This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: LocalHistoryDivRPL Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newyork.counties.monroe/12133.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: New York state marriage records do not officially begin until 1881. Anyone married in Rochester in 1816 or so was extremely early in the city's history. Most likely there might be a church record, if any has survived. There is an entry in the 1818-1850 newspaper index: McMasters, Mrs. Esther, Died, RT S 17, 1822, 3-1 (which is the Rochester Telegraph, Sept 17, 1822, page 3 column 1) It is is not yet online. The first city directory was not compiled until 1827. There is a Stewart McMaster living in Rush, Ontario County NY in 1820 with a family (as you know, the individuals in the families are not named until 1850). Rush in in what now is Monroe County, but was then Ontario. We looked in: Index to Episcopal Church records, 1820-1851, but no McMaster/McMasters were in it. The index has baptisms, marriages and deaths in it. We also checked: http://mcnygenealogy.com/cem/mthope-sec-r.htm, and found McMASTER, Esther; d Sept 19, 1822 æ 72, which imputes that she was born about 1750. The ages for the McMaster's found in the 1820 census don't match. 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.