1989 Boyett Newsletter(C)2000 Boulineau Press

BOYET/E-BOYET/T/E NEWSLETTER
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Volume V, Number 4 Oct/Nov/Dec 1989

Publ. & Edited by Wendy Elliott, 4808 E. Garland St., Anaheim, CA - 928075
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

    Early West Tennessee Marriages    2
    1870 Census - Arkansas    5
    Arkansas Newspaper Obituaries    10
    Freedom of Information    11
    Johnson Co., IL BOYT Families    18
    RENEWAL FORM    18

EDITOR'S NOTE

Due to personal problems and loss of the entire fourth issue of Volume Five due to computer problems, this publication is quite late. Please excuse the delay of this issue and consequently Volume VI, Number 1 which is due at this time and has not yet been organized or typed. If any or you have camera-ready material which can be used, please submit it as soon as possible.

Early West Tennessee Marriages
Volume I Grooms
by Sistler

Names                        lic date/marr* date county
(* when only one date appears it indicates that the license and
marriage dates were the same)
BOYET, William W. to Elizabeth T. GRANT 6Octl83l/9Octl53l Madison
BOYETT, B. S. to Elizabeth ANDREWS l0Sepl853/l5Sepl853 Gibson
BOYETT, Baptist to Mary Ann FENTRIS 16 Jan 1848    Obion
BOYETT, Cullen J. to Delilah WATTS 12 Feb 1846    Gibson
BOYETT, D. G. to Charrinda CREWS 17 Aug 1838/2OAug 1838 Gibson
BOYETT, E. W. to S. A. MITCHELL 22 Dec 1859/25 Dec 1859 Gibson
BOYETT, Ezekiel to Eliza Jane MASSEY 6 May 1848/l8May1848 Madison
BOYETT, G. T. to Harrit S. BOTTOMS 13 Jan 1868    Gibson
BOYETT, J. W. to Mary WHITLEY    12 Feb 1861    Gibson
BOYETT, James E. to Mary E. WEST 13 Feb 1860/l6Febl86O Obion
BOYETT, James T. to Margarett J. BAKER 7 Julyl857/8July1857 Gibson
BOYETT, Joseph p. to Manerva M. WEST 3OJune 1849/l2Julyl849 Gibson
BOYETT, Lewis M. to Elmira MORROW 5 June 1852    Obion
BOYETT, Lycurgus to Louiza E. CLARK 27Dec1858/29Decl858    Gibson
BOYETT, S. A. to Martha A. SLOANE 13 May 1869    Gibson
BOYETT, Stephen A. to Jane HOLLOMAN 23 Feb 1858/25Feb1858   Obion
BOYETT, Thomas F. to Louisa Elmira WEST 8 Febl852/9Decl852 Obion
BOYETT, Thomas H. to Letty NEDRY 21 Sep 1850/22 Sep 1850    Obion
BOYETT, Thomas to Elizabeth HARRIS 15 Dec 1839/19Decl839 Madison
BOYETT, Thomas to Nancy REEVES 17 Jan 1838/21 Jan 1838    Obion
BOYETT, W. G. to Sarah ABINGTON 20 Sep 1848    Obion

(continued on page 3)
(continued from page 2)

BOYETT, William to Elizabeth A. WODDY 8 Oct 1858/140ct1858 Gibson
BOYETT, Wm B. to N. L. BYNUM    20 Apr 1865    Obion
BOYT, Elijah to Susan CRANE   25 Apr 1830                 Gibson
BOYT, Elijah to Susan CRANE    25 Apr 1831                 Gibson
BOYTE, Baptist to Mahulda EVAN 3 Nay 1828/9 May 1828    Obion
BOYTE, John A. to Ann A BUTLER 11 Jan 1854/12 Jan 1854   Hardeman
BOYTE, John B. to Nancy M. McKaughan 6Ju1y1842/7Julyl842 Hardeman
BOYTE, Ollen to Mary A. TURNER 12 Dec 1848/21 Dec 1848   Hardeman
BOYTE, Patrick to Nancy McVEY 8 Aug 1853/4 Aug 1853      Hardeman

