I too am researching in Warren Co, and I would like to commend the Historical Society for the fast and efficient manner in which they sent me a whole packet on my DANIEL JACKSON. Daniel was born in Sharon, CT and was a first pioneer in settling Warren Co in 1797. His son Ethan m. Agnes McClain and they eventually went to Hamilton Co. OH abt 1809. Does anyone have any information on the McClains, or are related to either the Jacksons or McClains. The Warren Co. Historical Society sent me over 100 pages that was in Daniels file. Some of it was duplicates, but they also put me in touch with the person who did most of the research years ago. This lovely lady just happens to also be related through Daniel. She still lives in Warren and I live over 3000 miles away in California. The point is, she has brought my ancestors closer to me and it has been with the help of the Historical Society. She worked for them for years and she was telling me it is mostly volunteers that put in the many hours to make the records available. There are boxes of records sitting in a basement in Ohio that will never be seen until someone can file them. I know how frustrating it is when you know the record is there somewhere. Wouldn't it be great if we could all donate a few hours a week or month to help our "societies" organize the records. Sorry this turned out to be so long, just wanted to give a pat on the back to the Warren Co. Historical Society. Happy Searching, Linda Falk Huntington Beach, CA Llmitzel7@aol.com

Alison, We too have had good luck doing research in Warren Co., the library, the court house and the Historical Society. It really got us going on my husband's family. It seems your ancestors took the same path as the Tobeys. From Bristol Co. MA to Dutchess Co., NY to Windham Co. VT to Chautauqua Co. NY and Warren Co. PA. One of my husband's gggrandfather's sisters married Thompson Rawson Feb. 18, 1829. Wonder if we have a connection. We have been to Warren 3 times in the last 7-8 years and to Jamestown and Frewsburg twice. Several of his ancestors who died in Sugar Grove Twp. in Warren Co. were buried in Maple Grove Cemetery in Frewsburg NY. The city hall in Frewsburg has a book with burials listed in the cemetery. Genealogists must be infinitely patient. Jean Tobey

Okay, I am not whinning or complaining just wanted to make known that there were published lists of records available for Warren County. W.P.A. County Inventories One of the most important projects of the W.P.A. during the great deparssion was the "Historical Records Survey Program". In this program people were hired by the W.P.A. to inventory all records both public and private, that were of historical value. The project was never completed, and not all of the records that were inventoried are of value to the genealogist. However, where an inventory of the county records was completed, they can be very useful. Where the county inventories exist they will list all records from the inception of the county until the time of inventory. Some of the inventories were published and some were not. Pennsylvania: Warren is No 62 I believe the Warren county historical Society, The Warren Public Library sould have a copy and I am sure there is a copy in Washington DC, possibly the Mormon Church has filmed these books. I do know that there are more records than are in The Warren County Court House, it is not large enough to store everything since about 1770. That is why the storage area is being used in Starbrick. In talking to an employee at the Court House one time I got the impression that some of the records will eventually (hopefully) be computerized. Mary ---------- From: Steve or Diana Reints[SMTP:murk@pe.net] Sent: Friday, July 30, 1999 12:26 PM To: PAFOREST-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Available Warren Records Dear list: Where some of us complaining? Or being negative? I am hoping to find solutions. It seems that my original issue is getting a bit muttled. It wasn't about whether people are nice or helpful, many people are and aren't. It wasn't about trying to find ways of getting information from people over the internet or seeing what the historical society can do. My concern,"not complaint", is that the records that available to the public are only fraction of what is housed. It could be because of the courthouse renovation but how would that explain that the microfilmed records are the same as the ones available at the present? We have been researching in Warren for 30 yrs from afar and what the courthouse tells us they have has been pretty consistent so I honestly don't know what to think. If there is a warehouse where there are more records, what can be done about it? I wish I didn't live so far, I would try to do something. Sometimes it takes that one record to "crack" the geneaglogy problem. I and I know others from Warren have been waiting for the one "break in the case". If there are other records in another warehouse, I would love to see them as I know some of you would. Diana

