Some areas have archives online eg. Aube Department has ten year tables (table decennale) of BDM for each village in alphabetical order for each 10 year set covering 1803 to 1882 see
http://www.archives-aube.com/index_archives.htmYou might also consider joining one of the French Yahoo discussion groups on "genealogie" (this is the FRENCH
SPELLING) at
http://fr.groups.yahoo.com/ On this page go to "Trouver un group" which is "find a group" so use "genealogie" and the Department name for your relatives origins eg. Aube, to find a more specific group. Join the group (it's free) The more info you can provide on your ancestor the better. In most cases if you give them enough they will track it down in the Archives. The language is in french, but you can get away with using Google translation and explain your lack of french - they will often reply in english and translate the Acte (scanned copy of the orignal parish record in old french). In most cases you will find these groups very helpful. I found 2 cousins and got my french ancestors back to 1550's!!!
Good
Hunting!
Regards
Lee Hill