Volume II Brides

BOYET, Catherine M. to A. G. Tilghman 24 Nov 1855 no return Fayette

BOYETT, Alabama to R. D. WARD 3 Jan 1865    Obion
BOYETT, Easter R. to Jesse WYATT 23 Feb 1849/13 Feb 1849    Obion

BOYETT, Elizabeth to J. H. McKNIGHT 19 Mar 1863    Obion

BOYETT, Esther R. to Jessie WYATT 12 Febv 1849    Obion

BOYETT, Lucenda to Calvin FLOWERS 11 Mar 1851/14 Mar 1851 Gibson

BOYETT, M. A. to A. S. CLARK 30 Jan 1861/31 Jan 1861    Obion

BOYETT, Mahulda J. to J. K. BOTTOMS 13 Jan 1868    Gibson

BOYETT, Mahulda to C. H. WATTS 23 Jan 1866    Obion

BOYETT, Martha to James DOWELL 15 Jan 1851/18 Dec 1851    Gibson

BOYETT, Mary A. F. to Abner N. READ 26 Aug 1848    Obion

BOYETT, N. L. to R. N. JETTON 13 Oct 1873/16 Oct 1873    Obion

BOYETT, Poilee to John 0. CLAYTON 2 Apr 1866/14 Apr 1866    Obion

BOYETT, S. M. to N. HOLLOMAN 17 Mar 1851    Obion

(continued on page 4)

(continued from page 3)

BOYETT, Selia to George SMITH 11 Dec 1839/12 Dec 1839    Obion

BOYETT, Susan to Andrew MASSEY 3 Dec 1844/4 Dec 1844

BOYETT, Wincey(Nancy)Ann to William L. COCHRAN 28Janl854/29Jan Obion

BOYT, Charity to James SHAW 26 July 1831/ 28 July 1831

BOYT, Exaline to Reuben TYSON 30 July 1831/4 Aug 1831    Gibson

BOYT, Martha to Urius REEVES 11 Apr 1833/13 Apr 1833    Obion

BOYT, Nancy C. to Ashley ROADES 30 May 1846/31 May 1846   Hardeman

BOYT, Nancy to William NEDRY 23 Aug 1836/25 Aug 1836    Gibson

BOYT, Rebecca J. to Hezekiah J. DAVIS 16July1842/20July1842 Gibson

BOYT, Sarah to James F. CRITTENDEN 22 Sep 1860 no return

BOYT, Zilpah to Jesse COX 14 July 1832/? July 1832    Hardeman

BOYTE, Abbe to Cullen DUNN 8 March 1833    Hardeman

BOYTE, Ailsy E. to John KENNEDY 21 Aug 1839/29 Aug 1839 Hardeman

BOYTE, Alsy to James B. BRINT 13 Sep 1828    Hardeman

BOYTE, Ann to Morris RAIFORD 12 Dec 1837/4 Jan 1838    Hardeman

BOYTE, Barbay to William PATE 8 Oct 1834    Hardeman

BOYTE, Elizaneth to Elliot STEVENS 13 Feb 1832    Hardeman

BOYTE, Mary H. to William H. AMMONS 6 Jan 1844/11Jan1844 Hardeman

BOYTT, Clorence to William CROCKETT 18 Mar 1830/25 Mar 1830 Gibson

BOYTT, Martha to John P. TUCKER 19 July 1842/20 July 1842 Gibson

Editor's note: Many names were misread by the authors in creating this compilation. Review of the original records as well as other county records will help correct these errors.

