This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: ThuranX Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newyork.counties.kings/15482.4.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I've used the NYC Muni Archives down on Chambers St. on numerous occasions. I generally find that if: The roll isn't destroyed (a few are horribly abused); The relative really died in NYC; The name wasn't horrifically garbled; The record is there by the 1890's. The biggest problem is the last two. If the roll is really badly abused and you're sure the record you need was on the ruined section, they'll send you a copy; in fact, they'll be happy to do so. If the relative didn't die in NYC, check Albany, but that's a researcher problem. If the name was horrifically garbled, you've got troubles. Soundex, Metaphone and Daitch-Mokotoff all fall short on lousy or faded hand-writing, and help only so far on a clerk's mistake. Consider all sorts of alternate spellings, and then consider alternate readings of the name by a bleary eyed indexer. For Wiederhold, I'd look at V-,N-, M-, ,ei and ie, that D could become an 'il', the e and d could become 'nl', the den to den, hold to holt, hoff, holl, halt, and so on. They could easily be Niederhald, or Veinerhoff. I've seen, here on Ancestry, a Nathan indexed as Hthan. If you're patient, and know when they died, you could go certificate by certificate. I'm hoping to go there this week, I'll try to spend a couple minutes looking for them. 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.