PADELAWA-L Archives

From: "Dana Radano" <>
Subject: Re: HELP!
Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2002 18:47:20 -0600

I agree with Helen. I have been to the courthouse previously and was
treated quite rudely. Also, when you call to try to get information they
are not very helpful. I have sent them money to look up information, since
I am out of state, and never had much luck with that either. I even have
wondered if they have taken the time to search.

PA as a state is not up to par with their vital records either. They do
not publish much as far as death, birth, marriage indexes online. The only
good thing I can say is they are very quick to send death certificates.
Other states are months but PA will send them in about 3-4 weeks.

Good Luck with your research.

Dana
-----Original Message-----
From: <>
To: <>
Date: Tuesday, February 05, 2002 4:02 PM
Subject: HELP!


>Hi list,
>
> I received the following query & answer it to the best of my
>knowledge. I'm hoping someone else might have some better ideas!
>Furthermore, I feel that others doing genealogy research should be
>aware of what is happening in Delaware County, PA!
>
>Please read the following:
>
><< Hi Helen,
>I met you at DCHS and I belong to your website, maybe you can help
>me. I have been for the last 2 years trying to get info on my great great
>grandfathers naturalization papers. No one seems to know how to
>help me I have been out to the courthouse to many times to count I
>have called Fair Acres Paul says I need to give him a document number,
>Do you know anyone who might be able to search these records, the
>courthouse said the women who did the searches was a volunteer
>named Betty.
>
>The man I am looking for is a Joseph HOLLIDAY Born 1842 England
>was naturalized in Delaware County Courthouse on Oct 1 1888
>he arrived in New York on January 21st 1866.
>
>All I have is a letter from Delaware County prothonatary with the
>above information from July 5th 1935...
>
>Thought maybe you could guide me in the right direction any help or
>knowledge would be greatly appreciated.
>Thanx for your time,
>Jacki
>>>
>
> This was my response:
>
>Hi Jacki,
>
> I'm sorry to say but Delaware County is horrible when it comes
>to getting naturalization papers & other records at the court house.
>It appears that the people in Delaware County do NOT have any
>Civil Rights.
>
> In the Passport Office, at the court house. There is a woman/clerk
>who had contact, with a woman, who has the index of these naturalization
>records at her home. So, when you gave the clerk the name of the person(s)
>you are researching, she would contact this woman. After a search, the
>clerk would make a copy of the naturalization papers for you. I do not
>think she is allowed to do this service for the public any longer.
>
> About a year ago, when I went to the Passport Office to update my
>passport. This clerk seen me standing at the counter -- in a loud voice,
>she told me she could NOT help me get naturalization papers, anymore.
>I just smiled at her & said I would like to update my passport -- she
>handed me the form & I walked out of the office just shaking my head! :)
>
> I went to the court house a month or so ago, to search for some
>Wills - Administrations & Probate Records. They now are taking a
>count of how many times you come into the Register of Wills
>Office & ask to see a Will or an Administration -- I want to know why
>-- these or public records? I can see it coming, next, we will not be
>allowed to see Wills &/or Administrations at the Dela. Co. Court House!
>
> There are Military Records in the Recorder of Deeds Office & we are
>not allowed to see them. Now, I can understand not being allowed to
>see records from WW I on up to present time because of the Privacy Act.
>If I can send to the National Archives to get Military Records prior
>to WW I -- why can't I see them at my local court house?
>
> I tried to get adoption records for a man in CA, who's grandfather
>had been adopted on the 1880s. This Adoption Journal is missing
>from the court house & has never been found. This gentleman just
>died last fall & will never know his heritage! Sad, very sad!
>
> In all my twenty some years of genealogy research, I have NEVER
>been to a county or state in the USA that has such a communistic
>attitude about public records as Delaware County has!
>
> You might want to do try one or more of the following:
>
>1. Write a letter to the Editor of the Daily Times (newspaper).
> (I have asked them over the past couple of years, to bring this
> problem of getting records, at the Dela. Co. Court House, to the
> public but they never printed the story.)
>
>2. Call the President Judge at the Delaware Co. Court House.
>
>3. Contact a State Senator's Office -- Senator Clarence Bell:
> 610-565-9100
>
>4. State Representative -- Stephen Barrar: 610-874-1358
> William F. Adolph, Jr.: 610-544-9878
> 610-544-9879
>
>5. Call the State Attorney General's Office: 212-560-2402
>
>6. Engage a local attorney to get these records for you.
>
>5. Or take some other type of legal action.
>
> Sorry, I could not be of more help -- I get very angered when I hear
>these problems are going on, in Delaware Co., PA!!!!! :(
>
> Happy hunting, Helen (DCGS)
>
>
>
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>
>
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