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British Interest Group of Wisconsin and Illinois

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The British Genealogist’s Library


Cover of Book Reviews book

Special Note: Many of these reviews are now available in book form. In June 2006 BIGWILL published The British Genealogist’s Library, a collection of approximately 250 book and media reviews written by Paul Milner.The book is priced at $27.95, plus $3.00 S/H (US; inquire for elsewhere), with special pricing for BIGWILL members. Send an e-mail query to BIGWILL for further information.
CONTENTS    
 Map of Great Britain
 Introduction
Section 1  General Guide to Research in the British Isles
Section 2  General Reference Books
Section 3  Finding and Using Specific Records:
The Census, Wills, Probate, Poor Laws, & More
Section 4  Learning About Your Military Ancestors
Section 5  Irish Ancestry
Section 6  Scottish Ancestry
Section 7  Welsh Ancestry
Section 8  English Ancestry: Greater London
Section 9  English Ancestry: The Southwest
Section 10  English Ancestry: The Southeast
Section 11  English Ancestry: The Midlands
Section 12  English Ancestry: The North
Section 13  The British in North America
Section 14  The Irish in North America
Section 15  The Scots in North America
Section 16  The Scots-Irish
Section 17  Pedigrees, Heraldry, and Royalty
Section 18  Miscellaneous Books of Interest
 Index of Books by Title
 Index of Books by Author

Reviews of books and CD-ROMs on British Isles genealogy:

Note: This web page is primarily a collection of reviews which have appeared in the BIGWILL Newsletter. However, at the very bottom of this web page there are links to reviews of books and CD-ROMs on British Isles genealogy which have appeared elsewhere on “the web.”.

Author/Editor/Compiler/Transcriber Index

     (The absence of a link for an author’s name indicates that a review was published in a BIGWILL newsletter, but that review has not yet been transferred to this web page.)
PLEASE notify the BIGWILL webmaster if you discover errors in this Author/Editor/Compiler/Transcriber Index

Subject Index

Title Index

     (The absence of a link for a title indicates that a review was published in a BIGWILL newsletter, but that review has not yet been transferred to this web page.) PLEASE notify the BIGWILL webmaster if you discover errors in this Title Index

Reviews

 Note: Except for corrections of typographical errors, these reviews are printed verbatim as they were originally published - thus prices and names & addresses of publishers may be no longer correct. In cases where we do know updated information, an addendum (in italics) is added at the bottom of the review.

Note: The information for titles followed by a dagger (“†”) has not yet been carefully proofread against the original reviews as published in the BIGWILL newsletter.

Making Use of the Census, Second edition by Susan Lumas. Public Record Office Readers’ Guide No. 1. PRO Publications, Public Record Office, Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1LR. copyright 1993. £4.75.

This book is designed specifically for people who use the census rooms at the Public Record Office. A "tour" is provided giving the whereabouts of specific objects, shelves and the reference room with its indexes and finding aids. For those of us here in the US the most useful parts of the book explain how the census returns were made, problems you may encounter and how to overcome them. There is a useful section dealing with how to cite the reference for an individual accurately. The appendixes are excellent and include lists of towns and cities that have street indexes, the census divisions and registration districts. For those with ancestors in London there is a useful map showing the registration districts.

Note: This book is now in its fourth edition (2002).

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.1 no.1, 1994

Making Sense of the Census: The Manuscripts Returns for England and Wales, 1801-1901 by Edward Higgs. Public Record Office Handbook No. 23, HMSO Publications Centre, PO Box 276, London SW8 5DT. copyright 1989, Third impression 1991. £9.95

This book is highly recommended if you intend to do much work with the census returns of England and Wales. It describes the history and idiosyncrasies of the development of the census materials from 1801-1901. This includes the 1901 census which will not be available for public inspection until 2001. The structure of each return is described along with the special returns for the Army, Navy, merchant marine, vessels on inland waterways and institutions. The information regarding an individual is discussed in detail and provides helpful material on how to interpret what you find in the returns especially if it may be out of the ordinary.

Note: This book has been updated, as Making Sense of the Census Revisited : Census Records for England and Wales 1801-1901 : a Handbook for Historical Researchers (2005).

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.1 no.1, 1994

British Genealogical Periodicals: A Bibliography of Their Contents. Volumes 1 and 2 by Stuart Raymond. Federation of Family History Societies. Copyright 1991. v. 1 - £5.40; v. 2, parts 1 & 2 each £3.40.

These slim volumes provide a very useful modern bibliographic source for some of the earliest British genealogical publications.

Volume 1 is divided into 2 sections. Section 1 covers the 8 volumes of Collectanea Topographica Et Genealogica published between 1834 and 1843 with the 3 volumes of Topographer and Genealogist published between 1846 and 1858. Section 2 covers the 12 volumes of The Ancestor, which was a quarterly review of county and family history, heraldry and antiquities, published between 1902 and 1905.

Volume 2 deals with the 44 volumes of The Genealogist published between 1877 and 1921. There are two sections published separately. Part 1 deals with source materials. Part 2 catalogues family histories, individual pedigrees, biographical notes and obituaries.

All the books have place name, family name and author indexes.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.1 no.2, 1994

Tony Hoskins, a guest speaker for BIGWILL, showed us that all the periodicals reviewed above are available at the Newberry Library. A check at the University of Wisconsin Memorial Library in Madison shows that they also have all of the periodicals, although some issues of The Genealogist are missing. These two libraries provide unique collections easily accessible to us.

The periodicals in question are:
  Collectanea Topographica Et Genealogica v. 1-8 published 1834 - 1843.
  Topographer and Genealogist v. 1-3 published 1846 - 1858.
  The Ancestor v. 1-12 published 1902 - 1905.
  The Genealogist v. 1-44 published 1877 - 1921.

A volume 3 has been added to Stuart Raymond’s guide to British Genealogical Bibliographies. This volume indexes in two separate parts the 31 volumes of Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica, and the British Archivist. The series contains 31 volumes published 1866-1938, part one dealing with Sources and part two dealing with Families. This series contains articles and extractions spread over many volumes therefore a good index is a necessity. This guide provides a valuable resources for accessing this material. The Newberry Library and Memorial Library have a complete run of this periodical.

Update by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.1 no.3, 1994

Tracing Your Irish Ancestors: The Complete Guide by John Grenham. Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, Maryland. Copyright 1992. $18.95.

Tracing your Irish ancestors can be difficult at best. Tracing your Irish Ancestors has made that a much more manageable project. John Grenham has separated his book into three parts that makes it very usable for all level of researchers. Part one deals with the basic resources such as indexes, census, church, and vital records to name just a few.

Part two is meant to follow after you have run out of sources to research from part one. Griffith’s Evaluation, land records, wills etc. are addressed here and sources mentioned. Part three takes each county into consideration and list many records available at that level. In addition, in the beginning of the book, maps covering all of the Catholic dioceses are shown and labeled.

If you have put off your Irish research because you don’t think anything is available or because you didn’t know where to start then John Grenham has given you the very best information to begin Irish research.

Note: This book is now in its third edition (2006). The second edition (1999) has also been reviewed in this newsletter.

Reviewed by Ann Wells
BIGWILL v.1 no.2, 1994

Your English Ancestry: A Guide for North Americans by Sherry Irvine. Ancestry, Salt Lake City UT. Copyright 1993. $12.95.

Ms. Irvine attempts to bring English research to a manageable level for people in North America, without a trip to England, or using a researcher until absolutely necessary. And, she does a very good job of it.

Her explanation of records and what’s necessary to use the information they contain is very down to earth; this makes this book extremely easy to read. She goes into depth on each record and indicates where in England you might find it. She then leads you to the Family History Library (LDS) and indicates how to find it there. Of course not every record is available through the Family History Library, but many indexes are, which will help you locate and access the original records through the mail from England.

Ms. Irvine addresses many common problems, such as, "What if I don’t have enough information to use a particular record." She does a very good job of suggesting other directions to follow.

While this book might not fill the bill for a more experienced English researcher, I believe that it will be very useful at any level, as she does suggest some not-so-common sources to pursue. And one cannot know every source available.

This book makes for excellent reading and really should be on all English researchers’ library shelves.

Notes: This edition was reviewed again in 1995. This book is now in its second (“Revised”) edition (1998).

Reviewed by Ann Wells
BIGWILL v.1 no.3, 1994

Guide to the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, Belfast Northern Ireland. Copyright 1991. Free.

This helpful 20 page illustrated guide book describes the collection, indexes and procedures for using the PRONI. The PRONI has built up, since its founding in 1923, a large collection of historical records relating to Ulster. The guide is obviously intended for someone who will be visiting and using the facilities of the PRONI. However it does contain some useful ideas about what alternative records could be used for your research and their availability. Many of these may be available through the LDS centers, but the guide will certainly help you to know what to ask or look for.

The guide raises three questions that should be answered prior to a visit to the PRONI for a search to be successful. (1) Where in Ulster did your ancestor come from? (2) What was your ancestor’s religion? (3) What date were they born, married, emigrated or buried?

You can get a copy of the guide by writing to:

Public Record Office
66 Balmoral Ave
Belfast BT9 6NY
Northern Ireland
In addition, ask for a copy of the PRONI publications list which has been updated since the guide was first issued.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.1 no.3, 1994

Army Records for Family Historians by Simon Fowler. Public Record Office Readers’ Guide No. 2, PRO Publications, Public Record Office, Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1LR. Copyright 1992. £4.75.

This book describes the main series of records of the War Office and other government departments which provide information about the officers and soldiers who have served in the British Army. Almost all War Office records give some information about individuals, but this guide concentrates on those series containing material of greatest potential interest to the family historian. Most of the records described in the book are at the Public Record Office at Kew, with a few clearly indicated at Chancery Lane.

The book clearly outlines what records are available for you ancestors, whether they were officers or rank and file soldiers. You must begin with the regiment, and suggestions are made on where to look for this information if you don’t know it. Once you know the regiment the book helps you by outlining what information you are likely to find in which series of documents. I found myself reading the book and marking references to the Royal Artillery that I had not checked yet in seeking information about my William Dixon.

The book is well laid out, easy to follow and provides lots of avenues to search in seeking that elusive military ancestor. The photographs in the appendix provide good examples of what many of the documents look like. The index is a good one for finding information on a branch of the service or a particular type of document without having to read the whole book.

Do not assume that you have to go to London to do this research. Many of the Military records have been microfilmed and are available through your local Family History Center. Look in the catalog under ENGLAND - MILITARY HISTORY.

Note: This book is now in its second edition (1998).

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.1 no.4, 1994

Records of the Militia from 1757 by Garth Thomas. Public Record Office Readers’ Guide No. 3, PRO Publications, Public Record Office, Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1LR. Copyright 1993. £3.95.

This book provides a structure for examining the chaotic records produced by the Militia since its re-formation in 1757. The author admits that at times his method of organization is a little forced, but it does work in providing a logical way to approach these very diverse records. The book covers the Militia (1757-1907), where under the Cardwell reforms they generally became the third battalion of the local regular army regiment. Also covered are the volunteers (1794-1813), rifle volunteers (1859-1908), yeomanry (1804-1921), the territorial army (1907-present), the home guard (1940-1945), and the EfencibleE corps raised in times of need.

The book does a good job of providing the reader with information about what records were created and which have survived in the Public Record Office. The book provides a clear and concise introduction to these complicated records. Not all documents regarding the militia are in the Public Record Office. For a complete listing of where to find militia lists and muster lists you will need to supplement this book with a copy of Militia Lists and Musters 1757-1876 by Jeremy Gibson and Mervyn Medlycott, published by the Federation of Family History Societies.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.1 no.4, 1994

Welsh Family History: A Guide to Research by J. Rowlands, et al. (Eds.). Genealogical Publishing Co. Inc., Baltimore, Maryland. Copyright 1994. $19.95.

Welsh family history research has a friend. Finally a publication to help you muddle through the differences of Welsh and English social, religious and cultural areas of concern, to say nothing of the language.

This book was conceived in 1987 and with the help and expertise of twenty outstanding Welsh researchers, the first edition of Welsh Family History was born in the spring of 1993.

To do Welsh research you must have a knowledge of the country and history of its laws which affect genealogy / family history. This book not only lets the researcher know where to find particular records, but also gives the historical background and defines the differences and similarities between these in Wales with like records in England.

While Welsh Family History is not a "how to" book, it does provide some basics, including a brief chapter on repositories in Wales with addresses and phone numbers.

There is a good chapter on surnames by Sheila Rowlands. Surnames are probably the one reason (besides the language) why people put their Welsh research on the bottom of the pile. With so few surnames it might seem like you’re looking in the dark. But with a history of the naming patterns and an idea of the language, success can be yours.

Several chapters on "other" sources, such as: school records, printed pedigrees, manuscripts, immigration and emigration can lead you to your ancestor if the conventional records are non existent or hard to come by.

Each chapter provides ample endnotes and the final chapter is a lengthy bibliography.

Reviewed by Ann Wells
BIGWILL v.1 no.6, 1994

London: A Guide to Ancestral Research by Phillip B. Dunn. Purchase from the author at P.O.Box 2640, Salt Lake City UT 84110-2640, copyright 1987, revised 1992, $7.50.

There are three requirements for London research. The first is a knowledge of the geography and layout of the Greater London area. Secondly, you must have a good basic working knowledge of London’s record sources, due to the tremendous population and the consequent reservoir of records you have to wade through. The third requirement is dedication to pursue one’s ancestor through this vast region with more misses than hits.

This guide provides some reminders and some very helpful hints on certain record sources and indexes to be found in the area that can make your searches easier.

This guide is written for the benefit of all interested in the Greater London area, with special emphasis on those just beginning and those with limited experience in this vast region.

The town or place of origin is very important in London research. Ideas, sources and tools are provided for finding this important clue to further research. Once the town is known, next steps are suggested depending upon whether you are searching before or after the beginning of Civil Registration in 1837.

The book provides lots of lists of parishes to help you in your search. There are for example 116 parishes within the City of London itself, and that is not counting the chapels, liberties and precincts. Another list shows which parishes fall within the civil parish boundaries of all the boroughs.

If you have London ancestors you will find this book very helpful, whether you do all your research from the US or are planning a trip to London.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.1 no.6, 1994

English Local Studies Handbook: An Essential Guide to Sources of Information for Professional and Amateur Local Historians by Susanna Guy. University of Exeter Press, Reed Hall, Streatham Drive, Exeter EX4 4QR, England. Copyright 1992. £11.95

As the sub-title suggests for this book it is an essential guide for information. The book has pulled together from a large number of sources lots of names and addresses that we as family history researchers need to know. This is the type of book that you look in first to find where to go next.

The introduction lists the particulars for a number of national societies in the areas of local history, archaeology, history, family history and population studies.

The bulk of the book is divided up into county sections using the pre-1974 county structure for England. Each section has a pre- and post-1974 map showing how the many rural and urban districts within a county have been greatly reduced to a few districts within a new county. Listed for each county are A. local studies libraries and collections; B. local record offices; C. local history societies; D. local history journals; E. museums and local studies collections.

I tested the book by looking how it handled Westmorland, a county I am familiar with and one which disappeared in the 1974 restructuring. The names and addresses it supplies will certainly lead you to good collections of local history and point you in the right direction for where records are currently stored.

This is a good reference book to have as your research takes you into new geographical areas.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.2 no.1, 1995

Record Repositories in Great Britain: A Geographical Directory, 9th edition, second impression by The Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts, Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, London. 1992 £3.50

This slim book lists those institutions within the United Kingdom (this includes, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, and Channel Islands) who systematically collect and preserve written records and which make regular provision for their use by the public.

The institutions concerned fall in to four main categories: (1) National record offices and libraries financed directly by central government funds; (2) Local record offices and libraries financed by local government authorities; (3) University and college libraries and departments financed mainly through central government funds; (4) Special libraries and archives supported by privately or charitably endowed societies and institutions.

The institutions are arranged in this order within each county. The county structure used in this book is the current one, ie. since the 1975 county restructuring.

The listing for each institution includes: name, address, telephone and fax numbers, name of the archivist or librarian, hours of opening; listing of specialized services that they may provide, and titles of any guides to the holdings of the institutions.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.2 no.1, 1995

My Ancestor Moved in England or Wales, Second revised edition by Anthony J. Camp. Society of Genealogists 14 Charter House Buildings, Goswell Road, London EC1M 7BA. 1994. £4.60.

This book was first published in 1987 under the title My Ancestor was a Migrant. The book has been greatly expanded and revised.

The book is designed to help researchers seeking to find an ancestor’s birth place, specifically prior to 1851. The author assumes that the researcher has exhausted the resources of the General Register Office after 1 July 1837, i.e., that the centralized birth, marriage and death records have been thoroughly researched. This in itself is not as easy to do in the US without spending a lot of time and money. It can be done relatively quickly and easy if you are planning a trip to Salt Lake City. It takes time elsewhere.

The book lays out where to look first, and includes some very familiar resources such as the IGI, Boyd’s Marriage Index and local marriage indexes.

The value of the rest of this book is in providing clues and ideas on where to look next. The book is divided into sections, with each section having many subsections each providing ideas and clues for next steps. The major sections include: first considerations, later life, training and occupation, those needing a licence from Quarter Sessions, those needing a licence from a Bishop, local and central government employees, professions, army and navy, land ownership, court depositions, relief of the poor, religion, names, coats of arms, has work been done before, strays, local influences, and proving the connection. It concludes with the addresses of institutions mentioned in the text and an index.

This book is strongly recommended if you think, or know, that your ancestor moved in England or Wales.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.2 no.2, 1995

Church Parish Registers of Cornwall, England. Microfiche obtained from Ancestor Publishers, 6166 Janice Way, Arveda CO 80004-5160.

All of these were compiled and edited by W.P.W. Phillimore, M.A., B.C.L. and Thomas Taylor, M.A., F.S.A. Volume 4 includes Mrs. J.H. Glencross.

Vol. 1, Cornwall Parish Registers - Marriages 1539-1812; published 1900; order #387, contains two fiche. The parishes of Advent, St. Breward, St. Clether, Davidstow, Forrabury, St. Juliot, Lanteglos by Camelford, Lesnewth, Michaelstow, Minster, Otterham, St. Teath and Trevalga are included.

Vol. 2, Cornwall Parish Registers - Marriages 1560-1812; published 1902; order #407, contains two fiche. The parishes include Lanivet, Tintagel, St. Trudy, St. Mabyn, Laneast, Egloskerry, Tremaine, and Phillack.

Vol. 4, Cornwall Parish Registers - Marriages 1560-1812; published 1903; order #634, contains three fiche. The parishes of Shevlocke, Blisland, Cardynhamn, Endellion, Helland, Lanhydrock, St. Merryn, St. Minver and Warleggan.

This is an excellent informational fiche and easy to read. This was microfilmed very carefully. However, there is one drawback - there is NO INDEX. Still, don’t let this stop you from browsing. I found my great-great-great grandfather Richard FRAYN (and possibly others) just browsing through the fiche. They tell whether the marriage was by banns or license. They tell the source of the Register and condition of it, as well as whether or not it is a duplicate and where it can be found [at that point in time].

A sample notation may read: Richard FRAYN or E. [meaning Egloskerry parish], and Mary WALLIS, sojourner, 14 Jan. 1812. Others may be more lengthy and specific, stating occupations, parents, known residences, but the majority do not list this information.

There is no Vol. 3 in this set.

Reviewed by Peggy Gleich
BIGWILL v.2 no.4, 1995

Ireland: A Genealogical Guide for North Americans by Kyle J. Betit & Dwight A. Radford. Published by THE IRISH At Home and Abroad, P.O.Box 521806, Salt Lake City UT 84152. $14.95 plus $2.00 postage and handling. c. 1995.

This 62 page guide book is a must for any North American doing Irish research. Unlike most books on Irish research, it does not assume that you are physically in Ireland when doing your research. The book assumes that you are here in the U.S. and thus tells you how to access the resources you need to make progress in your research. Often LDS film numbers are included.

There are sections in the book for all major topics and record types: Administrative Divisions, Archives and Libraries, Army, Cemetery, Census, Church, Civil Registration, Directories, Estates, Genealogies, Guilds, Heritage Centres, Inventories and Catalogs, Newspapers, Registry of Deeds, Taxation, Wills and Administrations. Each section describes what the records are likely to contain, how the records can be accessed in this country, if possible, and there is always an excellent listing of further reading. Especially helpful are the many research strategy suggestions designed to help the researcher when using a record type for the first time.

The book is up to date citing many books readily available in North America, plus articles that have appeared in their magazine The Irish At Home and Abroad.

When I lecture on Irish research this is one of two books that I strongly recommend all Irish researchers should purchase.

Note: This book is now in its fourth edition (1997).

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.2 no.5, 1995

THE IRISH At Home and Abroad - quarterly magazine by Kyle J. Betit & Dwight A. Radford. Published by THE IRISH At Home and Abroad, P.O.Box 521806, Salt Lake City UT 84152. cost $18.00.

This excellent quarterly magazine is produced by the same two people that wrote Ireland: A Genealogical Guide to North Americans.

The magazine is designed to help Irish immigrants trace their Irish ancestry using North American, Irish and international resources. There are a number of categories into which articles can be placed:

The articles are clearly written by acknowledged specialists in Irish research. They provide lots of clues on what resources are available, what they contain and how to gain access to them. For example, an article on the Irish in Montreal enabled me to track down a client’s Irish ancestors there because the time periods involved narrowed my search to one Catholic Church. I have found the detailed articles very beneficial for my own research and that of my clients.

I strongly recommend this magazine for those of you with Irish ancestry.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.2 no.5, 1995

The New Loyalist Index by Paul J. Bunnell. Published by Heritage Books, Inc., 1540 E. Pointer Ridge Pl., Suite 300, Bowie MD 20716. c. 1989, 525 pp., paperback. $36.50 plus $4 p&h. Visa/MC/Checks.

This is an index of over 5,000 Loyalists. Each entry provides four lines of material, not all of which is complete for all entries: 1. Name of Loyalist and Source Code; 2. Any information used to clearly identify an individual such as date of birth, marriage or death, occupation, land grant or ownership details; 3. Where they were from and where they settled; 4. Regiment, rank and if any claims were made. There are 29 sources cited ranging from published works such as American Vital Records From the Gentleman’s Magazine 1731-1868 by D. Dobson, and Loyalist Families by C. Barnett & E. Sewell to records of the Canadian National Archives and the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick. The sources are very varied and cover a large territory. The introduction includes a list of major sources which are not included in the index and these provide the researcher with clues for further research. Overall an excellent index to many varied Loyalist records.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.2 no.6, 1995

Your English Ancestry: A Guide for North Americans by Sherry Irvine. Ancestry, P.O. Box 476, Salt Lake City UT 84110-0476. 196 pg. paperback, c. 1993. $12.95 plus $3.50 p&h. To order call 1-800-ANCESTRY using MC/Visa/AmEx.

I was recently asked why I did not like this book and I could not remember specifically why. So I sat down to read the book again. I still don’t know why my first impression had been negative because I now realize it is an excellent resource for those in North America researching English ancestry.

Sherry defines the limitations for the book as those researchers seeking ancestors since the middle of the 18th Century in England. Since that time period the use of Latin had ceased, the Gregorian calendar came into use, and Lord Hardwicke’s Act standardized the recording of marriage information.

The records covered in the book include those available through the LDS Family History Library, printed records likely to be found in major libraries in North America, records gathered into a central location in England and records which have been indexed.

Topics covered include: civil registration, census records, lists and periodicals, church records, probate, civil records and occupation records. Throughout the book there are plenty of research strategies for getting the most out of each of these records.

The last chapter is a good reminder of what to do when you hit a roadblock, something that happens to us all. This is a book I can strongly recommend for all our members seeking ancestors in England.

Notes: This edition was reviewed also by Ann Wells in 1994. This book is now in its second (“Revised”) edition (1998).

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.2 no.6, 1995

From Here to There: Assisted Passenger Lists from England to Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand 1855-1871 by Barbara Hafslund and Heather Morris. Published by BYTO Indexers, P.O. Box 257, Burpengary 4505, Queensland Australia. c. 1994. Two versions: 4 microfiche or diskette. Each version is Aus$20 plus Aus$4 payable by cheque or money order. (Ed: Use Ruesch Int’l at 800-424-2923 to get your international check).

This index provides a wealth of names, often the county of residence in England, ages and occupations of the many immigrants who received assisted passage from England to New Zealand in the 1855-1871 time period. This is important to us here in the US because it is the siblings of our ancestors who often end up in Australia and New Zealand.

The voyage was frequently beset by starvation, violent storms, outbreaks of diseases such as typhoid fever and small pox resulting in a lot of deaths all of which are recorded. Many remarks on the original records have been transcribed often giving an amusing glimpse into the lives of the passengers and providing further clues in the search.

There is an alphabetical Name and Ship index making the lists easier to search.

The microfiche version of the lists were printed first. After printing it was found that there were no ships for 1863. More research found the missing ships and an additional 4,000 names were added to the computer disk not on the microfiche. The computer disk also contains the list of paying passengers as well as all the assisted passengers. The original lists are available through the LDS on films 0287464-9, and these should be checked if a reference to your ancestors is found. The microfiche version of the index does contain a listing of known ships where no passenger lists have been located yet. These ships, with no known passengers are not listed in the computer version.

The computer version of the program also contains a very helpful explanation of the immigration regulations relating to assisted passages as they existed in 1863. I checked a couple of my NZ research books and could not find any of this information. The handicap is that screen printing is the only way to get a paper copy of the information.

There were a couple of problems with using the program. Installation of the program requires the FILES=75 and BUFFERS=20 in the Config.sys file. This required me changing the config.sys file before I could even install the program. In the Help screens hitting any keys other than [ESC], [PgDn] or [Print Screen] locked up the program and it had to be rebooted. When doing a surname search you have to get a surname to match exactly one already in the lists to get into the name lists. Once into the listing of names you can then scroll through the list to find alternative spellings. You can identify other people on the same ship and from the same family by the family number, which is the key to using the computer version. On the microfiche all the family members are listed together in the transcription for that ship.

This is a useful index for anyone who has English emigrating to New Zealand in this time period. Unfortunately the computer version, which has a larger number of people listed, has problems with the workings of the program. The compilers are looking to extend the time period of the index. I hope they improve the computer program and update the microfiche version in the process.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.2 no.6, 1995

The Master Book of Irish Surnames, Location, Ethnicity, Spellings, and Sources by Michael C. O’Laughlin. Published by O’Lochlains Irish Family Journal, PO Box 7575, Kansas City MO 64116. C. 1993. Hardbound, 320 pp. $24 postpaid. Visa/MC/ and AX accepted. Orders can be faxed to (816)454-2410 or via e-mail to 71334.3034@compuserve.com.

This listing of some 60,000 entries is divided into three main sections: a variant surname spelling index, a surname location index and a surname source index.

The surname spelling index is useful to get you thinking about alternative ways your ancestors name may have been spelled or used. The example given is of Rabbit and Cunneen, the latter being the Gaelic word for Rabbit. The surname location index lists a variety of sources from which the surnames included are derived. This is a good indicator of surnames, but some major sources are missing, including Griffith’s valuation, the Tithe Applotment records and the surname works of MacLysaght, former chief herald of Ireland. The works included are the Irish Census of 1659, which in reality only lists those who had title to land, and the Irish Birth index of 1890 created by Matheson. The gap between these is 231 years. The other works included are those created by, or published by, the Irish Genealogical Foundation or from the annual Journal of the American Irish Historical Society. The third section provides the sources for the surnames references.

This is a useful surname guide for finding where in Ireland your ancestors may have come from, but the omission of some major sources makes the title of Master Book a little pretentious.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.2 no.6, 1995

Greater London Local History Directory, 2nd edition, c. 1993, $30; Greater London Local History: Directory and Bibliography, c. 1988, $30; London’s Local History, c. 1983, $20; all by Peter Marcan Publications, P.O.Box 3158, London SE1 4RA. Price includes airmail postage.

These three books provide an excellent resource for anyone researching within the London boroughs. The three publications provide an annotated catalog of publications and resources issued by Greater London local authorities, local historical and archaeological societies, amenity societies and community projects covering the early 1960s up through 1993. Only non-commercial local history publications are included.

Organizations are listed in the following sequence: 1. Local authorities and their local history collections, and recent publications; 2. Local museums (often run by the local authority); 3. Local historical societies; 4. Local archaeological societies; 5. Community history projects; 6. Reminiscence and oral history groups; 7. Amenity, environmental and conservation studies. The books conclude with listings of organizations that cover all or major parts of the London area, and this section includes the family history societies.

The wide variety of groups involved in the compilations of these books mean that you never know what you will find. But the one thing that we can guarantee is that most of the resources will not be found in any US library. You will need to write to the local producing institutions for copies. All addresses are supplied. Contacting the local institution will also enable you to find out what new resources for the locality are available. These books provide a valuable resource for anyone with London ancestry.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.1, 1996

The Scottish Congregational Ministry: 1794-1993 by Rev. Dr. William D. McNaughton, The Congregational Union of Scotland, Church House, 340 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, G1 2BQ Scotland. c. 1993. £35 plus £3 p & p. Cloth bound, gold blocked spine. A5 size, 520 pp.

This work seeks to fill a gap in Scottish Church History by providing biographical information about the great variety of individuals who trained and served in Scottish Congregationalism over two centuries. A monumental amount of research has been done to compile information on all 2,500 plus Scottish Congregational ministers.

The book is divided into four parts. Biographical information on the Congregational ministers is provided in the first two parts. Part I covers 1794-1900, and part II from 1900 to 1993. For each individual the following information is presented where possible: Name; relationship to other individuals, especially useful when ministry runs in the family; Gaelic speaker; place and date of birth; church membership; university attended; seminary; place and date of ordination; pastorate/s or sphere of service; denominational change; higher degrees and name of awarding institution; date and place of death. Most importantly for researchers all sources are fully cited. There are 21 pages of sources listed for all the biographical information.

Part III lists the professors, tutors and lecturers at the various Congregational seminaries and academies. The individuals listed here are given full biographical entries in parts I and II. This list does show how small these training centers were.

Part IV provides a compilation by church and preaching station. This enables the researcher to find the ministers in a particular locality over time.

Many of the ministers listed were trained in Scotland, served their initial ministries there, then moved to have successful careers in England, Ireland and other parts of the Commonwealth.

From a North American perspective an introductory chapter on the history and development of Congregational ministry in Scotland would have been helpful.