1870 U.S. CENSUS - ARKANSAS

submitted by Pat Lape Bennett

Bradley County, Arkansas (Roll M593 -48)
p. 494b Clay twp. 20 July 1870 P. 0. Lanark
#5    names             age sex color occupation values birthplace
Line 7
50/47 BOYETT, Jesse    25 m w    farmer 400 200 Tenn
       Julia    24    f w    k.house    Ark
       Helvin    1    m w        Ark
       Annie    57    f w    housekeeper    NC
    HOBLEY, William    18    m w    farm laborer    Ark

Line 12
51/48 HORGAN, George    30 m w    farmer 400 300 Miss
    Margaret    25 f w    k. house    Tenn
    Sarah    1 f w    Ark
    BOYETT, Martha    5 f w    Ark

p.534 & 534b Ouachita twp 5 July 1870 P.O. Gravel Ridge Line 37
33/33 BOYETT, Jesse    46 m w    farmer 500 600 NC
    Emiline    39 f w    k. house    Ala
    Taylor    20 m w        Ark
        Jane    17    f w        Ark
(534b)                              Joseph    10    m w    works on farm    Ark
        Columbus    17    w m        Ark
    Calvin    4 m w        Ark
p. 574b Red Land twp, 22 July 1870 P. 0. Eagle Creek Line 4
9/9 BOYETT, William    66 m w    farmer    1600 1100 SC
           Eliza                                                  20 f w      k. house       AL
           Benjamin                                               16 m w        AL
    Bettie       14       f w          AL
    Albert       20       m w          Ark
    Thomas       26       m w      works on farm       AL
    Abraham      20      m w      works on farm      AL
    Robert       18       m w      works on farm       AL
Line 12
10/10 BOYETT, Paga     40     f b     k. house     SC
    Toliver      16      m b      working farm    125      AL
    Alice       10       f b       Ark
    Bettie          2/12 f b     (March 1870)      Ark
Line 17
11/11 BOYETT, Erba    23    m w    farmer     ----400    AL
    Anna         17         f w     k. house         Ark

(Continued on page 6)

(Continued from page 5)
Calhoun County, Arkansas (Roll M593 _ 48)
p. 621b Fayette twp. 11 Aug 1870 P.O. Hampton
Line 13
511/511 BOYT, Andrew     47 m w laborer     ---50    NC
    Nancy    16    f w    AL
    Henry    14    m w    AL
    Martha    11    f w    AL
    James    9    m w    AL

Columbia County, Arkansas (Roll M593 - 50)
p. 331 Clay twp 21 July 1870 P.O. Magnolia
Line 22
17/17 BOYETT, Denison    32 m w    farm laborer    Ark
    Mary J.    25 f w        Ark
    John 0.    8 m w    AL
    Alice C.    5 f w    AL

p. 392 Georgia twp 16 July 1870 P.O. Gibson's Store Line 3
20/20 BOYETT, Jesse     57 m w   farmer 1000 500     NC
    Thomas S.    55 m w    NC
    Thomas J.    21 m w    farm laborer    Ark
    William G.    19 m w    Ark
    Jesse M.    13 m w    Ark

p.    394 & 394b Georgia twp 18 July 1870 P.O. Gibson’s Store Line 35
63/63 BOYETT, Ethel    69 m w    farmer 300 300    Georgia
    Elizabeth    52    f w        AL
    James    23    m w    farm laborer    Ark
    Ersula A.    21    f w        Ark
    Charlotte A.    12    f w        Ark
        William    5 m w    Ark
    p.394b    Eliza    3 f w    Ark
    CANTERBERY, Frances 17 f w    Domestic servant    Ark

p. 398b Georgia twp     20 July 1870 Gibson's Store Line 3
12/12 BOYETT, Wilburn   31 m w    farmer 300 184     AL
        Nary A.    26 f w    AL
    Jesse B.    2 m w        Ark

Dallas County, Arkansas (Roll M593   52)
p. 450 Princeton twp   22 August 1870 P.O. Princeton
Line 10
154/144 BOYT, Joshua    45 m m   farmer   1000 230   NC
    Josephine    15 f m    k. house    Georgia
    Mary A.    13 f m        Georgia

(Continued on page 7)

