The good people working on the 1880 Troy census project just completed transcribing the first ward. They are: Joan Firth Kaysen, Mary Ann McConnell, Bob McConihe, Marialice Mangan, Vivian Brockway, Carol Waldron, Betsy Robson, Lynn Grice, Dorsey Clark and Denise Hernandez. They range from California to Boston with at least one living in Troy. Ward 1 has 3870 individuals, 475 dwellings and 822 families. That brings our totals to 28,287 individuals, 3,081 dwellings and 5,547 families transcribed from the following wards: 1, 2, 6, 8, 9, 11 & 12. For all those who wonder, there where 13 wards in Troy in 1880, so we are over half way done. Again, a warning. There was one particular enumerator in this ward who had difficulty spelling even easy names plus he had terrible handwriting. To make things worse, he also mixed up addresses, family and dwelling numbers and relationships. So, if you don't find your family, look at the census itself. If they are not in our index, it doesn't mean they weren't in the census, just that we misread/spelled the name. We will now be taking a well deserved rest for a month but we will be back in June ready to complete what we started. I will start getting the 1st ward up on my site (url below my name) this week. Good luck and happy hunting. -- Pat Connors, Sacramento CA http://www.connorsgenealogy.com

This morning when I suggested to someone that they might be interested in coming to our CDGS meeting on Saturday, April 28, it occurred to me that others might not have seen the announcement. So, Capital District Genealogical Society will meet on Saturday, 28 April 2001, at the Colonie Town Library (near the Times Union Building) at the corner of Maxwell Road and Albany-Shaker Road. The topic is Military Records. The speaker is Michael Aikey. The meeting begins at 2 p.m. with the speaker following at maybe 2:30. The computer genealogy SIG, the German SIG, and the Irish SIG, usually meet in the same place before the meeting at 1 p.m. I'm not sure about the German and the Irish groups, but the computer group has always met I think. The meeting is free and open to the public. Marie

James: I got this message this morning from Jeanne Keefe: "Telephone number for contacting the RPI Model Railroad Club is 518-276-2764 if you would prefer calling. I would do so before graduation if you want to catch someone there." Thanks to Jeanne for the helpful contribution; and, RPI graduates relatively early, so don't delay. Marie

Any chance in this going digital meeting next time? I would love to see it ... Laura Lee Michelle Anne Hannon Smith http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/s/m/i/Laura-L-Smith My Grandparents Birth towns: Alsace Lorraine DEU Altdorf, BW, DEU Bartholom"a, DEU Bavaria, DEU Bleichheim,DEU Borgentreich,DEU Borgholz, DEU Brooklyn, NY, USA Burkenheim,DEU Cörbecke, DEU Eltmann, Bavaria, DEU Forchheim,Baden,DEU Fridingen An Der Donau, Schwarzwaldkreis, Wuerttemberg,DEU Friedingen, Donaukreis, Wuerttemberg Grndelbusch Gross Kirchen, DEU Hamersbach,DEU Horn,DEU IRE Istrup, DEU Löwen,DEU Mahlberg,DEU Margrethausen,DEU Merzhausen,Baden DEU Munstertal,DEU Natzungen, DEU NY,USA NYC,NY,USA Rust,DEU Schwallenberg, DEU Tirol,Austria Troy, NY,USA Wallburg,DEU Wittelbach,DEU Wyhl, Baden, DEU

Can sks tell me if the St. Pauls Methodist church is still in Castleton, and where one could access the old records for that church? Thank you Eve

The model railroad club at RPI that Marie mentioned has a fantastic website with great pictures of their life-like models of Troy and other northeast cities where the railroads were a significant presence. Also some old photos of "actual" city streets and just alot of related information. On the bottom of the first page, I believe there's an email address for contacting them. Here's their address: http://www.union.rpi.edu/railroad/ Marianne Briggs

I notice that people have been discussing Ostranders. I am wondering about a John S. Ostrander with wife Jane living in Nassau, Rensselaer County in 1860. My ancestor Andrew Spickerman and his wife were living with them. I was wondering about the relationship between them. I'm curious if Jane was their daughter or what her maiden name was. Jennifer

Jackie, Microfilms of NY newspapers can be borrowed from anywhere in the US by using interlibrary loan. Check out my webpage on the subject. Using the directions found at the address below, you can learn if a particular newspaper is available for the year that interests you. If Lansingburgh didn't have their own newspaper, look at the Troy newspaper. Lansingburgh merged with Troy about 1900. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~clifflamere/Aid/AID-NY-News.htm Cliff

Could anyone tell me if it might be possible to obtain some type of obituary for FRANCOIS RENAUD-DESLAURIERS who died 22 June 1883 in Lansingburgh? His last name was often shortened to Dilair or something similar. Thanks Jackie

