For Bill in Va (billmellsworth@comcast.net) and others who want to know more about Dukes County, one of New York's original counties: ........................................Long Island's Original East End, .....................................and its connection to New England This is the story of the Island of Martha's Vineyard and the 300+year old tradition that followed Martha's Island through 3 name changes, 2 states and a typographical error in a legislative bill. On November 1, 1683 when the first General Assembly of Freeholders established the first 12 counties of New York and created the office of Sheriff in each county, Martha's Vineyard was known as Martin's Vineyard and was in Dukes County in New York. The other original counties were Albany, Cornwall, Dutchess, Kings, New York, Orange, Queens, Richmond, Suffolk, Ulster and Westchester. The effect of these laws was to combine the separate jurisdiction of the Vineyard and the Island of Nantucket and to add another office or two to the civil list, which was promptly filled by Matthew Mayhew, of Martin's Vineyard, who seemed to feel that nothing was too small for his attention from chief magistrate down to register of deeds. Prior to this, Nantucket had been conducting its own affairs under a local autonomy subject to a certain suzerainty of the Mayhew proprietary government. Martin's Vineyard becomes Mathew's Vineyard at or before a meeting of Dukes County officials meeting at Nantucket on September 21, 1686 to discuss the establishment and timing of when the Court would meet on each of the main islands of the county. On October 7, 1691, by the Charter of William and Mary, Dukes as well as Cornwall County leave New York and become counties in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. However, with the passage to Massachusetts, the good people of Nantucket, after several tries, were finally successful in their attempt to separate from the grip of the Mayhews on what is now (and forevermore) Martha's Vineyard. On May 28, 1695, the General Court (Assembly) of Massachusetts allowed Nantucket to secede from Dukes County, but the enacting legislation permanently changed the name of Dukes to "Dukes County" by inadvertently putting the word "County" after Dukes in the bill. Cornwall County becomes part of Maine when Maine secedes from Massachusetts in 1820. Cornwall County included Pemaquid and its dependencies, comprising what is now a considerable part of the coast of Maine. I hope this information is useful or, at least, interesting. Regards, Walter Greenspan Great Falls, MT & Jericho, NY

