Hi list, Does anyone on the list know if inquest records for 1863 still can be found and where? I'm still searching for Hiram Sloop, who first appears in the the Hamilton Co., restored marriage records for 1826. He appears in the 1831 Cincinnati City Directory and in several following years until his suicide in 1863. No burial record found other than he was buried at the Methodist Protestant Cemetery. Census and other records state he was born in Ohio and Scotland. He apparently had some depression or other mental condition and the declaration that he was born in Scotland appears to be a reflection of this problem. He may be the son of John Sloop m. Rachel Williams 1804, but proof is needed. John appears in the 1825 city directory as a blacksmith b. MD. Hiram is also a blacksmith. John is listed in an Ohio roster for the War of 1812. Pioneer Ohio newspapers have a John Sloop living in Cincinnati reporting a stolen mare in 1814. It seems strange however that none of Hiram's male sons were named John. Hiram's son's Civil War Pension file states that Mary Sloop Lape is either a sister or Aunt. She too was born in Maryland 20 Nov 1789. In Book 1 and A, Probate Record 1791-1821, John Sloop and Jacob Sloop are mentioned in the record for Mary's husband Benjamin. Mary's sons: Benjamin and Jacob S. Lape, helped Hiram and state that they are nephews. Mary was a member of the Old Stone Church and is a member 1812-1813. Hiram has one known niece: Henrietta Sloop Burch who dies about 1851 Indiana. Her parents are unknown. Is she Mary's daughter? Hiram buys and sells land, but no information has been found in Deed records. Hiram was a member of the Church of the New Jerusalem along with Samuel Sloop. Samuel was a plane maker and b. PA, died age 39, 1840. I feel he is most likely a relative, but again connection unknown. A Samuel Sloop, age 13-14, appears int he Pioneer Ohio newspapers in 1815 as a runaway apprentice. Is this the same Samuel? Hiram sued an administrator, unsuccessfully, of the Soldier's Home. Records indicate that most of Hiram's children died. All but two and his wife are found in 1870. Family history says he was born in PA, and that he was "Pennsylvania Dutch". Did he just mean he was German? No records for him have been found in PA. A Philip Sloop is found in the 1810 PA census with four sons. They are the right age for one to be Hiram, but again the record trail ends and Philip is not found again. Did his father die and his mother remarry? I've looked everywhere I can think of and feel I'm at the end of the road. If anyone knows if the inquest records exist or of any other older records available, I'd really appreciate the help! Sandy California