Hempstead County, Arkansas (Rail M593 _ 54)
p. 476b Saline twp. 5 August 1870   P. 0. Columbus
Line 28
    167/167 GADSON, Mike    27 m w    farmer    200 Ark
    Millie?    23 f w    VA
    Della    2 f w    Ark
    Sal    1 m w    Ark
    168/168 BOYED, Sandy*    22 m b    farm laborer    Ark
     HILL, C. M.    56    m w     farmer 1000 450    Miss
        Nary J.    24    f w        Miss
        Lizzie    20    f w        Miss
        Matt    18    m w        Miss
        Emma    16    f w        Ark
        Thomas    13    m w        Ark
    WALTON, Betsy    26    f b    domestic servant    NC
        Alice    3    f b        Ark
*This may be a transcription error an the part of the original census enumerator as it is doubtful that a black man, Sandy BOYED, was the head of a household in which he had no property, when the oldest male in that household had $1000 worth of real estate and $450 worth of personal property. Sandy may have lived alone or with the GADSON family and the household numbers were accidentally mismarked.

p. 490b Spring Hill twp.   23 July 1870   P.O. Spring Hill Line 25
152/152 BOYED, T. M.    55 m w   carpenter 200 600   NC
    Martha    46    f w            AL
    Thomas    24    m w    farmer    200    AL
    Henry    22    m w        200    AL
    Mollie    20    f w            Ark
    John    16    m w            Ark
    Fannie    14    f w            Ark
    Wm.    10    m w            Ark
    Ben    8    m w            Ark
    George    6    m w            Ark

Izard County, Arkansas (Roll M593 - 55)
p. 278 & 278b Sylamore twp 16 September 1870 P.O. Blue Mountain
Line 37
69/70 BOYETT, William   42 m w    farmer   300 600   Georgia
        Mary A.    26    f w    k. house    Tenn.
        Pinkney    11    m w    at school    Ark
        Josephus    5    m w        Ark
    278b    Andy    2    m w        Ark
        George    1    m w        Ark

(Continued on page 8)

(Continued from page 7)
Jefferson County, Arkansas (Roll M593 - 56)
p.    420 Bolivar twp [30 July 1870)   P.O. Pastoria
Line 22
176/176 MINK?, Wiley    34 m w    Planter    ---320    Tenn
    Salina    52    f w    k. house    Tenn
James               21 m w   at home            Tenn
Charles          16 m w   at home            Ark
David               10 m w   at home            Ark

ROJES?, Syntha 20 f w house servant Ark

    George    14    m w     at home    Ark
    BOYT, Louise    52 f w house keeper    LA
James    17 m w   farmer              Miss
    Dickey W.    14 m w    farmer    Miss
    MONK, Peyton    21 m w    farmer 11 acres in Tenn*
    HALL, Isabel    12 f b    servant    Ark
*    Note about 11 acres in Tenn. written in pencil above the entry.

Monroe County, Arkansas (Roll M593 -59)
p. 21    Cypress twp 20 June 1870 P.O. cypress
Line 25
    38/36    BOYE, Wesley    25 m from    farm laborer    Tenn
         Ann    20 f b    k. house    Tenn
    Minerva    14 f b    farm laborer    KY
    Hilliard    12 m b    farm laborer    KY
    Phredonia    10    f b    (deaf-mute)    KY
    Margaret    7    f from    Ark*TX
    Sallie    6    f from    TX
    Meshack    1 m m        Ark
    John Wesley    6/12 m from    (Jan. 1870)    Ark
*Ark was crossed out and Texas written in.
Pulaski County, Arkansas    (Roll M593 -62)
p.    163 Eastmann twp.    1 June 1870    P.O. Little Rock
Line 8
38/44   BOYED, Fleetwood   39 m w    carpenter    250 550    Ark
        Mary E.    24    f w    k. house        Sc
   MILLER, Andrew         60 m w    carpenter    ---100    Penn
   DARLING, Missouri        46?f w    asst to k.house    KY
        Albert             18 m w    at school        Ark
        George E.    8    m w            Ark

p.    194 Grey twp   7 June 1870 P.O. Little Rock Line 25
51/58 BEULL, Robert    37 m b    farmer 600 300    Miss
    Sophia    28 f b    k house    Miss
    Ann    16 f b    at home    Ark
    Mary    13 f b    at home    Ark
    Ellen    11 f b    at home    Ark
    BOYETT, Ed    21 m b    farm laborer    MO
(Continued on page 9)

