This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Re Clark/Baker and adoptions in the 1950's Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/3RB.2ACE/299.1.1 Message Board Post: Hi Alan, I was adopted in 1945. I was born in Ithaca and a agency then took care of it from there. But I was raised in Candor. So you also might want to check with the country seat which is Owego, NY. It should be court house records that would have them. Information most likely tho on microfilm or microfish because of need to conserve space.. Another place might be Albany, which is the capitol of NY. Bureau of vital statistics.They also might have yours and any one elses info. The name Baker does ring a bell but that was in the 50's so don't know if that family had relatives way back in 1854. Town Clerk records are another place. But can't say for sure if they have them that far back. If your sure the boys still lived in Candor till their deaths, you could ask if some one would check old burial records for you. This is just a thought at least to see if they stayed in the area and didn't leave. This is all I can think of as far as help. Best bet is check with Owego and their Vital statistics first.If that isn't of help then get in touch with Albany and their vital statistics. I wouldn't be a bit surprised tho if it was a church. Here are a list of the churches in Candor. Allen Memorial Baptist Church St. Marks Episcopal Church McKree Methodist Church Congregational Church. The only attorney that I know of in Candor that might have taken care of the adoption or had anything to do with it would have been Mr. Winston Ives. He took care of mine. He as since passed away. But thought I would mention this to you any way as he did do mine and did live in Candor, with his family. If I think of any thing else I will let you know. Remember these are just ideas and not absolutes on my part but at least you can check them out. If you want to save the cost of calling info to find particular phone numbers for the Clerks office and Owego's vital statistics phone let me know I have a web site that I can look up phone numbers on for free and would be gald to help in that. E-mail me privately at lpm@Juno.com Good luck on your search. Were the children originally from Candor I mean were their parents originally from their before they were in f oster care? If they were or if you knew originally where they came from it might help to narrow where to search. Joan in Portland, Or