As a possible help to Lilly Martin (malik@scs-net.org) and others, I've put together an outline of the geographic history of Long Island: The counties that make up Long Island (west to east): 1683 Kings, Queens, Suffolk and Dukes. 1691 Kings, Queens and Suffolk. 1899 Kings, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk. Now, turning to the major municipalities (cities and towns) in each of the counties separately: ========== Kings County ========== 1683 Kings County created and includes 6 towns: Brooklyn, Bushwick, Flatbush, Flatlands, Gravesend and New Utrecht. 1834 Town of Brooklyn becomes City of Brooklyn. Kings County now includes 1 city (Brooklyn) and 5 towns (Bushwick, Flatbush, Flatlands, Gravesend and New Utrecht). 1840 Town of Williamsburgh secedes from Town of Bushwick. Kings County now includes 1 city (Brooklyn) and 6 towns (Bushwick, Flatbush, Flatlands, Gravesend, New Utrecht and Williamsburgh). 1851 Town of Williamsburgh becomes City of Williamsburgh. Kings County now includes 2 cities (Brooklyn and Williamsburgh) and 5 towns (Bushwick, Flatbush, Flatlands, Gravesend and New Utrecht). 1852 Town of New Lots secedes from Town of Flatbush. Kings County consists of 2 cities (Brooklyn and Williamsburgh) and 6 towns (Bushwick, Flatbush, Flatlands, Gravesend, New Lots and New Utrecht). 1854 City of Williamsburgh and Town of Bushwick consolidated into City of Brooklyn. Kings County now 1 city (Brooklyn) and 5 towns (Flatbush, Flatlands, Gravesend, New Lots and New Utrecht). 1886 Town of New Lots annexed into City of Brooklyn. Kings County now 1 city (Brooklyn) and 4 towns (Flatbush, Flatlands, Gravesend and New Utrecht). 1894 Towns of Flatbush, Gravesend and New Utrecht annexed into City of Brooklyn. Kings County now 1 city (Brooklyn) and 1 town (Flatlands). 1896 Town of Flatlands annexed into City of Brooklyn. Kings County and City of Brooklyn become coterminous. ========== Queens County ========== 1683 Queens County created and includes 5 towns: Newtown, Flushing, Jamaica, Hempstead and Oyster Bay. 1784 The Town of North Hempstead secedes from the Town of Hempstead and Queens then has 6 towns (Newtown, Flushing, Jamaica, North Hempstead, Hempstead and Oyster Bay). 1870 The City of Long Island City (includes the Village of Astoria and parts or all of adjacent hamlets) seceded from and became independent of the Town of Newtown and Queens County then had 1 city (Long Island City) and 6 towns (Newtown, Flushing, Jamaica, North Hempstead, Hempstead and Oyster Bay). 1886 The Lloyd's Neck peninsula in the Town of Oyster Bay is transferred (excluding riparian rights) to the Town of Huntington, Suffolk County. 1898 The western-quarter of Queens County (the City of Long Island City, the Towns of Newtown, Flushing and Jamaica and the Rockaway peninsula of the Town of Hempstead) are annexed by the new New York City. The eastern three-quarters (the Towns of North Hempstead, Hempstead and Oyster Bay) remained part of Queens County, but is not part of New York City. Thus, for one year, part of Queens County is in New York City and part is not in New York City. 1899 The eastern three-quarters of Queens County (the Towns of North Hempstead, Hempstead and Oyster Bay) seceded from and became independent of Queens County and formed Nassau County. ========== Nassau County ========== 1899 Nassau County seceded from and became independent of Queens County and includes 3 towns: North Hempstead, Hempstead and Oyster Bay). 1918 Hamlet of Glen Cove secedes from the Town of Oyster Bay. Nassau County now includes 1 city (Glen Cove) and 3 towns (North Hempstead, Hempstead and Oyster Bay). 1922 Village of Long Beach secedes from the Town of Hempstead. Nassau County now includes 2 cities (Glen Cove and Long Beach) and 3 towns (North Hempstead, Hempstead and Oyster Bay). ========== Suffolk County ========== 1683 Suffok County created and includes 7 towns: Brookhaven, East Hampton, Huntington, Islip, Smithtown, Southampton and Southold. 1720 (approximately) Shelter Island secedes from the Town of Southold. Suffolk County now includes 8 towns (Brookhaven, East Hampton, Huntington, Islip, Shelter Island, Smithtown, Southampton and Southold). 1792 Riverhead secedes from the Town of Southold. Suffolk County now includes 9 towns (Brookhaven, East Hampton, Huntington, Islip, Riverhead, Shelter Island, Smithtown, Southampton and Southold). 1872 Babylon secedes from the Town of Huntington. Suffolk County now includes 10 towns (Babylon, Brookhaven, East Hampton, Huntington, Islip, Riverhead, Shelter Island, Smithtown, Southampton and Southold). 1886 The Lloyd's Neck peninsula, excluding riparian rights, is transferred to the Town of Huntington from the Town of Oyster Bay. Suffolk County now includes 10 towns (Babylon, Brookhaven, East Hampton, Huntington, Islip, Riverhead, Shelter Island, Smithtown, Southampton and Southold). ========== Dukes County ========== 1683 Dukes County created and includes: Martha's Vineyard (then known as Martin's Vineyard), Nantucket Island, and a few other scattered islands. 1691 Dukes County transferred to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. I hope this information is useful or, at least, interesting. Regards, Walter Greenspan Great Falls, MT & Jericho, NY

