The first two books (French and Spafford) are both published by Heart of the
Lakes Publishing Company in Interlaken, NY 14847. I ordered mine from Kinship
in Rhinebeck, and paid about $30 for each, I think. I'm sure they can be
purchased direct from publlisher or found elsewhere. I find their
*differences* invaluable.
Spafford's 1824 "Gazetteer of the State of New-York" includes an "ample
survey and
description of its Counties, Towns, Cities, Villages, Canals, Mountains,
Lakes, Rivers, Creeks" etc. all arranged alphabetically. It gives many name
changes from early on, and when Spafford gets on his high horse (as he does
occasionally in a
footnote on one or another subject) he is quite amusing.
French's 1860 "Historical and Statistical Gazetteer" goes county by county,
giving a
"Comprehensive View of the Geography, Geology, and General History of the
State."
If you wondered why your ancestor moved to a certain town, its geology may
give you a clue: maybe slate or limestone was quarried there, or iron ore
abounded or the land was rich and smooth for farming. Towns are described
under their counties, and there is an index at the end.
A third resource I've found valuable because it includes the whole United
States, is the 11 volume "Omni Gazetteer" edited by Abate. I am glad that a
nearby library has this set, for I've found information in it that I couldn't
find elsewhere. It is present day not historical, but it includes hamlets as
well as villages, even what it calls "populated places," those too small to
list any other way! I guess they are like the numerous "Corners" where I grew
up, which had a mom and pop store, a tiny post office and maybe even a gas
station.
Check them out!
Jean Snow