If you are researching a Congregational Minister then this book is a must.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.1, 1996

South Leitrim Roots Book: Exploring Family Origins and Old Carrick-on-Shannon by Noel Farrell, Park Road, Longford, Ireland. c. 1994 $10. Paperback with maps, illustrations and photographs, 48 pages.

Here in the US we hear about how the Irish Heritage Centers are helping the youth of Ireland develop marketable job skills. This is one excellent example of such a process. Noel was part of a 4-member youth heritage project to compile old records of Kiltoghert (Carrick-on-Shannon Electoral Division) for the local libraries. The project was well received and sponsorship was obtained to compile a booklet. Noel compiled the resource and it was published by his father. It is not stated, but we assume that he works for the Longford Leader, the area newspaper.

The book provides for the Roman Catholic parish of Kiltoghert name indexes for the 1901 and 1911 census returns, Griffith’s Primary Valuation of Tenements from 1854-1864, electoral lists for 1940/1, extracts from Thom’s directories for 1933 and 1953, Slater’s directory for 1894, and a listing of pubs in the area from 1889. For the communities of Carrick-on-Shannon, Keshcarrigan and Leitrim village copies of the detailed maps from Griffith’s valuation are included, listing all the inhabitants and identifying which house they lived in.

County Leitrim is the only county in Ireland to show a decrease in population every year since 1841. From 1841 to 1851 the population fell from 155,297 to 111,897, a decrease of almost 28%. By 1991, the last census, the population had fallen to 25,297. A lot of people leave this county. It is these people that provide our ancestors.

For anyone with ancestors in Kiltoghert parish this book is a must. It is also useful for those with Leitrim ancestors. There are numerous references throughout the book to the resources and services available through the Leitrim Genealogy Centre and the Leitrim County Library. I hope we get to see more publications like this coming out of Ireland.

The author also has similar books for Longford and Cavan but the parishes involved are not named.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.1, 1996

Naval Notations: Warships in the Illustrated London News 1842-1891 by Bob Nicholls, 25 Duke Street, Balmain NSW 2041, Australia. c. 1994. 58 pages, plastic comb binding, with illustrations. US$13 payable by M/C, VISA or US Check. Price includes economy airmail. Phone / Fax 61-2-810-7417. e-mail: bobnich@ozemail.com.au

Naval Notations is an index and research aid for 19th century warship appearing in lithograph illustrations in the pages of the Illustrated London News. The index covers the years 1842 - the first year of publication - to 1891, after which photographs became more widely available.

Most, if not all of the 630 warships appearing in the 99 volumes are covered in the 58 pages of tables and text of this resource. Included are ships destined for the Royal Navy and the navies of the United States, Russia, France, Japan, China and many smaller services such as Egypt and the Vatican.

For each ship there is a number assigned in sequential order; name of the ship in alphabetical order, as spelled in the Illustrated London News; ship type; class; builder; country; year, volume and page for illustration; remarks; illustration providing a judgment of the technical, as opposed to artistic, quality of the illustration and its suitability for reproduction; A Y or N in the final column indicates if a technical description of the ship is given in the accompanying text. In the case of N an account of the activity in which the ship was engaged is given.

So for example we find that the Agamemnon is a screw line of battleship built at Woolwich for the British Navy. Appeared in 1852, vol.20 page 431 with information on her launch. A 3 rating on a 5 point scale is given for technical accuracy of the illustration and yes, a description of the ship is provided. Later entries listed show her off Sebastopol, attacking Sebastopol, shell damage to interiors, laying Atlantic telegraph cable and providing a stern view. Another Agamemnon is cited, this time a turret battleship launched in 1879.

When the name of a particular ship is known but does not appear in the main list a listing of sister ships is provided. Here dates given identify when the class of vessel were under construction. These ships are cross-referenced to the ships in the main listing.

The book concludes with a listing of the Royal Naval and private shipyards from around the British Isles.

If you have ancestors who were in the Navy in the 19th century then this index should be obtained to gain quick access to information found in the Illustrated London News.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.1, 1996

The Cornish Questions: A Compendium of Historical, Ecclesiastical, Biographical, Philological, Geographic & Legendary Trivia of Cornwall by L.B.Ward, 1992. Amended May 1994. 99 pages. Contact Mr. Ward at Surfirs, Crackington Haven, Bude, Cornwall EX23 OJP, England.

If you have Cornish ancestry and need to find the lost place names, folklore, festivals and traditions, the national bird, meanings of mining terms, just for starters, then this is THE book to buy!

The foreword includes this paragraph: "Len Ward combines a fierce independence of mind, characteristic of the Cornish, with an insatiable curiosity about the origins, customs and events which shaped this land throughout thirty centuries of human settlement and struggle. The library of his Crackington Haven home contains one of the finest collections of source materials anywhere. There is no place in Cornwall that he has not observed with his own eyes, no festivals he does not know, and few archives and records he has not perused."

Ward himself states, "This compendium was compiled as an aid memoir for the Crackington team in the first Radio Cornwall Village Hall Quiz in 1989. It is not intended to give a comprehensive answer to all the questions posed but hopefully it may tempt readers to research further any item which attracts their interest."

The questions are those of identification, (Where is Banjo Pier?); ecclesiastical, (Which saint is the most popular patron saint of Cornish churches?); biography, (Who was Sir Francis Drake’s wife and where was her native parish?); artistical and classical, (Who wrote "The Saffron Eaters"?); geographical, (What is Little Cornwall?); first, last and foremost questions, (Which is the highest village in Cornwall?).

Also, historical, (What was the "Grylls Act"?); food, drink and dress questions (What was the reputation of the Cornish Pie?); legends, customs and saying questions, (What had the witch, the conjurer and the charmer in common?); language, (What was a Cornish "Jerusalem"?). The maritime questions, (Which Cornish lighthouses are still operational?); mining questions, (Name the old Stannaries of Cornwall?) and this includes many mining terms.

The Appendices list facts and figures of: bridges, castles, cathedrals, civil commotions and Civil War, constituencies, county boundaries, festivals, railways, rivers, stone circles, ancient sites, natural features and much more.

The Appendices also includes biographical sketches of Cornish and non-Cornish born, with lists of names; Cornish churches and their peculiarities; peculiar place names, historic houses and dialect words and sayings.

Are you looking for some peculiar saying or name from your ancestors letters, a specific place, or possibly a saying which makes no sense? Check this book out, you just may find what you are looking for!

Reviewed by Peggy Gleich
BIGWILL v.3 no.1, 1996

Tracing Your British Ancestors by Colin R. Chapman. Published by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore MD 21202. 1993. USA edition 1996. 108 pp. Appendix, Bibliography, Index. Softcover. $15 plus $3.50 shipping ($1.25 for each additional book).

This excellent, easy-to-read, slim book has something for the beginner and experienced British Isles researcher. For the beginner, this book provides a good overview of the conventional methods and sources used in British Isles research including: civil registration, census, parish registers, bishop’s transcripts, probate, other church records, old and new poor laws, land records, military records and heraldry. It is important to realize that this book covers each topic in a succinct manner noting the differences for each part of the British Isles - England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, plus the often ignored Isle of Man and Channel Islands. Topics such as land records and the old and new poor laws are usually kept for more advanced books, but Colin Chapman’s easy style help us understand the value of these records.

For the experienced researcher there are great research tips throughout the text, such as warnings about why an age at marriage may be adjusted by the Victorian bride and groom to make it "proper," or how, after 1810, the Bank of England affected where a will for a businessman or merchant would likely be probated.

The book concludes with a good list of useful addresses, but the list of further reading is very short.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.2, 1996

Weights, Money and Other Measures Used by Our Ancestors by Colin R. Chapman. Published by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore MD 21202. 1995. USA edition 1996. 92 pp. Tables, Figures, Bibliography, Index. Softcover. $15 plus $3.50 shipping ($1.25 for each additional book).

This book was originally published in England in 1995 as part of the Chapman Records Cameo Series with the title How Heavy, How Much and How Long? Weight, Money and Other Measures Used by Our Ancestors. This is the ideal companion book for anyone working with old English wills, inventories, accounts or journals. It will help you understand and identify those old terms that you encounter. It will also help you get specific and clear up any misconceptions you might have. For example, I grew up thinking that yana, tana, and tethera were Cumbrian for one, two and three and used primarily for counting sheep. This book tells me that they are actually the ancient British numerals, but were used for counting sheep in Cumbria, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire at least into the 19th Century.

The book is full of tables so that you can learn about crinzes, mazers, piggins, quaiches, rummers, kivers, thraves, pottles, verges and hosts of other old measurements. The measurements are divided into a variety of chapters covering length, area, volume, mass, money and metric. This variety means the measuring tools of your ancestors occupation are likely to be included whether he was a publican, thatcher, fisherman, paper manufacturer, tailor, draper, knitter, grocer or banker. The vast majority of the technical terms included in the tables are listed in the index, making them easy to find. A few were not included.

The text and tables also include examples of how the value of a particular measurement changed with time, location or the population using the measurement. For example, if your ancestor’s probate inventory included 5 ells of cloth, you would need to know if that was an English, Scottish, French or Flemish ell to know how much cloth he had. There are lots of examples like this throughout this fascinating book.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.2, 1996

Pre-1841 Censuses & Population Listings, fourth edition by Colin R. Chapman. Published by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore MD 21202. 1994. USA edition 1996. 82 pp. Appendices, Index. Softcover. $15 plus $3.50 shipping ($1.25 for each additional book).

For many, the 1841 census in England marks the beginning of an era. It was the first of the national nineteenth century returns of use to the family historian. In reality, the 1841 census was an end product. It marked the end of a decades-long campaign to create a national census which included everyone. This process generated hundreds of local, regional and national lists which counted or named everyone in a community or in a specific segment of the population across the country. The goal of this book is to describe these lists.

The listings are divided into six chapters: 16th century; 17th century; 1700-1749; 1750-1775; 1776-1786; after 1787. Each paragraph gives very specific details about one or more listings in general chronological sequence and describes why the list was originally generated. Thus local parish and community enumerations are jumbled among national military, civil and ecclesiastical surveys, tax and poll lists. Because of its organization, this is not a book to sit down and read sequentially. However, it is a book to examine if you are looking for information about what listings were generated, why and where copies or originals may be located now. All listings mentioned in the text are well footnoted so that you can proceed with further research.

The first appendix provides a listing of censuses containing the names of individual by county and then by community with date. This listing does not include the many numerical listings mentioned in the text or the 80-plus tax, military and church censuses listed in the index. Appendix II lists returns for the numerical decennial census of 1801 to 1831 where individuals are named. The lists of communities with named individuals continues to grow. For example, in this volume 27 communities in Essex are listed for the 1811 census whereas in the 1992 third edition only 4 are listed. Similar increases are noted for many counties suggesting that if you are looking in this time period it is certainly worth obtaining a current edition of this resource. The communities in Ireland with surviving named census returns in this time period are regarded as too numerous to list, and the researcher will need to look elsewhere.

Overall, an excellent resource for the researcher wanting to explore further the population listings prior to 1841.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.2, 1996

Wills Before 1858 by Eve McLaughlin. Varneys Press, Aylesbury, Bucks, England. (Obtainable from Wells Genealogical Research, 4504 Fox Creek Drive, Crystal Lake IL 60012. $3.20 plus $1.50 p&h.

For some reason many people do not look for a will for their ancestors, perhaps figuring that their ancestors didn’t leave one. Eve lets readers know that looking for wills is a necessity. While it might not be an easy task, her guide covers the how and why of wills, who might have written one (most people unless extremely poor) and who might not (usually women).

Although women didn’t legally own anything, even property given to them before marriage, some did write wills. They are genealogical treasures as women often included most people in the family, including the extended family.

Ms. McLaughlin sets out a road map of which wills were filed in what court. The explanations of terms within the text is supplemented by a brief glossary. A rough guide to locating wills by county includes Wales, Scotland, Isle of Man, Channel Islands and Ireland.

This book will give the researcher a good background on the description of wills, inventories, how and when wills were written and where they might be filed. It will also give the researcher the courage to look for wills for their various British ancestors.

Reviewed by Ann Wells
BIGWILL v.3 no.2, 1996

St. David’s Diocese Testators Will Index 1564-1750 by Richard James, PO Box 41, Llanelli, Dyfed SA15 2YF, Wales. c. 1993. £10, 6 microfiche. e-mail address: 100527.3220@Compuserve.Com

The full title of this microfiche set is the Will / Abstract Index of Original Wills in the Episcopal Consistory Court of St. David’s Diocese, excepting Archdeaconries. This means that all wills from the counties of Cardigan, Pembroke and Carmarthen. It does not include Radnor or Brecknock which are in the Diocese of St. David but form the Archdeaconry of Brecon.

The index is arranged in 5 columns: Surname, First name, Parish or Town, Will No. and Year. Having the place enables you to differentiate between people of the same name. For example there are 155 John David’s and 109 William Thomas’s in the index, so having a place enables you to narrow down the options to be checked.

For anyone with ancestors in this part of Wales this index is a must.

From the same source: Vol. 2 of the Wills index for St. David’s Diocese 1751-1858. Marriage index for Carmarthenshire 1813-1837, 16,000 marriages by bride and groom. Marriage Index for Pembrokeshire 1813-1837, 13,000 marriages by bride and groom. Marriage Index for Cardiganshire 1813-1837, 10,000 marriages by bride and groom. These indexes are each on 4 fiche, and are composite indexes for the whole county. (Other sources provide indexes arranged by Hundred, so for these 3 counties there would be 29 Hundreds). Each of the above indexes is £10. West Wales & Gower Bonds & Fiats 1612-1800 - Index £5.50 and Transcript £6.50. A search service is also provided for these and other indexes. Send an e-mail or write for details but don’t forget to enclose 2 International Reply Coupons.

The author has a new email address (CarmsRoots@aol.com) and web site ( http://members.aol.com/swalesidx/ )

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.2, 1996

Directory of Irish Archives, 2nd ed. by Seamus Helferty & Raymond Refausse. Irish Academic Press. c. 1993. Exclusive U.S. distributor is International Specialized Book Services, Inc., 5804 N.E. Hassalo Street, Portland OR 97213-3644. (503)287-3093, Fax (503)280-8832. $19.95. 154 pp.

This excellent guidebook provides detailed information on 224 archives in Ireland. For each location it provides: name and address of the archive, telephone numbers, title of the person to whom enquiries should be directed, opening hours and facilities, plus information on major collections. There is a 40% growth since the first edition in 1988.

The archives themselves are arranged in alphabetical sequence, but this is not adhered to strictly so that certain archives are grouped together. For example, the 9 Convents of Mercy are listed together under Sisters of Mercy.

There is a wide breadth of archives included from Drogheda Harbour Archives, to the Guiness Museum, to the Kilmainham Goal Museum, to the Royal Ulster Rifles Regimental Museum. The only institutions omitted are the labor-related and business archives as these are indexed in other sources.

An index by geographic location would have helped to find possible archives in the area in which you are searching. This is a valuable guide for knowing where to write in Ireland for information.

Note: This book is now in its fourth edition (2003).

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.2, 1996

Dumfries & Galloway: Some sources and places of interest for local and family history edited by Moira Aitken, Dumfries & Galloway Family History Society, Bridgepark, New Abbey. Dumfries, Scotland DG2 8HH. c. 1995. £3.00. 35 pp.

This little booklet is packed with names, addresses and opening hours of lots of institutions such as: libraries, museums, historic buildings, family history centres, shipping museums, art galleries, sites of antiquity, castles and tower houses, gardens, registrar offices. It also provides information on what is available and how to access burial records, monumental inscriptions, census records and reference books.

If you have ancestors in the former counties of Dumfries, Kirkcudbright and Wigtown then this is an ideal little reference book. Many of the institutions mentioned can provide you with assistance in your research.

I would also encourage you to join the society by writing to the membership secretary: Miss Erica Seggie, Jasma, Sandy Loaning, Locharbriggs, Dumfries DG1 1SA. The cost is $18 per year, for four issues of their journal. US checks are accepted. The society also publishes a number of other resources for research in the area.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.2, 1996

History of the Land and Their Owners in Galloway with Historical Sketches of the District by P.H.M’Kerlie. Heritage Books, 1540-E Pointer Ridge Pl., Suite 300, Bowie MD 20716. c. 1906 reprinted 1992. 2 vols 668 + 562 pp., indexed. paper. $72 plus $4 p&h. Visa, Mastercard, Checks and Money orders accepted.

The Galloway district lies in the southwest corner of Scotland and is most readily identified as the pre-1975 county of Wigtown. The catalog description states that the county of Kirkcudbright is in this district but no parishes from this county are included in this book. The area has strong ties with northern Ireland and many of the residents descend from immigrants who fled from Ireland during the Potato Famine years.

The first 261 pages of this large work provides lots of information on the general history of the area focussing on the ethnic groups that populated the area. The rest of the work provides a parish-by-parish account of the land and their owners, giving much genealogical information on the landowners who made up the middle and upper classes. Working class people who never owned land are not covered directly but the farms and estates where they labored are described in detail giving you lots of background information on your ancestors.

The descriptions of the land and features within a parish are very detailed and it highly recommended that a copy of the appropriate Ordnance Survey map of the area be obtained to get the most benefit from this book.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.2, 1996

Visitation of England and Wales, Vols. 1-21 (1894-1921), and Notes, Vols. 1-14 (1896-1921) edited by Joseph Jackson Howard, LL.D., Maltgravers Herald Extrodinary and Frederick Arthur Crisp. Heritage Books, Inc. 1540-E Pointer Ridge Pl., Suite 300, Bowie MD 20716. Price per volume varies. Visa / Mastercard / Checks/ Money Orders accepted. $4.00 p&h.

This series contain a vast wealth of information on English and Welsh pedigrees with supporting documentation. This series presents genealogical information in the form of pedigrees starting in the mid-18th century. These should not be confused with the Heralds visitations of earlier centuries. Pedigrees start with the grandparents of the principal person, and provide detailed information on all descendants, often covering 5 generations. The pedigrees are very specific, thus some surnames will be repeated in different volumes. Each volume contains at least one family from each shire.

P. William Filby in his bibliography American and British Genealogy and Heraldry states that this series has a high degree of accuracy. The book cover states that this series is indexed in Whitmore’s Genealogical Guide (1953). Indeed, this series is listed as one of the sources in Whitmore. However, random testing of principal surnames from volume one showed none of them could have been found using Whitmore. Therefore, this reviewer suggests that Whitmore is not an accurate way of accessing this resource. Each volume has a comprehensive everyname index and this should be checked for any surnames you are seeking. This is a very useful series if you have landed or titled family connections.

Vol. 1. $40.00. reprinted 1995. Principal names: Amphlett, Armytage, Assheton, Attree, Bacchus, Bagshawe, Bainbrigge, Bartlett, Barton, Bentley, Blaydes, Bloom, Boddington, Bradney, Bree, Brooke, Brown, Bushe, Byrth, Cass, Cavendish, Clay, Colby, Cole, Collier, Conder, Crowfoot, Cullum, Curtois, Dew, Dicker. Dickinson, Du Moulin Browne, Eales, Edwards, Emeris, Eshelby, Ewen, Faber, Flavel, Flory, Foljambe, Gale, Grubbe, Guile, Hales, Harvey, Hesketh, Hext, Hoblyn, Hooper, Howard, Howe, James, Jodrell, Johnson, Jones, Leeveson Gower, Littledale, Mant, Methold, Milner Gibson, Minet, Molyneux, Olive, Oliver, Parker, Paull, Perrott, Platt-Higgins, Pl;umer, Pilkington, Porter, Prentice, Prior, pritchett, Ricketts, Roots, Ryland, Rylands, Schomberg, Shann, Smith-Bosanquet, Sparrow, St. George, Sterry, Stone, Swann, Tempest, Tolhurst, Tudbery Turner, Watney, Wickham, Williams, Wilson, and Worthington.

Vol. 9. $32.00. reprinted 1996. principal names: Allen, Allgood, Ansell, Beebee, Blumer, Branford, Brocklebank, Burrell, Bury, Cave-Browne, Clippingdale, Collyer, Colman, Cookson, Cremer, D’Arcy, Freeman, Gerard, Gibbons, Hart-Davis, Heberden, Jessel, Lawson, Lillingston, Locock, Longden, Mair, Middleton, Normanby, Pellatt, Peren, Powell-Cotton, Royds, Spencer, Stanford, Strickland, Thornton-Duesbery, Waller, Ward, Webb, Wheler and Wood.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.2, 1996

A Genealogical History of the Dormant, Abeyant, Forfeited and Extinct Peerages of the British Empire by Sir Bernard Burke. Published by Genealogical Publishing Co., 1001 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore MD 21202. Originally published 1883, reprinted 1996. 642 pp. Illustrated, Index. Hardcover. $40 plus $3.50 shipping ($1.25 for each additional book).

The peers of the realm are those having the rank and hereditary title of duke, marquess, earl, viscount and baron or their female counterparts. They can be either of England, Scotland, Ireland or the United Kingdom. Only a limited number of peers of Scotland and Ireland have the right to sit in the House of Lords.

The arrangement for calling the larger land-holding barons to court or Parliament was first codified in Magna Carta. From the reign of Richard II, new peerages were formally conferred by Letters Patents, but writs of summons to Parliament continued to be sent out until they were abolished under Henry VIII. A Patent defined the peerage and its mode of descent, mostly to direct male descendants by primogeniture, whereas the older peerages-by-writ descended to heirs general, i.e. to females in the absence of male heirs.

A peerage falls into abeyance when more than one heir is equally entitled to inherit. This occurs in baronies created by writ-of-summons when, for want of a male heir, the right of succession is divided equally between sisters who are all co-heiresses. The peerage can be brought out of abeyance only after all but one of the sisters’ lines of descent have become extinct.

This volume lays out in great detail all peerages that in 1886 were dormant, abeyant, forfeited or extinct. How and when the peerage was created is listed along with details of the lineage. The lineage may end with the person receiving the title or it may extend over many generations. The information provided is regarded as highly accurate. There is also a description of the coat of arms.

This is one place to look to confirm or deny the family legend that your ancestor gave up his title and left England to seek his fortune. This is a valuable resource for those who have found peerage connections.

Note: This book is available as one of the eleven volumes on the CD-ROM Notable British Families, available from Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore, Maryland.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.3, 1996

European Settlers in Britain: 1550-1720. First International Conference proceedings of the Felixstowe Family History Society, 19-21 May 1995. Comb-binding. No index. Available from Mrs. Lake, 16 Western Avenue, Felixstowe IP11 9SB. £7.50 plus £3 p&h.

This collection of seven papers provides an excellent resource for those seeking ancestors who came to England from the continent of Europe.

The articles are: "Reformation and Revolt in the Netherlands and the Refugee Communities in England," by Ludo Vanadamme; "Arrival in Britain: Netherlanders in South East England 1550-1603," by Marcel Backhouse; "The Grand Refuge: Patterns of Huguenot Migration," by Randolph Vigne; "Huguenots in Spitalfields 1680-1720," by Mary Bayliss; "The Strangers in Norwich 1565-1700," by Douglas Rickwood; "Sources of Information on European Settlers," by Susan Highley.

The story of these European refugees began with the reaction of the Emperor Charles V to the spread of Protestantism within the Holy Roman Empire and his possessions in the Netherlands. The enforcement of the Interim of Augsburg (1548) and the Edict of Blood (1550) brought about the exodus that settled many religious refugees in London, Kent and East Anglia.

These proceedings provide a good resource for understanding the history of these refugees and provide numerous references for further research. A minor problem is that the titles in the table of contents do not match the titles on many of the papers.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.3, 1996

The Search for Missing Friends: Irish Immigrant Advertisements placed in the Boston Pilot, Volume IV: 1857-1860 edited by Ruth-Ann Harris and B. Emer O’Keefe. Published by New England Historic Genealogical Society, order from NEHGS Sales, 160 N. Washington St., Boston MA 02114-2120. Tel. 617/536-7307, Fax 617/536-7307. 1995. xxxiv, 783 pp. Hardback. $45 plus $3.50 p&h per volume. VISA and M/C accepted. 10% discount to members of NEHGS.

The "Missing Friends" or "Information Wanted" column was part of an essential communication network for newly arrived immigrants seeking people who had come to North America before them. This service was an important feature in the Boston Pilot newspaper for over a century where literally thousands of ads were placed in the hope of finding family and friends.

A typical ad will list the names of relatives, where they are from in Ireland and their last know location. A sample would be:

"OF JOHN, Bridget, Catharine, and Ellen CARROLL, natives of Ballycarr, parish Trugh [co. Clare]; when last heard from, 3 years ago, they were in Richmond, McHenry Co. Illinois. Any information will be thankfully received by their cousin, Patrick Fitzgerald, care of James Quinlan, Underhill, Vermont" (p.589).
There are indexes to persons and to places. This allows you also to find other people who may have migrated from your ancestral Irish community, or to find where the Irish in your US locality came from.

The 34-page introduction to this volume provides an excellent description of Vere Foster’s program to help capable single females emigrate to North America. The purpose was to help them get established so that they would work and send money back to Ireland to help other family members to emigrate. The introduction contains many sample application and success letters.

Other volumes currently available: Vol. 1: 1831-1850; Vol. 2: 1851-1853; Vol. 3: 1854-1856.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.3, 1996

The History Today Companion to British History edited by Juliet Gardiner and Neil Wenborn. Published by Collins & Brown, London House, Great Eastern Wharf, Parkgate Road, London SW11 4NQ. 1995. 840 pp. Hardcover. £25. Payment can be made by credit card through the distributors Biblios at 011-441-1403 711143 (fax).

This companion captures in over 4,500 entries an extensive range of entries covering political and constitutional history; economic, social, religious, cultural, military and women’s history all from the viewpoint of modern-day scholarship. It includes biographies of people who have shaped British history from rulers and politicians to reformers and revolutionaries, from historians and writers to artists and architects.

The entries cover the time from the first Roman invasion to 1979. Entries do include information up to the 1990s, but no entries start after that date, nor are people whose importance came after 1979 included.

For anyone studying British history this is an excellent reference tool.

History Today is Britain’s leading monthly history magazine. Subscriptions are £38 airmail from History Today Ltd., Dept HTB, Freepost 38, 28 Old Compton Street, London W1E 5BS.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.3, 1996

The Very Bloody History of Britain without the Boring Bits by John Farman, Red Fox Book, Random House Books, 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 2SA. 1990. 156 pp. Paperback. Illustrated, No Index. £3.99.

"King Henry VI became the first sovereign to wear nappies" in 1422. So starts the brief chapter called "King of the Cradle" in which author John Farman summarizes the history of England from the accession of Henry VI through the conclusion of the War of the Roses. In four quick pages he sums up the highlights with hilarious descriptions that are the secret of his success as a writer of comedy. We learn, for example, that at Bosworth, Richard III "jauntily sported his crown into battle, got the worst of it, and at one point offered his kingdom for a horse." This of course is but one episode in the War of the Roses, "which seemed to be about whether red roses were nicer than white ones." At the end of this chapter as with all others, Farman adds a list of other historic happenings of the period, to keep us laughing, honest, and in the end, to educate us. Cartoon illustrations throughout add to the humor without detracting from the accuracy of the history.

In just over 150 pages, this slim paperback book covers English history from prehistoric man through World War II. Funny as it is (I was laughing out loud all the way through), this book summarizes the history of England very accurately. It also makes a point. Farman’s humorous style reminds us that we are funny creatures. Motivated as we are by greed, lust, avarice, or even charity, honor, and true nobility, we do a lot of crazy things. Our actions make up the events that create history. When we look at what has happened over the centuries from this human point of view, we surely ought to see the humor in ourselves as the creators of history.

For this American who has taken great pains to learn English history from more sober authors, I found Farman’s approach fresh, delightful, and still true to the facts. For any genealogist who wants a review of English history, this book offers delightful instruction.

Reviewed by Carol Becker
BIGWILL v.3 no.3, 1996

Dictionary of Old Trades and Occupations, 2nd ed. by Andrew & Sandra Twinning. 313 Pimpala Road, Mt. Hurtle, Woodcroft SA 5162, Australia. 1995. 108 pp. Paperback. US $12.50 includes airmail postage. Fax 61-8-322-8102. M/C & Visa accepted.

This is a superb dictionary of pre-1900 occupations that genealogists will find mentioned in old documents. This second edition has added over 500 entries to the first edition, bringing the total to over 1500 entries. Each entry provides the name and a brief description. Any book like this cannot include every occupation and the authors admit to not include every specialized occupation for industries such as mining, textile, shipbuilding, the cooperages, breweries, distilleries and sugar-refineries.

The book concludes with a listing of Latin terms for common occupations and bibliography to lead you to further sources.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.3, 1996

The Battle of Waterloo 1815 by Andrew & Sandra Twinning. 313 Pimpala Road, Mt. Hurtle, Woodcroft SA 5162, Australia. 1993. 29 pp. Paperback. US $5.50 includes airmail postage. Fax 61-8-322-8102. M/C & Visa accepted.

This book is a collection of short pieces about the Battle of Waterloo including: A sketch of the battle fought Sunday June 18, 1815; alphabetical list of officers killed and wounded from the Official Returns 16 June to 26 June 1815; additional list of Hanoverians killed and wounded; military and biographical notices of the fallen heroes; Battle of Waterloo honours; list of regiments under the command of Field Marshal Duke of Wellington showing the total loss of the British and Hanoverians; list of where the various English regiments were formed; and useful publications.

If family tradition suggests an ancestor was at the Battle of Waterloo, this is a useful little book. It will give you a list of regiments present and officers who died or were promoted on the field of battle, as well as indicating where you can look for further information.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.3, 1996

Genealogical Research in England’s Public Record Office: A Guide for North Americans by Judith Prowse Reid. Published by Genealogical Publishing Co., 1001 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore MD 21202. 1996. 148 pp. Illustrated, Index. Hardcover. $22.50 plus $3.50 shipping ($1.25 for each additional book).

The Public Record Office (PRO) in London is one of the richest genealogical repositories in the world. This book begins by addressing the general question of when to use the PRO and why. It provides very current references for books to get you started on your English research. Some references so current that they have not been published yet. The book progresses to talk about the logistics of getting to and working at the PRO. This is basic information found in many books but is very current acknowledging the many changes that are occurring with the movement of records from Chancery Lane in London to Kew.