This coming Sunday's (January 8) NEWSDAY will have a series of special articles in their Long Island Life section concerning the geographic organization of Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk Counties), including my 25-year struggle to stop the widespread geographic illiteracy in Nassau and Suffolk Counties caused by the USPS's use of non-conforming postal zones. Some of the several articles have already been placed online in advance of the printed edition. You can access the Long Life section by going to: <http://www.newsday.com/features/printedition/longislandlife/> The several sections can be accessed directly: 1. A description of my quest to stop geographical illiteracy on LI: <http://www.newsday.com/features/printedition/longislandlife/ny-lfside08,0,669 3227.story?coll=ny-lilife-print> 2. On Long Island you may not be where you think you are: <http://www.newsday.com/features/printedition/longislandlife/ny-lfcov08,0,5856 204.story?coll=ny-lilife-print> 3. List of Geographical Misnomers: <http://www.newsday.com/features/printedition/longislandlife/ny-lflist08,0,282 2025.story?coll=ny-lilife-print> 4. Maps <http://www.newsday.com/features/printedition/longislandlife/ny-google-lilife- page,0,5343367.framedurl?coll=ny-lilife-print> I hope this information is useful or, at least, interesting. Regards, Walter Greenspan Great Falls, MT & Jericho, NY

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/jUB.2ACI/1115.1.1 Message Board Post: Thanks for the information, Walter. Certainly makes searches more interesting. I did send an email to the library so will keep my fingers crossed. thanks marge in washington state

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This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/jUB.2ACI/1115.1 Message Board Post: On 1/3/06 (4:25:36 AM MST), in a posting to the Suffolk County Ancestry Board that was 'gatewayed' to NYSUFFOL-L@rootsweb.com, Marge (marge14@hotmail.com) asked, "Charlie H. Bird born in 1877 in Iowa to Hannah matilda stull bird rosenberger - last known residence in buffalo, ny in early 1900-- family says he died in an explosion in brookhaven, ny in 1914. body not returned to MO just possessions. sure would like to know more about this relative." For questions such as yours, you may want to contact the Brookhaven Free Library (the library can suggest which local newspaper might have this information and other possible sources of information): Brookhaven Free Library 273 Beaver Dam Road Brookhaven, NY 11719 Tel: 631/286-1923 Fax: 631/286-0120 eMail: broolib@suffolk.lib.ny.us http://www.suffolk.lib.ny.us/libraries/broo/ The pertinent geography: Previously known as Fireplace, Brookhaven is a hamlet (an unincorporated community) in the south-center part of the Town of Brookhaven, in the center-south part of Suffolk County. There are 8 villages (municipal corporations) and 36 hamlets all or partly in the Town of Brookhaven. There are no cities and 10 towns in Suffolk County. There are 2 Indian reservations in Suffolk County. (I'm including after my name a NYS Geographic Glossary with the NYS definitions of county, city, town, village, hamlet and postal zone.) Beginning on the north and moving in a clockwise direction, the Hamlet of Brookhaven in the Town of Brookhaven is bordered on the north by the Hamlets of North Bellport and Yaphank; on the east by the Hamlet of Shirley; on the south by the Great South Bay; and, on the west by the Village of Bellport and the Hamlet of North Bellport. And, as occurs in every one of Suffolk County's 157 communities (0 cities, 31 villages and 126 hamlets), the Hamlet of Brookhaven has a different border than does the "Brookhaven, NY 11719" postal zone (i.e., a place can have a Brookhaven mailing address and not be in Brookhaven). These places that have a "Brookhaven, NY" mailing address that are not in the Hamlet of Brookhaven are in the Hamlet of North Bellport and in the Hamlet of Shirley. At the same time, there are places in the Hamlet of Brookhaven that have a "Yaphank, NY 11980" mailing address. For those who have their copy of the 2004 or earlier edition of the LI Population Survey or have already downloaded the report from the Long Island Power Authority web site (eMail me directly if you need instructions on how to access and download the report), you'll find the Hamlet of Brookhaven in the Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County on pages 14 & 24 (map) and 25 (population estimate). I hope this information is useful or, at least, interesting. Walter Greenspan Cities, Towns, Villages, Hamlets and Postal Zones in New York State New York State is divided into counties. County A county is a municipal corporation, a subdivision of the state, created to perform state functions; a "regional" government. All counties are divided into cities, towns and Indian reservations. City A city is a unique governmental entity with its own special charter. Cities are not sub-divided, except into neighborhoods, which are informal geographic areas. Town A town is a municipal corporation and encompasses all territory within the state except that within cities or Indian reservations. Towns can be sub-divided into villages and hamlets. Village A village is a general purpose municipal corporation formed voluntarily by the residents of an area in one or more towns to provide themselves with municipal services. The pattern of village organization is similar to those of a city. A village is divided into neighborhoods, which are informal geographic areas. Hamlet A hamlet is an unincorporated area in one or more towns that is governed at-large by the town(s) it is in. A hamlet is divided into neighborhoods, which are informal geographic areas. Postal Zone "City" and "Town" A postal zone "City" and "Town" is an administrative district established by the U.S. Postal Service to deliver the mail. Postal zone "City" and "Town" may not (but are encouraged to) conform to municipal or community borders. Thus, postal zone location does not always determine city, village or hamlet location. Please be aware: In many areas of New York State, the problem of non-conforming postal zones leads to a situation where the majority of places have a different community name in their mailing address than the community where that place is actually located.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/jUB.2ACI/1115 Message Board Post: Charlie H. Bird born in 1877 in Iowa to Hannah matilda stull bird rosenberger - last known residence in buffalo, ny in early 1900-- family says he died in an explosion in brookhaven, ny in 1914. body not returned to MO just possessions. sure would like to know more about this relative. regards marge in washington state