I had a similar experience at St. Joseph's Cemetery. The best I could find is a date of internment for each person buried in a given plot. I find it hard to believe this is all the information that is maintained! Isn't there a sexton's office for the cemetery somewhere??? Dennis "G. Chesnes" wrote: > I have been thrilled with all the talk about Warren and Starbrick recently. > ........ I also had to > go to St. Joseph's cemetary. When my father and I walked in, three men were > in there chatting and playing handheld games. The person in charge looked at > us and said, "I hope you aren't doing your family tree." He obviously was > not as helpful. >

Dear list: Where some of us complaining? Or being negative? I am hoping to find solutions. It seems that my original issue is getting a bit muttled. It wasn't about whether people are nice or helpful, many people are and aren't. It wasn't about trying to find ways of getting information from people over the internet or seeing what the historical society can do. My concern,"not complaint", is that the records that available to the public are only fraction of what is housed. It could be because of the courthouse renovation but how would that explain that the microfilmed records are the same as the ones available at the present? We have been researching in Warren for 30 yrs from afar and what the courthouse tells us they have has been pretty consistent so I honestly don't know what to think. If there is a warehouse where there are more records, what can be done about it? I wish I didn't live so far, I would try to do something. Sometimes it takes that one record to "crack" the geneaglogy problem. I and I know others from Warren have been waiting for the one "break in the case". If there are other records in another warehouse, I would love to see them as I know some of you would. Diana

I have been thrilled with all the talk about Warren and Starbrick recently. I have rebegun my research and recently made a trip to Warren/Starbrick and Ludlow to visit some cemetaries. We did not have time to go to the courthouse, unfortunately. I found the person working at Oaklawn(I think it's Oaklawn) to be extremely helpful with the records there. I also had to go to St. Joseph's cemetary. When my father and I walked in, three men were in there chatting and playing handheld games. The person in charge looked at us and said, "I hope you aren't doing your family tree." He obviously was not as helpful. I have been learning quite a lot. Since so many people seem to have ancestors from the area, I wanted to throw out names that I am researching at the moment. Warren/Ludlow/Starbrick: Anderson, Turner, Wholers (sp?), Cappelletty(i), Grimm. I know that my Cappelletty gr-grandfather was a stonemason and helped to build many of the buildings in Warren and Starbrick. Thanks so much for any help you could give me. Gina Chesnes -

Why not enlist the assistance of the Historical Society and perhaps get those books in Starbrick transferred to the Histoical Society or to the library, then all could have access? Alison Franks Archivist, Rawson Family Association afranks1@juno.com ___________________________________________________________________ Get the Internet just the way you want it. Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month! Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj.

Way to go Amy. Alison Alison Franks Archivist, Rawson Family Association afranks1@juno.com ___________________________________________________________________ Get the Internet just the way you want it. Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month! Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj.

Good Morning All: After reading the two complaints about "missing" documents, etc. I decided it was time to respond. I have lived all over the world, and can only laud the efforts and results I have gleaned from Warren Co., PA resources. I began genealogy long before there were computers and the internet, and I have been ever so pleased with what I have been able to gather in the way of material. The people who have helped me and are still helping me have gone out of ther way to assist me, and no they will not even get rich from this. Also, via this list, I have been very fortunate to receive some wonderful material from others who are on this list. Their generosity has been unlimited, and also very helpful. When the court house was undergoing some renovations, I was apprised of this and told that some things I was looking for would not be available for searching until after the work was completed in the courthouse. I am also aware that out there are people who don't give thought to the fact that the documents which are housed there and other places are for all to look at, and because of selfishness on their part, the documents have been "acquired" by such small minded people, thus they are no longer where they were for others to see. Instead of complaining, why not try some positive sounding queries, you never know who may have even one small item in response. This is the age of downsizing in all areas of business. The same amount of work being done by fewer people, and not necessarily by those who are interested in genealogy. There has also been an offer of help from another who doesn't live in Warren Co. If this person does try to help, and you don't get the results you think you should get, will this person's kindness be also the object of complaint? Has thought been given to what was asked for, how it was asked for, and the considering that the person who is undertaking the looking may not have any genealogical background? I have from time to time answered queries on Warren Co. There are a few people who know that I have 3 volumes of "Marriage and Death Notices from Warren Co., PA Newspapers". Vol 1 takes in the years 1848-1865; Vol 2 takes in the years 1866-1875, and Vol 3 takes in the years 1876-1880. I won't say all the information is available, but I have found that there is much to be gleaned from these books. For the person who has the Fisher family - there are Fishers listed in all three volumes. Another factor here - who looked at a map and discovered that Chautauqua Co., NY was a short distance away? Many families were going back and forth having babies, getting married or dying, and though they lived in one place quite often the actual events in their lives took place in the neighboring county. I am researching the Hazeltine family. The part that I am researching was first in Essex Co., then Worcester Co., MA. This branch then went to Windham Co., VT, and tankgled up with the Hall, Chapin, Davis, and Jones family and off they went to Chautauqua Co., NY. Then they wandered back and forth across the state line to Warren Co., PA.. Not only am I subscribed to the Warren-Forest Co., PA list, I also subscribe to the Chautauqua Co., NY, and both the Crawford and Erie Co., PA lists. The most important thing is that I have acquired some good friends in these areas who are very helpful, and I appreciate anything that has been done, whether or not I was able to get what I was asking for. The people who have been and still are helping me in Warren Co., I have nothing but good things to say about them. Regards, Alison Franks Archivist, Rawson Family Association afranks1@juno.com ___________________________________________________________________ Get the Internet just the way you want it. Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month! Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj.

