Bev: There were NO governmental BMD recordings in Quebec until some time after 1900. All (100%) BMDs were recorded in CHURCH RECORDS. So you HAVE to KNOW the religion of your ancestor. If they were Protestant, for Barnston, that is likely the Hatley Anglican church whose records are now available through the Anglican Church in Coaticook, PQ. Coaticook, Hatley and Barston are closely situated nearby towns. The Anglican church in Coaticook is active and has a priest. Most church records of this period have been collected by the National Archives of Quebec; there is a branch in a nearby town to the north whose name escapes me now (I think it's SHERBROOKE). I've personally research in both places on genealogy research trips there. Good news, the National Archives will conduct searches of their records via mail correspondence. So if you can collect all your information to make a good query, they'll work with you. There are also BMD collections kept at the Archives Nationales du Quebec. The Records Office in Stanstead is another possibility - it contains detailed records mostly of real estate transactions but many things work their way in over the years. You'll have to research there in person or hire someone. The period before 1830s is really hit or miss because the townships were newly opened to land grant settlers. Records are lost or transferred, not centrally organized, etc. Hope that helps. Jim PS The Records Office in Stanstead is another possibility - it contains detailed records mostly of real estate transactions but many things work their way in over the years. You'll have to research there in person or hire someone. PPS There is a website run by a Quebec woman genealogist or researcher who has made it her work to transcribe BMD records in the Eastern Townships. She charges for the search results but its worthwhile (obviously) if your name of interest appears. Search for Eastern Townships, transcripts, birth index etc in GOOGLE and you'll find her probably. -----Original Message----- From: Beverly Wesling [mailto:bwesling@msn.com] Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 1:18 PM To: jsutton@sutton.org Subject: Johnson, Isaac, Stanstead Co.1825-1900 Am looking for my grandfather's birth certificate or some paper showing father and mother of Isaac who was born in Barnston, Que. 11 Sep.1811. Could you tell me where I might locate any inforjmation ? Thank you in advance for anything you might have as this is my "brick wall" Bev Wesling