Am looking for descendants of Michael Cardinale who also used Belmont as a surname. I know there are several of his children living on the Island but do not know where. The daughters living there never married and they use either Cardinale or Belmont as a surname. Anyone have any information? Thanks Elizabeth V. Cardinal evc1369@comcast.net http://www.genealogy.com/users/c/a/r/Elizabeth-V-Cardinal-FL/

The German Genealogy Group will hold its next monthly meeting on Thursday, January 5th at: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Family History Center 160 Washington Avenue Plainview, New York This month we present the First Edition of GENEALOGY JEOPARDY. This fact-filled event will be fun for audience members as well as the two teams of players, who will have a chance to confer, then present a response in the form of a question before the buzzer sounds. Hosted by Phyllis Sternemann, a 2 year member of the GGG and researcher who is currently studying the Waldeck region, and with capable assistance from a technical producer, judge, timekeeper and scorekeeper, the evening promises to be worth the trip out on a cold January night. An Orientation session for beginners and newcomers will be held at 7 PM and the regular meeting will start at 7:30. We welcome all who are interested in researching their Germanic origins. There is no fee for guests and all are welcome. Visit our website at http://www.GermanGenealogyGroup.com and while there, be sure and visit our free, searchable databases.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/jUB.2ACI/427.1.1.1 Message Board Post: Hi, I know that at one point, Rachael and Harry was trying to adopt my father who is the sole child of Natanael Olsen who died in 1930. It would be interesting to speak to you. Please respond

Hello, The Smithtown Library has a Room they call the Long Island Room, and it has the Handley Collection there. This is 8,000 pieces of Long Island History, as well as Genealogies of Long Island families. It sounds like a Gold Mine for any Long Island research! Is anyone going there? Anyone live near to it? If you are, may I ask you to consult the indexes there, and see if BROWER family is mentioned, the locations of Queens Co and Suffolk Co from 1800 and onward. I already know all the history of the Brooklyn Brower family, Adam Brouwer who arrived in 1642 at Manhattan. I do not need any of that, I need specifically to find the parents of Smith Brower b. 1817 in Queens Co NY. He later settled at Islip, NY and I also have all that info, do not need any Islip info, just need to find the father of Smith Brower b. 1817 Queens Co NY. It is thought that his first name, SMITH, refects his ancestry back to the Smith family of Smithtown, NY. Smith Brower b. 1817 was a fisherman, boatman, seaman, and perhaps his father also followed a life occupation envolving the SEA? Thank you for any help, and no hurry. Best regards, Lilly Martin

