In a message dated 8/17/99 6:53:32 AM Mountain Daylight Time, mbevins@sover.net writes: << Many births were not recorded in town or state records. Before 1856 there was no legal requirement. After 1856 there are still gaps as enforcement of the 1856 law was not consistent between towns. >> Please explain how so many people can say they have their ancestors traced back to year _____ when there are no birth or death records before certain dates? I have exact birth dates and death dates, but when I contact the town clerk, etc. they say, "We have no records before 18__. How does one go about "proving" their lineage? Seems like there's always been a flood, a fire or an earthquake, etc that has destroyed the records. Does that end your research? I have my gggrandparent's dates and places of birth marriage and death, but when I called the town clerk for records, she said they didn't have records back then, (1800, 1823, 1850 and 1877) and this has happened to me more than once, (Chicago, IL, Caledonia, MO, Hardwick, MA and AuSable, NY) So what does a person do now? Thanks marykell