Saw that there were marriages online at USGENWEB Somerset site, but don't see them there. Can someone direct me to it?
Thanks

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~kindred/MS...

Here is the list from 1759-1879.

I have a question for anyone who can answer it. Where can I find the original record that this was transcribed from? Sometimes transcriptions cause the spelling of names to be semi-inaccurate, and I would like to view the original copy to see if the name of the person I'm looking for is indeed spelled this way.

Thank you!

The answer is the NJ Archives. See the following re: NJ marriage records:

http://www.state.nj.us/state/darm/links/webcat/queries/cxxma...

Out of curiosity, what name are you referring to? Somerset County names, particularly the Dutch ones, are spelled a myriad of ways in the records. At least one name, Nevius, is said to have been spelled over 200 different ways. Spelling is a very minor concern during this time period. The clerk just spelled what he heard.

Thank you! Would those reels be at the Trenton Library or at my County Clerk's office?

I am researching the last name LaQuey, which is my maiden name..not very common. It's kind of a long story, but basically I've gotten back to 1800 with one of my grandfathers, but cannot locate any of his relatives (parents, siblings, etc). The family lore is that 3 brothers came from France. I think that maybe one of these brothers was the father to my grandfather born in 1800. However, I don't know who these brothers are or when they came (if they did). So I'm stuck.

I found some records for a similar spelling, Laquay, and began to pursue that. I'm hoping to find a connection between the Laquays and the Laqueys. Although, I haven't been able to as of yet.

The LDS website lists a Peter Laquay from France who marries a Marie Van Tyne (Vantine, etc)in Somerset, NJ on July 22, 1820. Looking at the marriage record, it says that a Peter Larkey married a Polly Vantine on July 22, 1820.

There is a Peter Laquay in Michigan where the dates could work out to be the son of the above Peter Laquay. It even says his father was born in France and his mother New York/New Jersey. So, I was hoping to find some information confirming this. But if this record really is for a Peter Larkey and Polly Vantine, I'm going to be very disappointed.

First, the website is telling you that the records are held by the NJ Archives - not at the Trenton library and not in the Somerset Co clerk's office. The Archives is located in Trenton, but it is not the same as the library.

Second, you are getting too hung up on spellings. You have to be flexible with names recorded prior to the early 1900s. Most people couldn't write (especially immigrants) and, if asked, they had no idea how their name was spelled. The clerks just wrote it the way they heard it pronounced. LeQuey, Laquay, even Larkey - all could easily belong to the same family. Polly is the nickname for Mary (or Maria) so a Polly Vantine is easily the same person as Marie Van Tyne.

When you quote "the LDS website" as a source, that means very little. It could be from a true source document (such as a marriage record), but more often than not it is from information someone placed out there. Information obtained from the LDS website has varying degrees of accuracy, depending upon the source behind the entry. Chances are it comes from a family tree someone submitted - someone with the belief (and hopefully the knowledge) that the Somserset Co marriage entry was actually for Peter Laquay and Marie Van Tyne (despite the way the names were spelled in the record).

In summary, you may likely find that the marriage entry is truly for Peter Larkey and Polly Vantine. That, however, should not leave you "very disappointed." What you then need to do is find additional evidence to support an hypothesis that the young couple is really Peter Laquay and Marie Van Tyne. Queries placed under the Laquay and Van Tyne surnames would be a good place to start.

Thank you for the advice.

You might want to try this link. It has a wealth of info and an excellent search engine, although it took me awhile to learn how to use it.

http://www.ancestralcurios.com/vital_statistics.htm

Scroll down to a list of church marriage records on the left. There are some records from Bergen, NJ, but most are churches in NY. Keep in mind that French families often traveled to a Dutch church on Long Island or a French church in Somerset Co. NJ, even though they lived on Staten Is. The Dutch had more choices, but there are cases where a Dutch family on Staten Is. traveled to NY to have children baptized.

Joanne

First, if anyone knows where to get documentation on Peter LaQuay and Mary Marie Van Tyne's family, please let me know.

The following death certificate links Peter LaQuay born in France and a Miss Van Tine (first name not listed) as the parents of Peter L. LaQuay b. NY who died in Battle Creek Michigan

In addition to the comments from the person who said "don't get too hung up spelling," (good advice) Note that R-dropping was and continues to be a part of northern New Jersey phonology. So, if the registrar was an R-dropper and heard Lah Kay (the approximate rendition of La Quai in French) who knows what he would write. Larkey is certainly possible. I've also seen Ader for Ada.

Death certificate for Peter LaQuay who was married to Mary L Gregory and was the father of George, Malon (sp varies), John, Ida, Julia, Sarah. He is in the census for Battle Creek from 1860 until his death in an institution of some kind, probably a hospital, in Kalamazoo.

MI death certificates for 1897-1920 can be seen online at http://haldigitalcollections.cdmhost.com/cdm4/search.php

Death certificate
Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Asylum
Peter LaQuay
Male White Married
Occ. Mechanic
DoB 1825 NY (other data suggest Sep 1826 or 1825)
Age 86 y __m __d
DoD 6 Feb 1911
CoD Mitral insufficiency
Father Peter LaQuay b. France
Mother _____ Van Tyne b. Holland
Informant is attending physician
Time at this location 1 m 6 d Previouse residence Battle Creek
Burial Battle Creek

There is a marriage record from the New Jersey Marriages, 1684-1895 for a Peter Larkey and Polly Vantine. I've been told that Polly is another name for Mary.

Okay, I see that record on Ancestry. Has anyone seen the record first hand? A photocopy or scanned image?

Polly is definitely the same as Mary.