This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: RichardMReese Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.pennsylvania.counties.northumberland/9960.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: There were no civil records required before 1893 for births or deaths, except for a brief period 1853-1855 (which were so sparsely kept as to be useless). Therefore you are confined to available church records; cemetery records (many indexed by Meiser & Meiser); Records of the Farrow Funeral Home; and any necessary filings of estate adminstration / wills. Marriage records start Oct 1, 1885, but most counties did not ask for the mother's maiden name until mid 1913. The Mount Carmel library has an index of newspaper obits which were published around that community, and they often overlap into the Shamokin area. The Delayed Registrations of Birth which were filed at the courthouse after 1940 for those born before 1906 often contain birth dates prior to 1893. They are not indexed at this time [8 rolls of microfilm]. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.