>Anyway my point is the WPA book for Warren county was published, a copy is >in the Warren County Library, I tells what books should be available and >some are in the warehouse in Starbrick, I have never asked to have any of >them taken to the court house for my viewing, but can see where that would >take time. If we were to ask for certain records from the warehouse in Starbrick, would they access them for us? Or if we asked for certain records from the WPA book, what would they say? Has anyone tried this. I can see that the clerks at the courthouse are nice but I have gotten two letters in the past telling me that they do not have time to look up records and if they have to, it will take a year. Now, they are probably telling the truth that they don't have the manpower and I don't fault them for no money or enough help but where does that leave us if we want to look at a record listed in the WPA book? What should we do? Diana

Amy I did not mean to imply that the court house workers were not most pleasant because I too have had excellent service, (but I carried books from the third floor myself and took them back when I was done) I remember that I was in a hurry one day and took two of those big books down did my photocopying and returned them to the third floor, saw one court house employee along the way and she commented that what I must be doing some most important to be carrying two books. Anyway my point is the WPA book for Warren county was published, a copy is in the Warren County Library, I tells what books should be available and some are in the warehouse in Starbrick, I have never asked to have any of them taken to the court house for my viewing, but can see where that would take time. During the depression the Federal Government made jobs by paying WPA workers to inventory the records around the country, it was Federal law at the time that these records would always be available to the public. Thru this book I was able to locate State Prision records, it is an important genealogy tool and the book is available for Warren County. While I have the sounding board I will mention that the first time I went to the Warren County Court House I found a statement in a book that I did not understand, I went to man at the front desk in that office and asked him what it meant, he told me he had a surprise for me, he took a long pole and accessed a box from a top shelf and I held my grandfathers will in my hands. They did not have a copy machine available to the public at the time but later he let me photocopy it. He died in 1937. Anyway my point is nice people, you just have to know what is available, and ask. Hope this is helpful to some of you on the list. Mary anderson@penn.com ---------- From: Amy Hines[SMTP:arhines@penn.com] Reply To: arhines@penn.com Sent: Thursday, July 29, 1999 9:23 PM To: PAFOREST-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Court House I can understand your frustration with the records and I hope that it can be resolved, however in all fairness to the the Court House employees, please remember that the third floor was under renovation for ten months. This is where many of the old records are kept. No one, not even the employees, could go to the third floor except for the construction crews that were doing the work. I, too, had to wait ten months to get a divorce paper from the 1800's for a woman out of state. However, as soon as the third floor was open, I went over and made the request. The employee stopped what she was doing, and went up to the third floor. She had to hunt for the book as they had not yet been put back in order. She brought the book down, copied the page for me and was very pleasant about it. I have been to the Court House many times and have always been treated with kindness and respect. There were times that a copy couldn't be made right at the moment, but they did it as soon as their schedule allowed. They have a tremendous work load and do the best they can. Thank you. Amy R. Hines

