At the time of the marriage, Bessie was living in Watertown, NY and she was 20 years old which puts her birth at about 1876. She was born in Brushton, Franklin County. It lists her parents as Samuel Ryan and Ellen Smith. Am I reading this correctly? Here are my questions: were Samuel Ryan and Ellen Smith her adoptive parents or her birth parents? Were there any adoption records or perhaps a baptismal record? Here's a stretch--do you have any idea what religion her parents were? 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.