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/jUB.2ACI/1098.1.1 Message Board Post: I have your obit, and will e-mail it to you

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: GUTTRIDGE, BOND Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/jUB.2ACI/1114 Message Board Post: Hi all, Just reposting about my grandparents, Frank Guttridge and Pauline "Polle" Hoefler Guttridge artists. Grandpa Frank as born and raised in Suffolk County, NY. His father was from England. They moved to Connecticut in 1962, but they always had alot of friends in Patchogue and Suffolk County. They had several Godchildren as well. Their friends included the Miskoskys, the Palermos, the Kohlers and many others. Frank was my stepfather, Grandma's first husband Ernest Bond being my biological grandfather. But I loved him as much as any grandfather he and Grandma were married for 32 years. Grandpa died in 1969 and Grandma in 1985, I am hoping to find some of their friends or their friends descendants as I have many photos of their friends too. If you knew them growing up, or if your parents or grandparents knew them please let me know. God bless, Beth deliaesther@att.net

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/jUB.2ACI/72.279.3.1.2.1 Message Board Post: Samuel Puglsey is my gg-grandfather, carriage maker, born West Farms, married in Riverhead and is buried in Riverhead. His first wife was Mariah Downs Puglsey and I think they were in Islip at one time. I'm guessing that S.P. mentioned on your subject line is a "neighbor." ?? Nancy