The following chapter provides a good explanation of the class lists which are used to organized the material and are created by the originating government agency. This section is especially strong in citing published records and tools for US Colonial research.

The next two chapters dealing with Emigration, Immigration and other records is where this book excels. A good overview is given of lots of sources and record classes helpful to the North American researcher but often omitted as not relevant in books written about the PRO for English researchers. To learn more specifically what these record classes contain the researcher is directed to other resources.

The appendices provide useful tools for the researcher including a listing of addresses, telephone numbers and guidebooks for the county record offices. However, not all guide books are listed, for example the 1993 Cumbrian Ancestors which is especially important for the records in Cumbria are scattered across three offices. As with all address lists it is soon out of date, the Shropshire Record Office relocated in May 1995.

Overall this is a must if you want to know what records are available in England for helping you get from North America back to England.

Note: This book is now in its second edition (2000), which has also been reviewed in this newsletter.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.4, 1996

Railway Ancestors: A Guide to the Staff Records of the Railway Companies of England and Wales 1822-1947 by David T. Hawkings. Published by Alan Sutton Publishing Limited, Phoenix Mill, Far Thrupp, Strood, Gloucestershire, England. 1995. xviii, 509 pp. Tables, figures, bibliography, index. Hardback. £25.

This excellent research tool can be divided into two sections. The first section of nine chapters covers 181 pages and provides us with a description of the railway records that provide information about individuals. The second section provides seven appendices, a bibliography and indexes covering a further 329 pages.

In the nine chapters we find descriptions with examples of the different records groups. We read about: George Wynne who investigates the crash in April 1850 caused by the collapse of a bridge; Ralph Turner who asks in 1858 for a subscription towards the expense of a cork leg to replace his real leg lost when it was run over by an engine; Mr. James Edward Mumford who at age 56 retires due to failing eyesight after 26 years of service and seeks a gratuity of £60 instead of annuity so that he can open a small shop to support his wife and 26 year old cripple son. These are some of the many examples cited in the text.

The appendices provide valuable research tools. The first appendix lists alphabetically all 988 railways known to have operated prior to nationalization in 1947, with their date of incorporation, and dates covered by any records known to exist. Appendix 2 provides a list of railway companies by county so you know which railway companies are possibilities for you to check. As the author rightly points out neighboring counties need to be examined because an ancestor may have traveled a long distance daily on trains operated by one company to get to work, only to be employed by a different company. Appendix 3 provides a listing of known surviving company records, with their PRO class numbers. This listing includes all companies that were forced by the government to merge in 1923 to form four regional companies. The index of persons includes all people named in the text, or typed in the many tables but does not include people named in copies of actual documents.

If you think you have railway ancestors then this book is a must.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.4, 1996

The Brookwood Necropolis Railway by John M. Clarke. Published by The Oakwood Press, P.O.Box 122, Headington, Oxford OX3 8LU, England. 1995. viii, 120 pp. Drawings and photographs. Paperback. £8.95. Fax. 011-441-1865-875322, telephone 011-441-1865-874080 Visa and M/C accepted.

The "London Necropolis" was intended to become London’s only cemetery by providing enough land to contain all the metropolitan dead for an almost indefinite period. It was established to solve London’s burial problem. The city’s population had more than doubled between 1801 and 1851, while the burial grounds remained stable in size. This led to congestion and inappropriate burial practices.

The London Necropolis Company was established in 1852 and provided the Brookwood cemetery near Woking in Surrey. A special train service was established on the London & South Western Railway between Waterloo and Brookwood. This service operated until the destruction of the terminus in WWII.

This book discusses in detail the process by which bodies and the funeral followers were transported to the Brookwood cemetery, how that differed depending upon the deceased standing in society, and what costs were involved. The cemetery layout, railway equipment and stations are well illustrated.

A superb book if your ancestors worked on this railway or were buried in this cemetery and you want to know how they got there.

If you have located your railway ancestor and want to know more about the railway on which they worked then contact this company for their catalog of over 150 titles of books and videos dealing with specific railways around the country.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.4, 1996

CAGe - Computer Aided Genealogy: A Guide to using Computer Software for Family History by Nigel Bayley. Published by S & N Publishing, 5 Polden Close, Farnborough, Hants GU14 9HN, England. 1995. 60pp. Charts, illustrations. Softcover. £4.95. All major credit cards accepted. Fax 011-441-1252-378054, e-mail 100064.737@compuserve.com.

This book is designed for the beginner and the experienced computer user. For the beginner it lays out what equipment is needed and what to look for in DOS, Windows and Mac based shareware and commercial genealogy programs. The emphasis is on the genealogy skills and requirements of the user, not the computer experience. All major UK products and most, but not all, US products are discussed. There is a good discussion of why you should use a genealogy program rather than a database or spreadsheet for recording your data. The major difference is in search and output capabilities.

The different types of charts and reports that these programs can produce are discussed in detail. This is an area where flexibility and output has improved greatly over the last few years. The researcher can insert and change the layout of family trees and charts plus include pictures. Also important is the discussion of programs that produce drop line charts which are rare in US based programs but so common for those of us who correspond with UK researchers.

For the more experienced researcher there is a good detailed discussion of GEDCOM and its capabilities, graphics files, optical character recognition programs and how to access information through computer networks. The book concludes with a good summary chart of the major DOS and Windows based programs. This summary chart alone is worth the price of the book.

The author points out that we are passed the point where one program will meet all our genealogy needs. This is a good place to start if you are a first time buyer looking at what is available or seeking a program to meet a new need.

This book is now in its second edition. Here is some updated information provided by the publisher in Mar. 1999: (Now includes CD of genealogy software) Published by S & N Publishing, Greenacres, Salisbury Rd, Chilmark, Salisbury SP3 5AH, England. 1999. 60pp. £5.95. All major credit cards accepted.
Fax 011-441-1722  -716160 Tel  -716121. Web Secure Ordering: <www.genealogy.demon.co.uk>

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.4, 1996

Great Scots! The Scottish American Hall of Fame by James Casement Thomson. Published by The Illinois St. Andrew Society, 28th & Des Plaines Ave., North Riverside IL 60546. $15 plus $3 p&h pp extra copies $0.50 c Fax 708/447-5269.

This is a collection of one-page tributes to the Americans from Scotland or of Scottish descendent who made a significant contribution to life in the United States. The text and engraved pictures are from the memorial tablets in the Scottish American Hall of Fame maintained at the Scottish Home in North Riverside, IL. All the text was written by Mr. James Casement Thomson who died in 1994. This book is published in his memory.

Each vignette contains some basic biographical information about the Scotsman plus a summary of their achievements. Each person is organized by group which includes: American founders; explorers & pioneers; US Presidents; politicians & public officials; religious leaders; soldiers & sailors; business leaders & industrialists; writers & publishers; fine artists; inventors; scientists; physicians; other great Scottish-Americans.

This book is a great gift for anyone proud of their Scottish heritage.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.4, 1996

The Surnames of Wales by John and Sheila Rowlands. Published by Genealogical Publishing Co. 1001 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore MD 21202. 1996. 217 pp. Maps, tables and index. Softcover. $19.95 plus $3.50 p&h.

You know that your Jones and Davies ancestors came from Wales but you don’t know where. This book gives you hope, even when you have common Welsh names on your family tree.

The book discusses thoroughly the transition from patronymics to the adoption of surnames, showing how that the time period of change varied depending upon the location within Wales. Those areas under English influence adopted the names earlier than the strong Welsh speaking areas. The completion of the transition to surnames was forced by the beginning of civil registration in 1837. The effect of this transition is well illustrated with individuals often being known by many different names, and children of a couple appearing to have different surnames. Good examples for researchers struggling with Welsh naming patterns.

There is a large section that discusses in detail many surnames associated with Wales and where they are to be found. The distribution of surnames is based on analysis of all 1813-1837 marriage records. Surname distribution is well illustrated by maps showing the percentage of people within a geographic hundred with a particular name. The authors contend that statistically their hypothesis about the distribution of a surname is likely to remain valid over the 1780-1880 period.

The two chapters entitled Further Uses of the Survey and Migration, Emigration and Place of Origin give good examples on how to apply the information found in this book to find your ancestors. The authors provide a service for researchers who want to know the probability of where in Wales their ancestors originated, assuming they have at least two connected Welsh surnames.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.5, 1996

Exploring Scottish History: A Directory of Resource Centres for Scottish Local and National History in Scotland edited by Michael Cox. Published by the Scottish Library Association, Motherwell Business Centre, Coursington Road, Motherwell ML1 1PW, Scotland. 1992. Softcover 161 pp. £6.95.

The book is a joint collaboration between the Scottish Library Association, the Scottish Records Association and the Scottish Museums Federation. As a result the breadth of collections included is large, covering 238 institutions. The information provided includes: reference number, name of organization, address, telephone and fax numbers, title or name of person to contact, brief general description of the collection, terms of use, hours of opening, description of location, listing of primary source material, publications and reprographics. The institution listings are in alphabetical order, with an index of geographic locations.

If you are looking for specific material in Scotland or need ideas for your research, this is an ideal place to look. You will learn about the large O’Dell collection of Scottish railway materials at Aberdeen University, trade records from 1622-1938 for different occupations at the Angus District Library in Montrose, and photographs of ships operating to and from Scottish waters at the Scottish Maritime Museum. If you are looking for information about a particular occupation then you may need to cover a large area. If you are looking for the records of a particular notable family then information is given on how to contact the National Registry of Archives for information to ascertain if material exists in a public or private collection.

This book is a great resource; however, since its publication there has been a major reorganization of the local governments in Scotland. This means that some material may have been moved to another institution. The warning is given in the book but is worth repeating here that if you are planning on going to Scotland to visit a particular collection, write ahead of time to make sure it is still there and it is what you are looking for. Many of these institutions will also respond by mail to specific inquiries.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.5, 1996

The Scotch-Irish by Charles A. Hanna. Published by Genealogical Publishing Co., 1001 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore MD 21202. Maps, tables and index. Hardcover. 1902, reprinted 1995. 2 Vols. 623 and 602 pp. $75 plus $3.50 p&h for the first vol. and $1.25 for additional volume.

This is a massive compilation of source records relating to Scots who settled in Northern Ireland and America. Volume 1 begins with a section entitled America’s Debt to Scotland where it lays out the key role Scots played in shaping the formation of the US with its emphasis on Liberty and Conscience and ideals.

The next section deals with the Scot in North Britain. This section gives a good historical overview of Scottish cultural history but is too early for most genealogists. I personally found the section dealing with the history and documentation about the life of William Wallace interesting to read especially after watching the movie Braveheart and trying to determine fact from fiction.

The next section deals with the Scot in North Ireland. This begins with the early plantations providing lists and information on the original Scottish "undertakers" in the early 17th century. The movement to Ulster was complete by the end of the century. The causes for the migration to the U.S. is discussed in detail providing numerous lists of when and where the Presbyterian colonies were established in the U.S.

In these two volumes there are copies of the texts of many original documents which would be very difficult to locate in U.S. sources. These books are not light reading, but for anyone with early Scots in Ulster or Colonial Scotch-Irish this is a resource to be examined.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.5, 1996

Jollies Cumberland Guide & Directory 1811: Containing a descriptive tour through the County. 1811, reprinted 1995. viii, 138 pp. £35. History and Directory of West Cumberland, 1901 by T. Bulmer. 1901, reprinted 1994. 152 pp. £15. Both reprinted by Michael Moon, 41 Roper Street, Whitehaven, Cumbria, England. Tel. 011-441-1946-62936. Payment by Sterling checks, credit cards not accepted.

Jollies guide and directory is the earliest directory for Cumberland and was originally printed by hand in two volumes. They are extremely rare now. They have been combined into one volume for this beautiful quality reproduction. I wish there were more companies willing to reproduce the old volumes in this quality.

The book contains three loose maps in a pocket at the back of Carlisle, Workington and Whitehaven at a scale of 6 1/2 inches to the mile. They are dated 1811 but actually were created in 1794 with some minor alternations such as new mines being added.

The guide book describes a journey through all the towns of Cumberland in 1811. This is a fascinating journey mentioning many of the land owners in the area. You see how the cost of provisions increased rapidly from 1793 to 1796, learn about street manure being sold in Carlisle, public water pumps being put up in Whitehaven, and how the fortifications at Whitehaven were increased to 98 canon after John Paul Jones attacked the harbor in April 1788.

Both parts of the directory contain lists of the professionals and tradesmen in most of the towns in the county. Your ancestor may not be found in the lists. But, if your ancestor is in the county in this time period, this book is a must for getting a good description of the industry, people and land.

The Bulmer’s reprint is one section from a much larger edition (990 pages) entitled A History, Topography and Directory of Cumberland published in 1901. This directory is designed for those wishing to find their grandparents in the area. The directory is organized by community beginning with a good detailed description, history of the local industries, descriptions of all the churches, schools and significant organizations within the area. The description for the town of Harrington, for example, shows how significantly the community had grown in the prior century. It got only a passing reference in Jollie’s directory of 1811. The directory covers the Western or Egremont Parliamentary Division of the county. A map showing the boundaries of the Division would have helped users not in the area. The boundaries appear to be Harrington to the north on the coast, Haverigg and Millom to the South, and inland into the Ennerdale, Wastwater and Eskdale valleys. This is a quality paperback book. I especially liked that extra-long, folded front and back covers that in effect provide built-in book marks.

ed - George Washington’s grandmother is buried near Moon’s shop. Michael Moon produces an excellent catalogue of local used and rare books. This is a resource you need to know about if you have Cumbrian ancestors. I only wish I had ancestors from here.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.5, 1996

Essex Family History: A Genealogist’s Guide to the Essex Record Office, 4th ed. Published by the Essex Record Office, County Hall, Chelmsford Essex CM1 1LX, England. 1995. 167 pp. Spiral-comb binding. £6.50. Payment by credit card or sterling check. Order by mail or fax to 011-441-1245-430085.

For those with Essex ancestors this is the book to learn what basic and advanced records are available for your research. This is especially important given that only about 10% of the Essex parishes are included in the IGI. There are three depositories in Essex with the main branch being in Chelmsford. This book lists which records are where.

The book begins with a good introduction to doing genealogical research in Essex, although the information is applicable anywhere in England. The largest section of the book on green paper lists the Anglican parish registers and transcripts. It provides details on each parish showing what years are available in the original registers on microfilm, fiche and whether indexes are available. A section on yellow paper shows similar information for the non-conformist registers.

There are also sections dealing with records of: probate, marriage licenses, poor law, electoral and taxation, quarter sessions, police, protestation returns, militia, tithe and manorial, monumental inscriptions, plus their index to personal names. For each of these records there is an brief but good explanation of what they are, followed by a list of the holdings of the archives.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.5, 1996

Meath Ancestors: A Guide to Sources for Tracing your Ancestors in Co. Meath by Noel E. French. Published by Trymme Press. Obtain from Meath Heritage Centre, Mill Street, Trim, Co. Meath, Ireland. 1993. 72 pp. Softcover. £9.00 IR or UK, or $20.00.

This guide is written by the director of the Meath Heritage Centre. It is a very useful guide to finding your Meath Ancestors. The guide covers family surnames and famous people from the county, administrative divisions, church records, civil registration, land records, monumental inscriptions, directories, newspapers, other records, published family histories, local histories, addresses and further reading. There is also a chapter dealing with the development of the centre. For Americans this chapter illustrates how this centre, and others, have developed.

The chapter on church records is especially good, listing both the Church of Ireland and the Roman Catholic parishes and stating what registers survive, where they are currently located and what have been indexed by the centre. The chapters on other records, published family histories and local histories are especially important because they list sources and publications that are rarely heard about in the U.S. When you know of the existence of a resource, it is easier to track that resource down.

Definitely a valuable resource for those with Meath ancestors.

ed. - The Meath Heritage Centre has also published a number of other local history books. If you are interested in doing a search through this Heritage centre I have the forms and costs sheets.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.5, 1996

Finding Folk: Handlist of Genealogical Sources in Lancashire Record Office published by Lancashire Record Office, Bow lane, Preston PR1 2RE, Lancashire, England. 1995. 209 pp. £? No credit cards accepted, payment in sterling with order by mail. Telephone 011-441-1772-263028 or fax to 011-441-1772-263050.

This handlist aims to and succeeds in listing the main sources available for Lancashire research such as probate and church records. It does not list the more specialized sources such as taxation, police, judicial, hospital or school records. Research in Lancashire has been complicated by county and ecclesiastical boundary changes in the late 19th century and again in 1974. These changes are well illustrated on maps and explained in the text.

The chapter dealing with probate records is especially good showing which record offices have the original records, microfilm copies, and what indexes are available, for what time periods. The bulk of the publication is taken up with three separate lists of all the Church of England, Roman Catholic and Nonconformist parish registers. The listing for each shows where they are available, for what years and where there are gaps (20 years in the 18C and 5 years in the 19C and 20C). Also listed for each parish are the existence of any transcripts or indexes, what years if any are included in the IGI, Boyd’s marriage index, or Owen’s index of registers and monumental inscriptions. The inclusion of these index references is especially useful since the IGI and Boyd’s marriage index is readily available through the LDS.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.5, 1996

Visitation of England and Wales, Vols. 1-21 (1894-1921), and Notes, Vols. 1-14 (1896-1921) edited by Joseph Jackson Howard, LL.D., Maltgravers Herald Extrodinary and Frederick Arthur Crisp. Heritage Books, Inc., 1540-E Pointer Ridge Pl., Suite 300, Bowie MD 20716. Price per volume varies. Visa / Mastercard / Checks / Money Orders accepted. $4.00 p&h.

A full review of this series is to be found in Vol.3 No.2 of the BIGWILL newsletter. These are primarily pedigrees starting in the mid-18th century from various counties.

Vol. 11. $33.00, reprinted in 1996. Principal names: Abercromby, Barlow, Cave-Brown-Cave, Clark, Coode, De Chair, De Mauley, Freeman, Goddard, Grey, Hamilton, Harrison, Hodsoll, Hunt, Jackson, Jones, Landon, Lockett, Norbury, Patchett, Phillips, Portman, Raglan, Roberts, Roddoam, Shedden, Sieveking, South, Steedman, Taylor, Teague, Thursby, Welch, Wood, Worsley.

Vol. 13. $35.00, reprinted in 1996. Principal names: Adams, Amherst (Earl), Armstrong (Baron), Auden, Bagot, Brewster, Colyer, Crisp, Duncan, Dunne, Edmeades, Finnemore, Fisher, Fletcher, Graham, Keighly-Peach, Kenrick, Littledale, Master, Maughan-Ettrick, Milner (Baronet), Nelson (Earl), Powis (Earl of), Ridley, Round, Scarbrough (Earl of), Sherborn, Shuttleworth (Baron), Spedding, Tenterden (Baron), Treves (Baronet), Vaillant, Vidler, Wigan (Baronet).

Vol. 14. $35.00, reprinted in 1996. Principal names: Ancaster (earl of), Atlay, Barlow (Baronet), Barry, Bodington, Brassey (Baron), Clay (Baronet), Comber, Courtenay, Crisp, Dale, Darell (formerly Stephens), Dent, Disraeli, Elliot, Eyre-Matcham, Fanshawe, Fitzwilliam (Earl), Gidley, Griffith, Harwood, Helps, Jalland, Mawdesley, Moore, Morrice, Pickersgill-Cunliffe, Potts, Poynter (Baronet), Ratcliff, Rendlesham (Baron), Rugge-Price (Baronet), Stapleton, Talboys, Tennyson (Baron), Thursfield, Vincent, Wescombe, White, Woodhead, Wright.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.5, 1996

Landmark, Journal of the Waukesha County Historical Society, Autumn/Winter 1996, V.39, No.3,4. Waukesha County Historical Society, P.O. Box 833, Waukesha WI 53187-0833. 68 pp. $4 plus $1.50 p&h. Make check payable to "Waukesha County Museum Store".

This double journal issue of the Waukesha County Historical Society is different from our normal book review but well worth your consideration. Jean Jolliffe, our November speaker, brought this resource to our attention.

The impetus for the journal was the 1850 diary of George Davey who sailed from Padstow, Cornwall, to Quebec on the barque Belle. George later settled in Ottowa, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. It is rare to have a second diary for the same journey but Richard Rundell provides us with another viewpoint of the trip. The rest of the journal is a collection of articles: The Cornish in Southeastern Wisconsin; The Cornish in Southwest Wisconsin; The Barque Belle of Padstow; The Ghost Ships: Insured by Lloyd’s of London; The Perils of the Sea: The Immigrant Experience in 1850; The Port of Quebec; Who were the Bible Christians?; A profile of George Davey and his family; Profiles: Temperance Meeting aboard the Belle.

This collection of papers is a fascinating study of what can be done with different aspects of an immigrant’s journey and life. The ship and ship-board life, the traveling companions and their place of origin, plus their journey upon arrival in the US are all examined. The impact of their religious experience in Cornwall and the U.S. is also examined. This is the type of material you need to locate to put flesh on your ancestors vital statistics. The article bibliographies will lead you into further research on the journey and life of your ancestors.

The journal could have been improved by the inclusion of a name and place index. That way the single references to Bluett, Cornish, and other surnames I know of being researched by our members would be easily found. A good, inexpensive purchase with a lot of great material.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.6, 1996

Sources for Cornish Family History, 35 pp. Paperback. c. 1988, revised January 1996. £4 surface mail and Guide to Sources at the Cornwall Record Office, 80 pp. Paperback. c. Nov. 1995. £7 surface mail. Both obtainable from Cornwall Record Office, County Hall, Truro TR1 3AY, Cornwall, England.

Sources for Cornish Family History begins with a brief introduction to records typically used by the family historian such as: parish registers; census returns; probate and poor law records; deeds; pedigrees; etc. The bulk of this guide is taken up with two long listings. The first list presents the beginning and ending dates of the registers for the Church of England parishes, along with whether the marriages are included in the Phillimore Marriage Index. This listing can be found in other resources. The second listing provides information on over 500 surviving registers for the different branches of Methodism and their circuits. This is an important resource because it is calculated that by 1851 64% of churchgoers in Cornwall attended Methodist services and only 28% attended the established church. The remainder of the guide lists smaller record groups for other Nonconformists, and brief information on other depositories having Cornish collections.

Guide to Sources at the Cornwall Record Office is where you need to turn after you have done the basics. This excellent guide is divided into sections examining records from the public, local government, Church of England, businesses and industries, family and estate, nonconformist, voluntary organizations, printed sources, and sources elsewhere. This book is organized by the group that contributed the records and so certain types of records will appear in different record classes depending on who had custody of the records at the time of deposition. The good index will help you find similar records deposited by different groups. The origin and purpose of each record group is described and for me provides one of the best resources I have come across for information about a lot of different record groups for use by the family historian. The descriptions will provide you with lots of ideas on what exists for what time period and where to go next in your research.

This excellent guide to the records of Cornwall will certainly take you beyond the basics and into resources that will certainly provide lots of background information about your ancestors life and possibly your ancestor. Many of these records will not be available in the US so you will need this guide to plan your next trip to Cornwall or to have research done for you in Cornwall. The book concludes with a long and excellent bibliography organized by topic to get you deeper into your research.

The County Record Office does provide research services at £12 per hour, with copies extra. Contact Paul Milner if you are interested in further information on services provided.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.6, 1996

Guide to the Cheshire Record Office (and Chester Diocesan Record Office) edited by Caroline Williams. Cheshire Record Office, Duke Street, Chester, Cheshire CH1 1RL. c. 1991, reprinted 1994. 166 pp. Maps, illustrations and index. Paperback. £10.68 airmail. Payment by Sterling checks to "Cheshire County Council". No credit cards.

The county archivist warns that this book is now somewhat out of date and is currently being revised. This volume, which is a high quality production, was developed in 1989 when the Cheshire Record Office celebrated its 40th anniversary and won the nationally-awarded Phillimore prize in 1992.

The records have been divided into three broad groups: official organizations, ecclesiastical bodies and private concerns. Within these, each group is prefaced by a note on the origin, powers and functions of the record creating body and is followed by a brief description of the main record types with covering dates and group references. The level of detail varies but the general aim is to reveal the richness of Cheshire sources; in this it succeeds. Related records from different sources are brought together in the guide, and the excellent index encourages the user to take a subject-orientated approach to the records.

This is an area that has undergone many boundary changes and the Diocese of Chester was much bigger than the current county of Cheshire. The maps illustrate some of these changes. There is no map of the parishes within the county or the diocese. There is a list of all Church of England parishes showing the dates of the registers held. More unusually the list also shows the dates for which other parish records are held. Similar lists are provided for the large number of Methodist circuits and chapels, plus other nonconformist groups.

There is also a very extensive collection of records from over 800 schools, predominantly 19th and 20th century. There are lots of sources listed here that will keep you busy in your Cheshire research for a long time to come. Definitely a required text if you are going to do any in depth research in Cheshire.

The County Record Office does provide research services at £16 per hour, with copies extra. Contact Paul Milner if you are interested in further information on services provided.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.6, 1996

Studies in Peerage and Family History by J. Horace Round. Published by Clearfield Company, 200 E. Eager Street, Baltimore MD 21202. 496 pp. Indexed. Paper. 1901, reprinted 1996. $39.95 plus $3.50 p&h.

The author is regarded as the founder of scientific genealogy in England. The largest section of this fine book highlights the controversy that existed at the turn of the century over the subject of the peerage. Called into question is the validity of many of the pedigrees found in Burke’s and provided by the College of Arms. The message for modern readers is that all lines need to be verified and documented even when dealing with illustrious families. The problems of errors increases as one moves from the Peerage to the Landed Gentry. I have found errors in Burke’s Landed Gentry for one of my own lines.

The rest of the book provides detailed examples of good scientific research into noble families and their connection with history, using as examples the English Hapsburgs, Russels, Spencers, Lord Glamorgan and Earl of Mowbray.

The turn-of-the-century prose makes this a tough read but the scholarship illustrated makes it worthwhile.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.6, 1996

Kent Churches by John E. Vigar. Published by Alan Sutton Publishing Ltd., Phoenix Mill, Far Thrupp, Stroud, Gloucestershire. 1995. 152 pp. Maps, photographs. Indexed. Softcover. £8.99.

This guide book is divided into two sections. Section 1, consisting of 43 pages, presents a good overview of what to look for when you examine a church to learn its history, origins and remodeling. It starts with a look at the exterior structural details before moving inside to look at the church interior and its furnishings. Each feature discussed is illustrated with examples from Kent churches which cover over 1,500 years of building history This section of the book serves as a good example of how to look at a church to learn about it and is relevant to other parts of England, even though the specifics might change.

Section 2, the remainder of the book, is a gazetteer of selected Kent churches. Not all churches are described. The brief descriptions and many photographs illustrate some of the unique features for each church. If your ancestor is from this area, this is a good beginning to learning about the church. When you get to Kent you will want to obtain the churches local guide which will give you more specifics. Overall, a good aid for adding life to your genealogy if your ancestors are from Kent.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.3 no.6, 1996

Short Guides to Records: First Series-Guides 1-24 edited by L. M. Munby. Published by The Historical Association, 59a Kennington Park Road, London SE11 4JH, England. Copyright 1994. Softcover. 120 pp. £8. Tel: 011-441-171-735-3901, Fax: 011-441-171-582-4989.

This is a collection of short guides originally published between 1961 and 1971 and now collected together and reissued in this guide. The papers cover a wide range of subjects providing a variety of historical records from mediaeval times to the nineteenth century. The topics include: rate books; poll books; probate inventories; estate maps and surveys; guardians’ minute books; chantry certificates; hearth tax returns; Episcopal visitation books; estates acts of parliament; wills; recusant rolls; deeds of title; glebe terriers; enclosure awards and acts; records of commissions and sewers; land tax assessments; parliamentary surveys; turnpike records; fire insurance policy registers; tithe apportionments and maps; chapter act books; port books; quarter session order books and local reports to the general board of health.

The guides provide an excellent and fascinating introduction to the different classes of records. Each guide provides an example of the record and a description of the document’s format. This is followed by an explanation of where the researcher can find the records and how to use them for genealogical and historical research. Each guide concludes with a bibliography which is now dated, but still provides valid recommendations for further research.

This is an excellent, inexpensive book providing whole classes of documents that researchers here in the US rarely attempt to search. Some of these record groups are available here on microfilm for many counties. If you are stuck and want new ideas on where to look, or are planning research in a county or diocesan records office in England or Wales, I would highly recommend this book.

Note: You can join The Historical Association, at the above address, and receive a discount on all its publications. The membership year runs from October to September. For £23 receive quarterly copies of The Historian. For £39 receive The Historian and the journal History. For £57 receive The Historian, History and the Annual Bulletin of Historical Literature.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.1, 1997

Your Scottish Ancestry: A Guide for North Americans by Sherry Irvine. Ancestry Inc., P. O. Box 476, Salt Lake City, UT 84110-0476. Copyright 1996. 253 pp. Illustrations, index, maps, tables. Softcover. $17.95. 1-800-262-3787.

If you have Scottish ancestry and want ideas of how to do research, this book is for you. It succeeds in providing a logical research process for family historians based in North America. Many of the records discussed in the book are available through the LDS Family History Centers, or in printed form at the Newberry Library or major university libraries in the area.

The first two chapters of the book remind researchers of the care needed in researching on this side of the Atlantic, especially in terms of locating and documenting the immigrant and his or her relatives. This care is vital because the location for Scottish research will be based on this information.

Chapters focus on civil registration, records of the Church of Scotland, Secessionists and other denominations, disposition of goods and property, trades and occupations, taxes and contracts, special people and problem solving. The layout of the chapters is excellent with a description of the records and helpful illustrations, followed by tips on how to make the most effective use of the records either directly or through other tools. Appropriate warnings are given of potential pitfalls in the records. The chapters conclude with a useful summary of the steps to take in your research.

The chapter dealing with the disposition of goods and property is especially helpful. The chapter covers Testamentary Records, the Services of Heirs and the Register of Sasines, providing the best explanation of these complicated record groups that I have come across.

The appendices discuss in depth the major tools provided by the LDS: the library catalog, indexes to baptisms and marriages (IGI, OPR Index, Scottish Church Records) plus the Parliamentary papers. The book concludes with an excellent annotated bibliography.

If you want one resource to get you into your Scottish research, this one comes highly recommended.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.1, 1997

Celtic Women: Women in Celtic Society and Literature by Peter Berresford Ellis. Published by William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Copyright 1995. 288 pp. Bibliography, index. $25.

