The old guestbook's entries are picked up by the Rootsweb site search engine, which will not be the case with its replacement. The advantage to site visitors is that there will be no delay between guestbook signing and visibility to other site visitors. This had to be done so as to free up hours of maintenance time. The guestbook entries are well worth plowing through if you have the time. Many researchers mention surnames they're looking for or tell us they grew up in the area.
Some signers mention surnames and never mailed in queries.
That said, it's tempting to place a query in the guestbook, but researchers who don't have much browsing time could miss it. Then use your back button to return and explore the largest county site in the New York GenWeb. Many connections from here started out in Herkimer and Montgomery counties. Looking for Christians and Roses , many of whom I think are buried in the area. Last names, Parker, Brooks, and Wells .