On 1/1/06 (3:33:53 AM MST), in a posting to the Suffolk County Ancestry Board that was 'gatewayed' to NYSUFFOL-L@rootsweb.com, Dave Wilber (reneedav@bmi.net) asked, "I'm seeking help with finding information on my great grandfather, John Rosell born bet 1860-1872, a Swedish immigrant, who was a boot & shoemaker in Patchogue (Village?). I've located what I believe his him in the 1900 Brookhaven, Patchogue Village and again in the 1910 Islip Federal census but cannot find him in the 1920 census. Possibly he died in that 10 year period. His wife Marie Hallsbotter died around 1896-1897 in Patchogue according to my grandmother when she was about 4 yrs old. At that point her father gave her into the care of a retired NY police officer and his wife, Andrew & Ellen ROWLEY, and she never saw him again. My grandmother said she lived in Patchogue, Bay Port and Ronkonkom before finally moving to W. Medway, Mass. I would be interested in any info such as death dates, places of burial etc for John & Marie." For questions such as yours, you may want to contact the Patchogue-Medford Library (the library can suggest which local newspaper might have this information and other possible sources of information): Patchogue-Medford Library 54-60 East Main Street Patchogue, NY 11772 Tel: 631/654-4700 Fax: 631/289-3999 eMail: pmlref@suffolk.lib.ny.us http://pml.suffolk.lib.ny.us/index.htm The pertinent geography: The Village of Patchogue (incorporated in 1893) is in the southwest part of the Town of Brookhaven, in the south-center part of Suffolk County. There are 8 villages (municipal corporations) and 36 hamlets (unincorporated areas) all or partly in the Town of Brookhaven. There are no cities and 10 towns in Suffolk County. There are 2 Indian reservations in Suffolk County. (I'm including after my name a NYS Geographic Glossary with the NYS definitions of county, city, town, village, hamlet and postal zone.) Beginning on the north and moving in a clockwise direction, the Village of Patchogue in the Town of Brookhaven is bordered on the north by the Hamlet of North Patchogue; on the east by the Hamlet of East Patchogue; on the south by the Great South Bay; and, on the west by the Hamlet of Blue Point. And, as occurs in every one of Suffolk County's 157 communities (0 cities, 32 villages and 125 hamlets), the hamlet and the postal zone that use the same name, have different borders. Places with a Patchogue mailing address may not be in Patchogue. These places with a Patchogue mailing address that are not in the Village of Patchogue are in the Hamlet of Blue Point, the Hamlet of North Patchogue, the Hamlet of East Patchogue, the Hamlet of North Bellport and the Village of Bellport. For those who have their copy of the 2004 or earlier edition of the LI Population Survey or have already downloaded the report from the Long Island Power Authority web site (eMail me directly if you need instructions on how to access and download the report), you'll find the Village of Patchogue (incorporated in 1893) in the Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County on pages 14 & 24 (map) and 25 (population estimate). I hope this information is useful or, at least, interesting. Chag Sameach* Chanukah, Walter Greenspan Great Falls, MT & Jericho, NY * KHAHG sah-MEHY-ahkh = A Joyous Holiday The 8-day rabbinic Festival of Chanukah begins Sunday night, December 25. . Cities, Towns, Villages, Hamlets and Postal Zones in New York State New York State is divided into counties. County A county is a municipal corporation, a subdivision of the state, created to perform state functions; a "regional" government. All counties are divided into cities, towns and Indian reservations. City A city is a unique governmental entity with its own special charter. Cities are not sub-divided, except into neighborhoods, which are informal geographic areas. Town A town is a municipal corporation and encompasses all territory within the state except that within cities or Indian reservations. Towns can be sub-divided into villages and hamlets. Village A village is a general purpose municipal corporation formed voluntarily by the residents of an area in one or more towns to provide themselves with municipal services. The pattern of village organization is similar to those of a city. A village is divided into neighborhoods, which are informal geographic areas. Hamlet A hamlet is an unincorporated area in one or more towns that is governed at-large by the town(s) it is in. A hamlet is divided into neighborhoods, which are informal geographic areas. Postal Zone "City" and "Town" A postal zone "City" and "Town" is an administrative district established by the U.S. Postal Service to deliver the mail. Postal zone "City" and "Town" may not (but are encouraged to) conform to municipal or community borders. Thus, postal zone location does not always determine city, village or hamlet location. Please be aware: In many areas of New York State, the problem of non-conforming postal zones leads to a situation where the majority of places have a different community name in their mailing address than the community where that place is actually located.