Thanks Amy. I, for one, was unaware that the courthouse was being renovated, and that might explain some of the problems others have experienced. Madeline ---------- > From: Amy Hines <arhines@penn.com> > To: PAFOREST-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Court House > Date: Thursday, July 29, 1999 9:23 PM > > I can understand your frustration with the records and I hope that it > can be resolved, however in all fairness to the the Court House > employees, please remember that the third floor was under renovation for > ten months. This is where many of the old records are kept. No one, > not even the employees, could go to the third floor except for the > construction crews that were doing the work. I, too, had to wait ten > months to get a divorce paper from the 1800's for a woman out of state. > However, as soon as the third floor was open, I went over and made the > request. The employee stopped what she was doing, and went up to the > third floor. She had to hunt for the book as they had not yet been put > back in order. She brought the book down, copied the page for me and > was very pleasant about it. > I have been to the Court House many times and have always been treated > with kindness and respect. There were times that a copy couldn't be > made right at the moment, but they did it as soon as their schedule > allowed. They have a tremendous work load and do the best they can. > Thank you. > > Amy R. Hines >

I can understand your frustration with the records and I hope that it can be resolved, however in all fairness to the the Court House employees, please remember that the third floor was under renovation for ten months. This is where many of the old records are kept. No one, not even the employees, could go to the third floor except for the construction crews that were doing the work. I, too, had to wait ten months to get a divorce paper from the 1800's for a woman out of state. However, as soon as the third floor was open, I went over and made the request. The employee stopped what she was doing, and went up to the third floor. She had to hunt for the book as they had not yet been put back in order. She brought the book down, copied the page for me and was very pleasant about it. I have been to the Court House many times and have always been treated with kindness and respect. There were times that a copy couldn't be made right at the moment, but they did it as soon as their schedule allowed. They have a tremendous work load and do the best they can. Thank you. Amy R. Hines

I am new to the list. I am trying to find the family of Frank A. WOOD and Grace Percival SMITH. Frank was a merchant in 1900 and a postmaster in 1910 according to the census for Grand Valley Borough, Warren County. Frank was born in about 1856 in PA, and Grace was born on 27 August 1862 in perhaps Portville or Olean, Cattaraugus County, New York. They married on 13 September 1887. Their children were Ann (born in 1888) and Ralph (born in 1892). Would appreciate hearing from anyone who knows about the family. I am connected through the Smiths. Ellen Piehl Seymour, Wisconsin

>From: CDZ4U@aol.com >Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1999 14:37:03 EDT >Subject: Re: Records at the court house. >To: murk@pe.net >MIME-Version: 1.0 > >Diana, >I too, live in California and my grandparents were from Warren, long time >residents. His father was a business owner of a very large and successful >trucking company that is still in business today, (Masterson Transfer) He and >his father both owned and lived on oil producing property that now is part of >the Alleghany Forest since their deaths.His father and he were both >well-to-do, his father married a woman who's father was also well-to-do and >was one of the original men who started/owned the trolley car system they >used to have, then went into the railroad business. My point is in telling >you all this, I have been to the LDS many, many times, and all the records >they have and list for Warren, PA I have ordered and also through their >courthouse in Warren. In all I rec'vd from the LDS, (census records for >Warren were ordered) I rec'vd the census for the surrounding area around >Warren and 2 (TWO) >documents happened to be on these rolls from Warren. That is it!!!! Again, my >point being, I know my grandparents are buried right in Warren at the Oakdale >Cemetary, >his parents are there and their parents are there, I have pictures to prove >it!!! They were so well to do that at the cemetary they have their own little >"hill" which is seperated from the rest you walk up the hill to enter their >"family plot" and their is a HUGE Mound (Tomb) in big letters stating FISHER >on it. surrounding this mound all graves are clearly marked. The oldest being >the tomb my gr.gr.grandparents both born in Warren ca. 1830's. With all this, >their children, their childrens children and including my own father who was >born and raised and now moved back there again and works there, you think >there would have to be something?? Noooo....not according the Warren >Courthouse. I had a lady who;s from Warren living out here who's family was >still in Warren, she went back on a vacation/genealogy trip, I had her >consentrate on just my great grandfather and she went through every thing she >could while their, historical society, library, courthouse, etc. and when she >finally did find this index card file and found his name in the index, she >went to it and it was empty. Nothing was there. So I am sorry to make this so >long but I am in complete agreement something is fishy there, besides for >waiting 9/1/2 months for a photocopy of a record I know should be there and >paying $10 for it, all I got back was "We're sorry there are no records for >this person here". I'd like to know what's up also. > >Cristy Fisher >