For those interested in Celtic history and the social position which women held in Celtic society, Ellis provides an interesting overview for the general reader. Chapters include mythology, pre-Christian religion, Celtic law, the Celtic church and women in medieval history. Most of the author’s references are based on Irish and Welsh history law. His secondary sources listed in the bibliography are recognized scholars in Celtic studies.

Ellis is a scholar of Celtic history and culture who has written several books including Celtic Empire, A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology, Celtic and Saxon, and The Druids

In light of the current movement for equality in this country, I was particularly interested to learn of the equal balance between men and women in Celtic Society.

Reviewed by Jacqueline Torrance
BIGWILL v.4 no.1, 1997

Guide to the South Humberside Area Archive Office by John Wilson. North East Lincolnshire Archives and Record Service, Town Hall, Town Hall Square, Grimsby DN31 1HX. 92pp. £7. Checks payable to: North East Lincolnshire Council. Tel: 011-441-1472-323585.

The name of this institution has changed from the South Humberside to the North East Lincolnshire Archive Office. The area covered includes: Scunthorpe municipal borough; Glanford Brigg rural district; Barton upon Humber urban district; Brigg urban district; Grimsby rural district and county borough and Cleethorpes municipal borough.

The book is divided up into records for the Borough of Grimsby, Statutory Authorities, Public Records and unofficial deposited archives. There are many records listed here, but the majority are without any explanation of what information they might include. Information and collections of many individuals are included, all mentioned in the index.

This depository is not the diocesan record office; therefore, do not look here for parish registers, bishop’s transcripts or wills proven before 1858. There are however some church related documents such as membership lists, minutes, Sunday school books, attendance registers, year books, accounts, etc.

Grimsby is particularly well known for its fishing industry. The archives has a good collection of appropriate materials including: Customs and Excise Registers; Board of Trade crew and apprentice lists; Borough Council papers and minutes; Reports and records for dock companies, fish merchants, mariner institutions, fishing companies, shipping, ship suppliers, repairers, agents and owners and salvage companies. The apprenticeship records are also indexed.

For researching the Humberside area, this guide is a must. Unfortunately for most of us, the material can only be seen in Grimbsy. The Archives will answer short direct question for those who send two International Reply Coupons. For more involved work, they will provide the names of local researchers for hire.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.1, 1997

Surveying the People: The interpretation and use of document sources for the study of population in the later seventeenth century edited by Kevin Schurer and Tom Arkell. Leopard’s Head Press Ltd., 7 Murray Court, Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 6LQ. Order from Mrs. R. Brigden, Cambridge Group for the History of Population and Social Structure, 27 Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1QA, England. Copyright 1992. Figures, index maps, tables. 308 pp. £10.

This is the best book I have come across that deals with the English seventeenth century records produced by the Hearth tax, Compton’s Census, Poll taxes and the Marriage Duty Act. The book analyses in great depth how and why the records were created, why the content varies from one location to another, what records survive and where.

This book was not written for the genealogist but rather for the person wanting to understand population growth and movement. The book has chapters that show how the documents can be used. For example: Household structure in Kings Lynn; a reconstruction based on the Poll Taxes of 1689-1702; The Marriage Duty Act and parochial registration in London, 1695-1706; Non-conformity and the Compton Census in late seventeenth-century Devon.

For anyone doing research in these seventeenth-century documents, this is a book well worth reading.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.1, 1997

Research Guide to Loyalist Ancestors: A Directory to Archives, Manuscripts, and Published Sources by Paul J. Bunnell. Heritage Books, Inc., 1540-E Pointer Ridge Pl., Suite 300, Bowie, MD 20716. Copyright 1990. 146 pp. $17 Visa/MasterCard/Checks/Money Orders accepted. $4.00 p&h.

This book is designed to guide you to Loyalist sources in depositories found in Canada, USA and other countries. For each province, state or other country addresses are provided for institutions having Loyalist collections, often with a brief description of the local collection. The detail provided varies greatly. For example, when discussing the parish register collection of the National Archives of Canada individual film numbers are provided. In contrast, the collection of the LDS Family History Library in Utah is listed under New Hampshire.

The organization of the book is eclectic. The provinces and states are in no apparent order; therefore, you constantly need to refer to the table of contents to find a particular geographic area. There is no index. The author is a professional researcher, yet you find his address at the bottom of page 71. Major collections and bibliographic resources are included for each geographic area, but the organization leaves this reviewer with a sense that other collections or resources may have been omitted. This is a useful entry into Loyalist records but don’t stop here in the search for the information you are seeking.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.1, 1997

Visitation of England and Wales, Vols. 1-21 (1894-1921), and Notes, Vols. 1-14 (1896-1921) edited by Joseph Jackson Howard, LL.D., Maltgravers Herald Extrodinary and Frederick Arthur Crisp. Heritage Books, Inc., 1540-E Pointer Ridge Pl., Suite 300, Bowie, MD 20716. Price per volume varies. Visa/MasterCard/Checks/Money Orders accepted. $4.00 p&h.

A full review of this series is to be found in Vol. 3 No. 2 of the BIGWILL newsletter. These are primarily pedigrees starting in the mid-18th century from various counties. Please note that the indexes to these volumes do not include the people contained in the growing additions and corrections section at the end of each volume.

Vol. 15. 218 + xxxii pp. $35.50. Reprinted in 1996. The principal names include: Amherst, Arkwright, Askwith, Bendall, Benyon, Brewster, Burroughes, Crispe, Deacon, De Ramsey, Dixon-Hartland, Fanshawe, Fellowes, Forwood, Freeeman, Goddard, Goschen, Gower, Hovenden, Marsh, Marshall, Mason, Murray, Oswell, Parry, Pearson, Player, Price, Prideaux, Rew, Rudge, Scott, Sheppard, Simpson, Turnbull, Walker, Wills, Woodthorpe and Wright.

Vol. 16. 216 + 1 pp. $37. Reprinted in 1996. The pricipal names include: Abel. Allix, Bazely, Bingham, Boothby, Bradford, Byron, Carter, Codrington, Collyer, Comber, Cormick, Cunliffe, Darell, Devonshire, Everett, Fellowes, Ferard, Freshfield, Grellier, Hamilton, Hind, Leigh, Lowe, Moore, Newman, Penny, Porter, Preston, Prideaux, Rawson, Roseberry, Spooner, Stacey, Strode, Walsingham, Wilberforce and Woollcome-Boyce.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.1, 1997

The Great Famine: Ireland’s Potato Famine, 1845-1851 by John Percival. Published by BBC Books, Woodlands, 80 Wood Lane, London W12 0TT. 1995. Index, photographs. 192 pp. £16.99. Fax. 011-44-181-749-8766.

This is an easy to read detailed book about Ireland’s potato famine and its consequences. The book begins with a brief overview of the colonization of Ireland, followed by a description of the potato culture and its effect on Irish life. It points out that there were numerous potato crop failures, but rarely over wide areas and never all varieties of potato species. A realistic picture is painted of the background to the famine with the feudal structure of the country and with its many great estates owned by Anglo-Irish landlords whose tenants and small-holders struggled to survive.

The potato crop fails. The hunger begins. A vivid description is given of the effects and consequences of the crop failure, both in terms of the effects on the people themselves and the politics involved between England and Ireland. The strengths and weaknesses of the Poor Laws are clearly presented, and how the relief efforts were both helped and hindered by Catholic and Anglican priests quarreling over dogma while the poor starved around them. The result for many was eviction and large scale emigration.

There is a discussion of ways in which the Irish were and were not accepted in American Society. The election of John F. Kennedy as President of the United States is seen by many Catholic Irish-Americans as the end of the long struggle for acceptance into US society. The book concludes with a discussion of who is to blame.

This book accompanies a documentary series, The Great Famine, which was produced to commemorate the 150th anniversary. The author acknowledges that it is very difficult to discuss the famine without political biases and blame. This reviewer feels that Percival has done a good job at keeping his biases controlled and highly recommends this book.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.2, 1997

Indexes to Irish Wills edited by W.P.W. Phillimore and Gertrude Thrift. Published by Genealogical Publishing Co., 1001 N. Calvert St., Baltimore MD 21202-6687. 1909-1920, reissued 1997. 5 volumes in 1.827 pp. $50 plus $3.50 p&h.

In Ireland there are 34 ecclesiastical dioceses divided into the four ecclesiastical provinces of: Dublin, Cashel, Armagh and Tuam. Each dioceses had its own consistorial court for probate administration prior to 1857. The probate records were destroyed in 1922, during the Civil War, with the destruction of the Four Courts building in Dublin.

Because the probate records have been destroyed the surviving indexes become extremely valuable in determining social and financial status of an ancestor. The indexes also provide clues for checking land records (many of which were not lost in the 1922 fire) for an estate partition and transfers of lease from testator to heir.

Each of the five volumes, bound in this one volume, begins with a map showing diocesan boundaries, sometimes with underlying county boundaries. Indexes are provided for all dioceses within the Provinces of Dublin and Cashel. Five of the twelve dioceses in the Province of Armagh are indexed, but nothing for the province of Tuam is included. Thus 22 of 34 dioceses are wholly or partially indexed. This is important to realize since the promotion description implies that all consistorial courts are indexed, which is not the case.

The book does index over 30,000 wills providing name of testator, parish, county and date of probate. The beginning and ending date for each diocese varies, with the first three volumes indexing wills up to 1800 and the latter two volumes ending with 1858. There is no comprehensive index to this volume, you need to check for your ancestor by individual diocese, although some dioceses are paired together.

This is a valuable resource, especially given the destruction of the original records. However, the geographic and time limitations need to be fully understood.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.2, 1997

Scotch Irish Pioneers in Ulster and America by Charles Knowles Bolton. Published by Heritage Books, Inc., 1540-E Pointer Ridge Place, Bowie MD 20716. 1910 reprinted 1989. Illustrations, index, maps. 398 pp. $28.50 plus $4 p&h.

The book begins with a number of chapters dealing with the situation in Ulster and the relationships between Ulster and North America prior to 1718. The bulk of the book focuses on the people, especially the clergy leadership, who began the migration from Ulster to the US in 1718.

The leaders with their successes and failures are described for each of the colonies that were started by the Scotch Irish. This includes the settlements of: Worcester, Rutland, Pelham, Palmer, Dracut, Andover, Casco Bay, Merrymeeting Bay, Nutfield and Londonderry in New England; Donegal, Derry and Neshaminy in Pennsylvania; Charleston and Williamsburg in South Carolina.

The appendices include: ships arriving in New England from Ireland between 1714 and 1720; Signers of the 1718 petition to Governor Shute; Home towns of Ulster families 1691-1718.

The time focus on the book is very narrow with the examination of the beginning of the Ulster Scot migration in 1718-1720. If your Irish are coming in this time period, or you want to know about the origins of this migration then this is a good resource to examine.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.2, 1997

The Scottish Nation or the Surnames, Families, Literature, Honours, and Biographical History of the People of Scotland by William Anderson. Published by Heritage Books, Inc., 1540-E Pointer Ridge Place, Bowie MD 20716. Volume A. 1890? reprinted 1995. Illustrations. 172 pp. $24 plus $4 p&h. Volume B. 1890? reprinted 1995. Illustrations. 345 pp. $40 plus $4 p&h.

Scottish heritage can often be traced due to the practice of bestowing hereditary surnames, many of which found a permanent record in the many charters and other public deeds that still exist today. One of the purposes of this series is to explain the origins of these surnames, plus give an accounting of the families and the distinguished individuals that bore them.

The baronies of Scotland, associated with hereditary jurisdictions, were viewed as just short of regal, thus an account of these honors provides an account of the territorial supremacy of a name and a family.

This series includes a wide range of people, including some not often met in history but whose skill, labor and genius have added to the greatness of Scotland. Arranged alphabetically, there is a complete account of the surnames, titles, baronies, and general biographies of Scotland. The information about individuals is easy to locate as it is in a larger typeface than material about surnames or titles in general. The books are well illustrated with autographs, sketches and portraits from original sources.

Volume A - includes people like: Dr. Arthur Abercrombie, celebrated Edinburgh physician; Sir Ralph Abercrombie, the hero of Aboukir; the eccentric Dr. Abernathy; the four Dukes of Albany; the three Alexander Kings of Scotland; plus many more.

Volume B - includes people like - David Beaton, Cardinal and Lord High Chancellor of Scotland; Robert Bruce, restorer of the Scottish monarchy; Elspeth Buchan, foundress of the Buchanite religious sect; the famous poet Robert Burns; plus many more.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.2, 1997

A Guide to London’s Churches, 2nd ed. by Mervyn Blatch. Published by Constable & Co., 3 The Lanchesters, 162 Fulham Palace Road, London W6 9ER. 1995 (1st ed., 1978). Illustrations, index, maps. 446 pp. £12.95. Tel: 011-44-181-741-3663. Fax: 011-44-181-748-7562.

Many researchers with English ancestry often find that they have some ancestors who lived in London. This guide gives superb details for many of London’s superb churches. Obviously, not all churches are included because there are too many, in spite of those destroyed during the Dissolution, the Great Fire and World War II bombing.

The author has limited himself to what can roughly be termed inner London, and mostly pre-nineteenth century churches, although there are some exceptions. The story of London can be traced through its churches, a story richly illustrated by the many fine rebuilds after the Great Fire and 8th century new buildings as London spread outwards, east and west of the city.

Included are churches from: City of London (42); Towers (7); City of Westminster (27); Camden (11); Greenwich (6); Hackney (5); Hammersmith (4); Islington (5); Kensington and Chelsea (8); Lambeth (11); Lewisham (5); Southwark (7); Tower Hamlets (12); and Wandsworth (5). The descriptions for each church include: dedication; history; exterior; interior; furnishings; monuments; and associations. For anyone with London ancestry wanting to know more about the churches in the area this book is well worth examining. If you are going to be visiting London then it is certainly worth purchasing. It is the best of the London church guides that I have seen.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.2, 1997

My Ancestors Were Londoners: How Can I Find Out More About Them? by Cliff Webb. Published by Society Of Genealogists, 14 Charterhouse Buildings, Goswell Road, London EC1M 7BA. 1996. 61 pp. Maps. Softcover. £3.55.

If you are stuck in London and want to know where to start, this book if for you. One sixth of the population of England and Wales live in the London area, and a high proportion of the population have always lived in London. If you do much research in England or Wales, sooner or later you will find ancestors or their siblings going to London to live or work.

The book begins by clearly stating what is meant by London, and in this case the research covers the area covered by the city of London and the metropolitan boroughs. A listing is given of all the boroughs and the ancient parishes which they contain.

The records most appropriate for research in the city are discussed, along with their relevant indices and limitations. These records include: civil registration; census; parish and non-parochial registers and records; directories, lists of tax-payers, voters and other name-lists; poor law records; wills and administrations; apprenticeship, livery company and occupational records; newspapers; manorial and other records of land ownership; criminal and civil legal records; and, depositions.

The appendices include: listings of London record repositories; parishes of Greater London; plus a directory of the suburbs and the smaller areas of London. The book concludes with maps of the City of London and the Metropolitan Boroughs 1900-1965 and then since 1965.

The book is not designed to give you all the answers for doing London research, but rather is designed to point you in the right direction. To that end it certainly does an excellent job.

The one detracting feature of the book is the table in appendix 2. This is a table of 8 columns showing the name of the parish, county, hundred, registration district, metropolitan borough, London borough, probate district and family history society for that parish. The problem is that the last four columns are on the reverse of the page rather than on the facing page, making it difficult to know which parish is being referred to for the last four columns.

This book contains information and pointers for both the novice and the experienced researcher. I highly recommended this book if you are researching London ancestors.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.3, 1997

A Topographical Dictionary of England by Samuel Lewis. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 N. Calvert St., Baltimore MD 21202. 1831, reprinted 1996. 4 volumes printed as 2. lxviii, 572, 538 plus 652, 634 pp. Maps. Hardcover. $150, plus $4.74 p&h.

This superb classic work is an excellent resource for finding information about locations in England. The counties, cities, boroughs, corporations, market towns and parishes are all described in alphabetical order. Townships, chapelries, hamlets and tythings are generally listed in their respective parishes, and given a separate listing making them easier to find. Some villages and hamlets which are not recognized divisions have been omitted unless they possess some historical significance or geological features, in which case they are listed under the respective parish. What makes these volumes so valuable is that even the most obscure place in England is identified in relation to a parish, and thus its ecclesiastical jurisdiction. Knowing the ecclesiastical jurisdiction assists the researcher in progressing from the location into probate and other church records.

The information listed for a parish includes: name and situation; distance and bearing from nearest market or post town; chapelries and townships within the parish; population according to the 1821 census; nature of the ecclesiastical living; the archdeaconry and diocese in which it is included, and if of exempt jurisdiction, the peculiar to which it belongs; amount at which the living is rated in the king’s books; endowment by private benefaction, royal bounty, or parliamentary grant; patron; tutelar saint and architectural description of the church; dissenting places of worship, and of what denominations; schools, hospitals and other charitable institutions; monastic establishments, encampments, relics of antiquity and miscellaneous information. Similar information, often more detailed, is provided for the larger jurisdictions.

The Channel Islands, Isle of Man, and numerous islands around England’s coast are also included in these volumes. The detailed, but small, maps of each county are helpful.

The production of the original volumes was supported by subscription. Do not forget to examine the lists of over 13,500 pre-publication subscribers, like me, you may be fortunate to find one of your ancestors listed.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.3, 1997

Irish Emigrants in North America. Part One, Part Two and Part Three by David Dobson. Reprinted three books in one by Clearfield Company, 200 Eager Street, Baltimore MD 21202. 1997. 28, 27, 29 pp. Paperback. $12.50 plus $3.50 p&h.

The three books here combined into one focus on Irish emigrants to North America during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Many of those listed in Part One are former soldiers who were encouraged by the British Government to settle in Canada after the Napoleonic Wars. There should be military personnel records for such emigrants in the Public Record Offices or in Regimental Museums. The emphasis in part two is on settlement in Canada, North Carolina and the Virgin Islands. Part three is based on source material in Ireland, Scotland, England, the West Indies and the USA.

One sample citation is: "ROURKE, THOMAS, in Kilmainham Royal Hospital, Dublin, 14 years in 4th Light Dragoons, army pensioner, applied to settle in Canada 15.3.1827. [PRO.CO384.16]."

This slim book is a lucky dip but still worth examining.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.3, 1997

Jacobites of 1715: North East Scotland and Jacobites of 1745: North East Scotland by Frances McDonnell. Reprinted two books in one by Clearfield Company, 200 East Eager Street, Baltimore MD 21202. 1997. 39, 57 pp. Paperback. $12.50 plus $3.50 p&h.

There is no clear introduction to either of the books combined into this single slim volume. They appear to be a collection of information about the individual supporters of the Jacobite cause from the northeast of Scotland. The northeast was a conservative area with largely Episcopalian landowners which did maintain its allegiance to the House of Stuart. Some of these supporters were reluctant, being forced to action by their feudal superiors. In 1745, many more claimed to have been forced out in an attempt to regain their freedom after Culloden. The biographical descriptions do sometimes provide graphic descriptions of the suffering endured by those who were in hiding after the battle, and those who were captured, imprisoned, executed or transported.

One example is: "Isobel Chalmers, Born 1722, knitter of Aberdeen of The Means. 5ft 7 ins. Black hair, tall and slender. Followed Glengarry’s Regiment, taken at Carlisle. Transported 5 May 1747 from Liverpool to Leeward Islands in Veteran, but the ship was attacked off Antigua by a French privateer from Martinique. The Governor of Martinique refused English demands to hand the prisoners back, and granted the request of 10 to be sent to France possibly to negotiate for others."

If you have ancestors in Northeast Scotland during this time period its worth a look here as the descriptions can be very helpful.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.3, 1997

The Greening Peerage of Scotland: A Genealogical and Historical Account of All the Peers of That Ancient Kingdom; Their Descents, Collateral Branches, Births, Marriages, and Issue. Together with a Like Account of All the Attained Peers; And a Complete Alphabetical List of Those Nobles of Scotland, Whose Titles Are Extinct. Collected from Parliament Rolls, Records, Family Documents, And the Personal information of Many Noble Peers. Also the Paternal Coats of Arms, Crests, Supporters, and Mottoes, Most Elegantly Engraved. Originally published in 1767, reprinted 1995 by Heritage Books, 1540-E Pointer Ridge Pl., Suite 300, Bowie MD 20716. 50, 339 pp. Softcover. Illustrated, index. $25 plus $4 p&h.

For this book, the title almost says it all. The book begins with 96 fine engravings of the paternal coats of arms, crests, supporters and mottoes. The author’s goal was to provide a history of the family’s lineage as it related to the title and provide a tool where members of the peerage might see how they were related to one another. The lineage of the title and its holders is traced from its first origins to the present owner in the 1760s. Each section ends with summaries of title (form of address), creations (bestowed titles), arms (description), supporters (description), motto and chief seat (not always in Scotland). This interesting book is not always easy to read because of the constant use of the old "f" substituted for "s." There are also no source citations, but if you connect with these families it should be relatively easy to document.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.3, 1997

Visitation of England and Wales edited by Joseph Jackson Howard and Frederick Arthur Crisp. Published by Heritage Books, 1540-E Pointer Ridge Pl., Suite 300, Bowie MD 20716. Prices vary plus $4 p&h.

These three volumes continue this fine series of reprints.

Volume 17. 1911. 215, xl pp. $33.50. Names included: Bazely, Bicknell, Bodington, Boyce, Branfill, Broadbent, Burn, Cubitt, De Morgan, Derby (Earl of), Dilke (Baronet), Erne (Earl of), Fellows, Fonnereau, Franklin, French, Gough (Viscount), Gurdon, Hayter, Hayter-Hames, Hensley, Knight, Knill (Baronet), Ladds, Lambert, Moor, Morris, Mytton, Norris, Peckham, Rawson, Reynolds, Rhodes, Rushout (Baronet), Russell, Shairp, Spooner, Stocker, Stradling, Thorp, Vassall, Wolryche-Whitmore.

Volume 19. 1917. 226, lxxix pp. $40. Names included: Barnard, Bolton, Burdett (Baronet), Cazalet, Corder, Cross, Denne, Douglas, Farnham, Ficklin, Firth, Fripp, Good, Goodman, Gower, Haversham, Holmes, Jackson, Jex-Blake, Landon, Lombe, Madan, Nelson, Parmoor (Baron), Penny, Pytches, Rushbrooke, Scott, Staples, Suckling, Surtees, Tarleton, Tennyson-D’Eyncourt, Turney, Woollcombe, Woollcombe-Adams, Wolseley (Vicountess), Wothington, Zetland.

Volume 20. 1919. 204, xlii pp. $35. Names included: Acton, Addington, Alington, Arbuthnot, Arkwright, Aylesford (Earl), Baker, Blofeld, Burrell, Bush, Challinor, Chevallier, Clive, Cobbold, Crispin, Curtler, Duddridge, Eno, Fanshawe, Fellowes-Gordon, Fry, Halsbury (Earl), Janson, Maughan, Morris, Mortimer, Newcastle (Duke), Ransome, Reynolds, Rouse, Wagner, Whitmore, Wild, Wilshere, Wormald.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.3, 1997

Genealogical Research Directory: 1990-1996 produced and edited by Keith Johnson and Malcolm Sainty. U.S. Distributor: Mrs. Jan Jennings, 3324 Crail Way, Glendale CA 91206-1107. 1996. CD plus manual. $59.95 plus $3.75 p&h. Prior contributors can obtain for $54.70.

This CD combines the data from seven thick GRD volumes making it much easier to search. Unfortunately, the process is not a smooth one.

This is the most involved CD I have come across to install. The search engine is a runtime version of Paradox. The installation process assumes that it is on floppy disks and so you have to keep typing a disk number while installing, even though you don’t touch the CD. Surely a simple program routine could have solved this problem. Then when it is installed you have to select the IDAPI configuration button to set up Alias. You have to type four Alias names and 4 path names, anyone of which could lead to a problem. Only after this is complete can you launch the program itself.

From the main menu you can select searches by Surname, Subject, and One Name. One Name is for One Name Societies and Studies. Subject is for all the subject entries from the books but with more flexible search capabilities than in the books. The primary search option is via Surname. Assume surname is selected and you choose the first letter of the name you are looking for. Within that section of the database you can search on surname (exact spelling or using wild cards), city (or place), area (county or state) or country. One selection takes you to the first entry with the desired match. A button selection takes you to the next match. Unfortunately, you cannot go back to the previous match, without returning to the beginning of the search or paging back through all entries. The entries are arranged via contributor number.

If you do not have the past seven years of directories then this is an economical way of obtaining them. Searching it takes a little patience but can be done. The software is not necessarily user-friendly but is workable.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.3, 1997

Beginning Welsh Research, Rev. ed. by Annie Lloyd. Purchase from author at 4635 Stoner Ave. #4, Culver City CA 90230-5773. 1996. 188 pp. Illustrations. Plastic comb-binding.

This is an excellent, practical guide to beginning your Welsh Research. The book assumes that you have access and will be using a Family History Center (FHC).

The book begins with the basics of getting organized and describes how to complete the fundamental research forms: pedigree chart, family group sheet, and research log. This is followed by the research tools available through the FHC: IGI, Family Search and the FHL Catalogue. All tools are well illustrated with Welsh examples so you can actually see what the author is describing. You don’t have to wait until the next time you are at the FHC.

The rest of the book deals with the records themselves including: Civil Registration Records; Parish Records and Bishop’s Transcripts; Census Returns; Wills; Immigration; Welsh language, surnames, place names and farm names. There is an section dealing with Nonconformity which is vital to understand for Welsh research. All documents described and discussed are illustrated. The illustrations are often as you will find them, i.e., of mixed quality. All researchers are encouraged to join the Family History Society in the area of Wales from which their ancestors originated; and addresses are provided.

The spiral comb binding on this publication allows for great flexibility in updating material. The change in 1997 from St. Catharine’s to the Family Records Centre in Myddleton Street is noted in the Useful Addresses at the back of the book. The government reorganization in April 1996 is also reflected in the Record Office Section of the book. The US section is not as up to date with the New York Branch of the National Archives shown still in Bayonne, NJ rather than on Varrick Street, New York.

The book would be easier to use with a detailed table of contents or index. There is neither. This book is full of practical suggestions and is highly recommended for beginning Welsh researchers. A lot of the material is also applicable to English researchers.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.4, 1997

How to Plan a Research Trip to Wales by Annie Lloyd. Purchase from author at 4635 Stoner Ave. #4, Culver City CA 90230-5773. 1995. 100 pp. Index. Plastic comb-binding. $15 plus $2.25 p&h.

This is a practical guidebook for planning your research trip to Wales. The author pulls from her own experiences traveling to Wales for research.

The author gives good suggestions on why, how and where to get information in the U.S. prior to leaving for Wales that will help you trip. Ms. Lloyd emphasizes that you should be doing research in Wales that you cannot do in the US at your local FHC or library. You are going for the unique research opportunities and to experience the land and culture of the ancestors. Guidelines are given for contacting record offices and depositories prior to your visit and descriptions of what to expect when you get there are provided. If you have never been before these can prevent surprises.

This guidebook discusses lots of practical items like money, transportation (car and rail), stamps, accommodations, eating out, prescription drugs, holidays, electricity, and a host of other details you may not think about till you get there and it’s too late.

A delightful book to read with lots of practical suggestions.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.4, 1997

Genealogical Gleanings in England, with the addition of Genealogical Gleanings in England, New Series by Henry F. Waters. Published by Clearfield Publishing Company, 200 E. Eager Street, Baltimore MD 21202. 1901, reprinted 1997. 2 vols. xxiii, 1760 pp. Charts, illustrations, index. Softcover. $115 plus $4.75 p&h.

The subtitle of this publication is Abstracts of Wills relating to Early American Families, with Genealogical Notes and Pedigrees from the Wills and from other records.

The bulk of this material was originally published in serial form in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register from July 1883 through January 1899. The material was later brought together in book form to make it more accessible. This valuable resource for English origins of American ancestors is now reprinted by Clearfield Publishing Company.

The introduction to the book reproduces some of the introductory materials from the serial publication and emphasizes the discoveries surrounding the parentage of John Harvard, the first benefactor of Harvard College.

There is a 30,000 name index, plus a fifty-one page index of places. Please note that these indexes are not at the back of the second volume, but rather precede the New Series of Genealogical Gleanings in England, which is at the end of volume two. The wills in the New Series are in alphabetical order, but there is no everyname index to this section of the book. This makes people of different surnames mentioned in the wills more difficult to find.

People mentioned in these records come from New England, Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania and the West Indies. A resource that must be examined for anyone seeking the English origins of their American ancestors.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.4, 1997

Scots-Irish Links 1575-1725: Part One and Part Two by David Dobson. Published by Clearfield Publishing Company, 200 E. Eager Street, Baltimore MD 21202. 1901, reprinted 1997. 29, 27 pp. Softcover. $9 plus $3 p&h.

This slim volume identifies in two alphabetical lists Scotsmen who resided in Ulster between the early 1600s and the early 1700s. Many of the persons identified were young men from Ireland, many bearing Scottish surnames, attending universities in Scotland. Still other Scots-Irish links were apprentices, ministers, merchants, weavers, teachers or persons in flight. Most of the students are identified by name, university and dates of attendance. In other cases, Mr. Dobson has provided information on the man or woman’s spouse, children, local origins, landholdings and of course in all cases the source of the information.

The sources used to compile this information include: Burgess Rolls for Aberdeen, Dunbarton, Glasgow and Inverary; Registers of the Great Seal and Privy Council of Scotland; Exchequer Records; Registers of Deeds, Sasines, and Service of Heirs; plus others.

Not all people identified will have descendants who ultimately emigrated to America, but many did or had kinsmen who did. A resource worth examining if you are in Northern Ireland and seeking that link with Scotland.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.4, 1997

Britain’s Royal Families: The Complete Genealogy, updated edition by Alison Weir. Published by Random House, 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 2SA. Fax 011-44-171-233-6115. 1996 (first edition 1989). 386 pp. Index. Softcover. £10.

This volume covers the period 800 A.D. to the present. The monarchs belonging to each Royal House appear in chronological order, with the dynasties of England, Scotland, and Great Britain being included. Even the children who died in infancy are included, as are many stillbirths. Illegitimate children are also listed.