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/jUB.2ACI/1113.1 Message Board Post: On 1/1/06 (3:33:53 AM MST), in a posting to the Suffolk County Ancestry Board that was 'gatewayed' to NYSUFFOL-L@rootsweb.com, Dave Wilber (reneedav@bmi.net) asked, "I'm seeking help with finding information on my great grandfather, John Rosell born bet 1860-1872, a Swedish immigrant, who was a boot & shoemaker in Patchogue (Village?). I've located what I believe his him in the 1900 Brookhaven, Patchogue Village and again in the 1910 Islip Federal census but cannot find him in the 1920 census. Possibly he died in that 10 year period. His wife Marie Hallsbotter died around 1896-1897 in Patchogue according to my grandmother when she was about 4 yrs old. At that point her father gave her into the care of a retired NY police officer and his wife, Andrew & Ellen ROWLEY, and she never saw him again. My grandmother said she lived in Patchogue, Bay Port and Ronkonkom before finally moving to W. Medway, Mass. I would be interested in any info such as death dates, places of burial etc for John & Marie." For questions such as yours, you may want to contact the Patchogue-Medford Library (the library can suggest which local newspaper might have this information and other possible sources of information): Patchogue-Medford Library 54-60 East Main Street Patchogue, NY 11772 Tel: 631/654-4700 Fax: 631/289-3999 eMail: pmlref@suffolk.lib.ny.us http://pml.suffolk.lib.ny.us/index.htm The pertinent geography: The Village of Patchogue (incorporated in 1893) is in the southwest part of the Town of Brookhaven, in the south-center part of Suffolk County. There are 8 villages (municipal corporations) and 36 hamlets (unincorporated areas) all or partly in the Town of Brookhaven. There are no cities and 10 towns in Suffolk County. There are 2 Indian reservations in Suffolk County. (I'm including after my name a NYS Geographic Glossary with the NYS definitions of county, city, town, village, hamlet and postal zone.) Beginning on the north and moving in a clockwise direction, the Village of Patchogue in the Town of Brookhaven is bordered on the north by the Hamlet of North Patchogue; on the east by the Hamlet of East Patchogue; on the south by the Great South Bay; and, on the west by the Hamlet of Blue Point. And, as occurs in every one of Suffolk County's 157 communities (0 cities, 32 villages and 125 hamlets), the hamlet and the postal zone that use the same name, have different borders. Places with a Patchogue mailing address may not be in Patchogue. These places with a Patchogue mailing address that are not in the Village of Patchogue are in the Hamlet of Blue Point, the Hamlet of North Patchogue, the Hamlet of East Patchogue, the Hamlet of North Bellport and the Village of Bellport. For those who have their copy of the 2004 or earlier edition of the LI Population Survey or have already downloaded the report from the Long Island Power Authority web site (eMail me directly if you need instructions on how to access and download the report), you'll find the Village of Patchogue (incorporated in 1893) in the Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County on pages 14 & 24 (map) and 25 (population estimate). I hope this information is useful or, at least, interesting. Chag Sameach* Chanukah, Walter Greenspan Great Falls, MT & Jericho, NY * KHAHG sah-MEHY-ahkh = A Joyous Holiday The 8-day rabbinic Festival of Chanukah begins Sunday night, December 25. Cities, Towns, Villages, Hamlets and Postal Zones in New York State New York State is divided into counties. County A county is a municipal corporation, a subdivision of the state, created to perform state functions; a "regional" government. All counties are divided into cities, towns and Indian reservations. City A city is a unique governmental entity with its own special charter. Cities are not sub-divided, except into neighborhoods, which are informal geographic areas. Town A town is a municipal corporation and encompasses all territory within the state except that within cities or Indian reservations. Towns can be sub-divided into villages and hamlets. Village A village is a general purpose municipal corporation formed voluntarily by the residents of an area in one or more towns to provide themselves with municipal services. The pattern of village organization is similar to those of a city. A village is divided into neighborhoods, which are informal geographic areas. Hamlet A hamlet is an unincorporated area in one or more towns that is governed at-large by the town(s) it is in. A hamlet is divided into neighborhoods, which are informal geographic areas. Postal Zone "City" and "Town" A postal zone "City" and "Town" is an administrative district established by the U.S. Postal Service to deliver the mail. Postal zone "City" and "Town" may not (but are encouraged to) conform to municipal or community borders. Thus, postal zone location does not always determine city, village or hamlet location. Please be aware: In many areas of New York State, the problem of non-conforming postal zones leads to a situation where the majority of places have a different community name in their mailing address than the community where that place is actually located.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/jUB.2ACI/1113 Message Board Post: Hello: I'm seeking help with finding information on my great grandfather, John Rosell born bet 1860-1872, a Swedish immigrant, who was a boot & shoemaker in Patchogue (Village?). I've located what I believe his him in the 1900 Brookhaven, Patchogue Village and again in the 1910 Islip Federal census but cannot find him in the 1920 census. Possibly he died in that 10 year period. His wife Marie Hallsbotter died around 1896-1897 in Patchogue according to my grandmother when she was about 4 yrs old. At that point her father gave her into the care of a retired NY police officer and his wife, Andrew & Ellen ROWLEY, and she never saw him again. My grandmother said she lived in Patchogue, Bay Port and Ronkonkom before finally moving to W. Medway, Mass. I would be interested in any info such as death dates, places of burial etc for John & Marie. Thank you, Dave Wilber

Hi folks, as a bizarre sorta New Years present, here's the background on a name that may show up in your genealogy somewhere, sometime..:-) http://www.curbstone.org/index.cfm?webpage=56 Regards, and Happy New Year, Unc

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/jUB.2ACI/1112 Message Board Post: I'm wondering if there are any professional genealogists who can be hired to research in the areas of Pachogue and Islip? I'm seeking info on my great grandfather in those areas? Thank you, Dave Wilber Pendleton, Oregon