Hello: I am going back to the warren area the end of November and would gladly do any look ups for any out of staters like myself. I have run into a similar wall trying to research my family as well. Drop me a line and tell me what you need. Kelly Jones

>From: anderson <anderson@penn.com> >To: "'Steve or Diana Reints'" <murk@pe.net> >Subject: RE: Records at the court house. >Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 23:19:07 -0400 >MIME-Version: 1.0 > >Hi >I am in Warren but because I have a child with a serious health problem I >have no time for genealogy. I can tell you that there is a warehouse in >Warren. It is actually located in Starbrick (about 2 to 3 miles from the >court house). I went to a seminar given by Ronald Bremer, he claimed if >the wpa records showed they were available that they have to produce them. > The do need a time warning do not remember if it was 24 hours or 1 week. > Hope this is helpful. I would appreciate your informing me if you get any >satification. It will probably be a year or two before I can become active >again, and I will probably have to unsubsribe from my genealogy lists in >the meantime, so if you find this true I would apprecitate your letting me >know. > >It is late and am not going into the book tonight but if you have specific >questions I would be willing to try to help, can not go to the court house >now though. > >Mary >anderson@penn.com > >---------- >From: Steve or Diana Reints[SMTP:murk@pe.net] >Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 1999 11:52 PM >To: PAFOREST-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: Records at the court house. > >The last thread has hit a nerve. I was in Salt Lake at the Mormon library >they have there a few month ago and I noticed a book put out by the WPA on >all the records in Warren County. I copied a few pages and then when I got >home I compared this list to what the courthouse said it had and the >courthouse came up very short!!! The list included about four different >kinds of records for naturalizations- early ones and even more for later >ones. The courthouse only has these little card file like records, and only >one set of them. The list said that they had a group of old death >cerificates covering about 10 yrs. The courthouse didn't know what I was >talking about. They have this one list of deaths. Something is fishy >here. I am going to go back and copy more of the book. I am wondering if >they only have out a sampling of each kind of record for the public and the >rest of unattainable. I have written before and they are not very happy to >help- told me it would take a year or more to copy something for me. Maybe >this is an overall attitude about making all the records available. I live >in California but it would be nice if someone who lives near Warren could >talk to the supervisor or person in charge at the courthouse about this. > >Diana >

The last thread has hit a nerve. I was in Salt Lake at the Mormon library they have there a few month ago and I noticed a book put out by the WPA on all the records in Warren County. I copied a few pages and then when I got home I compared this list to what the courthouse said it had and the courthouse came up very short!!! The list included about four different kinds of records for naturalizations- early ones and even more for later ones. The courthouse only has these little card file like records, and only one set of them. The list said that they had a group of old death cerificates covering about 10 yrs. The courthouse didn't know what I was talking about. They have this one list of deaths. Something is fishy here. I am going to go back and copy more of the book. I am wondering if they only have out a sampling of each kind of record for the public and the rest of unattainable. I have written before and they are not very happy to help- told me it would take a year or more to copy something for me. Maybe this is an overall attitude about making all the records available. I live in California but it would be nice if someone who lives near Warren could talk to the supervisor or person in charge at the courthouse about this. Diana

To Dennis, again: Sorry to take up forum space--- Dennis, I sent some to your personal e-mail and they were sent to someone with an entirely different address, so I resorted to contacting you through the forum. thanks for the information. -- I will persist!!! Marilyn

ToDennis: Your e-mail keeps going to the wrong person! Sorry to tie up the forum with this, but...., Dennis, what year are you talking about? Was it after 1906? I found the approval, but no intent application for 1896. Marilyn