(Continued from page 8)
    Scott County, Arkansas    (Roll M593 - 63)
p.    640b Sugar Creek twp. 24 June 1870   P.O. Reville
    Line 24
16/16 BOYETT, James M. 28 m w   farmer --- 150   Tenn
    Sarah W.    19    f w    k house    Ark
    Anna    7    f w        Ark
    Jane    1    f w        Ark
    Searcy County, Arkansas    (Roll M593 _ 64)
    p.    56b    Locus Grove twp. 25 July 1870 P.O. Blue Mountain
    Line 7
    57/58 BOYETT, James F. 21 m w    farm laborer    Tenn
    Loatisa?    24 f w    k. house    Ark
    Mary     1 f w        TX

p.    69 Wiley's Cove twp. 29 July 1870 P.O. Wiley's Cove Line 1
    1/1    BOYED1 Charles    59    m w    farmer 800    1140    KY
    Lavina    60 f w    k. house    AL
    Charles    15 m w    farm laborer    Ark
    Wm. F.    16 m w    farm laborer    Ark
    Samuel    14 m 2    farm laborer    Ark
    Andrew J.    10 m w        Ark
    James H.    7 m w        Ark

p. 72 Wiley's Cove twp. 30 July 1870 P.O. Wiley’s Cove Line 22
    46/46    BOYED, George W. 33 m w    farmer    --    1085 Tenn
    Sarah    33    f w    k. house    Ark
    Louis W.    13    m w        Ark
    Troan? F.    9    m w        Ark
    Vina A.    4    f w        Ark
    Floyed    1    m w        Ark
p.    73 Wiley's Cove twp. 1 August 1870 P.O. Wiley's Cove Line 35
    63/63 BOYED, James    25? m w    farmer --- 200 Ark
    Ann    25    f w    k. house    Ark
    Louisa E.    4    f w        Ark
    Izora    2    f w        Ark
    Florance    10/12 f w        (Dec 1869)    Ark
    Sebastian County, Arkansas (Roll M593    65)
    p.    116    Centre twp.    24 August 1870    P.O. Greenwood
Line 23
    230/229 BOYTT, Thomas    52 m w    farmer    600 300    Tenn
    Mary    35 f w    k. house    AL
    Tennessee    11 f w    at home    Ark
    Francis    9 f w        Ark
    Geo. W.    7 m w        Ark
    Willis E.    3 m w        Ark

(Continued from page 9)
Union County, Arkansas    (Roll M593- 65)
p.. 571 Lapile twp.    18 June 1870    P.O. Hillsboro
Line 20
    4/4    BOYETT, Samuel M.    26 m w     farmer    100 300    Ark
           Ellen Iael??    21 f w    k. house        LA
    Lafayette    6/12 m w    (Dec 1869)    Ark

White County, Arkansas (Roll M593 - 67)
p.    380 Liberty twp    11 July 1870    P.O. West Point
    Line    1
    46/46     BOYEDD, W. H.    35    m w     laborer    ---125    Illinois
           Martha    77    f V     at home        NC
        PORTER, Elizabeth    28    f w    k. house        Tenn
           Liza    10    f w            Ark

    ARKANSAS NEWSPAPER OBITUARIES
submitted by Pat Lap. Bennett

Lonoke Democrat, Thurs. 18 Dec 1884 page 4, column 4 (under column
entitled "Carlisle Dots.”

“Mr. Bud BOYETTE, well known in Lonoke as one of Richwoods best farmers, died in Hamilton Township on 8th inst.   The deceased leaves a number of friends to mourn his death."

Lonoke Democrat, Thurs. 14 Dec 1939 page 4 column 6:

"Mrs. Arnette BOYTE, 68, died at the home of her son, Henry BOYTE of Tomberlin Tuesday. She was born in Arkansas county, received her education in Memphis, and came to Tomberlin as a young woman. She was the widow of James Hy BOYTE. Funeral services were held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Tomberlin Baptist Church by the Rev. P.
E.    TURNER."