James Quigley asked: "My question would be, How do I find information on employees of the old railway station that was in Troy, NY" People at the meeting thought that you probably wouldn't get information on an employee of the old railway station in Troy from any of the railroads, but that a railroad buff like Jim Shaughnessy might be able to help you or point you in the right direction. Also recommended as a source was the Model Railroad Club at RPI who someone said has all kinds of railroad information. I picked two James Shaughnessy's out of the Troy telephone directory. (The people at the meeting assured me that he would be listed.) One is James, Jr. of 35 Northgate Drive, Albany 12203 (518) 456-0631, but I think the one you want is Jas. J., 479 8th Ave., Troy 12182 (518) 235-0245. I don't have a contact for the RPI Club, but a letter to RPI should get routed in the right direction. They give an address in the phone book of 110 Eighth Street, Troy, and I'm sure the zip would be 12181 and a phone number for general information of (518) 276-6000. Another great source for this kind of information is John Scanlon. He's a retired editor and does a column twice a week for the Troy Record, 501 Broadway, Troy 12180 (518) 270-1200. The Record also has a column entitled Mr. Fix-It that appears on Mondays I think that gives contact points, etc. Marie

Kathy Grabo asked: "I have look into records at the Troy County Office Building for naturalization paperwork for my g-g-grandfather. It would have been 1880. I found a bound red book stating several of those years were missing. Have they been found or is there somewhere else these records might have been stored/located?" Mr. Merola said that in the recent move from one building to another they did find a missing naturalization book; it had been stuck inside another book. I hope it's the one you were looking for. Marie

Erick Sweet asked: "Apparently, something about the County was very attractive to family members in Rhode Island, in the late 1700s, that caused a large migration to that area, as families like mine, SWEET, came there following former family members. Does anyone know what this attraction was that caused so many to come here at that time?" I didn't really expect to get an answer to this question. It had never occurred to me before and no one had ever asked me. But there were answers to it from various areas in the room. The consensus was that Rhode Island and southern CT troops were sent to this area during the Revolutionary War because there were not enough local troops to defend the territory. For verification it was suggested that the Greenman letters or diary which can be obtained from the Saratoga National Park would be a good place to look. (They have a bookstore in the Park Headquarters.) Greenman was a Rhode Island man sent here. After the war, some of these men came back with their families. Marie

Jim Conklin asked: 1. I am having difficulty finding the physical location of Holcomb Cemetery in Sand Lake; I asked this question on the list a few weeks ago and heard from several other people who would like to know, but not from anyone who knew the answer. 2. The will of Carpenter CONKLIN (proved 1848) named one of his sons (Henry) as executor and divided his estate "among my children." Supposedly Henry wrote a letter as executor which named all of these children. Where in the records would I look to find such a record? (1) According to the directions in the Rensselaer County Cemetery Index for the Town of Sand Lake, the Holcomb Cemetery is on the "northwest corner of the junction of Town Barn Road and First Dyke Road (Burden Lake)." Eastbound on Route 43 in the Village of Averill Park, right near the blinking light, there's a right hand turn for Burden Lake Road, pass that one. Take the next right that's Eastern Union Turnpike and Town Barn Road. I'm not familiar enough with that area to be too specific, but you're in the right area. My old Rensselaer County Highway Map shows Eastern Union Turnpike intersecting Holcomb Road which in turn intersects First Dyke Road. (And First Dyke Road intersects Burden Lake Road so it's all kind of a circle.) If you get that close, ask somebody! [And for anyone doing genealogical research in New York State, I think you should get a County Highway map for the county you're interested in. In Columbia County, I bought one in the Court House for $3; in Rensselaer County, I've seen them in the County Executive's office at the County Office Building and also in local Town Clerk's offices; so far they've been free. You probably could get the best results by writing to the County Highway Department.] (2) There are books of recorded wills, but by far the meat of any estate is the probate packet and that's where you should find the executor's letter that you're looking for. Estates are in the hands of the County Surrogate. You can go to the Surrogates office and look at the early probate papers on microfilm but the original early probate packets are held by the Rensselaer County Historical Society on behalf of the Surrogate. I think Kathy Sheehan said that they have from 1791 to 1915, but somewhere close to that. (The Surrogate could throw them out, but not give them away, so the Historical Society is "holding them.") The Historical Society will copy the packet papers for you, and I wouldn't want to swear to this in court, but I think she said the charge is $5 for whatever papers are in the packet. You can write to the Rensselaer County Historical Society at 57 Second Street, Troy, NY 12180. Phone is area code 518 272-7232 and they do have a web site. Hope I got the answer to your question. Marie