The succession of the monarchy is usually through the male lines. This means that the descendants of the female members of the royal families beyond the first generation are not included, except where relevant to the succession. Likewise, the descendants of the illegitimate children of monarchs are omitted.

All names in the book have been Anglicized or Latinized for the sake of clarity. When a person is known by more than one name, the alternatives are given. The introduction has to be carefully read to understand how alternative dates and questionable names are highlighted.

At the end of each chapter there is a select bibliography about each monarch and spouse, given in order of Ms. Weir’s preference for usefulness. There is a more complete bibliography at the end of the book.

The individual pieces of data in the genealogies are not cited but will provide clues on where to look if you want to prove your connections to Royalty. This is a fun book to read just to show the interconnectedness of all of Europe’s Royal families. A fascinating reference book.

Note: A “new” edition of this book was published in 2002.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.4, 1997

Scottish Maritime Records: 1600-1850 by David Dobson. Originally published in 1996 in Fife, Scotland. Reprinted by Clearfield Publishing Company, 200 E. Eager Street, Baltimore MD 21202. 1997. Illustrated. 32 pp. $8.50 plus $3.50 p&h.

This slim booklet is not a how-to book. It is rather an anecdotal collection illustrating the types of records that are available for researching your Scottish sailor during the 1600 to 1850 time period. It provides information for the: Royal Navy; Merchant Navy; Fishing; Whaling; Smuggling; Privateers and Pirates; Slave Trade; Court Records; Museums and Archives.

This book is difficult to use as a reference because there is no table of contents. In addition, within the text there are numerous references given for other printed sources. Unfortunately these sources are often not fully cited, nor are they to be found in the select bibliography found at the end of each section. In fact, the source may be found in a bibliography in a different section of the book. This reviewer found the sources frustrating to find and follow. This book provides a quick and easy introduction to the subject of Scottish Maritime Records, but it’s one the reader will soon outgrow.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.5, 1997

Scottish Soldiers in Colonial America. Part One and Part Two by David Dobson. Originally published in Scotland in 1995 and 1997. Combined and reprinted as a single volume in 1997 by Clearfield Publishing Company, 200 E. Eager Street, Baltimore MD 21202. Illustrated. 32 plus 30 pp. $11 plus $3.50 p&h.

From the mid-eighteenth century the British Government began to dispatch Highland Regiments, such as Fraser’s Highlanders, the Black Watch and Montgomery’s Highlanders to America. The French and Indian War, 1756-1763, led to significant recruitment in Scotland for service in the American colonies. Many of these soldiers settled, encouraged by land grants, and they encouraged others to follow from Scotland. With the American Revolution, former soldiers who had received land grants were recalled for duty by the British Government. For example, many former Scottish soldiers who settled in the Mohawk Valley in Upper New York were recruited into the King’s Royal Regiment of New York. Many new or recent immigrants from Scotland formed the Royal Highland Emigrant Regiment. After the war large numbers of soldiers from Loyalist units and regular British Army regiments settled in the Maritime provinces of Canada. This is a small useful collection for anyone who suspects Scottish military connections. A typical entry reads:

CAMERON, DONALD, Urquhart, Inverness-shire, soldier of the 84th [Royal Highland Emigrants] Regiment, land grant at Upper Settlement, East River, Pictou, Nova Scotia, 1784. [PANB:MC315]

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.5, 1997

An Index to Printed Pedigrees, contained in County and Local Histories, the Heralds’ Visitations, and in the More Important Genealogical Collections by Charles Bridger. 1867 reprinted 1997. Clearfield Publishing Company, 200 E. Eager Street, Baltimore MD 21202. Illustrated. 384 pp. $35 plus $3.50 p&h.

This publication is a guide to printed genealogies contained in county histories, compendia, record and society publications, and heralds’ visitations produced prior to 1867. The book is arranged by counties, followed by a general works section and concluding with another small section organized by county, almost like an addendum. Within each section individual publications are indexed. There is also a comprehensive all-name index.

This is a useful guide to the genealogies in the great British county histories of the 18th and 19th centuries. However, it is not the only route into this material. Guides such as Marshall’s Genealogist Guide and the modern county publications by Stuart Raymond provide an alternative route to access these publications. For us in this area, the major benefit is that Newberry Library in Chicago has a major British collection for this time period, and will have many of the publications indexed in this volume.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.5, 1997

An Index to the Pedigrees and Arms contained in the Heralds’ Visitations, and other Genealogical Manuscripts in the British Museum by R. Sims. 1849 reprinted 1997. Clearfield Publishing Company, 200 E. Eager Street, Baltimore MD 21202. Illustrated. 330 pp. $31.50 plus $3.50 p&h.

From 1530 through 1686 the Heralds made tours of the country at approximately thirty year intervals to examine gentlemen’s claims to use a coat of arms. The Heralds took into account records of previous visitations, family muniments and traditions before allowing a claim. Most of the original records are at the College of Arms but the British Museum has a major collection of transcripts.

Mr. Sims set about indexing the names of people having pedigrees and coats-of-arms in the principal manuscripts. The arrangement is alphabetical by county with people of the same surname being distinguished from one another by references to place or residence. There is no comprehensive index to the publication. The citation provides the exact number of the manuscript where the pedigrees and coats-of-arms are contained. The bulk of the records have Harleian Manuscript numbers. The Harleian Society was formed in 1869 and has published many of its manuscripts. However, further research will be needed to see if a particular manuscript has been published and is thus easily accessible.

This is a specialized resource for researching the upper class 16th and 17th century English families. Its value to most researchers will be limited, but it is worth examining if you are struggling in this time period.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.5, 1997

Visitation of England and Wales. Vol. 18, 1914 reprinted 1996, edited by Joseph Jackson Howard and Frederick Arthur Crisp. Published by Heritage Books, 1540-E Pointer Ridge Pl., Suite 300, Bowie MD 20716. 235 pp. plus lxxii additions and corrections. $40 plus $4 p&h.

This volume continues the series. Pedigrees include: Adams. Adamson, Anwyl-Passingham, Arkwright, Ashcombe (Baron), Bagot (Baron), Bickley, Boughey, Bridge, Carbonell, Combermere (Viscount), Cotton-Jodrell, Crisp, Cubitt, Dimsdale (Baron), Ekins, Fane, Fellowes, Fripp, Fuller, Gater, Gepp, Goddard, Hinchliff, Homer, Hooke, Howe (Earl), Maskew, Moore, Parish, Passingham, Pennyman, St. Germans (Earl of), Scott, Spooner, Tuson, Westmorland (Earl of) Wollaston, Zouche (Baron). The 72 page supplement of additions and corrections found in every volume is especially large in this volume.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.5, 1997

Irish Immigrants in Ohio, Volume I, Naturalization Records compiled by Donna M. Wolf, 5245 Portland St. #303, Columbus OH 43235-7670.

This resource provides a comprehensive index to the naturalization records of the following counties in Ohio: Franklin (Declaration of Intent and Naturalization); Montgomery; Cuyahoga; Knox; Madison; Marion; Pickaway; Summit and Union. For each county a brief description is given of what the actual records contain often varying by time periods. The Irish names are extracted and listed either in alphabetical or chronological order. The information provided in this resource varies by county but often includes: persons name; date of naturalization, date of declaration of intent; arrival in US; age; and film, volume and page number. The film number quoted is for the Ohio Historical Society Collection. The films are available through the LDS but they have different film numbers, not included in this book. There is a comprehensive name index at the end. Obviously if a name is located in this book the original has to be examined to see if more information is provided. An excellent new resource for anyone researching their Irish ancestors in Ohio.

Donna Wolf is a professional researcher with 18 years of experience. She is willing to research Ohio ancestors using resources at the Ohio Historical Society and the State Library of Ohio. She will travel to counties as needed. Area of emphasis is Irish and Ulster-Irish in Ohio.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.5, 1997

The Jacobites of Angus. 1689-1746. Part One and Part Two by David Dobson. Published by Clearfield Publishing Company, 200 E. Eager Street, Baltimore MD 21202. 1997. 49 pp. Softcover. $10 plus $3.50 p&h.

In December 1688 James VII of Scotland (James II of England and Ireland) fled to France and in April 1689 William and Mary were proclaimed in Edinburgh as King and Queen of Scotland. Between 1689 and 1746 several attempts were made by the supporters of the House of Stuart, known as Jacobites, to restore the Stuart monarchy to the throne of Great Britain.

The Jacobites were most numerous in the Highlands and the North East of Scotland, particularly among those of Roman Catholic and Episcopalian persuasion. The county of Angus made a significant contribution to the Jacobite armies of 1715 and 1745.

This book attempts to identify the soldiers and civilians from the County of Angus who actively provided support for the Jacobite Cause between 1689 and 1746.

The list is in alphabetical order, giving the full name of the Jacobite, his occupation, rank, date of service and unit if in the military. Many entries also include date of birth, names of parents, place of origin, and destination where sent or fled. All sources are cited. A sample entry reads:

CARGILL, WILLIAM, born 13.5.1726 son of James Cargill and Elizabeth Ramsay in Montrose, a tobacconist in Montrose, transported from Liverpool on the Gildart 24.2.1747, arrived at Port North Potomac, Maryland, 5.8.1747. [P.2.324/98][PRO.T1.328]

Part one of the book covers A through L, and part two is M through Y. A useful resource for Jacobite ancestors.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.6, 1997

A Census of Ireland, circa 1659. With Supplemental Material from the Poll Money Ordinances (1660-1661) edited by Seamus Pender. 1939, reprinted 1997 by Clearfield Publishing Company, 200 E. Eager Street, Baltimore MD 21202. Indices. 946 pp. Softcover. $60 plus $3.50 p&h.

A Census of Ireland, circa 1659 represents the only known actual numbering of the people of Ireland prior to 1821. The lists are arranged geographically by counties, thereunder by baronies, parishes and townlands. In the cities the arrangement is by parish and street. For each townland or street the census provides the total number of inhabitants and the proportion of English, Irish and Scottish residing there. The introduction needs to be read carefully concerning the meaning of the distribution figures for English, Scottish and Irish.

There are no census returns for the five counties of Cavan, Galway, Mayo, Tyrone and Wicklow, plus no returns for four baronies in Cork and nine baronies in Meath.

The surviving returns provide the names, numbers of people in each parish, plus the names of the "Titulado," landowners who could be of either sex, a nobleman, baronet, gentleman, esquire, military officer, or adventurer. Many of the Titulado were Irish Catholics demonstrating that there were many exceptions to the enforced transportation of the Irish Catholic nobility following the Cromwellian subjugation of Ireland. The returns also list at the end of each barony the main Irish surnames in the area in 1659 and the numbers of families of each.

The appendices include the complete texts of the Irish Poll-Money Ordinances of 1660 and 1661, with lists, county by county of the people responsible for collecting the taxes.

The book concludes with two valuable indexes by name and by place.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.6, 1997

A Military History of Ireland edited by Thomas Bartlett and Keith Jeffery. Published by Cambridge University Press, 30 West 20th Street, New York NY 10011. 1996. Illustrations, index, maps. Hardcover. 565 pp. $49.95.

This is a superb resource for anyone wanting to understand the role of their Irish military ancestors in the broader social and political context. It is a major, collaborative study of organized military activity and its broad impact from the middle of the first millennium AD to modern time. It succeeds in putting the best scholarship in military history into its social and political context to provide a comprehensive picture of the Irish military experience.

Their are eighteen chronologically organized chapters written by leading scholars, each an authority in the particular time period. The opening chapter provides a framework for the book, giving an overview on the Irish military tradition.

Because this is a compilation from a variety of authors not all chapters are of equal strength. The editing has also not been as strong as it could have been. For example, three authors give contradictory information as to when the recruitment began for Irish Protestants and Catholics into the British Army in the mid to late 1700s. The actual date is an important fact for those seeking their ancestors in the army.

The last three chapters in the book cover the period prior to separation in 1922, the army in independent Ireland and the relationship of the British army to Ireland since 1922. These chapters provide good background reading for understanding the history and the context for the current situation in Ireland.

This is not a book to help you locate your particular ancestor. The book does provide the context in which your military ancestor lived, worked, served and possibly died.

Note: This book was reprinted by Cambridge University Press in 1997 in paperback. August 1999 prices are $69.95 hardcover, $27.95 paperback.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.6, 1997

Welsh Surnames and Given Names and their Meanings by Annie Lloyd. Purchase from author at 4635 Stoner Ave. #4, Culver City CA 90230-5773. 1996. 128 pp. Plastic comb-binding. $15 plus $2.50 p&h.

This book is divided into three sections: surnames; given names for boys; and, given names for girls. This is a compilation of names from five sources listed in the bibliography. It makes for an interesting read but is of limited research value unless you have lots of Welsh names to research.

The book assumes you have a Welsh name and want to know its meaning or its English counterpart. Its usefulness could have been increased if English names had been included in the list with their Welsh origins, e.g. David in English could be Dafydd, Dewi or Dewey in Welsh, but you have to look up the Welsh names to find this.

For reviews of Ms. Lloyd’s other books on Welsh research see Vol. 4, No.4.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.6, 1997

Beginning Irish Research by Nancy Ellen Carlberg. Published by Carlberg Press, 1782 Beacon Avenue, Anaheim CA 92804-4515. 1996. 404 pp. Charts, index, maps. Plastic-Comb Binding. $25.

There is no introduction to this book stating what the author’s approach or purpose is in writing it. This is not a sequentially organized how-to-book for beginners, but rather a collection of miscellaneous notes and topics. For example, there are 83 pages of material for "Notes for Other Countries" covering research in everything from Australia, Barbados, England, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and others.

For me, the best part of the book was pages 199 to 286 with an alphabetical listing of topics concerned with Irish research. However, to get the most out of this section you need to know what you are looking for. Buried in this alphabetized section, and other parts of the book, are some real gems of sources you can use in your research. Some, but not all of these sources are available at the local FHC. The detailed index is what saves this book. It assists the reader in finding specific materials.

Parts of the book are designed for absolute beginners with explanations of how to get started in research and the inclusion of standard pedigree and ancestral charts for users to copy. There are some practical research tools included such as research log, Irish census extraction forms, and quick search summary forms. The forms are scattered throughout the book and repeated in the appendix, adding to the bulk of the book.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.4 no.6, 1997

The Cromwellian Settlement of Ireland (1652-1660), 3rd ed. by John P. Prendergast. Published by Clearfield Publishing Company, 200 Eager Street, Baltimore MD 21202. 1922, reprinted 1997. xliii, 524 pp. Indices, maps. Softcover. $42 plus $3.50 p&h.

Ireland’s history continues to be turbulent following the conquest by Oliver Cromwell in 1652. The goal at that time was to move all Irish into the barren province of Connaught and settle the rest of Ireland with loyal Englishmen. This book is the story of the events leading up to and including this mass movement of people. The key to remaining in ones home was whether "Constant Good Affection" was shown towards the English army and government at ALL times. If at any time the answer was no then the families were evicted. This judgment included Scots and English who were already established in Ireland, as well as Irish Catholics and Protestants. The book describes in vivid detail stories of the evictees, including those of rank, title and English blood as in the case of Lady Dunsany.

1360 adventurers are listed by name, title or occupation and the amount of money they contributed to the raising of the army to conquer Ireland. These lists were created between 1642 and 1646. Obviously by the time of the successful conquering of Ireland some of these people were dead or had sold their adventures. In addition to these adventurers, land was to be given to the soldiers to pay for their arrears. This book gives in detail accounts of the clearing of the land, the exceptions, the transplanters certificates, and the court processes that went along with the moving of a large number of people.

If your ancestors are from old Irish, Scottish or English families prior to the resettlement, or English after the resettlement, this book may provide lots of clues for you in terms of family movement. There is lots of good history in this volume, making for fascinating reading.

There are two indices. The first is a useful annotated index of subjects, and the second is an index of names.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.5 no.1, 1998

The Great Historic Families of Scotland, 2nd ed. by James Taylor. 1889, reprinted 1995 by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 N. Calvert St., Baltimore MD 21202. 2 volumes in 1, xii, 410 + iv, 431 pp. Indices. Hardcover. $55 plus $3.50 p&h.

This book presents information on 49 of the great Scottish families. The details they contain can be fascinating with stories of war, murder, assassinations, cruelty, rivalry, debt, bankruptcy and riches. This is the material for great historical novels, but reality is often stranger than fiction. The stories retell many facets of Scottish and English history and the parts these families played in it.

The information given often goes back to the times of legend and folklore, but brings these famous families up to the middle of the nineteenth century. The details given on the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth century descendants can be quite extensive. If your ancestors lived on the estate of one of these great landowners you should read that landowner’s story, as it probably influenced your ancestor’s story.

The indexes are not in the usual alphabetical everyname format. Rather they are organized by the historic family concerned and only consist of the main characters. If you are seeking information on the Marquis of Chandos, you would have to know that he was married to the daughter of Lord Breadalbane. You could then find Lord Breadalbane in the chapter on the Campbells of Breadalbane and thus find the Marquis. You will not find him anywhere in the index. There are two indexes in this volume, the first at the end of volume one in the middle of the book, plus an index at the end of volume two at the back of the book. You will need to check both indexes but their limitations need to be recognized.

[Editor: A fully searchable, every-word index for this book can be found online at http://www.ancestry.com.]

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.5 no.1, 1998

Netting Your Ancestors: Genealogical Research on the Internet by Cyndi Howells. 1997. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 N. Calvert St., Baltimore MD 21202. 182 pp. Illustrations, index. Softcover. $19.95 plus $3.50 p&h.

This book is a great resource for those thinking about exploring the world of online genealogical research and wanting to know where to start. It also provides good value for beginning and experienced online researchers.

The book takes you through the process of understanding what you need to get online, how to use your computer software effectively, and then how to obtain information. I found myself reading something about my software or searching online and saying to myself, "I didn’t know that," and then going off to test the process.

Once past the equipment and software the book gets into the online world, talking about online etiquette, electronic mail, mailing lists, newsgroups and searching the world wide web for useful material. Each of the chapters contains useful sections of tips and techniques, plus another on research strategies. Throughout, the book recommends online sites designed to meet specific needs. As an experienced researcher, I found the book helped me to improve my online researching skills.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.5 no.1, 1998

In Old New York: The Irish Dead in Trinity and St. Paul’s Churchyards by Michael J. O’Brien. 1928, reprinted 1997 by Clearfield Company, 200 E. Eager Street, Baltimore MD 21202. 262 pp. Illustrations, index. Softcover. $26.50 plus $3.50 p&h.

In all his books Michael J. O’Brien attempts to show how many Irish were present in the U.S. prior to the Great Famine of the 1840s. This book has the same bias. This means that all people with possible Irish names are assumed to be Irish. Many of them are, and are shown to be, but some are probably not.

The book begins with a story of the lunchtime New Yorkers who visit the graveyards of Trinity Church or St. Paul’s Chapel in the Lower Broadway section of Manhattan, who rarely take the time to read the markers. I too observed this when I worked in Manhattan. O’Brien takes some of these inscription, or entries from the burial registers and tells us stories about the people, often using other sources to make the people real. These stories occupy the first 131 pages of this book and all names mentioned are included in the general index at the back of the book.

The second part of the book is a series of verbatim transcriptions copied from the records of Trinity and St. Paul’s such as tombstone inscriptions, marriages, baptisms (often giving mothers maiden name or the names of the sponsors). Baptisms and marriages from the First Presbyterian Church of New York, records of wills, letters of administration, deeds and conveyances from various offices of the city and county of New York. These lists contain people with Irish surnames. They are not proven to be from Ireland or of Irish descent.

A major shortcoming is that the lists in the second half of the book are not indexed and the individual lists are generally not in alphabetical order. This means that each list needs to be read carefully to find names being researched.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.5 no.1, 1998

Brewer’s British Royalty: A Phrase and Fable Dictionary by David Williamson. Published by Cassell, Wellington House, 125 Strand, London WC2R OBB. 1996, in paperback 1998. 392 pp. Charts. £14.99.

The stated aim of this book is to provide a handy reference tool for readers of history and biography. The book covers all aspects of British royalty from the ancient Britons to the present day. This book provides interesting facts and fables about the lives of the kings and queens condensing a wealth of information that is readily available. However, it expands information on some of the lessor known members of royalty. Not all members of the royal families are included in this book, for that you would need to consult a book on royalty genealogy such as Alison Weir’s Britain’s Royal Families. However, this is much more than a genealogy. Their are many facts, and some legends, included on many members of royalty.

The brief introduction does need to be examined so that the reader will understand how the entries are arranged, for example when they have the same name (arranged chronologically) or same first name with a title (arranged alphabetically).

This book is full of interesting bits of information. One entry I particularly liked was:

Little gentleman in black velvet: Jacobite toast referring to the mole whose hill caused William III’s horse to stumble and throw him, thus precipitating his illness and death.

The appendices include drop-line pedigree charts for the many different royalty lines. Where appropriate there are warnings about the legitimacy of the chart contents and statements that the information should be used with caution, e.g. descendants of Woden.

This is the type of book that you can leave lying around, pick up for a short read, and still learn a good deal of information about many key figures in English history. It’s a very enjoyable read.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.5 no.2, 1998

Scottish Battles From Mons Graupius to Culloden by John Sadler. Published by Canongate Books Ltd., 14 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1TE. 1996. Index, maps. Paperback. £9.99.

The history of Scotland can be said to have been shaped by its battles. Many of the battles and justly famous: Bannockburn, Otterburn, Flodden, Glencoe and Culloden. In reading this book I was fascinated by the details: the Celts and their chariots as they fought against the Romans; the discussion on 17th century battle tactics; the context for each of the many battles fought on Scottish soil. At other times I found the text did not keep my attention and I got lost in some of the battles, not always following who was fighting for whom.

The maps of the individual battles are good, usually indicating the individual units present and naming their commanding officers. However, the arrangement of the units or the direction of attack do not always match those found in other resources. For example, at Killiecrankie in 1689 the direction of attack is different from that described in Battlefields of Britain by David Smurthwaite and so as good researchers the facts will needs to be verified from other sources if your ancestors fought in these battles.

There are some things lacking in the book. There is no map of Scotland showing the location of the battlefields mentioned in the text. When the armies are active, as when the Marquis of Montrose was leading his Covenanting army all over Scotland a map providing an overview of his route would have been helpful. I know Scotland, having been born just south of the Scottish border, and I still had trouble following the army’s movement. Overview maps would be especially helpful for North American readers.

For those interested in Scottish military history this is a good read, but the conflicts with other books left me wondering which was correct. Additional maps would have helped.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.5 no.2, 1998

The Original Scots Colonists of Early America Supplement: 1607-1707 by David Dobson. Published by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore MD 21202. 1998. xiv, 196 pp. Hardcover. $22.50 plus $3.50 p&h.

The Original Scots Colonists of Early America, 1612-1783 was published in 1989 using source material located in the U.K. This supplemental volume improves on some of the information in the original, plus adds completely new information from recent research in primary and secondary sources located in the U.K. and the U.S. The supplement focuses on forced and voluntary emigration prior to the Act of Union in 1707. The Act eliminated restrictions on trade between Scotland and the American colonies resulting in an increase in emigration. This volume has strong emphasis on the four main phases of Scots settlement during the 17th century: Nova Scotia in the 1620s; New England and the Chesapeake in the mid century; South Carolina in the mid-1680s; and East New Jersey also in the mid-1680s. The appendix contains three interesting seventeenth century documents showing how emigration was encouraged. There is a long list of source publications to which all entries are keyed. A typical entry reads:

BEVERBRIDGE, JOHN, Islay, Argyll, a Covenanter, imprisoned in Canongate Tollbooth, banished to the American Plantations 30.7.1685, transported from Leith to East New Jersey on the Henry and Francis of Newcastle, master Richard Hutton, 8.1685. [PC.11.126/137/320/330]

This is a valuable research tool for those seeking seventeenth century Scottish emigrants in North America.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.5 no.2, 1998

Beginning Scottish Research by Nancy Ellen Carlberg. Published by Carlberg Press, 1782 Beacon Avenue, Anaheim CA 92804-4515. 1996. 418 pp. Charts, index, maps. Plastic-Comb Binding. $25.

This book is very similar in format to Ms. Carlberg’s book Beginning Irish Research reviewed in volume 4, number 6. As with her other book, this book is not a sequentially organized how-to-book for beginners, but rather a collection of miscellaneous notes and topics. The large section on "Notes for Other Countries" covering research in everything from Australia, Barbados, England, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and others is repeated in this volume.

For me, the best part of the book was pages 191 to 274 with an alphabetical listing of topics concerned with Scottish research. Buried in this alphabetized section, and other parts of the book, are some real gems of sources you can use in your research. Some, but not all of these sources are available at the local FHC. Their is a good detailed index which helps you access the wealth of material in the book, again if you know what you are looking for.

There is a good 20 page bibliography but it is sprinkled with many references for Irish research as if the list came from another source or was created for another purpose. Their is a good listing of books published by the different Scottish family history societies and which are available through the Family History Shop in Aberdeen.

Throughout the book there are sections specifically designed to help the beginner get organized in doing research. These sections do include some good practical forms, but they are all repeated in the appendix, adding to the bulk of the book.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.5 no.2, 1998

Visitation of England and Wales edited by Joseph Jackson Howard and Frederick Arthur Crisp. Published by Heritage Books, 1540-E Pointer Ridge Pl., Suite 300, Bowie MD 20716. Prices vary plus $4 p&h.

These two volumes continue this fine series of reprints.

Volume 6, 1898. 182, xv. $33.50. Names included: Back (3), Bartlett (2), Beare, Bowring, Brace, Bush, Carr-Ellison, Catlin, Clough-Taylor, Cowper-Essex, Craig, Didham, Drayner, Eaton, Fanshawe, Fawcett, Furneaux, Fynmore, Goddard, Hall, Langman, Lawrence, Ledgard, Llewellyn, Lockett, Longstaff, marten, Master, Norton, Ollivant, Perceval, Pears (4), Roberts-West, Rogers (2), Sexton, Shekell, Smith, Thomas, Walker, Whitby, Wilson.

Volume 7, 1899. 187, xii. $32.00. Names included: Airy, Aldridge, Alington, Arkwright, Bailey, Baker, Barne, Barnston, Boggis-Rolfe, Carr, Chafy, Comber, Crisp, Cruwys, Dendy, Dicken, Dowdeswell, Fawkes, Fotte, Gibbins, Haslewood, Hole, I’Anson, Kitchener, Law, Lukin, Meller, Murray-Aynsley, Newdigate, Packe, Partridge, Pixley, Price, Roberts, Swithinbank, Windham.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.5 no.2, 1998

Ships from Scotland to America: 1628-1828 by David Dobson. Published by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore MD 21202. 1998. 127 pp. Hardcover $20 plus $3.50 p&h.

The book provides a two page overview of emigration from Scotland to North America. This introduction acknowledges that there was shipping from Scotland to North America before 1628, as early as 1600, but that these were trading voyages. The British government did not keep registers of emigrants, except for the period 1773 to 1774 and again at the end of the Napoleonic Wars. In both time periods the records were very poorly kept. Emigrants could and often were leaving from many small harbors around the coastline where local government officials were not present to record their departure.

The people did leave Scotland. This book is an attempt to identify the ships that brought them to Canada and the United States. The book is based on research into contemporary newspapers, government records and a small number of published sources on both sides of the Atlantic.

All the entries are in alphabetical order by the name of the ship, they are fully cited, and vary greatly in length but a typical entry reads:

ALBANY OF GLASGOW, master John Gemmell, arrived in Upper District, James River, Virginia, from Greenock 26.6.1738. [VG#106]; master J. Lyon, arrived in the Lower James River, Virginia, from Glasgow 4.5.1739. [VG#158]; master Joseph Tucker, arrived in the James River 4.6.1767 from Glasgow via Barbados, [Purdie’s Gaz. #837]

The ships captain’s or prominent passengers are often mentioned in the text but these are not indexed. Knowing the ship can provide clues to the origins of the immigrants they carried. This is a useful tool for Scottish researchers.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.5 no.3, 1998

Every Man Will Do His Duty: An Anthology of Firsthand Accounts from the Age of Nelson 1793-1815 by Dean King. Published by Henry Holt and Company, 115 West 18th Street, New York NY 10011. 1997. Illustrations, index, maps. xxxvii, 425 pp. Paperback. $15.95.

Every Man Will Do His Duty presents some of the voices of the seamen who fought and lived at sea during the French Revolutionary War (1793-1802), The Napoleonic War (1803-1815) and the War of 1812 (1812-1815). The Peace of Amiens beginning on 25 March, 1802 provides a brief period of peace in the midst of 23 years of war.

The 22 chapters provide first-hand, detailed accounts of life below and above decks in the ships that sailed the world’s oceans in the glory days of sail warfare between 1793 and 1815. Following the events of this time period Britannia really did rule the waves.

The title of this book is a paraphrase of Nelson’s famous signal going into the Battle of Trafalgar. This is explained in a short paragraph in the introduction. However, the full context for the signal and the story of Nelson’s death is described in a chapter titled The Death of Lord Nelson by Surgeon William Beatty. A different perspective of the same battle is provided in Battle of Trafalgar by William Robinson.

The introduction provides two maps that are well drawn and layout where the accounts within the book occur. This is particularly helpful if you are interested in material dealing with a particular ocean or battle. When a specific battle is described maps of the battle formations between ships are provided, often at different times of the day showing the changes that occurred.

The accounts in this book make for exciting reading. They are often very vivid especially if the original writer had kept a diary. If you have a sailor during this time period, or want more background information, then these first-hand accounts are well worth reading.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.5 no.3, 1998

An Index to Griffith’s Valuation, 1848-1864 information compiled by Heritage World Family History Services and provided to Broderbund Software by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 N. Calvert St., Baltimore MD 21202. $59.99 plus $3.50 p&h.

Griffith’s Valuation, or the Primary Valuation of Ireland, was carried out between 1848 and 1864 to determine the amount of tax each person should pay towards the support of the poor within the poor law union. The Valuation is arranged by county, barony, poor law union, civil parish and townland. It lists the majority of landholders and householders in Ireland at the time, not all householders as the promotional literature states. These records have become a major substitute for the non-surviving census records.

