Here's some more search tips for you guys. :-)
Dee Hardy
When writing to request death records, it should be hand written on regular 
notebook paper and include a SASE. You are asking for probate records of a 
loved one here. The following should be included (if known):
- full or partial name of the deceased and their spouse
- last known address
- approx DOB
- date and place of marriage
- approx date of death within 5 years either way
You can use urgent medical reasons here.
When researching census records:
1) Don't stop with the soundex findings. Go back to the original census.
2) Don't believe the census indexes to be either correct or complete.
3) Don't assume the relationship to the head of the household is stated.
4) Don't assume the spelling of the name is as you know it now.
5) Don't assume the wife is the mother of any or all the children.
6) Don't assume the ages given provide a birth year.
7) Don't forget to copy the information at the top of the page as well as the 
data to the right of the occupation column.
8) Don't forget to copy all entries of the surname in the county. Check the 
neighbors too! Four Smith's in a row and one Jones in the middle could mean a 
married daughter and her family.
9) Don't think that records before 1850 can't help you. They may have only 
one name listed but at least you'll know how many to look for for a whole 
family.
10) Don't think census data gives all the answers.
11) Don't forget the 1880 PLUS records when you are stuck in the early 
1880's. 1880 and later give the birth state of the father and mother.
12) Don't forget the 1890 veteran's census if your ancestor was in the 
military. Widows are also listed.
13) Don't forget about state census records.
Web sites for those with internet access:
http://www.natltele.com/form.html       telephone info
http://www.open.org/mcorrect/      inmate info
http://www.journalism.berkeley.edu/foi/calfoi/htm    government info
http://www.ljextra.com/courtguides/main42.html   court guides
http://alexia.lis.uiuc.edu/~helm/area.html   genealogy site
Circle those that you've tried:
(cemetary recordss): SEXTONS   FAMILY BIBLES   TOMBSTONES   MEMORIALS
GIFTS
(newspapers): INDEXES   BIRTHS   DEATHS   MARRIAGES   ANNIVERSARIES
OBITUARIES   ADVERTISEMENTS   SPECIFIC DATES   ANNOUNCEMENTS
SOCIETY PAGE   BUSINESS PAGE   GENEALOGICAL   HISTORICAL   GOSSIP
LOCAL NEWS
(collection): INDEXES   NEWSPAPERS   PERSONAL PAPERS   COORESPONDENCE
SURNAME FILES   BIOGRAPHIES   INSCRIPTIONS   DAR   REFERENCE WORKS
PERIODICALS   GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS
(court records): DOCKETS   MINUTES   ORDERS,DECREES   JUDGEMENTS
CASE FILES
(Genealogical Society of Utah Indexes): COMPUTER FILE INDEX
FAMILY GROUP ARCHIVE   TEMPLE INDEX BUREAU
PA SEARCHERS:
If your birth took place in Booth Memorial Maternity Home, you must send a 
notorized letter requesting yourmedical records to:
Salvation Army Archives & Research Center
PO Box 269  Alexandria,VA  22313
To get a complete listing of all school districts in the state, go to your 
local library reference desk and ask for the book that has these listed. 
Names, addresses & phone #'s will be included. you can also call the PA Dept. 
of Education at 717-783-6788 or write them at:
333 Market St.  Harrisburg,PA  17123-0333 for further info.
Record keeping on adoption begins with pregnancy!! If bmom knew before the 
child was born that adoption was the option going to be used, chances are 
real good that at least an agency, attorney or some court action was 
contacted or started. Records are kept throughout the pregnancy and birth and 
after the birth as well. Some bparents are under the false assumption (or 
told this as a lie) that everything about them would be forever wiped clean 
of the slate and nowhere would their name appear again after the adoption is 
finalized. This is certainly false!! 
Some support groups:
C.U.B.  PO Box 4711  Des Moines,IA  50306-4711
ADOPTION CONCERNS TRIANGLE  913-357-1581 in Topeka,KS
ADOPTEE AWARENESS  502-241-6358 in Anchorage,KY
ADOPTION TRIAD NETWORK  318-984-3682 in Lafayette,LA
ASC ME  207-799-4760 in South Portland,ME
Please keep in mind that not everything has been personally tried by me. :-)  
Good luck!!
--- MsgedsqWB 3.05.07
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