My troublesome ancestor, Joseph Henry BUTLER, died in Pennsylvania in 1883. According to the Vital Records website death records weren't required until 1893. Is there a possibility that I could purchase a copy of a Potter county death ceretificate? My primary goal it to learn who his parents were, he was born in New York in 1806. Mark

Mark- I found Joseph in the 1860 Census "Sweeden" Potter County pps 5-6 Joseph 53 Farmer, born NY, Jane J wife 50years born NY children Daniel 17 Joseph 12 and Sidney 7 all born NY; 1850 Census Cortlandt, Westchester, NY Joseph Bulter 45, wife Jane 41, Mary E 18, Henrietta 16, George 12, Almira J 10, Daniel 7 Joseph 2 all born NY.: 1840 Cortlandt, Westchester Jos Butler (listed as Jas) 1 male 30-40 (35), 1 male under 5 (George 2), 1 female 30-40 (Jane 31), 1 female 5-10 (Mary E 6) and 2 females under 5 (Henrietta and Almira) 1880 Census of Sweden, Potter County, PA Dist 112 aged 74 born in NY with wife Jane O also born in NY. I will next check in NY and see if I can find him about 1830 as a head of household. Then can probably find a possible family in the same area that you might check into. There is also the possibility that there may be a newspaper obituary in either of the local papers. Do you have other family names? I have found a Joseph Butler aged 33 who died in Middletown, Orange County,NY at the same time as D Butler, about 6 April 1813(possibly Daniel) listed in Old Newspapers,."There was a prevalent fever" in NY at the time. Also a Capt Joseph Butler died Feb 1826 in Wethersfield,CT-Ref: Connecticut Mirror Vol XVII Iss 37 Page 3, aged 50 years. Did not find a death notice for your Joseph in 1883-do you have a more precise death date? Peggie in soggy eastern OR -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.430 / Virus Database: 268.14.14/547 - Release Date: 11/22/2006 5:41 PM