This index has taken over three years to compile by Heritage World Family History Services in Northern Ireland. The index itself provides the full name of the householder and his county, parish, and townland of residence. The promotional literature states that the items omitted from the index - names of baronies and poor law unions, acreage, valuation and description of the property, are interesting but do little to advance the research. This is not true for in Irish research it is important to know the barony and poor law union in which the ancestor lived because of the way Irish records are organized. The CD does include any marginal notes in the original records such as occupation, name of dwelling, skills associated with the individual or religious affiliation. Also missing from the index is the name of the person from whom the householders leased their property.

The index itself is easy to use. The software provides the standard Broderbund interface. A search can be made on any surname followed by Christian name. For example, a search for William Canny produces seven options. These options can all be tagged for printing. The printout provides county, parish and location which can all be utilized for further research.

A test was made using a printed copy of Griffith’s Valuation for Aghadoe parish in County Kerry. All the descriptors (occupations, father’s name, etc.) in the printout were included in the comments field of the index, as were specific addresses such as the names of the property of the Earl of Kenmare.

The introduction on the disc needs to be read for the background material on Griffith’s Valuation. Unfortunately there is some repetitive material in the introduction, especially with the promotion of the Heritage World Family History Services in Northern Ireland. The search instructions do provide some important search guidelines, especially for names with Mac, M’, Mc, O’, etc.

The instructions say that a search can be made on the name, county, parish, location or comment fields. Unfortunately, the software itself only allows a search on the name field. E-mail correspondence with Broderbund technical support has not resolved this discrepancy.

For those doing nineteenth century Irish research this is a very valuable index.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.5 no.3, 1998

UPDATE: The review above stated that the instructions say that a search can be made on the name, county, parish, location or comment fields. This is partially true, but there are no instructions on how to do this. With Family Tree Viewer, version 3.02, searching can only be done on the surname. With version 4.0 and higher you select the “search expert” dialogue box, and choose “search this archive for someone not from your family file.” This provides a dialog box with five blank fields allowing you to search by name, county, parish, location and comments. This process allows you to get beyond surnames to more complex searches, which is especially useful when searching for common surnames.

The test comparison that I performed was good. However, reports are starting to appear in the genealogical press, and be mentioned by other researchers that errors are occurring. Some have found complete townlands missing, or entered under an incorrect spelling making them unfindable to other researchers. Typing errors have been found.

The net effect is that this is still a great tool to speed up one’s search. However as with all indexes the results should be treated with caution and the originals should be examined.

Update by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.5 no.4, 1998

The Scots of Chicago: Quiet Immigrants and Their New Society by Wayne Rethford and June Skinner Sawyers. Published by Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 4050 Westmark Drive, Dubuque Iowa 52002. 1997. 185 pp. Illustrations, index, maps, photographs. Softcover. $29.95.

The stated “purpose of this book is to give credit to those Scottish men and women who have influenced the City of Chicago, the state of Illinois, and, indirectly, the country itself. ... Much of the our emphasis here will be on the Scottish influence in Chicago, especially as it relates to the Illinois Saint Andrew Society, the oldest charitable institution in Illinois.”

The book lives up to its stated purpose describing the lives of many of the Scots, famous and not so famous, who formed a significant part of the history of Chicago. The book begins with a brief introduction on why the people left Scotland, when and how they arrived in Chicago, and how the Illinois Saint Andrew Society was formed.

Throughout the book the development, highlights and disasters of Chicago history are described along with the Scots who were active participants. The authors have done an excellent job of providing us with numerous brief biographical sketches of the notable Scots mentioned and often include photographs. Many of these people have been immortalized in the streets and places familiar to many of us in Chicago. The book provides an excellent understanding of the silent, often invisible, role played by the Scots in Chicago history. For any genealogist this historical perspective is important.

As the book progresses there is a growing emphasis on the history of the Illinois Saint Andrew Society. The authors portray the role of the society in holding the Scottish community together, especially in more recent times as other Scottish groups have vanished. It also talks about the development of the Scottish home and the way the society provided for and supported the needy in the community.

The book concludes with a valuable overview of the historic Scottish communities in Illinois. These were often small and quickly assimilated communities so this chapter alone makes Illinois Scottish research easier. There is also an excellent bibliography giving you further resources to check for your ancestors or their social context.

Throughout the book many names are mentioned. It is unfortunate that an everyname index was not created, even with the more notable names every occurrence of their name is not always included in the index.

For anyone with Scottish ancestors in Illinois, and especially in Chicago this is a fascinating read.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.5 no.4, 1998

Ancestral Trails: The Complete Guide to British Genealogy and Family History by Mark D. Herber. 1997. Published in the USA by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore MD 21202. ix, 674 pages. Illustrations, index, photographs. Hardcover. $34.95 plus $3.50 p&h.

The face of English research has changed with the publication of this superb book. English researchers typically produce short monographs dealing with a particular topic. Researchers thus build a collection of these booklets as their research progresses. Herber’s book changed that picture. In this single and formidable volume, he has collected a wealth of information unparalleled in English research.

In the introduction Herber recognized that English research had “no sufficiently detailed and up-to-date general work available that describes genealogical records and guides researchers to the many published sources or the hundreds of detailed books dealing with specific aspects of genealogical research...” Herber hopes “that this book fills that gap by guiding researchers to the sources and the vast range of reference works and finding aids.” Herber has taken ten years to write this book and, in doing so, meets these goals.

The early chapters in the book provide an introduction to family history, the gathering and organization of information and memorabilia, with a discussion of some general problems. American readers will find the emphasis on family history strong. The book is not designed to help people gather just names, dates and places, but rather to put the ancestors into their historical setting. The resources in the book do this well.

The book continues with chapters on the commonly-used sources such as civil registration, census returns and parish registers. Even experienced researchers will benefit from a read of these practical chapters.

The book then progresses into more advanced topics such as: Catholic, non-conformist and Jewish records; marriage and divorce; newspapers and elections; records of the army, Royal Marines, and Royal Air Force; records of shipping and seamen; oaths, taxation and insurance records; criminal courts and criminals; immigration, emigration and investigation abroad; and many more topics. The book contains 94 very-clear, easy-to-read examples of documents that will be used by the researcher. The ten appendices provide valuable listings of addresses, regnal dates and summaries of finding aids such as titles of all PRO information leaflets.

Throughout the chapters, reference books and finding aids are cited with a number. The details of the citation are at the back of the book in numerical order. Thus if a source is repeatedly cited in different chapters it will be found once in the 978-item citation list. All researchers thus have good citations for further in-depth research and access to finding aids. Unfortunately, however, this book is written in association with the Society of Genealogists in London. It assumes that researchers will have access to this excellent library. Most American researchers do not, and therefore, finding many of the references could be problematic. Herber’s reference numbers at least provide us with specific information about what we are looking for.

This book is about English research, not, as the title states, British genealogy. The records of Scotland, Wales, Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands are found in one thirty-page chapter. In a book this size, it’s a small section for a large topic. It should be stated however, that what the chapter does contain is a good introduction to research in these localities with citations that will guide the researcher.

For Americans, England is a great country in which to research because of the wealth of resources available through the Family History Library (FHL) and its centers. This is one point the book does not make clear. There are occasional examples throughout the text to resources available through the FHL. Herber mentions the 1881 census index and even the 1861 census index for people on merchant or naval ships in port or at sea, both of which are resources available through the FHL. He gives other examples of FHL citations occasionally throughout the book. However, the overall impression is that only the materials cited are available through the FHL. This might give the genealogist new to English research the totally wrong picture. The FHL has a wealth or material readily available, including the majority of parish registers, wills and administrations, plus large collections of trade and city directories, military and naval records, records for the gentry and heraldry, and more. It’s a large collection with very poor representation in this book.

Despite these drawbacks, which are minor, this reviewer highly recommends this book for anyone interested in getting beyond the basics in English research. For non-England based readers the limitations of access to cited materials and the poor mention of material available through the FHL need to be recognized.

Note: This book is now in its second edition (2000).

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.5 no.5, 1998

Royalty for Commoners, 3rd edition by Roderick W. Stuart. Published by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 North Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. 1998. x, 332 pp. Index. Hardcover. $35 plus $3.50 p& h.

This is the third edition of Royalty for Commoners which attempts to document the genealogy of John of Gaunt, (1340-1399), son of King Edward III and Queen Phillippa. It is this line through which many Americans can attach themselves to European royalty. Royalty is a great book if you have gotten this far back in time.

The 1998 edition is nearly a complete reworking of earlier editions. Two dozen lines are lengthened. Source notes are improved to include dates of publication, an every-name index and an index to royal titles. The bibliography is expanded and refined.

The layout of the book takes a little getting used to because the arbitrary line numbering is significant only as a finding aid. The generation numbering is also unusual. The assumption is that generation 1 is a middle-aged person living near the end of the twentieth century. Working backwards into the past the numbering system cannot be disturbed by adding or deleting names. John of Gaunt appears as generation 21 and all the other generational numbers are higher as all lines go back further in time.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.5 no.5, 1998

Officials of the Royal Household, 1660-1837. Part 1: Department of the Lord Chamberlain and Associated Offices compiled by J.C. Sainty and R.O. Bucholz. Published by the Institute of Historical Research, University of London, Senate House, London WC1E 7HU, England. 1997. xcviii, 190 pp. Illustrations, introduction. Hardcover. £22.

This is the first of two volumes designed to make available lists of officials who served in the royal household between the Restoration in May 1660 and the death of William IV in June 1837. This volume covers the officers who served above stairs under the general authority of the lord chamberlain, with some additions such as the staff of the great wardrobe. Officers under the authority of the lord steward and the master of the horse will be in volume two.

The lists include the principal officers of the sub-departments, omitting the subordinate staff. This means that not everybody in the royal household will be found in this book. This will disappoint some readers trying to verify the family tradition that their ancestor was a member of the King’s household.

The book is divided into three sections. The first is a lengthy introduction describing the development of the royal household and its offices, putting them into a fuller context. It explains how the size and administration of the household changed depending upon the monarch and the politics of the time period. The court provided a rally point for the English ruling classes and many listed here will also be found in the Complete Peerage, Complete Baronetage and Burke’s Peerage.

The second section, lists all appointments beginning with a brief summary often giving salaries, a time period when the position was functioning, and the names of all officers. This section makes fascinating reading with, for modern readers, some strange positions: Sewers of the Great Chamber, Revels, Women of the Bed Chamber, Gentlemen of the Bed Chamber, Removing Wardrobe, Clerk of the Closet.

The third section, is a biographical index, providing a summarized account of the offices held by each individual within the household. No other information is included unless directly relevant to that purpose, such as died in office. The accounts of those still in office in 1837 have not been continued. Peers and holders of courtesy titles are indexed under their titles. The sources for each piece of information is well cited making this a valuable tool for further research.

This book provides a fascinating analysis of the functioning of the royal household and its officers. It is a useful index for those with ancestors at this level of society.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.5 no.5, 1998

Never Been Here Before? A Genealogists’ Guide to the Family Records Centre. Public Record Office Reader’s Guide No. 17 by Jane Cox and Stella Colwell. Published by PRO Publications, Public Record Office, Ruskin Avenue, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU. 1997. vi, 112 pp. Illustrated. Softcover. £5.99.

This book is a must for anyone planning to do research in London at the new Family Records Centre at Myddelton Place. This new facility is operated jointly by the Office for National Statistics and the Public Record Office. The facility brings together the records formerly at St. Catherines and the microfilm records of the Public Record Office on Chancery Lane.

On the ground floor is the General Register Office (GRO) with its indexes for births, marriages and deaths since 1837, plus many miscellaneous indexes such as: births and deaths at sea; birth marriage and deaths from army regiments, army chaplains returns, Service Department registers, Royal Navy, consulates, civil aviation, high commissioners, chaplain registers from the Ionian Islands and more.

On the second floor is the Public Record Office collection where you can search on microfilm or fiche the 1841 through 1891 census returns, the Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1796 to 1858 Death Duty Registers, 1775-1837 Nonconformist Registers, Miscellaneous Registers of births, marriages and deaths of British citizens abroad 1627-1960. You also have access to the IGI and Family Search CD-ROM.

Most of this material can be searched in the U.S. so you can do lots of advanced preparation before going to England.

This book is a valuable resource, even if you are not going to England. The explanations of the various records at the Family Records Centre are extremely well illustrated down to the fine details. For example, when discussing the PCC wills, the indexes provide the quire number, this means the will is found on one of the following 16 pages, and it illustrates which numbers you will find that you can ignore. The practical discussion on the Death Duty indexes is one of the best I have seen anywhere. The descriptions of the miscellaneous birth, marriage and death indexes are detailed enough for you to understand if you should be spending your time here looking for those missing records. For fun, the cartoons that are sprinkled throughout the book will delight any genealogist.

This is a valuable, practical book that is easy to recommend for any English researcher, whether you are going to England or not.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.5 no.5, 1998

Records of Merchant Shipping and Seamen by Kelvin Smith, Christopher T. Watts and Michael J. Watts. Public Record Office Readers’ Guide No. 20. Published by PRO Publications, Public Record Office, Ruskin Avenue, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU. 1997. vi, 112 pp. Illustrated, index. Softcover. £6.99.

Mainland Britain has almost 2,500 miles of coastline and it is impossible to be more than 70 miles from the sea. This is less than two day’s walk for our ancestors. In this context it is easy to see why so many families have ancestors who served in the Merchant or Royal Navies or worked in the industries that supported them. For example, in 1800 it is estimated that the Merchant Navy had 15,000 ships and 127,000 seamen.

This Readers’ Guide will get you into the wide variety of records available for the study of the Merchant Navy, covering the organization, the ships and the men who sailed them. The records cover the time period from the 17th through the 20th century.

The introduction acknowledges that not all documents needed are at the Public Record Office. One major collection of British Merchant Navy records is in the Maritime History Archive at Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Newfoundland. Other major collections are at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, the Merseyside Maritime Museum in Liverpool, the Guildhall Library in London, and modern records at the Registry of Shipping and Seamen in Cardiff. The guide does indicate when the records you need are in another repository and not at the PRO.

The book is divided into eight sections (1) Records of Seamen before 1835; (2) Records of Seamen after 1835; (3) Records of other Officers; (4) Records of Fishermen and Fishing Vessels; (5) War Service; (6) Royal Naval Reserve; (7) Registration of Ships; (8) Miscellaneous. Each section is subdivided into chapters and these again divided. Thus a detailed table of contents which makes specific items very easy to find.

Each section is well organized, describing what will and will not find in record group. The illustrations of sample documents go well with the text. After reading this book I want to find out more about my ship owners and seamen.

For those with Merchant Navy connections this book is a must to be able to access the large volume of records available at the PRO and other repositories.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.5 no.5, 1998

Katie Down the Pike 1997, 70 pp., and Overlooking Stoneybrook 1998, 71 pp. Both by Carol March McLernon. Published by the author at N3748 Bowers Rd., Lake Geneva, WI 53147. Illustrated. Softcover. $8 each.

Katie Down the Pike begins with a preface to set the scene of the story. Father Carlo Gaetano Samuele Mazzuchelli, better known as Father Kelly, was born in Milan in 1806. He became a priest and was in the Green Bay and La Crosse areas of Wisconsin working with the native Americans by 1833. He moved in 1836 to the lead mining district of southwestern Wisconsin and was responsible for the construction of eighteen churches, a courthouse and a state capital. In 1844, St. Augustine Church was built in the town of New Diggings. The church bell bought in New York through local subscriptions, traveled up the Mississippi to Galena. This book is a fictional account of 10 year-old Katie traveling with her father and Mr. Hurley to get the bell. This is a great story of the adventures they encounter.

Overlooking Stoneybrook is a delightful children’s story set in the mining district of southwest Wisconsin at the start of the Civil War. The names of the people are real, and an epilogue to the book tells what happens to them in the war and afterwards. However, the story itself is fictional. The story is about Annie and Jenny, two ten-year old girls and their lives in a dying mining town. The talk of the town is the war and the level of enthusiasm to go to war, especially among the young boys and men.

Ms. McLernon, is a teacher and a member of BIGWILL. She has taken her love of history and written two good children’s book, aimed at 10 year-olds. My 14 year-old daughter, Heather, read both books and said “Good stories and real easy for me to read.” These books would give your children and grandchildren a flavor for life in early southwestern Wisconsin from the perspective of a child.

Carol McLernon is our speaker for the January 1999 BIGWILL meeting. Come and hear her talk about the process of turning family history into stories to share. She will provide us with an excellent slide show.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.5 no.6, 1998

The Family Tree Detective: Tracing Your Ancestors in England and Wales, 3rd ed. by Colin D. Rogers. Published by Manchester University Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, Room 400, New York NY 10010. 1997 (1st ed.1983). 289 pp. Illustrations, index. Softcover.

This book is different. It is organized around the need to solve problems rather than around sources. There are three basic problems in genealogy resulting in the searching of records for parents, marriages and deaths. These three concerns are discussed in detail.

Each section begins with a description of the normal processes, using civil registration and parish records. This is followed by suggestions on what to do if something is not located as expected. For example, the section dealing with deaths present options on what to do when a death entry is not found, or when multiple options are found first in the civil registration death indexes and then in church burial records. Recommendations on alternative sources are provided. A similar format of problem solution is followed for the parent and marriage searches.

This is a very practical book. The text has been updated well from the 1983 version with the highlighting of new resources, research tools and web-sites. When you have a problem this is a great book to turn to for ideas on how to get around those brick walls.

Reviewed by Paul Milner.
BIGWILL v.5 no.6, 1998

Notebook Guide to Pre-1834 Poor Law Acts & Statutes, Acts Concerning the Duties of Parish Officers and Acts Relating to Church Affairs researched and compiled by Mike Brown. Published by Dartmoor Press, PO Box 132, Plymouth PL4 7YL. (n.d.) 32 pp. Index. Softcover £3.40 airmail.

The goal of this booklet is to provide the researcher with guidance into the multiplicity of laws that governed the functioning of the various parish officers. The booklet includes laws that added to the responsibilities of the officers from 1189 to 1834. The major laws are marked appropriately. Many revised and amended laws are not included unless they added to the duties of a particular officer.

This was a fascinating read full of many great examples. In 1475, if any person drew a weapon in a Church with intent to strike, the person would be indicted and one of his ears cut off. In 1538, parish registers were ordered to be kept, but the Act was widely disobeyed (unfortunately for researchers), and there was a 3s 4d fine for non-compliance which was to go towards the upkeep of the church. In 1547, apprenticing of pauper children was reintroduced, to remain until girls were 21 and boys were 24, runaways to be treated as slaves. In 1562, apprenticeship was recognized as giving legal settlement. In 1601, the Poor Relief Act was issued as a temporary measure but provided the structure of the Poor Law till 1834. In 1653, custody of Registers was taken away from Ministers; marriages were performed by Justices, not clergy; fees of 1s for baptisms and marriages and 4d for burials were charged. In 1692, a Land Tax was introduced assessing 4s in the pound, often described as the most crippling tax ever introduced. It was not abolished until 1963.

This is just a sampling of the wealth of fascinating material in this excellent little, tightly-packed guide to the laws affecting the parish. A good index to subjects and officers helps you find the relevant laws that you need. This little guide should be purchased by anyone trying to get beyond the basics and to understand of the workings of the parish and the people who served it.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.5 no.6, 1998

Guide to Churchwardens’ Accounts by Mike Brown. Published by Dartmoor Press, P.O. Box 132, Plymouth PL4 7YL. 1997. 64 pp. Index. £4.20 airmail.

After parish registers the Churchwardens’ account books can often be the most important books in the parish for research purposes. These books provide a wealth of information on a wide variety of topics, enabling you to learn a great deal about life in the parish.

The first section of the book deals with sources of income for the churchwardens. These include the rates, burials, church ales and festive occasions, pew rents, candles and torches, livestock and much more.

The second section of the book deals with the expenses of the churchwarden. The expenses include items such as: operating accounts, parish stocks, exterior and interior maintenance, vestments, market fees, the King’s Evil, vermin control, the Dog-whipper, hearth and window tax, St. Peter’s Pence and Fifty Dole, burials in woollen and much more.

For all of these income and expenditure items good examples are given from Devon parishes. The examples illustrate problems researchers may encounter, such as dialects and spelling errors. The table of contents is detailed, but there is no index, so you have to know what it is that you are examining to be able to find further information. This book should be on the bookshelf of anyone working in the churchwarden accounts alongside the classic work, The Parish Chest by W. E. Tate.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.5 no.6, 1999

Guide to Sources for Family History held by Westminster City Archives by Elizabeth Cory. Published by City of Westminster Archives Centre, 10 St. Ann’s Street, London SW1P 2XR. 1997. 20pp. Softcover. £3 plus £1.06 p&h.

Prior to 1900 the City of Westminster comprised the following civil parishes: St. Anne, Soho; St. Clement Danes; St. George, Hanover Square; St. James, Piccadilly; St. Margaret, Westminster; St. Martin-in-the Fields; St. Mary le Strand; St. Paul, Covent Garden; the Precinct of the Savoy and the Liberty of the Rolls. (There were other ecclesiastical parishes).

For anyone working in this part of London, especially if you are planning on actually visiting the area to do research, this slim guide is imperative. It covers all the usual records used by genealogists, such as census, parish registers, cemetery registers, wills, monumental inscriptions and directories. Also covered are the records less readily available outside the area, such as school and business records, rate books, electoral registers and maps. The booklet is vital to help you avoid wasting time and energy because it indicates which of the records, originals or copies, are available at the Westminster City Archives and which records are only accessible through other locations such as the London Metropolitan Archives, the Guildhall Library, the Family Records Centre and the Public Record Office.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.5 no.6, 1999

Clandestine Marriages in the Chapel and Rules of the Fleet Prison 1680-1754 by Mark Herber. Published by Francis Boutle Publishers, 23 Arlington Way, London EC1R 1UY. 1998. 128 pp. Illustrations, index. £10.

The introduction to this book gives an excellent summary of irregular and clandestine marriages common between the Restoration of 1660 and 1754 with the introduction of Lord Hardwicke’s Act. The area around the Fleet prison is the best known and most popular locality for these marriages. The Fleet Registers record about 250,000 marriages between 1690 and 1754. This is a substantial proportion of all the marriages that took place in England during this time period.

The Fleet registers consist of 275 registers and 540 notebooks at the PRO. It is a mammoth task to examine all of these. What Mark Herber has done is start the process of transcribing these and publishes here Piece RG7/162: November 1736 to January 1754 and Piece RG7/118: November 1736 to July 1748.

In the transcriptions the surnames have been capitalized; otherwise capitalization and punctuation have been kept as they are in the original. These records are extremely valuable because they often provide the occupations, marital status and place of residence of the couple, unlike most Church of England Registers of the time. Where additional information is known, such as copies existing in other registers, is noted. The book is well indexed by name, actual and standardized, plus a place index by county for those from outside of the London area.

A typical entry showing the wealth of information but also the spelling errors and duplication found in other records reads:

Folio 2 recto, 14. 7ber 1738. Peter RIGHT Chapman of Shortly Bridge in Northamberland widower and Mary Hucheson of Trukucar in Scatland spinster WW [See also RG7/118, entry 24. Lloyd also found this entry in the notebook in RG 7/700, where the groom’s surname is WRIGHT, the bride’s surname is HUTCHINSON and the marriage is noted as having taken place at the Cock in Bishop’s Court. The entry also appears in the notebook in RG7/696, but dated (probably incorrectly) as 1737]

This is a great start to what I hope will be a longer series of books from a new publisher. The introduction to clandestine marriages and the examples this book provide make it an excellent resource, even if you do not find your ancestor in the book.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.5 no.6, 1999

The Welsh Learner’s Dictionary by Heini Gruffudd. c. 1998. 256 pp. $14.95. Welsh Phrases for Learners by Leonard Hayles. c. 1997. p. 171. $14.95. Available from International Specialized Book Services, Inc., 5804 N.E. Hassalo Street, Portland, OR 97213-3644.

The Welsh Learners Dictionary begins with an indispensable 14 page guide and grammar. It talks about the Welsh alphabet and where to place the double letters in sequence so you can even find them in the dictionary. There is a helpful pronunciation guide, where to place accents and a good mutation table with guide. The introduction demonstrates some of the differences between popular and literary Welsh, pointing out that the dictionary uses primarily popular Welsh. The modifications created by verbs, past, present and future tense, plus what happens with irregular verbs is clear. The dictionary itself begins with a list of names and places in both English and Welsh. This is followed by the Welsh-English and then the English-Welsh sections of the dictionary. Many of the words have pronunciation guides and give key phrases.

The Welsh Phrases for Learners lists thousands of handy little phrases with their meanings. You can easily browse this book and improve your Welsh. The book however provides no guide to what happens if something in the sentence changes.

Neither book will help you much with your ancestral research, but for those with Welsh ancestors they are delight to use, to help understand the language and the idioms. The dictionary provides the necessary mutation and grammar guides needed to get started.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.6 no.1, 1999

North-East Repositories II: Record Holdings in the North-East of England for Local & Family Historians by Michael Southwick. Published by Kingpin, 21 Meldon Way, Hanover Estate, Winlaton, Tyne & Wear NE21 6HJ, England. c. 1998. 76 pp. Maps. Softcover £6 (postage paid).

This is the updated and expanded version of a 1994 publication. It includes information on the location and holdings of more than 50 libraries and archives in Northumberland, County Durham, Cleveland, Tyne & Wear, and Northern North Yorkshire. The introduction to each major collection provides name, address, telephone numbers, e-mail address, opening hours, parking and public transportation accessibility, booking requirements, availability of disabled access, toilets, refreshments, photocopiers and microfilm and fiche readers. The text continues with a valuable listing of major components in the local collection. The costs and availability of any local research service are included. This latter item is of course extremely valuable to those of us in the US. This is a valuable guide book for anyone researching in the north-east of England.

The same author publishes a quarterly magazine The North-Easterner: Your Guide to Local & Family History in the North-East of England, 64 pages per issue for £10 per year. Write to Kingpin at the above address.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.6 no.1, 1999

The Coventry Workhouse Death Registers 1845-1943 transcribed by Beverly Wishart. c. 1997. 20 pp. Softcover booklet and 2 microfiche. Published by Coventry Family History Society, “Twin Oaks,” 88 Howes Lane, Finham, Coventry CV3 6PJ, England. £3.20 includes airmail postage.

The 20 page booklet describes the Workhouse, its construction, its rules and gives examples of life in the Workhouse. For example, it describes the three ways in which a person could enter the Workhouse, how the paupers were classified inside the house and how they were segregated, even to the extent of separating husband and wife, or children and parents. It describes what the inmates would have worn, ate and when meals would have been served. This was a harsh environment but the records do show acts of kindness. Some events in the life of the Workhouse are highlighted such as the 1855 death of a foundling, 1888 acquittal of the Matron of charges of stealing provisions from the Workhouse but her husband was involved in voter fraud and fled to California.

The two microfiche contain information on the deaths of 8,381 inmates who died between 1845 and 1943. The registers between 1845 and 1914 provide name, age, date of death, parish of belonging and burial arrangements. The registers from 1914 to 1943 contain name, age, date of death, address of the deceased and cause of death (not included in transcription) and burial arrangements. If a coroner’s inquest occurred this is also noted and may lead to newspaper reports.

This is a valuable index for those seeking the poor and elderly in Coventry.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.6 no.1, 1999

A Guide to the Index of Entries from the Coventry Apprentice Enrollment Registers 1781-1841 by Barbara Robinson. c. 1997. 14 pp. Softcover booklet and 5 sets totaling 11 fiche. Published by Coventry Family History Society, “Twin Oaks,” 88 Howes Lane, Finham, Coventry CV3 6PJ, England. Each set is £3.20 includes airmail postage.

In the 18th and 19th centuries freemen of the city were allowed to vote in elections. To become a freeman a person had to have served an apprenticeship of seven years in the same trade and to have lived in Coventry for the whole of that time. To ensure these conditions were met apprenticeship registers were kept. There were three ways to be enrolled as an apprentice: by a parent, close relative or guardian; by the parish; or by the charity trustees.

This index contains the names of boys apprenticed in Coventry to masters who were virtually all living and working in Coventry or the County of the City of Coventry. The names are in alphabetical order and provide: surname, christian name, date of enrollment, name of parent, abode and parent trade. Many of the apprentices came from the surrounding countryside or counties and so this index may lead the researcher out of the city to the parish or origin.

There are five sets of fiche:
      vol. 1   1781-1801   3 fiche
      vol. 2   1802-1811   2 fiche
      vol. 3   1812-1821   2 fiche
      vol. 4   1822-1831   2 fiche
      vol. 5   1832-1841   2 fiche

Each set of fiche contains five indexes for: Apprentices; Masters; Masters by trade; Partners; and Trades. The additional indexes are helpful for following the possible career of a person from apprentice, to Master, to potential partner in larger companies, or following the family through a particular trade.

These are large valuable indexes and the Coventry Family History Society is to be commended for their excellent work.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.6 no.1, 1999

Family History in Southwark: A Guide to Tracing your Southwark Ancestors by Leonard Reilly. c. 1996. Illustrated, map. 40 pp. Softcover. £1.95. Southwark: An Illustrated History by Leonard Reilly. c. 1998. Illustrated, maps. 92 pp. Softcover. £:6.95. Both published by London Borough of Southwark, Southwark Local Studies Library, 211 Borough High Street, London SE1 1JA.

Family History in Southwark is a short guide to tracing ancestors in the area, describing relevant sources, services and resources of the Southwark Local Studies Library and information on places for further research. The emphasis is on the contents of the library but this guide provides a detailed outline of the types of records that are likely to be available for your research. For example, it points out that there were 10 ancient parishes in the Southwark area which were later divided into 72 administrative parishes. All these are listed with the dates at which the registers begin. It correctly points out that many of the registers themselves are at the Greater London Record Office, thus telling you where to look. The book also covers many record groups of importance to genealogists: non-conformist registers, census returns, electoral registers and poll books, directories, cemetery records and monumental inscriptions, newspapers, poor law records, taxation records and more. This is an inexpensive valuable guide for anyone researching in the area.

