This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: McKee, Johnston, Taggert/Taggart, Catherwood, Singleton, Reynolds, Trout/Troutt/Traut/Trautt, Ferguson, Earl/Earle/Earles/Earls, Perdue, Boyd, Reed, Read, Wood or Woods, and an entire slew full of names I've yet to discover! Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/WUB.2ACI/1309 Message Board Post: Does anyone do birth look ups for Manhattan? I need one for both Catherine McKee, born NY ca 1872 and Ann, born NY ca 1874. Their mother was Jane McKee. By the 1880 census she was a 47 yr old widow originally from Ireland (don't know which part of Ireland though). She was living with her sons, William, 22 and Joseph A. 19 (my great grandfather), and her daughters: Theresa, 15, born Ireland ca 1865 Alice, 12, born Ireland ca 1868 Catherine, 8, born NY ca 1872 Ann, 6, born NY ca 1874 Since Jane was a widow in the 1880 census, we still do not know who her husband was. IF I could get a copy of at least one of the two youngest girls' birth certificate, or even ledger entry (or the info from it), I might then be able to determine who her husband was. I might even determine Jane's maiden name. I realize it's a long shot, but it's the only avenue I can think of left to me to try. This has been one of my biggest brick walls! The 1870 census would not help either, even if it did list the wife's name. I have reason to think they did not come to America until 1872, shortly before the birth of Catherine. I also suspect her husband may have died in 1880, which could be why her youngest son, Joseph came over in 1880 (of course I have no clue why he was left behind either!). Any help at all would be greatly appreciated! Oh how I wish I had been interested in all this when I was 15 yrs. old and living in Queens! It would have been osomuch easier for me to do ! the research myself! I simply am not able to make a trip there to do this myself. Anyway, thanks. ouizee