Thank you for all the insight. Questions now....if you don't mind. How does the state census differ from the federal, other than the index issue? Different info gathered? Can I obtain this through LDS? Anywhere else? I have the funeral notice of the son who died in Webster, MA. Where Thomas' parents, William/Edward and his wife Ellen are, God only knows. I am planning on sending for the cemetery info on Thomas who died in Webster. Would that have genealogical info in it? As for contacting Troy cemeteries, would they do a search with what little I have about William/Edward? I don't know age or anything. City directories....I have tried to get lookups on the NY-census lookup mailing list to no avail. Can I get these some way other than traveling to the Troy library? If so I will but I haven't had any feed back on how to obtain this info. As far as their religion goes, no luck there either. Thomas' funeral was Methodist and his brother James raised his family Catholic. I have contacted 3 Catholic churches in Troy, (I was told they were the oldest) since I am looking for 1840 info. I have heard from 2-nothing there and have yet to hear from the third. I thought I would go this route first because from oral history says that William and Ellen immigrated from Ireland. It has been about 2 and 1/2 months. Is that considered a normal wait time? Any thoughts on this religion quandry? And to top it off........In the 1880 and 1900 census for Illinois, James lists his parents as both born in Ireland. In 1880 and 1900 census for Mass. Thomas on the other hand lists his parents as both born in NY!! Crazy kids! Thanks so much! Patti Orlando, Fl