Southwark: An Illustrated History forms a valuable companion to the above guide because without understanding the history of the community you cannot make educated genealogical research decisions. This book provides a history of the area, including the communities of Bermondsey, Camberwell, Rotherhithe, Horselydown and Newington. The book is divided into seven time periods: early history; medieval and pre-reformation 1100-1540; early modern 1540-1700; urbanization 1700-1830; suburbanization Camberwell 1830-1900; city ignored Southwark, Bermondsey, Rotherhithe, 1830-1900; twentieth century. Each chapter is well illustrated with some great color images, photographs and prints, extracts from contemporary documentary sources plus good descriptions of the places, industries and people. This book provides a good image of how the city obtained a lot of the occupations, activities and trades that the city of London itself did not want, e.g. prostitutes, prisons, tanneries, and weapons. It is here that many of the unwanted immigrants settled. It is this type of valuable history that provides the clues on knowing where and how to research for ones ancestors in this area. This is a good inexpensive research tool giving a good overview of the area.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.6 no.1, 1999

A Miscellany of Bastardy Records for Wiltshire. Volume 1 - 1728 to 1893 transcribed by David Mattock and Rosemary Church. Published by Wiltshire Family History Society, 10 Castle Lane, Devizes, Wiltshire SN10 1HU, England. 1997. 83 pp. Introduction, map. £6 plus £2.20 p&h. surface.

The 2 page introduction contains an excellent summary of the laws and the records that were created when an illegitimate child was born. Not all records for all courts have survived, nor have all that have survived been included in this one volume. There are two further volumes produced by the society on this subject.

The book contains six lists:

The information contained in these indexes is often brief, containing a name (s) with possibly an age, occupation or parish. An archive reference number is always given so that the original can be examined.

More information sometimes is included, such as: MOUNTJOY, Rebecca, aged 28 yrs, single, and illegitimate child Isabella, aged one month, 23 rd Oct 1893, Order of Removal from St. Marylebone, London to Calne Union. Lawful daughter of Edward & Martha Mountjoy and was born in Cone on 23rd June 1865. That at the time she attained 16 yrs her father was also settled in Calne, he having resided there for 3yrs & upwards to gain a settlement.

For anyone who has found that their tree apparently comes to an end with an illegitimate birth in Wiltshire these indexes need to be examined.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.6 no.2, 1999

Wiltshire Militia Courts Martial 1759 to 1770: From Lord Bruce’s Papers in the Ailesbury Collection at Wiltshire Record Office edited by Jean A. Cole. Published by Wiltshire Family History Society, 10 Castle Lane, Devizes, Wiltshire SN10 1HU, England. 1997. 75 pp. Introduction. £6 plus £2.20 p& h. surface.

The first item to catch your eye about this book is the inserted warning - “some of the language in this book is of an explicit nature,” and it is in places. The book contains extracts from court martials. Each entry provides: the name, rank and company name of the offender; place of court martial with names and ranks of presiding officers; a description of the events leading to the offence; guilty verdict citing the appropriate article of war; description of the punishment. People mentioned within the text of a case are listed separately within the index and cross-referenced to the appropriate case. The introduction explains that many of the men were in the militia against their will, having left their homes for three years. This is the context for the many cases of being absent without permission, drunkenness, and fighting. The punishment by our standards seems hard with three days and nights in the black hole, fines and more commonly 50 to 200 lashes with the cat with nine tails.

In addition to the court martial extracts other useful documents have been included in the book. These include: Articles of War 1748-9; Formation of the Wiltshire Regiments Companies of Militia; 1757 Militia Act and the division of the county into ten areas; Movement of the Wiltshire Regiment of Militia 1759 to 1765; Miscellaneous information relating to the Wiltshire Regiment of Militia; and, 1761 Militia Act (extracts).

The introduction to the book points out that this is a companion volume to the Wiltshire Militia Orders 1759-1770, edited by Jean Cole and published by the Wiltshire FHS in 1994. Both books need to be used together. These books are a must for anyone with ancestors in the Wiltshire Militia. It is also a valuable tool because of the supporting regulation documents provided for those seeking ancestors in other county militia units.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.6 no.2, 1999

The Apprentice Registers of The Wiltshire Society 1817-1922 edited by H.R. Henly Volume 51 of the Wiltshire Record Society, 53 Clarendon Road, Trowbridge, Wilts BA14 7BS. 1997. xxii, 192 pp. Indices. Hardcover.

The modern Wiltshire Society was formed in May 1817 in London. The stated purpose of the charitable organization was to apprentice the children of deserving poor belonging to the county of Wiltshire who resided in London. In 1859 the rules were changed to admit children actually residing in Wiltshire.

Between 1817 and 1922 there were 1006 apprentices who benefited from the organization. Each entry in the book provides some or all of the following details: serial number / entry number; apprentice name (surname, forenames); parents’ forenames (and surname, if different from the apprentice surname); parents’ address; master’s name; master’s occupation; master’s address; term of apprenticeship; premium; indenture date. The parents’ names and address, where given, have been taken from annual reports; other details, after 1830, are from the apprentice registers. Supplementary notes, in smaller type, follow many entries summarizing any additional information supplied in annual reports. All the places are in Wiltshire or London, unless otherwise indicated.

A typical entry reads: 431 Hutchins, William Christopher, son of John and Emma Elizabeth, of 34 Pell St., St. George’s in the East: to A. Ohlson, coppersmith etc., of 85 New Road, Whitechapel. 6+ yrs, £20. 21 Aug. 1872. In smaller type: Father, a carpenter from Trowbridge, is in delicate health, and his earnings are precarious. Apprentice is a brother to 391 and 508.

The appendices contain: 1823 Rules of the Wiltshire Society; Governors of the Wiltshire Society, 1817-1921; Past Presidents of the Wiltshire Society. There is a combined index of persons, places and companies, with a separate index for occupations.

As a researcher tracing back in time it is the country origins of the city resident that is often so difficult to locate. This is an excellent resource for Wiltshire ancestors in making that movement and putting the ancestor into context.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.6 no.2, 1999

Local Communities in the Victorian Census Enumerators’ Books edited by Dennis Mills and Kevin Schürer. Produced by Local Population Studies, Department of History, University of Essex, Colchseter, CO4 3SQ. Published by Leopard’s Head Press Ltd., 1-5 Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3AW. 1996. x, 450 pp. Charts, illustrations, index, maps. Paperback. £12.50.

The census enumerator’s books (CEBs) are a very commonly utilized tools for genealogical research in England and Wales. They do differ markedly from the census returns used in the US in content, but more importantly is the fact that the information was recorded on one night, the same night all over England and Wales.

This book is divided into six sections, each developing a particular theme. These themes are: the enumeration process; population and demography; employment and occupations; migration and population turnover; family and household structures; residential patterns. Each new section has a chapter written by the editors which explores the potential and possibilities of the CEBs in relation to the themes in question, as well as providing an overview of previous research work and the approaches taken. The points raised in the editorials are illustrated in chapters based on revised and updated articles which were originally published in the Local Population Studies journal.

Tucked into the chapters are lots of material of use to the genealogist, for example, a list of all published census reports, 1801-1901. I especially found the chapter “A floating population: vessel enumeration returns, 1851-1921” helpful in explaining how the system for maritime censuses worked and its great limitations, plus what effect ships can have on the published statistics of a community. Two chapters examine the accuracy of reported ages, two others look at combining the census with other records such as estate maps and tithe maps, other chapters look at occupations and population movement.

The is an excellent book for those who want to go beyond finding their own individual ancestor to an examination of the community in which they lived. It provides examples of studies done elsewhere and may give an example with which to compare your ancestors community. There is a very extensive accumulated bibliography included.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.6 no.2, 1999

Instant Information on the Internet! A Genealogist’s No-Frills Guide to The British Isles by Christina K. Schaefer. Published by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 North Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. 1999. 117 pp. Index. Softcover. $9.95 plus $3.50 p&h.

This book begins with a good introduction to the history and development of counties and local government. This is important as it helps to understand where the records of our ancestors may be physically located now, given many have moved in the last few years as jurisdictions changed.

The book is organized by country and thereafter by county. Under each county there are five categories:

  1. Record office or facility that hold official records such as local authority archives, larger public archives, plus parish and non-conformist archives
  2. Libraries, museums, societies and other resources
  3. Information sites listing how-to information, local history sources, etc.
  4. Selected documents and indexes
  5. Lists and links to other sites and lists of addresses

The England section has to be read for it is here that UK-wide resources are included without being repeated under Wales, Scotland, Ireland, or the islands. This fact is only stated at the beginning of the England section as is not repeated under the country sections. This important information is not repeated, yet the web site and long descriptive paragraph for the Highland Council Highland Archives Service is repeated five times. Most entries consist of the name of the facility and the web page address, some might have a sentence or two of description added. Sites which provide links to other sites are marked with an *.

There are other inconsistencies about what is included. For example, why was the Regimental Museum for the Queen’s Own Highlanders (p.71) singled out for inclusion when many regimental museums have a web presence. There is an index to place names, but a topical listing would have also been helpful.

This is an inexpensive tool to get you started and focused in your web search for information about a particular location or topic. However, you will also need to do online searches for the web is constantly changing and being added to.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.6 no.3, 1999

Ireland: 1841/1851 Census Abstracts (Northern Ireland). 530 pp. $50. Ireland: 1841/1851 Census Abstracts (Republic of Ireland). 138 pp. $25. Both by Josephine Masterson. Published by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 North Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. Illustrated. Hardcover. First book $3.50 p& h, $1.25 for each additional book.

The bulk of the 1841 and 1851 census returns for Ireland were destroyed in the 1922 explosions and fire at the Public Record Office (now National Archives) in Dublin. What has survived, and forms the bulk of the materials transcribed in these books, are the abstracts made of the census returns in 1908, before the fire, for people who could not prove their age and were applying for the newly introduced Old Age Pensions. The claimant gave particulars of where their families were supposed to be on the nights of 6 June 1841 and 30 March 1851. Searches were performed and abstracts made by Search Officers and completed forms returned to the Pension Office.

Records for Northern Ireland were found in the National Archives in Dublin and records for the Republic were found in the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland in Belfast but they have all been collected here into the appropriate volume.

The details in both volumes for the Pension abstracts include surname, christian name, relationship to head of household, age, year of marriage, LDS film number, notes and location. The notes might include ages for the 1851 census when the same family is located in both census returns, who is the claimant, married or maiden names, year of death and age, location if absent from the family in another parish, with some entries stating in America or in Scotland. Each volume contains other lists from census fragments, or the information given does not meet the standard format with records containing several surnames, incomplete information, parents recently married, or indefinite locations. The Northern Ireland book includes a surname list for the 1851 County Antrim census fragments, while the Republic of Ireland volume includes lists of surnames from the 1841 census for Killeshandra Parish, County Cavan and for 1851 fragments for the Union of Kilworth in County Cork. The surname lists are a guide to three other abstracted collections, only one of which has been published commercially, the two other lists being available in specific libraries including Salt Lake City and Ft. Wayne. These lists of surnames provide valuable clues, but if your surname is included, and there are many common names, then you have to go hunting for further resources.

The introduction to both books has to be read to understand the various film and manuscript sources used to create these lists of names and their limitations. For example the introduction states that “Not all the information in these books (referring to the Old Age Pension books) was extracted but was limited to records with enough information to be of possible help in identifying an ancestral family.” This begs the question, what were the guidelines? These are not stated. The author estimates that there are 75,000 useful records of individuals in family groups for the whole of Ireland. Of this number, there are 23,000 people in the Northern Ireland book and another 5800 people included in book for the Republic of Ireland. Another 19,000 in the lists cited as being elsewhere. This still leaves a big gap. This means that if your ancestors are in this book then you know immediately where to go to find the family on the original records, and that does need to be done as more information may be contained on the original. However, if your ancestor is not in these books, you will still need to search the originals as they may be there.

These are not books you pick up and quickly look to see if your ancestor’s name is in the index. If you do you will miss the name, for there are eight indexes of greatly varying length and content in both books.

There is no doubt that these books are a valuable compilation of records for Irish research and should be in any library with an Irish collection. The limitations do need to be recognized though when using them as a research tool.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.6 no.3, 1999

Vanished Churches of the City of London by Gordon Huelin. Published by Guildhall Library Publications, Guildhall Library, Aldermanbury, London EC2P 2EI. 1996. ix, 85 pp. Illustrations, No Index. Softcover. £5.95.

This book is divided into three sections: churches not rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1666; churches demolished between the Late Eighteenth Century and 1939; churches destroyed in World War II and not rebuilt in the city. The brief introduction gives the names and a map of the 69 vanished churches originally located in the “square mile” of the city of London.

For each church there is a brief synopsis of the history, or a story connected with the church. Many have a line drawing or photograph of the facility.

The details given vary greatly. For example, for St. Faith under St. Paul’s it says that it originally stood until 1255 on the northside of the old St. Paul’s. The church was pulled down when St. Paul’s was extended, and the parishioners given worship space in the east section of the crypt. “In 1666, as the Fire spread westwards, the parishioners, most of whom were booksellers in Paternoster Row, stored their books for safety in the church below the Cathedral. According to Pepys, sparks from other goods stacked in the churchyard outside penetrated the windows of St. Faith’s so that its roof collapsed and more than £150,000 worth of books perished.”

We learn about Olave Silver, a foundling in the parish of St. Olave Silver Street. The bells of St. Dunstan’s in the East can now be heard ringing in a Californian wine valley. We read about perseverance in times of war at St. Augustine Watling Street where the church was destroyed on 11-12 January 1941 by enemy bombing, yet weekday services resumed two days later in the vestry. The vestry was destroyed by enemy action on the 10 May, and this time it took two months for services to resume. Services continued till closure in 1954.

If your ancestor’s London church no longer exists then this is an excellent guide to learning the church’s history and likely what it looked like. For those without London ancestors it’s a valuable social history replaying life and death in London over many years.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.6 no.4, 1999

A Guide to Genealogical Sources in Guildhall Library, 4th edition compiled by Richard Harvey. Guildhall Library Research Guide 1. Published by Guildhall Library Publications, Guildhall Library, Aldermanbury, London EC2P 2EI. 1997. iv, 75 pp. Index. Softcover. £3.95.

The Guildhall Library is a public reference library in the City of London established in 1824. Over the years it has build up a fabulous collection. There is the Printed Books Section holding printed material related to London, and many resources related to the rest of the British Isles. A Prints and Maps Section contains prints, drawings, photographs, maps and ephemera relating to London. A Manuscript Section holds records relating to London and its institutions.

This guidebook emphasizes the sources and not the methodology. In eighteen brief chapters it covers all the expected topics like census, civil registration, and probate records. But it also covers directories, poll books, electoral registers, rate books, poverty, crime, apprentices, free men, guilds, livery companies and more. The guide explains what is in the collection, how to access the records, and if everything needed is not in the collection it informs you of which record facility will have what you needed.

This inexpensive guide book is a must for anyone with London ancestors. The information on available records and how to access them is outstanding and practical.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.6 no.4, 1999

Family Historians’ Reference Guide, 5th edition compiled by Sally J. Pocock. Available from Sally Pocock, 2 Fairmantle Street, Truro, Cornwall TR1 2EG. March 1999. 59 pp. Softcover. £6.50 postage included.

This book serves as a memory aide. You might remember seeing something somewhere dealing with a particular topic but are not sure where. It is not a dictionary, but rather a tool to refer you to other sources and for British research is an ideal tool to have on hand.

What the compiler has done is provide short one or two sentence entries describing a source of information on a particular topic. There is a strong emphasis on lists and indexes, of course giving the name and address of the person or institution with the index and how it can be consulted. These include indexes for brassworkers, brickmakers, circus performers, glassmakers, goldsmiths, millers, etc. The indexes are so varied that any occupation should be checked to see if someone is compiling an index.

There are numerous references to articles and books (old and new) that deal with particular topics. These too can be very varied, including: disasters in London, dormant funds in court, fishermen, freemasons, Irish ejectment books, kirk session records, etc. Many of the articles from publications could be found using PERSI, but some of the references to books may be harder to find on this side of the Atlantic.

The compiler has done a good job at keeping the entries general and not topographical in nature. There are some references to London because so many researchers have London ancestry. There are over 650 topical entries in this publication. Many of the references are from Family Tree Magazine, Genealogists Magazine and some society journals. I have almost complete sets of the first two publications so this is a useful guide for me.

What you are going to find is going to be a bit of a lucky dip. However, I will be keeping this publication handy for a quick place to check on a variety of topics.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.6 no.5, 1999

Behind Bars: A Chronicle of Bodmin Gaol by Sally J. Pocock. Available from Sally Pocock, 2 Fairmantle Street, Truro, Cornwall TR1 2EG. 1998. 69 pp. Illustrations, Indexes. Softcover. £4.25.

This book provides good background material on the Quarter Sessions, Assizes and prisons in Cornwall. The early gaol was in Launceston. This was the county town in Cornwall until 1835 but its location on one end of the county created problems in transporting prisoners and forming Grand or Special Juries. In 1716 Bodmin was chosen as a more convenient place to convene, and between 1716 and 1727 the Assizes alternated between Bodmin and Launceston, then only at Launceston until 1758, afterwards in Bodmin. By 1831 the Quarter Sessions were being held in Bodmin, Truro and Lostwithiel and this court usually oversaw crimes of a less serious nature, but if committed to gaol, they always served their sentences in the County Gaol.

This book describes using first hand accounts and references the conditions and life in the gaols. This is from the perspective of the wardens, officers, doctors and prisoners. It is unfortunate that in Cornwall only the Quarter Session Order Books and not the records themselves have survived. This has made this research by Ms. Pocock even more valuable and difficult to create. Only Cornish sources have been used in the writing of this book. No material possibly available at the Public Record Office at Kew have been used. However, some of the illustrations depict life in other English prisons.

This is a fascinating read describing the many hardships and conditions to be found in the gaol is the different time periods. There are many names references in this volume. There is a name index for all the prisoners mentioned in the text, plus an index to keepers, governors and turnkeys but excluding the Chaplains and Surgeons. Ms. Pocock states in her introduction that she hopes “Family Historians, will share my fascination with the references to all the characters that appear in the text, both law-abiding and otherwise.” It is unfortunate then that an every-name index was not created for this publication. This is a major omission for a book like this where the genealogical community is one of the intended audiences.

A useful book for anyone wanting to learn more about England’s prison system, and Cornwall’s specifically.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.6 no.5, 1999

British Roots of Maryland Families by Robert Barnes. Published by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD 21202. 1999. xxxviii, 646 pp. Index. Hardcover. $49.50 plus $3.50 p&h.

This new collection of genealogies gathers together information on the British origins of Maryland families. Inclusion is based on the following criteria: (a) there was some reason to believe that the families’ home parish in Britain had been identified; (b) the families had taken root and left descendants in the New World; (c) most had arrived before the year 1800. This work is a mixture of Mr. Barnes’ own research building upon the work of earlier researchers such as Henry F. Waters, Lothrop Withington, Harry Wright Newman, Jack and Marion Kaminkov and Peter Wilson Coldham. A wide range of British periodicals, publications and manuscripts have been utilized.

The introduction lists provides a key to all the sources that are used. Where appropriate the author rightly points out that some of the works need to be used with caution, such as the early Herald’s visitations. Since many of the early Maryland families are also armigers a useful heraldry glossary is provided to aid the reader in understanding the descriptions provided.

The genealogies are grouped by families. For each, all relevant references are listed. The references are followed by mini genealogies with referrals to the list of references so the source of the information can be identified. Some of the genealogies go back many generations in England, especially when connecting through landed or royal families.

Over 500 families are included, with 20,000 individuals included in the index. A summary table in the introduction shows the origins by county within England. However, one shortcoming is that there is no place-name index so the people from a particular location or area cannot be identified.

For those with Maryland ancestors and seeking a place of origin in the British Isles, this is a reference worth examination.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.6 no.5, 1999

In Search of Your British & Irish Roots: A Complete Guide to Tracing Your English, Welsh, Scottish, & Irish Ancestors, Fourth Edition by Angus Baxter. Published by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD 21202. 1999. 306 pp. Index. Softcover. $18.95 plus $3.50 p&h.

The bulk of this book is for England a county by county listing of the major record offices and repositories. For each it provides the basic information about the county record offices such as address, telephone numbers, e-mail if available, opening hours and requirements for use of the facility. It will provide a short outline of the major record groups at the repository and a list of any guide books. Most of this information is now available online.

For the rest of the United Kingdom it provides coverage of the major repositories such as the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, General Register Office in Scotland. It also provides information on the major repositories in England such as the PRO, Society of Genealogists, etc. For a beginner who does not know about the existence of these resources this can be a helpful guide. For many, however, more information can be accessed online, or in other guide books.

The first eight chapters of the book describe how to get started in research, specifically British research. It is unfortunate that this section of the book is out of date, prone to errors and gives poor advice. For example, when talking about recording your information in the chapter on Starting the Family Tree he states that “In order to build a family tree you will need several large sheets of paper each about 2 feet by 3 feet” (p.15) and then describes how to lay out the tree. There is no mention of ancestral charts or family group sheets. In the chapter on tracing army and navy ancestors it states “The records and the system under which they are filed are complicated, and a professional researcher must be employed” (p.78). Many of these records are available on film, and there are some excellent guidebooks to lead you through the research process.

The introductory chapters contain outdated information, and some copying from his other books - what have Austrian church records and Polish army records to do with British research (p.32)?

This book can be used as a starting point to get into county records, but it can not be recommended for purchase. There are much better books on the market.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.6 no.5, 1999

CD-ROM REVIEW
Pigot’s 1834 Directory for County of Durham and Northumberland available from Drake Software Associates, 1 Wychwood Rise, Great Missenden, Bucks HP16 ORB, UK. $35.

This is a searchable database of over 23,000 people and their occupations in Durham and Northumberland from Pigot & Co’s Commercial Directory of 1834.

The program requires a 32 bit Windows operating system such as Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows NT, 16 Mbytes RAM and a 2x or better CD-ROM drive. Please take note of these requirements. For me this is the first genealogy program that would not run on my older desktop computer, insufficient RAM. It operated very well on the portable computer.

The program installs the Borland Database Engine on the hard drive and requires about 3 Mbytes. The program is accessing the CD-ROM for the searches so the database and all the page images are on the CD-ROM. The faster the CD-ROM drive the shorter the search.

The main screen allows you to search the directory, view the results grid, and view a facsimile page. Under the search tab there are three options: normal search, compound search and Soundex search. The normal search will work for most people and allows searching on prefix, forename, surname, suffix, occupation, address, town and county. A sample search for all people with the forename of Dixon turned up five people, with seven entries, including the Dixon Dixon that I was looking for. He showed up as two entries on the results screen with addresses at 18 Westgate Street in Newcastle and at Longbenton. You have the option of stepping through each search hit sequentially or viewing the results in a grid. The grid display enables you to see all entries at once, which is nice. For our Dixon Dixon, going to view the actual page shows both addresses under one entry in Newcastle. The two entries from the single entry in the directory show the power of this database.

When you view the facsimile page a major advantage of this program over similar US-produced images becomes immediately apparent. The entry you are seeking appears in the center of the image, which is only part of the page. This contrasts well with typical US productions where you see the page but then have to read every name on the page to find the entry you are looking for. For lists of names like this finding the original entry is so much simpler. I wish more vendors did this.

The normal search will work for most people. However, you can also make compound searches so you could search for all brush-makers in Northumberland with the name Smith. Advanced Soundex searches are also available. This was new to me, allowing you to ignore or select prefixes. So for example, ignoring prefixes modifies the Soundex algorithm to ignore any prefixes from a selected list. This means that M’, Mac and Mc could be selected and M’Lean would then show up in a Soundex group list along with Lean and Lane. You can also select some of the problems in Soundex coding such as NG=N, or DG=G. You can also extend the length of the coding from the standard 3 to 4 or 5 figures. This is a very powerful and impressive search option. The manual does a good job of explaining and illustrating these options.

There are two print options: a copy of your search results in landscape format; a scanned image of the actual page from the directory. The search report printout is limited to 300 records to prevent accidentally printing large reports.

This CD-ROM is easy to use. It is hoped that this will be the first in a series of similar directory CD-ROM. The 1830 Pigot’s Directory for Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire is also available. For up to date information check the company website at <http://www.tdrake.demon.co.uk>.

{This publisher has a Chicago bank account so can accept $ checks. He cannot accept credit cards. E-mail messages can be sent to barney@tdrake.demon.co.uk.}

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.6 no.5, 1999

The Record Interpreter: A Collection of Abbreviations, Latin Words and Names used in English Historical Manuscripts and Records, Second Edition compiled by Charles Trice Martin. 1910. Reprinted 1997 by Clearfield Company, 200 E. Eager St., Baltimore MD 21202. xiii, 464 pp. Softcover. $35 plus $3.50 p&h.

Most of us have forgotten our school Latin, if we ever learnt it in the first place. This book provides a listing of Latin words and abbreviations for you to be able to translate the Latin we find in early English documents. The lists are created from documents where Latin and English often occur together such as in Chancery Proceedings, where the bills and answers are in English but the writs are in Latin. There is also Latin in inscriptions on brasses, tombstones, and other monuments. Some of the Latin found is very corrupt but this book still provides guidance.

The brief preface has to be read. It shows how the contraction marks are usually used and how to find them within the proper sequence of Latin word lists.

The book includes: abbreviations of Latin words used in English records; abbreviations of French words used in English records; glossary of Latin words found in records and manuscripts not occurring in classical authors; Latin names of bishoprics in England, Scotland and Ireland; Latin forms of English surnames and Christian names.

This book is designed specifically for genealogists and historians and so it is nice to see this practical book back in print.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.6 no.6, 1999

Irish Gravestone Inscriptions: A Guide to Sources in Ulster edited by William O’Kane and Eoin Kerr. Published by Genealogical Publishing Company and Heritage World, 1001 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. 1999. 57 pp. Illustrations, maps. Softcover. $7.95 plus $3.50 p&h.

This book is a listing of over 900 cemeteries listing the name of the civil parish, the name of the cemetery and its religious affiliation that have been transcribed by Heritage World Family History Services. The majority of transcribed cemeteries are in Northern Ireland, but there are also a number in Donegal, Monaghan and Louth.

The idea is that you can contact the Heritage Centre and purchase information either as an index giving county, parish, person and cemetery names, date of death and denomination, or as a full gravestone inscription.

The book is laid out by county, with a map of Ireland showing the location of the county, a brief history and description of the county and then the listing of transcribed cemeteries.

This reviewer was disappointed in the booklet as it is not a Guide to Sources as the title suggests. The booklet is a listing for The Heritage Centre. The researcher will need to use other sources to find what other cemeteries may be found in the area you are researching. No other sources or guides are listed. The impression given is that this is the only source for these transcriptions and that is not the case. This service provides a place to purchase transcriptions of cemetery markers but the potential omissions from the book also need to be realized.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.6 no.6, 1999

Birth Briefs of Aberdeen 1637-1705 by Frances McDonnell. Published by Willow Bend Books, 65 E. Main St., Westminster MD 21157-5026 1998. Index. 48 pp. Softcover. $7 plus $3 p&h.

These are details from the Aberdeen Propinquity Books covering a very early time period. These are birth briefs created long before birth records were kept. They are documents created before witnesses attesting to the lineage of a particular individual or family. In this time period many of the sons of the important families were traveling, soldiering or making their fortunes in eastern Europe. These official documents or briefs would provide written proof of their social position. They also provided proof of kinship, important for inheritance claims especially when the claimant lived in another country.

Reading the briefs shows that an individual’s parents, often grand and great-grandparents are named and there place of origin. These provide details on many of the titled landed families or those who aspired to be well to do. The women are provided with their maiden names and their lineage so it is possible through these records to also trace the women.

An every-name index is provided giving page references. Unfortunately the pages are not numbered. You therefore have to identify the correct pages and number them yourself to make this index work properly. Luckily, the book is a slim one.

A valuable record for anyone who has early Aberdeen records from the upper families. The locations of many sons in Europe are mentioned.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.6 no.6, 1999

The Adventures of Peter Williamson by Frances McDonnell. Published by Willow Bend Books, 65 E. Main St., Westminster MD 21157-5026. 1998. Illustrated. 32 pp. Softcover. $4.50 plus $3 p&h.

This is a famous true story set in a sad period in Aberdeen history between 1740-1744. During this time period some of the key merchants, magistrates and shipmasters in the city were involved in kidnapping children and shipping them off to the colonies for sale as slaves in the American Plantations.

This is the story of one Peter Williamson who survived the journey, had a good owner, was captured by the Indians, escaped, became a soldier and returned to Scotland. While traveling in England and returning to Aberdeen he wrote his story. As a result upon reaching Aberdeen he was brandished as a liar and banished. With support from a lawyer in Edinburgh he was vindicated.

This is a summary of that story. Parts of Peter’s original story are quoted. There are a number of illustrations but most are of poor quality.

A powerful story that should be read by anyone with ancestors from the Aberdeen area, especially if you have anyone going missing in this time period. Even if your ancestor did not go missing kidnapping was carried on such a large scale in the open that fear in the surrounding communities was high.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.6 no.6, 1999

CD-ROM REVIEW
Cornwall Multimedia: Movies, Music and Magic of Cornwall produced by Cornwall Business Systems, Albany Road, Redruth, Cornwall, England TR15 2HY. 1996. £29.95.

This is a delightful CD requiring a multimedia IBM compatible PC with SVGA, 4 MB of free RAM (8MB is preferred) a dual-speed CD-ROM and operating at 50Mhz or better. These requirements are the same as the Devon Multimedia CD produced by the same company. The opening screen is a map of the county with 21 towns and villages marked. To the left of the map is a menu of options: Sights, Attractions, History, Family Names, Place Names, Maps, Slideshow, Help, Exit and Sound.

The easiest way to get a visual overview of the county is to play the slide show. This takes you through all the slides used within the program itself. As you go through the show there are 21 sound tracks from or about the county. The sound tracks can also be accessed from the opening menu. I have found myself playing the slideshow in the background on my computer while I listen to the music. Brings back lots of memories.

For a specific location you highlight the town or village in which you are interested. You then select Sights, Attractions or History. Sights will provide three visual images of the area, plus a short description. You have the option of then selecting a movie. This is a short segment about the area in a small window in the center of the screen. The commentary that goes with this video is well done. The movie will give you a flavor for the area. If Sound is chosen at this point it will generally be a song about the area.

For example, I highlighted Camborne, where I went to college, what seems like a long time ago now. The name of the town is first is said so you know how the name sounds. Selecting sights gives a short description plus three images (Cornish Engine House, Portreath Beach and Trevithick Day Celebrations). The sound is the song “Going Up Camborne Hill.” The movie selection in the small window is a short piece about the Trevithick Day celebrations held each April.