Dara Miller asked: "Question: Is there a county office that would hold a gravesite map of Sand Lake UnionCemetery, and is it possible to obtain a copy." "Also,what is the easiest way to get to Sand Lake Union Cemetery. I hope to visit this areasoon...to find Miller ancestors!" "Question: I've heard that the trend is for some County Clerks and other officials to restrict access to original records for visitors wanting to do hands on research. Is it true for Rensselaer Co?" (1) The County Clerk's Office has the deeds to the cemeteries, but they are just land descriptions, not plot plans. Mr. Merola did say that in the move from the Court House Building to the former Family Court Building they found some books marked "Cemeteries" but that he hadn't had time to look at them. He invited Don Radz to come down and look and Don said he would. Judy Rowe, Historian for the Town of Sand Lake, said that the Sand Lake Union Cemetery was originally the melding of the Woodbine Cemetery and the Glass Factory Cemetery. Later the Averill Cemetery and the Butts Cemetery were "folded" into it. She has plot plans for all four. She does not have email, but her mailing address is P. O. Box 273, Sand Lake, NY 12153 and her phone number is (518) 674-8424. Generally you get plot plans from the cemetery association. There are copies of the cemetery stones for Sand Lake Union in Judy's office also. (2) Sand Lake Union Cemetery is on Routes 43 and 66, just east of where the two County roads join in Sand Lake. There's a Cumberland Farms store at the intersection. The entrance to the cemetery is a right hand turn as you're eastbound (or southbound) (Route 43 goes east and west and Route 66 goes north and south but they run together for several miles.) Judy's office is in the area of the intersection, too, so you can do everything in one spot. If you want to tell me where you're coming from, I'll give you more complete directions. Generally, Exit 8 off of I-90 takes you right on to Route 43 and it's maybe 7 or 8 miles from there to Sand Lake. (3) No problem with the Rensselaer County Clerk's office in accessing original records. They are all available. The rooms are clean and well lighted, but the book bindings are crumbling badly. DO NOT WEAR WHITE. Mr. Merola and his staff are very friendly and helpful. Hope I've answered your question. Marie

Lin Van Buren wanted to know: "Where are the records of Clark's Chapel Methodist Church?" I couldn't get an answer to this one, but CDGS Treasurer Alice Goebel, who is the mother of Jonathan Goebel, President of Esquatak, said I should forward the question and the material that Lin sent to Jonathan would reply directly to her. Marie

The meeting of the Rensselaer County SIG of CDGS on Friday was attended by about 45 people. It lasted one and a half to 2 hours and seemed to be very fast moving. Our guests: Rensselaer County Clerk Frank Merola, Kathy Sheehan from the Rensselaer County Historical Society, Ruth Sweet from the Troy Public Library, and Clare and Don Radz who did the Rensselaer County Cemetery Census and volunteer for LDS answered many questions. (There were many Town Historians there, too, and I think one Village Historian from the County who contributed information.) Those attending, several from this list who came quite a distance to be with us, seemed to be excited at the prospect of being able to ask the questions and I have a feeling were as tired as I was as the meeting wound down shortly after noon. You'll remember that I offered to ask questions for list members who sent them to me. (I got most of them asked.) Joan Firth Kaysen from this list asked that for out of towners, would I post a summary of the meeting and Susi in San Diego, Ca asked if I would tape the program and make copies of the tape available. (I ruled that out because that would be too complicated a process.) I did take my digital camera, a small tape recorder to jog my memory, and a pad and pencil, but I left them in the opposite corner of the room from where I was when the last guest arrived and so I am relying solely on memory. If any other attendees would like to post comments on the meeting, I'd be very happy. I'm going to post to the list the answers to emailed questions as well as responding to the individual; that way the answer may help someone else. We're going to do it again. Last time I only gave a week's notice to the list. BUT, on Friday, May 18 at 10:30 a.m., at the Brunswick Historical Society in Eagle Mills (at the corner of Route 2 and Moonlawn Road) we're having the same guests and the same format, so that more questions can be asked. Anyone interested in Genealogical Research in Rensselaer County is welcome, and again, as time allows, I will try to ask your emailed questions on where to find it in Rensselaer County. Marie

I've made an addition to the site: Rensselaer Men - Photo and Biography. These are 10 different surnames found in book New York State Men, in thumbnail view. Click on picture to bring up larger scan. Cleminshaw, Charles and spouse Mary Holbrook Ingalls, Charles and spouse Margaret Marvin McCarthy, Peter and spouse Julia Haley Mosher, George and spouse Jennie Kenyon Sherwood, John and spouse Frances Olmstead Stone, George and spouse Mary Lockwood Thompson, George and spouse Abby Burden Tillinghast, Charles and spouse Mary Southwick Twining, Frank and spouse Nomina Bucklin Walsh, James. There is a PicoSearch box included that connects to over 120 pages related to the site. Darci See "What's New" at Darci's Place http://darcisplace.com http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~darci/notes/rens/renss.htm

Hello, I'm new to the list. If I had only one or two days to visit Rensselaer County to search for my ancestors (GIFFORD/KING), where would be the best place to concentrate my research? Please e-mail me with suggestions (also if you know of any good restaurants/diners !) Thanks, Joan whatever@e3mil.com _______________________________________________________________ Get your Private, Anti-Spam, Free Email at http://e3mil.com Your Internet Home for Your Faith, Your Life, and Your World!

I have just added some of the desc. of Albertus Simon/Simmons of Rensselaer Co. as a link on my web page - at the bottom of the list of links. http://members.tripod.com/~JeffriesB __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices http://auctions.yahoo.com/

Does anyone out there know what newspapers were around in the 1870-1880 time frame that would have obituaries for the Sand Lake, Nassau area? I'm looking for a gggrandmother who died in 1879, by the name of Mary Ann Taylor. Any help would be very much appreciated. Thank's and good hunting!