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Archiver > NYC-ROOTS > 1998-04 > 0891456249


From: LeslieCorn <>
Subject: Re: Probate Headache
Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 13:44:09 EST


Hi again, Tom,

In a message dated 4/1/98 6:04:35 PM, wrote:

>Hello -
>
>The 1855 NY city directory lists Charles Roome:
>
>Roome Charles H. merchant 72 Merchants Exch.
>ROOME and DINWIDDLE, merchants, 72 Merchants' Exchange
>
>Do you suppose Merchants Exch. is a building or an address?
>What part of Manhattan?
>
> The LDS says a will exists for this Charles H. Roome -
> 1857 liber 121 page 41. The LDS film 0481766 nor the
> film 0481767 did not contain this liber, althought it
> covers this time frame. Apparently liber 121 was not
> copied. Now what do I do?
>
>Tom

The Merchants Exchange was at 55 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan. It later was
used as the U.S. Customs House.

Here's a little aspirin for your probate headache:

LDS only has transcripts of wills, not the original wills and not the juicier
probate, which should give you signatures, accurate names, relationships,
addresses and other goodies. So even if you do find the right LDS film, you'll
only have a piece of the available materials.

I'm assuming that the will was proved in Manhattan. If this was the case,
you'll need to contact Manhattan Surrogate's Court at 31 Chambers St, 4 Fl,
NY, NY 10007. As Jim mentioned, the fee is quite steep, if you order by mail.
They don't tend to be warm and fuzzy and friendly people down there, by the
way, and won't go out of their way for you. I generally advise that
researchers go in person or send someone they trust to handle the process.

Best,

Leslie

Leslie Corn
NYC Research & Genealogy

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