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YOUR RIGHT TO FEDERAL RECORDS:
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT
AND THE PRIVACY ACT

Had trouble getting a copy of your relative's social security application? Been denied access to what you feel should be public records? The following information, taken verbatim from a government publication, may provide some of the answers you need:

Reproduced from a brochure which "provides basic guidance about the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Privacy Act of 1974. Based on a question\answer format, it addresses the most frequently asked questions by persons who contact the Federal Information Centers.

THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

What information is available under the FOIA?

The FOIA provides access to all federal agency records (or portions of those records) except those which are protected from release by nine specific exemptions . . .. The exemptions cover such material as (1) classified national defense and foreign relations information, (2) internal agency personnel rules and practices, (3) material prohibited from disclosure by another law, (4) trade secrets and other confidential business information, (5) certain inter-agency or intra-agency communications, (6) personnel, medical, and other files involving personal privacy, (7) certain investigatory records compiled for law enforcement purposes, (8) matters relating to the supervision of financial institutions, and (9) geological information on oil wells
...............

The FOIA does not apply to Congress or the courts, nor does it apply to records of state or local governments. However, nearly all state governments have their own FOIA-type
statues. You may request information about a state's law by writing the attorney general of the state.

The FOIA does not require a private organization or business to release any information directly to the public whether it

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1A joint publication of U.S. General Services Administration,
Washington, D.C. 20405, and the U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. 20530 (n.pub., n.d.). There is no identification on the brochure except it’s name which heads this article and the notice of responsible publishers which leads this footnote.

has been submitted to the government or not. However, information submitted by private firms to the federal government may be available through a FOIA request

provided that the information is not a trade secret, confidential business information, or protected by some other exemption.

Under the FOIA you may request and receive a copy of any record that is in an agency's official files and is not
covered by one of the exemptions2. . . When you make a FOIA request, you must describe the material you want as specifically as possible. If the agency cannot identify what you have requested with a reasonable amount of effort, it is under no obligation to you. It is not required by the FOIA to do research for you, to compile or analyze data, or to answer questions.

Whom do I contact in the federal government with my request? How do I get the right address?

No one office handles all FOIA requests. Each request for information must be made to the appropriate agency. . .. You may have to do a little research to find the proper office to handle your inquiry, but you will save time in the long run if you send your request directly to the appropriate office. For assistance, you can contact the nearest Federal Information Center (FIC). Located throughout the country, the FIC's are specially prepared to help you find the right agency, the right office, and the right address. A list of FIC addresses . . . (follows].

How do I request information under the FOIA?

When you get the agency's name and address, write a letter of request to the agency's Freedom of Information Office. (Note on the envelope and at the top of the letter 'Freedom of Information Act Request.') Identify the records you want as accurately as possible. Although you do not have give the document’s name or title, your request must reasonably describe the records sought. Any facts or clues which you can furnish about the time, place, persons, events, subject, or other details of the information or records you seek will be helpful to agency personnel in deciding where to search and in determining which records pertain to your request. This can save you and the government time and money and also improve your prospects of getting what you want.

What about costs for getting records under the FOIA?

An agency may charge only for the cost of searching for the

________________________________________________
2 Boldface type added for emphasis.

material and the cost of making copies for you. Search fees usually range from $4 to $26 per hour; the rates generally reflect salary levels of the personnel needed for the search.
The charge for copying letter-size and legal-size pages can be as much as 25 cents apiece, but 10 cents per page is common in most agencies. There is no requirement for uniform fees among the agencies. If you wish to avoid copying charges, you may ask to visit the agency in person to see the records........................

Some agencies waive changes if the total cost is minimal. This threshold amount varies from $3.00 to $30.00, depending on the agency. You may receive a waiver or reduction of fees if you request it and can show the information you are seeking will, when released, primarily benefit the general public.

How long will it take to answer my request?

