This is a good suggestion concerning gathering information about births, etc. Don't forget to check with churches. Often the records are in good shape, but sometimes, like county records, etc., floods and fires have destroyed some. I have frequently known people who couldn't find a birth record for themselves being able to verify their birth through church records. I've issued many copies of baptismal records which are generally acceptable as proof of birth and are accepted by Social Security and other agencies requiring proof of birth. Also, many ministers keep records of people whom they have baptized, married and buried. I always tried to include "maiden names", names of parents, and other such details that might be useful to someone later in life. In later years, I have made it a practice to issue a more than one "original" signed and witnessed copies of baptismal and marriage certificates just in case they might lose one. Sometimes a copy given to "godparents" or "witnesses" of sacred rites assure that the "original" will be found by one of them should another original be lost. One thing that presents a difficulty in finding ministerial records of births, marriages and deaths is that no central depository exists other than a local church or within the minister/priest's family. Sometimes, I fear, they get tossed out when the family member who kept them is gone. I would suggest that these important records be donated to genealogical societies. Does the Schiappa library in Steubenville have any? Could they initiate a program asking the donations of such volumes or files? Ed Durbin Ezeebones@aol.com wrote: > > hi,I am only aware of having certs those yrs. have u tried church records or > baptism? > > ==== OHJEFFER Mailing List ==== > Searching for a "lost" place?? Visit