Book Reviews

Book Reviews Proceedings of the Assembly of the Lower Counties on Delaware 17004776 of the Constitutional Convention of 1776 and of the House of Assembly of the Delaware State 1776-1781. edited by Claudia L. Bushman, Harold B. Hancock and Elizabeth Moyne Homsey. University of Delaware Press, Newark, Delaware, 1986, hardcover, 612 pp. appendices and index. This magnificent volume is the result of painstaking research into long out of print records and unpublished minutes of the proceedings of the House of Assembly (lower house) of the Delaware State for the years 1770-1787. Some of these proceedings have remained in manuscript for over two hundred years. After a short preface the book begins with a scholarly introduction which gives a valuable insight into Delaware's social and political history during this period. The new government was sorely tested in the fall of 1777 with the British occupation of northern New Castle County. Wilmington was temporarily occupied by British troops and many county and state papers fell into the hands of the enemy. It is interesting to read that in 1780 the Continental Congress asked that Delaware provide 315 additional recruits to reinforce Washington's army. Each militia company in the State was required to provide one recruit, aged eighteen to fifty, for every twenty men in its ranks. If there were no volunteers, men were to be drafted by lot, each recruit receiving a bounty of £150 to be paid by members of the militia company and the freeholders in the assessment district. The collection of the proceedings takes up about 500 pages dealing with Delaware's problems with England, its transition from the Three Lower Counties to the Delaware State, and its role as active partner with the other colonies in the Revolutionary War. The appendices contain a list of members of the Assembly with biograpical notes and a list of legislative acts passed 1770-1781. The publication of these valuable records at this time serves to commerate, fittingly, the 200th anniversary of Delaware's ratification of the constitution: the first slate to do so. Grace Gale Paris 167 168 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Pedigrees of Some of the Emperor Charlemagne's Descendants, Volume T. compiled by Marcellus Donald R. von Redlich, with a foreward by Arthur Adams. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1941. reprinted 1972, 1979, 1986. 320 pp. cloth $20.00 + $1.25 The popularity of this book, now in its third printing, proves to us that the old world reverence for position and pedigree has not waned in present-day America. It was first published by the Order of the Crown of Charlemagne in 1941. Then, as now, it was advertised as containing only those pedigrees that can be proved beyond doubt - an ambitious claim for lineages going back over 1,000 year. John Insley Coddington in the chapter on royal and noble genealogy in Genealogical Research: Methods and Sources, published by the American Society of Genealogists, (Washington, D.C., 1968) advises the reader that, although there are some correct lines in von Redlich's book, it is "unsatisfactory, since no references are cited for statements". He further deplored the quality of the bibliography at the back of the volume, finding some sources good, some "middling and bad." On an encouraging note, however, Dr. Arthur Adam's explanation in the Foreward of his untiring efforts to trace some of his colonial ancestors back to English gentry and thence to the throne of Charlemagne is a fascinating armchair journey from Salem County, New Jersey to Canterbury, county Kent, England. The progeny of the Royal Houses of Europe who trace their ancestry to Charlemagne are listed chronologically, followed by individual chapters listing American families who link up with one or more royal lines. Feudal genealogy is a complex subject not to be entered into lightly. Read with interest but beware of pitfalls, is the caveat recommended. Pedigrees of Some of the Emperor Charlemagne's Descendants, Volume II. compiled by Aileen Leavers Langston & J. Orton Buck, jr. with a foreward by Timothy Field Beard. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1974. reprinted 1986. 516 pp. indexed cloth $30.00 + $1.25. The Foreward to this volume by Timothy Field Beard, Genealogist-General of the Crown of Charlemagne and librarian at the New York Public Library, is a scholarly analysis of genealogical literature published since the first volume appeared in 1941 and may well be remembered after much of the text is forgotten. Reference works and periodicals for 48 of the 50 states are menti- Book Reviews 169 oned, with Alaska and Hawaii not listed. As for the body of this work, students will be disappointed at the lack of documentation. Be that as it may, many of the lineages are held in high regard by genealogists as they have been proved many times over. Some of these are those of the Reverend Peter Bulkeley of