Genealogy Books

Withers' Chronicles of Border Warfare, an excellent example of the genre of frontier history, was originally published in 1831. In 1895, Reuben Thwaites, editor of Wisconsin Historical Collections, prepared an annotated edition of the Withers book based on materials not available to the author, among them the extraordinary collection of primary sources assembled at the Wisconsin Historical Society by Lyman C. Draper. Clearfield Company is pleased to reprint the revised edition of Withers' Chronicles at this time. The focal point of Chronicles of Border Warfare is the American settlement throughout the northwestern portion of colonial Virginia (an area which today encompasses parts of Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, and Pennsylvania) from the French and Indian War to the Battle of Fallen Timbers, and the ensuing clashes with the indigenous population. While the watershed events of the advancing frontier (the arrival of scouts, establishment of forts, and the ultimate triumph of the U.S. Army) give a structure to Withers' account, what the book is really about are detailed, often grisly, descriptions of contacts between the races. Not something to be read by the squeamish, it is full of graphic accounts of massacres and reprisals. While the Chronicles purport to be essentially historical in nature, genealogists will appreciate the numerous references to the intrepid scouts and settlers along the frontier furnished by the author and amplified by Mr. Thwaites. All such persons are readily found in the index at the back of the volume.

In twelve essays drawn from papers dealing primarily with the fifteenth century, but spanning England, France, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands, various authors deal with public events- like victory celebrations, signing of a city charters, tournaments, and coronations of a kings- as not only expressions of popular culture but as intercessory actions between the populace and those in power. Hanawalt and Reyerson have divided their collection into four sections that deal successively with municipal and royal relationships, public and private religious expressions, discord in urban ceremonies, and political overtones in public entertainments. Of particular interest is Sheila Lindenbaum's "Ceremony or Oligarchy: The London Midsummer Watch," in which she describes the way a show of power in the processional visibility of the mayor reinforces an oligarchic control over an unquiet city in London of 1521.

I'm a huge fan of Missouri history and Civil War history and love this book. I haven't completely finished reading it yet...but it seems well researched and detailed. A must have for the Missouri history or Civil War in Missouri researcher.

This is a common sense and practical way to learn the ins and outs of finding out information on an ancestor who may have served in the Civil War. It's well written and informative, providing a step-by-step approach to gathering that information. People are always interested in finding out what their ancestor may have done in the war. This guide gives you the advice on how to gather that information, but also ways to expand your knowledge base, by pursuing information on their regiment, division, or corps. A great little book!

Wonderful handsome volume of early and medieval Irish history and genealogy focusing on Leinster and the Clan Kinsella. Brian Boru and the later Norman invasion of Ireland and Dermot macMurrough are looked at carefully. Not another quick knockoff to make a quick buck this beautiful book had a lot of care in the book production and the footnoted research. This is for the hardcover edition.

This book follows a well worn pattern but does it well. A small section is devoted to each name, its tartan is illustrated and, in this case, a major advantage is the inclusion of the heraldic drawings of the chief's arms and in some cases, standards, by the late Don Pottinger, Islay Herald at the Court of the Lord Lyon.

The limitation of this formula is that is it virtually impossible to say anything meaningful in such a short space about a whole clan and often the illustrations of the tartans are too small to allow the full sett to be seen.

This book finds the same problems when describing each name but its tartans are better than most, although it is impossible, for instance, to see the whole pattern of the Cameron of Lochiel tartan as illustrated. Useful additions, however, are some of the main branches of each clan, and,where one exists, its slogan or battle-cry.

Some names are included which are not clans but families for whom a tartan is named. Particularly useful for those not already familiar with it is the map showing main clan locations on pp52-55. This is the work of Don Pottinger and the late Sir Iain Moncreiffe of that Ilk, Albany Herald and it contains a wealth of information.

There are a number of useful articles included in the text and the whole book is most atractively laid out. A good introduction to the subject and well above the usual standard.

My grandfather has a first edition 1938 copy of this in his collection, I have have a 1960 much used and rebound twice version. It's one I use at the first "go to" anytime I need a fast run down on a Clan or a Tartan, this is what I pick up. Nifty wee book with punch! Give the Clan Name in English and Gaelic, Motto's Old and Altered, Clan Badge with description, Origin on Clan Name, Plant Badge, War Cry and Pipe Music, with full plate colour of their tartan(s) and a surprisingly in-depth mini history for each Clan.

But that is not all! It has a short history of Scotland from Origins, moving into the development of the Clans, the ranks within a Clan and various Customs. Has the Dress of the Tartan with several different examples. There is a Family and Clan name, so you can see what Septs belong to what Clan(s) A Scots History Time Line and even a mini Scot-Gaelic Glossary of Place Names and one of Heraldic Terms.

For a wee book its size, you cannot believe all the information in it. A must for anyone wanting to know more about the tartans and the histories of the Highland Clans.

This is the best book of biblical names I have found yet. It includes all the classics plus some lesser known names all found in the Old and New Testament. It tells how to pronounce each name, the language or cultural origin of the name, the meaning, the spiritual connotation, and my favorite - related names and nicknames which help you be a little more creative with the more common Christian names. You also get the scriptural story that the name comes from and other information such as famous people who share the name. This is a great resource for parents who desire a Christian name for their child and who want a lot of options.

Kids are invited to become sleuths into family history with Climbing Your Family Tree: Online And Off-Line Genealogy For Kids, a lively title, packed with tips on how to become an ancestor detective. From conducting interviews with family members to tracking down naturalization records, birth certificates, and regional history, Climbing Your Family Tree will appeal to all young readers who become fascinated with the fine art of genealogy.

Need to find your family in County Armagh?? This sprial bound book is for you!!! This book has proved to be very useful in research. Such a great "hands on book" Gives you the address and location of records for more research in Ireland. If you are also wanting a more in depth research on families then check out "The Book of Irish Families, Great and Small". The author also has a website Irish Roots Cafe, irishroots.com!

This work was as promised. Helped me by having all the basic Armagh info in one place. I did find some possible connections -I wish it were bigger!