Federal agencies are required to answer your request for information within 10 working days of receipt (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays). If you have not received a reply by the end of that time (be sure to allow for mailing time), you may write a follow-up letter or telephone the agency to ask about the delay.

Sometimes an agency may need more than 10 working days to find the records, examine them, possibly consult other persons or agencies, and decide whether it will disclose the records requested. If so, the agency is required to inform you before the deadline. Agencies have the right to extend this period up to 10 more working day.4

A few agencies have received unexpectedly large numbers of requests. If an agency has a backlog of requests that were received before yours and has assigned a reasonable portion of its staff to work on the backlog, the agency usually will handle requests on a first-come, first-served basis and may not respond to all requests within the statutory period.

What happens if the agency refuses to give me the information?

An agency normally will deny an FOIA request only if it has a serious practical problem with granting it, supported by a
___________________________________
3 This may be the law, but it is not always followed. The last request I sent for a one-page Social Security application, took six months, from date of my letter to receipt of the data.

4 See previous footnote and following paragraph.

legal reason for denial (an exemption). If an agency denies your request, it must be able to prove that the information is covered by one of the nine exemptions listed in the Act. The agency must give you the reason for denial in writing and inform you of your right to appeal the decision.5

THE PRIVACY ACT

What is the Privacy Act?

The federal government compiles a wide range of information on individuals. For example if you were ever in military service or employed by a federal agency, there should be records of your service. If you have ever applied for a federal grant or received a student loan certified by the government, you are probably the subject of a file. There are records on every individual who has ever paid income taxes or received a check from Social Security or Medicare.

The Privacy Act, passed by congress in 1974, establishes certain controls over what personal information is collected by the federal government and how it is used. The Act guarantees three primary right: (1) the right to see records about yourself, subject to the Privacy Act's exemptions, (2) the right to amend that record if it is inaccurate, irrelevant, untimely, or incomplete, and (3) the right to sue the government for violations of the statute including permitting others to see your records unless specifically permitted by the Act.

It also provides for certain limitations on agency information practices, such as requiring that information about a person be collected from that person to the greatest extent practicable; requiring agencies to ensure that their records are relevant, accurate, timely and complete; and prohibiting agencies from maintaining information describing how an individual exercises his or her First Amendment rights unless the individual consents to it, a statue permits it, or it is within the scope of an authorized law enforcement investigation.

What information may I request under the Privacy Act?

The Privacy Act applies only to documents about individuals maintained by agencies in the executive branch of the federal government. It applies to these records only if they are in
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5 The appellate process can be reported upon in a later article if enough interest is garnered from this article.

  a 'system' of records, which means they are retrieved by an individual's name, social security number, or some other
personal identifier. In other words, the Privacy Act does not apply to information about individuals in records that are filed under other subjects, such as organizations or events, unless the agency also indexes and retrieves them by individual names or other personal identifiers. Like the FOIA, the Privacy Act does not apply to records held by Congress, the courts, local governments or private organizations (except for the limitation upon the use of the social security account number, which does apply to state and local governments).

There are 10 exemptions to the Privacy Act under which an agency can withhold certain kinds of information from you. Examples of exempt records are those containing classified information on national security or those concerning criminal investigations. Another exemption often used by agencies is that which protects information that would identify a confidential source.    For example, if an investigator questions a person about your qualifications for federal employment and that person agrees to answer only if his identity is protected, then his name or any information that would identify him can be withheld. The 10 exemptions are set out in the Act.6

Whom do I contact in the federal government with my request? How do I get the right address?

As with the FOIA, no one office handles all Privacy Act requests. To locate the proper agency to handle your request, follow the same guidelines as for the FOIA.

How do I request information under the Privacy Act?

Write an letter to the agency that you believe may have [the appropriate) file. . .. Address your request to the Privacy Act Officer or head of the agency, such as 'Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services.' Be sure to write 'Privacy Act Request' clearly on both the letter and the envelope.

