Hello All! Many thanks to the many people who have sent in information regarding the early 19th century books registered in the district courts. I'm not sure where to start - seems like what I am looking for can be buried under thousands of pages of like material (not that slogging through 3,000 volumes of old records scares me - been there, done that). I''l try to digest all of the information over the weekend and may come back with more questions! Thanks again, Dan W. http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyccazen/ Also, while I'm here, I always wanted to put up a historical marker of my own in the front yard that reads: in big bold letters: ANCIENT STONE CASTLE in little tiny letters 1000 miles and an ocean away lies the in big bold letters CASTLE with a MOAT in little tiny letters occupied by big bold letters ANCIENT ROMAN WARRIORS AD 37 to AD 1492 (having read many of the rejected applications to the state ed. dept. I think mine would be right at home - and with the right administration and enough shoving I might even have gotten it approved!)