I think that courthouse clerks all over the US do something like that. Years ago, I went to the King County courthouse in Seattle to get a copy of an old record. I knew it was there, and knew they would try to tell me it wasn't there. I went to the counter, told them the marriage record and date that I wanted, and they, predictably said, "Oh our records don't go back that far." I said, very firmly, "The record I want is in one of the old, handwritten ledger books." Her body language said that she wasn't pleased, but she didn't protest or ask anyone else, she just got the record for me. Diane in Seattle -----Original Message----- >From: Bonnie Malmat <blmalmat@bellsouth.net> >Sent: Aug 19, 2010 10:44 AM >To: PAFRANKL@rootsweb.com >Subject: Re: [PAFRANKL] Franklin County Courthouse Records > >Donna, > > I actually had an admission when I was up there that the "records >burned" excuse was used, whether it was true or not. Sometimes they don't >*know* what still exists or where it is, especially older less-used/more >obscure records, so the "records burned" makes a dandy excuse, as it makes >the genealogist give up and go away and leave them alone.

That's why I wish they would film all the darned things, or digitally scan them and toss them online. That way, the clerks could do what they'd rather do other than help those of us looking for family history. Since I'm cranky, I wish Pennsylvania would give us an index to post 1906 death records too! *grin* If WV and Ohio can give indexes, so can our state. Bonz -----Original Message----- From: pafrankl-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:pafrankl-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Diane Hettrick Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2010 6:14 PM To: PAFRANKL@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [PAFRANKL] Franklin County Courthouse Records I think that courthouse clerks all over the US do something like that. Years ago, I went to the King County courthouse in Seattle to get a copy of an old record. I knew it was there, and knew they would try to tell me it wasn't there. I went to the counter, told them the marriage record and date that I wanted, and they, predictably said, "Oh our records don't go back that far." I said, very firmly, "The record I want is in one of the old, handwritten ledger books." Her body language said that she wasn't pleased, but she didn't protest or ask anyone else, she just got the record for me. Diane in Seattle