Concord, Massachusetts; Governor Thomas Dudley of Massachusetts; Colonel John West of Virginia; George Wyatt of Virginia; Sarah Ludlow, the wife of John Carter of Virginia; Colonel John Washington of Virginia, and many others. Unfortunately, some specious lines are included which fairly leap out of the pages at one because their lack of any reasonable evidence is so glaring. Twenty-two pages of lineages of members who entered the society claiming their descent from Elder William Brewster of the Mayflower through his marriage to Mary Wentworth are presented here although this line is no longer accepted. Mr. Beard on page 6 states that the problem of the ancestry of the wife of William Brewster has perplexed genealogists for many years. It serves no purpose to include lines that are unproven. It is for this and similar reasons that the reader should be cautious in studying this book. It should be noted that Mr. Beard seems to realize some of the dangers facing the unwary when he states in his closing paragraph, "It is a long way from 20th century Potwin, Kansas to Pontotoc, Oklahoma to 9th century France . ." But being a confirmed optimist he thinks it can be done and that the rewards will be most gratifying. Grace Gale Paris Our Quaker Ancestors, Finding Them in Quaker Records. by Ellen Thomas Berry Se David Allen Berry. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1987 136pp. maps $17.50 + $1.25. Designed to show beginners the kind of material to be found in the records of The Religious Society of Friends and to give the present location of these records, this is a valuable guidebook. The chapter on the organization of the Society explains the Yearly, Quarterly, Monthly and Preparative Meetings and the type of records kept by each. The patterns of migration are shown. The records of the Monthly Meetings contain the information most useful to the genealogist, and the importance of identifying the Monthly Meeting to which the ancestor belonged is stressed. Published sources of abstracts of Quaker records are described and 170 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine the chapter on repositories of the original records, or microfilm copies of the originals is most helpful. The largest of the Quaker archives is the Friends Historical Library, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081. The chapter dealing with The Background and History of the Quakers is interesting, however, it should be noted that William Penn first arrived in America on the ship Welcome in October 1682, not in the 1670's as stated here. Madelene Howland Your Life & Times: How to Put a Life Story on Tape-An Oral History Handbook. by Stephen & Julia Arthur. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1987. 5Opp. softcover. $8.95 Ever since the publication of Alex Haley's Roots, the subject of oral history and genealogy has increasingly captured the mind of the American public. Though numerous informative articles and monographs continue to appear, the majority have been utilized in retrieving biographical data from such prominent individuals as politicians, or in gathering oral traditions pertinent to one's antecedents; rather than in actually preserving the personal narratives of the common man living today. Tames is a step-by-step easy to read questionaire Your Life designed to extrapolate data necessary in constructing an autobiography, and preserving such information on tape for posterity. Every topic from "education" to "pets" is included within this compact, yet complete guide. Used in association with Ruth Kanin's Write the Story of Your Life and Wiliam G. Hartley's Preparing a Personal History, the Arthur's work simultaneously introduces the novice to methodological concerns relative to both oral history and genealogy. It also demonstrates the worth and valuable contribution the individual makes in an increasingly automated society. Daniel N. Rolph Pioneers of Old Monocacy: The Early Settlement of Frederick County, Maryland 1721-1743. by Grace L. Tracey gc John P. Dern. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1987. 442pp., illus., indexed, cloth, $37.50 + $1.25 An important contribution to our knowledge of the early Germanic settlers in this country, as well as the original Quaker settlers, has been set forth by the information complied in the Book Reviews 171 project begun by the late Grace L. Tracey and completed by John P. Dern. Included is a detailed account of landholdings in that part of western Maryland that eventually became Frederick. County. The authors have attempted to locate and describe the land of all the early settlers by a series of plat-maps drawn to scale from original surveys, and based on certificates of surveys and patents. The names of owners and occupiers, dates of surveys and patents, and name of contiguous properties and their owners are given. More importantly, this publication identifies the early settlers and inhabitants of the area by carefully