You can get a Death Certificate from the State of PA not the county they died in or were buried in. Try: <A HREF="http://vitalrec.com/pa.html">PA Vital Records Info</A> http://vitalrec.com/pa.html I know some state are putting a time limit on Death Certificates but I don't think PA has. You can also get a copy of his Social Security Record at: <A HREF="http://ssdi.genealogy.rootsweb.com/">SSDI Rootsweb*</A> http://ssdi.genealogy.rootsweb.com/ He may have died in Delaware Co., PA--this is what I found at SSDI. Name Birth Death Last Residence Last Benefit SSN Issued CHARLES GEAR 27 Sep 1897 Jul 1966 19082 (Upper Darby, Delaware, PA) 171-10-2427 PA ------------------------------------------------------------------------ In a message dated 8/27/0 4:48:43 AM, SirIanOfCa@aol.com writes: << It seems I have to start my Chester County research with a death certificate that is for Charles R. Gear died July 21 1966.Can anyone tell me the appropriate place to write to? Will they let me have a copy seeings as its less than 40 years ago? It seems I am a direct descendant of Charles. Thanks Ian.>>