This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Robinson Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/2RB.2ACE/8401.1 Message Board Post: St. Lawrence county was formed in 1802 from parts of Franklin, Herkimer and (I think) Montgomery counties. I just looked at a map of NY counties and see that Montgomery does not border St. Lawrence so there may have been further splits over time. The earliest reliable records are land records which typically *are* indexed by last name in the county courthouses. Your best bet would be to make a trip to each county courthouse or hire local researchers to search records. This assumes that your ancestor was a land owner and that he lived on the land he owned. If he died in any of the counties you migh find a will or probate record. Hope this helps - Russ Sprague Kensington, Maryland