In 2011 I posted the top 8 genealogy books I use most of the
time when research, writing and blogging. You can read that link here: http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2011/06/top-8-genealogy-books-on-my-bookshelf.html
It’s time for an update!
Some of those same books from 2011 are still among my most used books,
and some are new or updated versions.
What books are your most favorite genealogy books? Which books do you use the most?
Remember, my genealogy is focused on New England. This is a list of the books I find the useful,
and you might, too, if you have ancestors in New Hampshire, Maine and
Massachusetts.
1. The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to
New England 1620 – 1633, Three volumes, by Robert Charles Anderson,
1996. These books list over 900 New
England families with sketches on their origins, arrivals in New England,
family records, and more. I use both the
online version (good for searching digitally) and the bound books on my
bookshelf. I reach for these books several times a week, and for most of my "Surname Saturday" blog posts.
2. The
Great Migration: Immigrants to New England 1634-1635, Seven volumes, by
Robert Charles Anderson, 2011. A follow
up to The Great Migration Begins. (see above)
3. Genealogist’s
Handbook for New England Research, by Michael J. LeClerc, 5th
edition, 2012. This book needs an update
for 2015, but it is still well used. I
just keep crossing out and penciling in changes in addresses, phone numbers and
URLs. This guide book will help you
locate public records, archives, libraries, genealogical societies and
libraries in New England. There are
maps, state information, and more. I’ve
owned many of these editions over the years and they are invaluable for New
England research.
4. Index to Genealogies in New Hampshire Town
Histories, by William Copley, New Hampshire Historical Society,
2000. This book indexes New Hampshire
families by surname, and gives the town histories where there are genealogical
write ups for each family. I wish there was a similar book for Massachusetts
and Maine! This book also needs a good update, but I still refer to it almost
daily. William Copley recently retired
from the NHHS, so are there any volunteers for an updated edition?
5. New Englanders in the 1600s: Expanded
Edition, by Martin E. Hollick, New England Historic Genealogical
Society, 2012. Four years ago I listed
the 2006 edition. I’m very glad that I updated to the new “expanded
edition”, it was very good investment. This book lists the most
recent genealogical articles and books published between 1980 and 2010. I always refer to this book to find the most
recent research on any early New England ancestor.
6. Evidence Explained: Citing History
Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace, 3rd edition, 2015 by Elizabeth
Shown Mills. Four years ago I listed
Elizabeth Shown Mills book, Evidence!
Citation and Analysis for the Family Historian, 1997. Her new book is just released this year. This book is the ultimate guide to correctly
citing genealogical sources, especially the odd ones found online or in family
collections. Check out the website https://www.evidenceexplained.com/
This book is also available in an
electronic version.
7. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First
Settlers of New England, Four volumes, by James Savage, Genealogical
Publishing Company, Baltimore, 1969.
This is an invaluable resource for New England genealogy. It is old, and
you will need to read up on Martin Hollick’s New Englanders in the 1600s
to see if your particular ancestors have had any newer research published
lately.
8. Piscataqua Pioneers: Selected Biographies of
Early Settlers in Northern New England, by the Piscataqua Pioneers, 2000. See the website for the lineage society and
to purchase this book http://www.piscataquapioneers.org/ This is THE BOOK to have if your ancestors lived in colonial Northern New England in the area of the Piscataqua River, spanning both Maine and New Hampshire's border region (Rockingham, York, Strafford Counties especially).
9. Silver Books
Series and the pink “Mayflower Families in Progress (MFIP) booklets, published
by the General Society of Mayflower Descendants. These books are collectively known as the “Five
Generations Project” even though now they have been researched and published past
the first five generations for the Mayflower passengers known to have left
descendants. There are some being published now for non-passengers (allied
family members), such as DELANO and CUSHMAN
. The MFIP books are made
available while information is being researched, and once complete they become
Silver books. They are NOT available online (except for a few very outdated, older volumes).
10. A
Guide to Massachusetts Cemeteries, 2nd edition, by David Allen Lambert, 2009. A town by town list of the cemeteries in
Massachusetts, with a short sketch of information including contact information
and other valuable tidbits. I wish every
New England state had a book like this.
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I love books and this is a wonderful list. I have all but 4,8,and 9. I use the Silver Books a lot at the library maybe I should consider buying them. The NEHGS book catalog is like the Sears catalog was when I was a child!
ReplyDeleteI agree, the NEHGS catalog that arrives just before Christmas is like the "Wish Book". Santa usually brings me at least one book from this catalog each year. I plan to circle the new Great Migration Directory this year. Maybe with a big red marker!
Delete"Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire"
ReplyDeleteSybil Noyes, Charles T. Libby, and Walter G. Davis
Published: 1928-1939
This indispensable and comprehensive reference work is offered in a convenient one-volume form. It contains extensive biographical and genealogical data on every family established in Maine and New Hampshire before 1699. Listed are the births, marriages, and deaths of the settlers through the third generation, and sometimes into the fourth. Also included are data on places of origin, residences, wills and deeds, court cases, and highlights of lives and careers.
Per Genealogical.com. I was fortunate enough to purchase the text at a yard sale 15 years ago for under a dollar!
Great choice, Jennifer! If I had expanded the list from 10 books to 12, GDMNH would have been added. My copy was from a used book sale at NEHGS, but I'm sure I paid more than a dollar!
Delete