Most agencies require some proof of identity before they will give you your records.   Therefore, it is a good idea to enclose proof of identity (such as a copy of your driver’s

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6A complete copy of the act is available in U.S. Government Manual and the U.S. Code (section 552a of Title 5), which can be found in most public and university libraries. You may order a copy of the Privacy Act, Public Law 93-579, from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, for $2.50. Specify stock number 022-003-90866-8.
license) with your full name and address.7 Do not send the original documents.   Remember to sign your request for information, since your signature is a form of identification, (A notarized signature is even better.) If an agency needs more proof of identity before releasing your files, it will let you know.

Give as much information as possible................

What about costs for getting records under the Privacy Act?

Under the Privacy Act, an agency can charge only for the cost of copying records for you, not for time spent locating them. As with the FOIA, you might be able to avoid copying charges by requesting to visit the agency in person to see the records.

How long will it take to answer my request?

Under the terms of the Privacy Act, the agency is not required to reply to a request within a period of time. However, most agencies have adopted the 10-day period in their regulations. If you do not receive any response within 4 weeks or so, you might wish to write again, enclosing a copy of your original request.

FEDERAL INFORMATION CENTERS

Alaska Federal Information Center 701 C Street Box 33 Anchorage, AK 99513	California Federal Information Center 300 N. Los Angeles St. Los Angeles, CA 90012
Colorado Federal Information Center Federal Center P. O. Box 25006 Denver, CO 80225	Federal Information Center 650 Capitol Mall Sacramento, CA 95814 ___________________________ Federal Information Center 880 Fron Street San Diego, CA 92188
Florida Federal Information Center 144 First Avenue South Room 105 St. Petersburg, FL 33701	Federal Information Center 450 Golden Gate Avenue Box 36082 San Francisco, CA 94102
Georgia Federal Information Center 75 Spring Street, SW Atlanta, GA 30303	Hawaii Federal Information Center 300 Ala Moana Blvd. Box 50091 Honolulu, HI 96850
Illinois Federal Information Center 230 South Dearborn Street 23rd Floor Chicago, IL 60604	Massachusetts Federal Information Center McCormack P. O. C. H. Building Room 812 Boston, MA 02109
Michigan Federal Information Center 477 Michigan Avenue Room M-25 Detroit, MI 48226	Missouri Federal Information Center 1520 Market Street Room 2616 St. Louis, MO 63103
Nebraska Federal Information Center 215 North 17th Street Omaha, NE 68102

New York Federal Information Center 111 West Huron Bullalo, NY 14202	Ohio Federal Information Center 550 Main Street Cincinnati, OH 45202
New York Federal Information Center 26 Federal Plaza Room 2-110 New York, NY 10278	Oregon Federal Information Center 1220 SW Third Avenue Room 321 Portland, OR 97204
Pennsylvania Federal Information Center 9th and Market Streets Room 4127 Philadelphia, PA 19107	Texas Federal Information Center 819 Taylor Street Fort Worth, TX 76102 __________________________ Federal Information Center 515 Rusk Avenue Houston, TX 77002

When requesting information
on deceased relatives, send a copy of individual's death certificate and enclose a statement relating your exact relationship.

JOHNSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS

BOYT FAMILIES

Elisha T. BOYT, of Johnson County, Illinois, served during the Civil War. Elisha may be a brother of Samuel BOYT. Elisha was born in Davidson County, Tennessee in 1824. He enrolled in 1862 in Johnson County, Illinois. He was discharged at Nashville, Tennessee on 25 December 1861, but reenlisted at Mound City, Illinois. He was again discharged at Cairo, Illinois on 20 September 1862.

Inthe 1860 U.S. Census, Elisha was living in Johnson County, Illinois with his wife Susan HOLMER. Later Elisha married Paralee (SMITH) SANDERS in Stoddard County, Missouri. Paralee was a sister to Joseph Plummer SMITH.

This information was submitted by Ilene Worth, of Essex, Missouri.

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RENEWAL

Due to rising costs of postage and printing, the Boyt/e-Boyet/t/e Newsletter subscription costs for 1990 will be $15.00.

Please make checks payable to Wendy Elliott not the Newsletter.

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