following them through deeds, wills and inventories, judgement records and rent rolls. Many connections in Pennsylvania are shown. Appendices include a chronological list of surveys between 1721 and 1743; an alphabetical list of surveys, 1721-1743, giving dates, page references -text and maps - and patent references; a list of early German settlements in Frederick County; Muster Rolls for 1757; and excerpts from Johann Caspar Stover's records. This book is a "must" for those interested in this area of Maryland, as well as those searching for the origins of early German immigrants in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Jane Adams Clarke Bucks County Inteiligencer Marriage Notices 1804-1834. Volume I. edited by Frances Wise Waite. Bucks County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1.092, Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18901. 241pp. paperback, $20.00, plus postage & handling and 6% sales tax for Pennsylvania residents. The Bucks County Genealogical Society is to be highly commended for their contribution of this volume, as well as its companion volumes. Marriage records for this period of time before marriage licenses were required, are always being sought by genealogists. The Bucks County Intelligencer began publication on 5 July 1804 as the Pennsylvania Correspondent and is the earliest paper published in the county for which substantial files have survived. This volume is arranged in alphabetical order by bride and groom, and contains abstracted data concerning marriage notices which appeared in this newspaper. The full entry appears after the groom's name. Included is the date of marriage and date of the newspaper issue. The place of residence and name of the minister 172 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine or j ustice of the peace are often given. Other volumes available in this series are Volume 2., 1835-1860, surnames A-Law. Volume 1835-1860, surnames Lay-Z. The cost of these two volumes is $21.00 each, plus postage and handling and tax. Jane Adams Clarke Records of Pastoral Acts at Zion Lutheran Church, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 1795-1827. translated and edited by Frederick S. Weiser, The Pennsylvania German Society, 1987. 122pp. paperback. $15,00 plus postage, handling and 6% sales tax. This is Volume XI of the Sources and Documents of the Pennsylvania German Society. In it are all of the recorded baptisms, marriages and burials in the first volume of Zion church records. The record of confirmants and communicants have not been included. The records of this congregation show the accelerating acculturation of a Pennsylvania German church into the "English" life surrounding it. Members of the state legislature and other important personages of the period appear in this volume. Publishing of church records such as this, add to our knowledge of our ancestors and are always welcome. Jane Adams Clarke Amish-Mennonites of Waldeck and Wittgenstein. by Hermann Guth. Mennonite Family History, P.O. Box 171, Elverson, Pennsylvania 19520-0171. 6Opp. paperback. $7.50. This book covers the Swiss Amish-Mennonite families who settled in the Waldeck and Wittgenstein areas of Germany between 1750 and 1850. For those thousands of American Mennonites who are descended from these families that emigrated to Canada and the United States between 1830 and 1860, this is an important book. There is an historical introduction explaining their background, as well as genealogical material. An appendix lists the surnames of all inhabitants on the estates in Nassau-Siegen, Wittgenstein, Waldeck, Kurhessen, Oberhessen and Nassau. Jane Adams Clarke The James Glancy Genealogy, 1765-1986. by Walter Burgs Smith, II. paperback. 493pp. maps. charts, index. 1539.50 from the Book Reviews 173 author, 7007 Connecticut Avenue, Chevy Chase. Maryland 20815; (301) 986-8659. Here is another well-documented genealogy of a Pennsylvania pioneer, James Glancy, who took his, wife Eliza -th Ligh.thill, and children to the promising Northwest territory, settling in Clermont County, Ohio in 1805. Two children remained in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; one went on to. Adams County, Indiana; the other five remained in Knox or Licking Counties in Ohio. The author traces more than 2500 descendants- to the ninth and tenth generations, admitting many gap. in finding some descendants now spread to all parts of the country. Much biographical. information is provided and the military service records of one hundred family members comprise a "Roll of Honor". The index records many by the names of: Anderson, Baxter, Barton, Bennett, Bolton, Brooks, Cannon, Chambers, Clark, Dauphin, Davis, Dunlap, Evans, Gastinger, Grow, Drumm, Haag, Hardesty, Harman, Harris, Horlacher, Hoyt, Hughes, Johns, Jones,. Keller, Lee, McFarland, Miller, Moore, Moran, Neu, Otto, Peters, Ray, Price, Roberts, Schimpf, Searfoss, Siebert, Smith, Steele, Stewart, Storms, Swick, Thompson, Unroe, Warwick, White, Wingate and Young. Aubrey. H. Baldwin, III Our Italian Surnames. by Joseph G. Pucilla... Genealogical Publishing Co. Inc., 1987. $20.00 + $1.25. Dr. Fucilla is a professor of Romance languages at Northwestern University. With this book he presents a most comprehensive analysis of Italian names. Aside from learning. the fascinating meaning and derivation of names, it is the placing of many family names in their native locale that affords an. important due. to ate. im.migrant's place of origin. This is a valuable genealogical aid. Aubrey Hi. Baldwin, III. Going to America. by Terry Coleman. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. 1987 (reprint of 1972 edition) 317pp. illus,. paperback. $14.95 + $1.25. In telling the story of the British and Irish. immigrants- who came to America during the middle of the nineteenth- century,. Mr. Coleman provides us with stories of "real people". Careful research has resulted in full-blown examples of immigrant life. We re-live the hardships of the emigrant passengers ire steerage daring a miserable passage of four to seven weeks. Their troubl'es were not over when they landed at last in the "Land of Promise." Even if the 174 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine passenger s ehow 'managed to -arrive in .a state of good health and was passed on. by the health officer, he faced more formidable odds ahead. He could fall victim to the crooked "runners" intent upon stealing all he possessed. Crowded into wretched .cellars or filthy hovels the disillusioned emigrant faced yet another horror and threat to .his survival. The author provides a great deal of background material. We learn of the living conditions that drove the would-be colonist to look toward-America. The fact that so many managed to survive all these trials and tribulations is awesome. More than 2,300,000 persons made the treacherous journey during ten years in the middle of the last century. Helen Hutchison Woodroofe A Guide to Jewish Genealogical Research in Israel. by Sallyann Amdur Sack. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1987. 110pp. cloth. illus. VOA, %$1.25 For those searching for the identity and family relationship of European Jews this guide to the archives of Isreal is of great value. The researcher is introduced to the archival resources from the Hall of Names in Yad Vashem to the Central Archives of the Holocaust, from the Search Bureau for Missing Relatives to the Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People. Descriptions of key sources such as "yiskor books", "landsmanschaften records", and burial society records. For the experienced Jewish genealogist or the inexperienced tourist, this is the most vital item to carry on a trip to Israel. Here are the addresses and explainations iof the various archives; the maps to direct and the valued advice on how to proceed in the genealogical search. American Vital Records from. the -Gentleman's Magazine, 17311868. compiled by David Dobson. Genealogical Publishing Co. Inc., 1987. 310pp. ,cloth. $25.00 + $1.25 The Gentleman's Magazine was founded in London in 1731. It featured a ibroad mix of news, essays, poetry, parliamentary debates, book reviews and antiquarian notes. Mixed with these erudite matters were notices of births, marriages, and deaths of persons throughout the English-speaking world. Approximately 6,000 of these notices relate to persons in North America and the West Indies. As-an example, the following notice is of interest here: Ingersoll Joseph R, b. 1786, s. Jared Ingersoll, Pa. d. Book Reviews Philadelphia, 20 Feb. 1868. 175 (NS/5:544) There are notices relating to the deaths of American: Loyalists in England and to the marriages and deaths in America: of "younger sons" of the English gentry and nobility.. A bstracts of Bristol County, Massachusetts Probate Records, 16871745. compiled by Peter noun CG-. Genealogical Publishing Co„ Inc. 392 pp. cloth. 1987. $25.00 + $1.25. Bristol County,. Massachusetts was part of the original Plymouth Colony, which was settled largely by people- of Mayflower ancestry. The probate records for Bristol. County are located today in the Registry of Probate in Taunton, Massachusetts. The records also pertain to early Rhode Island. Inclu d in the records are wills, inventories, administrator's accounts, receipts, divisions of estates, petitions, guardianships and estate probates.. There ire references to more than 7,500 persons. Lithuanian Families of Luzerne. County., Pennsylvania. by Joseph A. King. K & K Publishing, Lafayette,. California. 1986. paper. 96 pp. $10.00 + $1.00. available front 1161 Nog.4.1es Street, Lafayette, California 94549. This genealogical-historical study deals with the pre-World War I. emigrants from Lithuania bathe Lucerne County, Pennsylvania where they came to work in the hard coal mines. Four families are featured: Wyckoskas; Baubonis; Perks ge Kachaskevicius.,