Selecting the history button provides a picture of the statue of Richard Trevithick and a page about the history of the area. (Sadly, some already out of date for it states that the only remaining mine is at South Crofty, but that has now closed). Selecting other towns moves you around the county giving you some good information about the community and its surrounding area. In the end most of the county is covered.

Family Names brings up six windows: (1) to type in the surname you are research; (2) a scrollable list of the surnames in the database; (3) Original Cornish; (4) Cornish meaning; (5) Related Place names; (6) Areas Found. This is a useful program to help you learn about over 1,000 names specific to the county, where they are located and what they mean.

The place name option is a scrollable list of over 200 communities within the county and its meaning. It will often display a picture as well.

Selecting maps gives you the choice of selecting modern maps of the different regions within the county. If you don’t know where to look there is a find option which will then select you the correct map, and highlight it with a long red line. These are modern tourist maps and are a little cluttered with symbols for caravan and camping sites, tourist attractions, horse riding, monuments, local industry, etc.

Selecting sound from the menu plays the music track of the CD. From this screen there are no controls over which track you are on, nor do you know the name of the piece being played.

The major drawback of the CD is that there is no option to print any of the information, figures or maps in the program.

If you are beginning Cornish research and want a flavor of the county, or planning a trip to Cornwall you will find this CD useful. The music on the CD is very enjoyable.

[Further CD-ROM relating to Devon and Cornwall from this producer will be reviewed in future newsletters]

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.6 no.6, 1999

CD-ROM REVIEW
Devon Multimedia: Movies, Music and Magic from Devon. 1997 produced by Cornwall Business Systems, Albany Road, Redruth, Cornwall, England TR15 2HY. £29.95 each.

This CD is produced by the same company who produced the Cornwall Multimedia CD and has the same computer hardware needs. However this has a later software version and some of the operations have been modified and improved. On this CD 29 towns are selectable on the opening screen. The operation is very similar with sights, attractions and history for each locality. The have been modifications so that under attractions and history you will find more information than on the Cornwall CD. Plus, usefully, the option to print the information has been added.

An introduction button provides a brief overview of the county. The slideshow does this well visually with no text or verbal audio track (music track is an option).

The family names button has been replaced with People providing short mini biographies of some famous Devon natives. The place option is now a longer list giving information about the community and its tourist attractions. A more practical addition for the tourist. Again, both now have the option to print the information on the screen.

As with the Cornwall CD this is a useful CD for those new to Devon wanting to learn more about the county, its history and music. It’s also a useful too for those planning at trip to Devon.

[Further CD-ROM relating to Devon and Cornwall from this producer will be reviewed in future newsletters]

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.6 no.6, 1999

A Directory of Scots in Australasia, 1788-1900 by David Dobson. Published by Willow Bend Books, 65 E. Main St., Westminster MD 21157-5026. 1998. 49, 42, 47 pp. Softcover. $13.50 plus $3 p & h.

This volume was originally published in three parts in Scotland in 1997. This book binds together the original three books but there is no apparent difference between the parts. The book begins with a brief one page introduction to Scottish emigration highlighting that Australasia received very few Scottish convicts, the most prominent of what it did receive were the Scottish Martyrs of 1793-1794. The 1830s saw a steady migrant flow encouraged by groups such as the Highlands and Islands Emigration Society. Gold discoveries in the 1850s increased settlement.

The settlement of New Zealand was a generation or two behind Australia. The majority of the early settlers went under the auspices of the New Zealand Company, but by the 1840s churches were assisting in the organized settlement, examples include the Free Church of Scotland settlers at Otaga and the followers of Reverend Norman McLeod who arrived via Nova Scotia.

The entries about individuals are derived from sources in Great Britain. The content can vary greatly often providing the maiden name for women, a date of birth and death, and place of residence in Australasia.

A typical entry reads:

CLARK, JEMIMA, born 1799, wife of Robert Craig, died in Papanui, Auckland, New Zealand, 6.6.1884 (Biggar g/s) [g/s=gravestone]

Readers need to remember that this is a book created from Scottish sources and is not a complete listing of Scots in the area. For example, Norman McLeod who led his people to New Zealand, via Cape Breton Island who is mentioned in the introduction is not included in the list, even though he died in New Zealand in March 1866.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.7 no.1, 2000

The Burgess Rolls of Banff and Elgin by Frances McDonnell. Published by Willow Bend Books, 65 E. Main St., Westminster MD 21157-5026. 1998. 52 pp. Softcover. $7.50 plus $3 p&h.

This book consists of three lists: Burgess Roll of Elgin, Provosts of Elgin, and the Banff Burgesses 1549-1892. There is no introduction to say what the roll of a burgess was, or who they were. A brief lead in paragraph does state that there are no formal rolls or book of burgesses and that these are primarily lists of honorary burgesses compiled from other sources. They can be useful though as they may give information that would lead the researcher to other sources, especially for those who served in the military and found their way back to Scotland after the War of Independence or service in India. Some entries indicate residence in the West Indies.

Sample entries from the Banff list read:

DUFF, PATRICK, Captain in the Artillery of the East India Company’s Service, Bengal, 1774.
GARDYNE, SAM, Mr, Charlestown, Carolina, 1785.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.7 no.1, 2000

Burke’s Extinct and Dormant Baronetcies of England, Ireland and Scotland, 2nd ed. by John Burke and John Bernard Burke. 1841 reprinted 1999 by Clearfield Company, 200 E. Eager Street, Baltimore MD 21202. 648 pp. Softcover. $47.50 plus $3.50 p&h.

King James I instituted the order of the Baronet in 1611. Between 1611 and the writing of this book in 1841 nearly 1,000 Baronetcies became extinct or dormant. This book presents in alphabetical order of the Baronet information on the family lines up to the time of extinction of the royal patent.

Each listing begins with an image of the armorial bearings, gives the dates of creation and extinction of the royal patent, and then continues with the lineage. The lineage begins with the first known representative and continues through the generations with information on births, marriages and deaths. Additional biographical information is added when known.

This book is great when you know that your ancestors connect with one of the Baronetcies. However, this does not included an index to the 35,000 plus named individuals. Women are often given scant treatment. For example, I connect tangentially through a marriage into the Worsley of Appuldercombe line. It states that James Worsley had four daughters and two sons. The two sons are named with their professional military ranks, but the daughters are not even mentioned by name. It is through one of these daughters I connect with the line.

This book can be a great asset taking you back a number of generations. However, it is likely to be other sources that will lead you to this volume.

Note: This book was originally published in 1841 under the title A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Extinct and Dormant Baronetcies of England, Ireland and Scotland, which is the title used in most library catalogs. This book is available as one of the eleven volumes on the CD-ROM Notable British Families, available from Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore, Maryland.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.7 no.2, 2000

An Index of Scots Immigrants from Galloway who died in England or the West Indies Extracted by Barbara Horbury from the pre-1855 Monumental Inscriptions of the Stewarty of Kirkcudbright researched and edited by Alison Mitchell. Published by The Scottish Genealogical Society, 15 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh EH1 2JL, Scotland. 1998. iii, 43, 43 pp. Softcover. £5 plus £1.25 p&h.

This is an extraction from the 7-volume series of pre-1855 monumental inscriptions for the Stewarty of Kirkcudbright of those who died in England or the West Indies. This index was created to meet the needs of the author. After her research she chose to publish the compilation.

The book is organized in two sections. The first section is a complete alphabetical listing. The second is arranged by cemetery and then by plot number.

The lists are database printouts. For each person they provide surname, forenames, place of death, year of death, place of origin, age, name of the cemetery, plot number and conclude with a notation as to whether more people of the same family died abroad.

For those with deaths in the West Indies the place of death is often very specific. In spite of the title and the author’s notation to the contrary there are deaths in other places mentioned. For example, I found 18-year old Allan Young who died in 1838 in Illinois. There are other deaths in the USA, Central and South America, plus New Zealand.

For locations in England the 3-letter Chapman Codes are used for the county name, followed by the specific locality. Obviously these are not on the monumental inscriptions themselves and some mistakes have been made: Carlisle is in Cumberland not Lancashire, South Shields is in Durham not Northumberland. On this side of the Atlantic New Brunswick has been put into the USA rather than Canada.

For researchers the goal is always to find the place of origin so that you know where to look next. This book fills a need in helping the researcher find a place of origin in Kirkcudbright for those who died elsewhere.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.7 no.2, 2000

Jacobites of Perthshire, 1745 by Frances McDonnell. Published by Clearfield Publishing Co., 200 E. Eager Street, Baltimore MD 21202. 1999 viii, 78 pp. Index. Softcover. $10 Plus $3.50 p&h.

With Bonnie Prince Charlie’s return to Scotland in 1745 the aristocracy of Perthshire rallied to support the House of Stewart. Much of this support centered on the Murrays of Atholl and the Duke of Perth. The bulk of the men from Perthshire who participated in the rebellion were from their two regiments. The Jacobite army fluctuated greatly in numbers depending upon recruitments and desertions. No accurate numbers of the size of the armies at the battles exist. This book gives information about the Jacobites who have been identified from records. These records include Colonial Office papers, State Papers, and Treasury documents all at the Public Record Office, plus Gifts and Deposits in the Scottish Record Office. Some of the records also include details of transportation to the colonies.

The information for each Jacobite can vary from a couple of lines to half a page. A typical entry reads - CAMPBELL, DANIEL, aged 19, 2nd Battalion, Atholl Brigade, transported 31 Mar 1747 from Tilbury to Barbados, in Frere, P.2.90, MR.22. The sources of all entries are given so researchers can examine the original documentation. A key to the documentation is provided in the introduction. A good resource for those seeking ancestors in Perthshire during the mid 1700s.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.7 no.2, 2000

Scottish Seafarers: 1800-1830 by David Dobson. Published by Willow Bend Books, 65 E. Main St., Westminster MD 21157-5026. 1998. 36 pp (unpaginated). Softcover. $6 plus $3 p&h.

This is an alphabetical listing of all mariners for whom an inventory or the confirmation of a testament has been recorded with either a Commissary Court of with a Sheriff Court and now held at the Scottish Record Office.

A typical entry reads:

BOG, THOMAS, skipper in Greenback, cnf [confirmation] 7.2.1805 Glasgow. [SRO.CC9.7.76.97]

The book is limited to this time period because indexes have been published for all Commissary Courts prior to 1800 by the Scottish Record Society. These courts continued in existence until the 1823 Commissary Courts Act when jurisdiction was transferred to the Sherrifs Courts. This took effect in 1824, except in Edinburgh which maintained its Commissary Court until 1830. After 1800 the records are in manuscript form and Mr. Dobson has searched these records to provide us with this index.

This is a useful index for those looking for records of Scottish seaman.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.7 no.2, 2000

CD-ROM REVIEW
Cornish Roots: First Edition 1998 produced by Cornwall Business Systems, Albany Road, Redruth, Cornwall, England TR15 2HY. 1996. £29.95 plus £2 p&h.

The opening screen on this CD-ROM is a map of the county with two columns of buttons below. The program immediately starts into a photographic slide show with dots on the map moving from place to place to indicate its location. The Chacewater Carnon Male Voice Choir provides background music for the show.

The buttons below the map, arranged in two columns, include census, gazetteer, emigrants, places, maps, famous people, introduction, slide show, family names, place names and subscribers.

The introduction was worth listening to as it clearly describes the capabilities and limitations of the program.

Location Features

There are a variety of features dealing with locations on this disc. These include a 15,000 place gazetteer, modern road maps of the county, information and photographs of a variety of places within the county. One useful feature of the gazetteer is that it provides the Ordnance Survey Gazetteer grid reference so that the place can readily be located on the LandRanger (1:50,000) or the Pathfinder (1:25,000) maps of the area. Unfortunately, it does not tell you on which of the LandRanger or Pathfinder maps it is to be found.

The place-name section lists over 200 places with their meaning in English. The Family Names section is a database of over a 1,000 names providing their original Cornish spelling, the Cornish meaning, areas where the name is found and whether the name is related to a particular place.

1851 Census information

The 1851 census provides information on 356,641 people, approximately one-fifth of the population of Cornwall at the time. Ray Woodbine of Tywadreath has extracted all of the registration districts of Bodmin, Liskeard, St Columb and the Fowey Sub-District of St Austell. For each person the entries provide the name, occupation, address, name of spouse, relationship to head of household, birthplace, age and the piece, schedule and folio number so that you can examine the original record. Since this is a transcription by an individual you should certainly check the originals for possible errors and additional information.

To search for your ancestors you can scroll through the surnames or enter the surname to search for. This is the only section of this database indexed. By selecting the Reports section you can do more complex searches. For example all the Henry’s, with surnames beginning with Chap, over the age of 30. This will search the complete database and display a table of results. You can select each choice in turn for further information. This is a very useful database if your ancestors are within the geographic territory covered by these districts.

Emigrants Database.

This is a database of 31,351 people, who immigrated to the USA between 1825 and 1916, and was created by the Cornish-American Connection in Redruth. The information is drawn from a wide range of primary and secondary sources.

You can search on a surname using a scroll bar or from the report screen you can make more complex searches, similar to the census search. The information provided can vary, but can be very informative. For example, Stephen Chenhalls was born 21 June 1824 in St. Agnes, Cornwall and immigrated 14 April 1842 from St. Agnes to Iowa County, Wisconsin via Padstow and Buffalo NY. He married Jane Truran in 1850, in Lafayette County, Wisconsin. He moved in 1878 to Ireton, Iowa where he died 21 January 1903. The sources given include obituaries in the Iowa County Democrat and Wisconsin Declarations of Intent. This is very useful information, providing lots of clues, if this is your ancestor. More often the information is not as complete but still provides good clues for places of origin in Cornwall.

One limitation of the database is that there is a one way linkage between married couples. The men know who their wives are, but the women do not show connections to their husbands.

There is no option to print any of the information, figures or maps in the program.

This is a good tool for researchers in Illinois and Wisconsin because of the high number of Cornish who came to this area. This may provide the clue you need to find the place of origin in Cornwall.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.7 no.2, 2000

Tracing Your Irish Ancestors: The Complete Guide, 2nd edition by John Grenham. Published by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 North Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. 1999. xxii, 374 pp. Illustrations, maps. Softcover. $19.95 plus $3.50 p&h.

The book meets its stated aim "to provide a comprehensive guide for anyone wishing to trace their Irish ancestors". The book recognizes that the needs of the individual researcher can vary greatly and thus structures the book in three parts. Part one presents the basic sources of civil records, census records, church records and land records. Part two deals with sources having a narrower application, including wills, records at the Genealogical Office, emigration, the Registry of Deeds, newspapers and directories. Part three, the largest is a guide to occupations, source lists arranged by county and Roman Catholic records.

The first two sections provide detailed descriptions of what the records are, their contents and practical advice on how to use them. For example, in describing the 1901 census it shows how to use this to eliminate multiple options found earlier in civil registration for a person who emigrated to the US in 1897. These sections are current; for example it includes details of the 1997 CD-ROM index to Griffiths Primary Valuation, thankfully acknowledging both its strengths and weaknesses.

Section three is where the content of the book has increased greatly. This section begins with a reference guide of published and unpublished sources for occupational research. It is good to know sources exists but the bibliographic citations are not consistent, often omitting the copyright date and the publisher’s name, but it does give the National Library of Ireland call number. This is followed by a 110-page listing for each county of: census returns and substitutes; local history; local journals; directories; gravestone inscriptions and estate records. The major addition to this volume is 141-page listing, with maps of copies of Roman Catholic parish registers, microfilm and database transcripts to be found in 1998 in the National Library of Ireland, the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, the LDS Family History Library, the local heritage centres and those that have been published. The tabular format, arranged by county, shows the dates (with gaps) for each of the baptismal, marriage and burial registers. No effort was made to find out what remained in local custody.

In the revision the following were excluded: the 822 item listing of manuscripts in the Genealogical Office, the 28-page listing of published family histories, and the 20-page listing of Church of Ireland parish registers in Dublin repositories. The Genealogical Office material is now available in The Genealogical Office (Irish Manuscripts Commission, Dublin, 1998) and the Church of Ireland records are listed in Noel Reid’s A Table of Church of Ireland Parochial Records (IHFS, 1994).

This book is physically larger, has a smaller typeface and is 91-pages longer than the 1992 first edition. It has been extensively revised and updated, with lots of new resource material so is highly recommended for anyone doing Irish research. Yet, because of the material omitted in this revised volume the first edition should be kept on hand.

Note: This book is now in its third edition (2006).

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.7 no.3, 2000

Richard Griffith and His Valuations of Ireland by James R. Reilly. Published by Clearfield Company, 200 East Eager Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. 2000. viii, 108 pp. Illustrations, maps. $21.95 plus $3.50 p&h.

This is a fabulous tool for Irish researchers. Mr. Reilly puts a commonly used but underutilized research tool into its correct historical context. In this process he shows that there is much more to Griffith’s Valuation than first meets the eye. There are in fact three valuations: The Townland Valuation Act of 1826; The Tenement Valuation Act of 1846; and the Tenement Valuation Act of 1852. The history, creation, content and practical value of the records created by each Act are well presented and illustrated.

After putting the records into their historical context Mr. Reilly explains how to analyze the valuation records to reveal usable genealogical information. Information relating to the economic condition of an ancestor, and perhaps, siblings, relatives and in-laws. How to learn about possible occupations, family relationships, how agnomens are used and how to interpret the absence of an ancestors name. Plus how to use information about the neighbors and land owners to lead to other genealogical records.

The book contains a number of appendices including: glossary of terms; list of published Ordnance Survey Memoirs; list of Valuation Field Books that contain names of occupiers; listing with definitions of administrative divisions; publication dates for the different valuations. The book concludes with a comprehensive inventory of Griffith’s General Valuation arranged by county and poor law union showing the date of printing, the LDS film number and then a listing of depositories that have specific volumes.

Griffith’s General Valuation is a resource used by beginning and experienced researchers, often without the understanding needed to properly utilize or interpret. Mr. Reilly has given us a guide to more effectively use this record. This book should be in every Irish research collection and should be read by everyone using Griffith’s Valuations.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.7 no.3, 2000

General Alphabetical Index to the Townlands and Towns, Parishes and Baronies of Ireland: Based on the Census of Ireland for the year 1851 originally published 1861, reprinted 2000 by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD 21202. 968 pp. Hardcover. $50 plus $3.50 p&h.

This book provides an alphabetical list of every Townland, Town and Island mentioned in the 1851 census for Ireland. The townlands are printed in Roman characters, the towns in small capitals, and the Islands which are not townlands in italics. There are over 70,000 entries and for each it provides: the number of the Ordnance Survey Sheet on which the place is located; the name of the locality; its area in acres, rods and perches; the names of the county, barony, parish and poor law union as of 1857. Then it gives the volume and page number from the 1851 census - Oh! that the census still survived. Notes are added for the area of water within the township.

The book concludes with two additional indexes. An index to all parishes, listing area, county, barony and poor law union. This is followed by an index to baronies providing area, county and poor law union.

So often locating a particular place in Ireland can be difficult. This is one of those reference tools that should be used frequently by any Irish researcher. It is one tool that enables you to confirm whether you have the correct townland or parish, and to check if there are other options by the same name. It is good to see this resource back in print.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.7 no.3, 2000

CD-ROM REVIEW
Gazetteer of Cornwall 1884 produced by Cornwall Business Systems, Albany Road, Redruth, Cornwall, England TR15 2HY. 1996. £29.95 plus £2 p&h.

This program requires an Internet browser to examine the index on the CD-ROM. The opening index screen provides search instructions and access to further linked index files which include: Contents page; Places; Mining Terms; Mines; Literary Celebrities; Remarkable Characters; Geology; Subscribers and Advertisements.

The content of this CD-ROM is very useful and hard to find. I am a graduate of the Camborne School of Mines in Cornwall but I still found mining terms in this book that I did not know (or had forgotten). Plus the details given on the hundreds of mines mentioned will be of great value to anyone seeking mining ancestors.

The indexing on the CD-ROM is minimal, not indexing every place or person but rather the first place or name on the page. You then read the page to find the place or person you are seeking.

The scanned image was relatively easy to read on the screen. However, the print image left something to be desired. On a HP LaserJet printer the image was barely readable even printing at high resolution. On a color inkjet printer the background of the paper had a definite yellow tone to it, but was a little easier to read. This is not the quality to of scanned book images we have gotten used to through Family Tree Maker CD-ROM and I suspect that is due to a lower scanning resolution to make the size of the image files smaller.

Yes, the CD-ROM makes the resource easily accessible because the paper version of this gazetteer is now expensive and hard to find, especially in North America. However its usefulness could have been increased markedly with a little bit of extra effort on the indexing and the printing capabilities.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.7 no.3, 2000

CD-ROM REVIEW
Kelly’s Directory of Cornwall 1883 produced by Cornwall Business Systems, Albany Road, Redruth, Cornwall, England TR15 2HY. 1996. £29.95 plus £2 p&h.

This program requires an Internet browser to examine the index on the CD-ROM. This provides you access to five sections: Introduction to Cornwall Index; Parish Index; Court index; Trades Index; and parish map of Cornwall.

The design, operation and construction of this CD-ROM is similar to the Gazetteer of Cornwall 1884 by the same publisher. This means that the index is limited to the first item on each page, meaning you have to read the directory to find the person you are looking for. Plus the printing function has the same limitations.

Again, the CD-ROM makes a scarce, expensive resource available but more effort on the indexing and the scanning to improve print capabilities would have made this even more valuable.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.7 no.3, 2000

Genealogical Research in England’s Public Records Office: A Guide for North Americans, 2nd Edition by Judith Prowse Reid and Simon Fowler. Published by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 North Calvert Street, Baltimore MD 21202. 2000. xiv, 167 pp. Illustrations, index. $22.50 plus $3.50 p&h.

The Public record Office in Kew, outside of London is one of the richest genealogical repositories in the world, equivalent in many ways to the U.S. National Archives. Ms. Reid provides a book designed for North Americans in when, why and how to use the PRO.

After addressing these basic questions she continues by examining emigration and immigration records as they specifically relate to North America and the West Indies. This covers correspondence, registers, passports, port books, passenger lists, land grants, convicts, bonded emigrants, loyalist claims, naturalization, denization, aliens and Palatines. This is followed by other records in the PRO that may be used by researchers as they progress into English and Welsh records. These include censuses, nonconformist church records, vital records, probates, letters of administration, military records, taxation, association oath rolls, maps, parliamentary papers and court records.

What makes this book so valuable is that it references the many printed guides and indexes available in this country that provide access to so many of these complicated and often very large record groups. The text notes when the records, indexes or guides are available in the Family History Library.

This is the second edition and it begs the question what has changed. The bulk of the content and approach within the text remains the same. However, much has been updated with the closure of the PRO at Chancery Lane and the movement of many of these records, along with the indexes from St. Catherine’s to the Family Records Center. The PRO has been revising many of it research outlines and these are reclassified, updated and available online. The addition of new record groups to the PRO, new resources and indexes are included.

For example, scattered throughout the text are mention of new resources such as the recent transfer to the PRO of the Board of Trade records BT334 Registers and Indexes of Births, Marriages and Deaths of Passengers and Seamen at Sea and these are available through the Family History Library (p.72). There is also a new index to the soldiers receiving pensions found in WO97 Royal Hospital Chelsea Soldiers’ Documents, 1760 to 1913 which will be added to the PRO’s web site in the near future (p. 79).

The book concludes with a number of appendices. One, is an updated list of the names, addresses, phone numbers and guides to the county record offices. It is good but not complete for I noticed the absence of the Cumbria Record Office in Whitehaven. For the major archives and libraries in North America and the British Isles it lists the above information but adds the web addresses, even though many of the county record office now have their own web sites. The book concludes with a complete bibliography of all published references mentioned in the text.

This book is a must for anyone doing colonial research that is attempting to cross the Atlantic. If you haven’t got a copy get one. If you have the first edition and you refer to it frequently then do get the 2nd edition as it will bring you up to date on new resources and additions.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.7 no.4, 2000

Colonists in Bondage: White Servitude and Convict Labor in America 1607-1776 by Abbot Emerson Smith. 1947, reprinted 2000 by Clearfield Company, 200 E. Eager Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. viii, 435 pp. Index. Softcover. $35 plus $3.50 p&h.

This is historical account of indentured servitude and convict labor in the American colonies. It is valuable reading for those with British Isles or German ancestry.

The book is divided into three sections. The first discusses the trade in and need for servants. It highlights the differences between the older indentured servitude and the 18th century redemptionist system.

The section focuses on the transportation of rogues, vagabonds and criminals noting the differences. It also highlights the way convict transportation changed especially before and after 1718. Lots of examples are given throughout the book but I found two chapters in this section particularly helpful. One chapter deals with the transportation of English, Scottish and Irish political and military prisoners under the Commonwealth and Protectorate. Another chapter deals with the period after 1660 and the shipping of Quakers, Scottish Covenanters, Monmouth Rebels, Scottish Rebels of 1715 and 1745.

The last section addresses the life of the servant or convict. It begins with the journey to and arrival in America or the West Indies. It discusses what the local customs were and how they changed over time, plus what the conditions were that these people lived under and what they had to do for their freedom.

The book has an excellent appendix giving reported and estimated figures, fully referenced, for servants and convicts in the different American Colonies and the West Indies. The book concludes with a good bibliography of relevant laws, primary and secondary resources arranged by colony making further research easy.

This is one of those books that should be read by all with colonial ancestry who came as a servant or convict (and there are many) to be able to put their ancestor into the correct context.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.7 no.4, 2000

The Original Scots Colonists of Early America: Caribbean Supplement 1611-1707 by David Dobson. Published by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. 1999. x, 149 pp. $20 plus $3.50 p&h.

This book was fascinating to read after Smith’s book Colonists in Bondage: White Servitude and Convict Labor in America 1607-1776. Smith talked about the process and the big picture of getting servants and convicts into the American Colonies and the West Indies. Dobson’s book gets specific with details about the individual Scots in the Caribbean who have been identified in the records.

This volume supplements Dobson’s earlier volume Original Scots Colonists of Early America, 1612-1783, focusing on the time period 1611-1707. The Act of Union occurred between England and Scotland in 1707 lifting the restrictions of trade between Scotland and the colonies. The result was a marked increase in trade and emigration to the Caribbean. This volume contains both primary and secondary material from U.K. and U.S. sources. All entries are fully referenced. A typical entry reads:

GLASGOW, JOHN a Covenanter from Cavers, Roxburghshire, captured after the Battle of Bothwell Bridge 22 June 1679, transported from Leith to the West Indies on the Crown of London, master Thomas Teddico, 27 November 1679, shipwrecked off Muil Head of Deerness, Orkney, 10 December 1679, later transported to Jamaica. [CEC#212/5] [SW#203][RBM]

John was one of the lucky ones as many are listed who drowned in this shipwreck.

This book is a valuable tool to assist in documenting Scottish individuals who during the 17th century went to the Caribbean. Many of their descendants ended up in the U.S., e.g. Theodore Roosevelt and Alexander Hamilton.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.7 no.4, 2000

CD-ROM REVIEW
Family Tree Maker’s Genealogical Records: Loyalists in the American Revolution (CD-ROM; Family Archive #144) $29.99 plus $3.50 p&h. Order from Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202-3897.

Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the British Crown. They are estimated to make up one-third of colonial America’s population. This disc contains scanned images with a consolidated index of thirteen volumes. Accumulatively the records and narratives refer to over 87,000 loyalists in the U.S. and Canada. The majority of the records refer to loyalists in the Southern and Mid-Atlantic colonies where the cause was the strongest (Georgia, the Carolinas, New York, and Pennsylvania). However, it includes loyalists from Florida, Great Britain, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Mississippi, New Brunswick, New Jersey, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Virginia.

The volumes included here are: Loyalists and Land Settlement in Nova Scotia (by Marion Gilroy); Loyalists in North Carolina During the Revolution (by Robert DeMond); Loyalists in the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War (3 Volumes) (by Murtie June Clark); Biographical Sketches of Loyalists of the American Revolution (2 Volumes) (by Lorenzo Sabine); The Loyalists of Massachusetts, Their Memorials, Petitions and Claims (by E. Alfred Jones); Orderly Book of the “Maryland Loyalists Regiment,” June 18, 1778, to October 12, 1778, Including General Orders Issued by Sir Henry Clinton, Baron Wilhelm von Kuyphausen, Sir William Erskine, Charles, Lord Cornwallis, General William Tryon and General Oliver De Lancey (kept by Captain Caleb Jones; edited by Paul Leicester Ford); Orderly Book of the Three Battalions of Loyalists Commanded by Brigadier-General Oliver De Lancey, 1776-1778, To Which is Appended a List of New York Loyalists in the City of New York During the War of the Revolution (by William Kelby); United Empire Loyalists: Enquiry into the Losses and Services in Consequence of Their Loyalty; Evidence in Canadian Claims; Second Report of the Bureau of Archives for the Province of Ontario (2 Volumes) (by Alexander Fraser); The Old United Empire Loyalists List.

Note: The names of the authors of the original volumes have been added by the BIGWILL webmaster.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.7 no.4, 2000

CD-ROM REVIEW
Family Tree Maker’s Genealogical Records: Ontario and Nova Scotia Settlers, 1790-1860 (CD-ROM; Family Archive #274) $29.99 plus $3.50 p&h. Order from Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore MD, 21202.

This CD-ROM contains scanned images of six books dealing with the early settlers of Nova Scotia and Ontario including American colonists (particularly Loyalists) along with English, Scottish, and Irish immigrants. The volumes contain historical essays on the settlement of Nova Scotia and Ontario, Loyalist lists, population returns, and immigration records.

The publications included are: Nova Scotia Immigrants to 1867, Volumes I and II by Leonard H. Smith; Loyalists And Land Settlement In Nova Scotia by Marion Gilroy; Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Genealogies Transcribed From The Yarmouth Herald by George S. Brown; Early Ontario Settlers by Norman K. Crowder; Ontario People: 1796-1803 by E. Keith Fitzgerald The loyalist records included here form a good complement to the loyalist records on CD#144, Loyalists in the American Revolution.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.7 no.4, 2000

American Migrations, 1765-1799. The lives, times and families of colonial Americans who remained loyal to the British Crown before, during and after the Revolutionary War, as related in their own words and through their correspondence. by Peter Wilson Coldham. Published by Genealogical Publishing Co., 1001 N. Calvert St., Baltimore MD 21202. 2000. xiii, 931 pp. Bibliography, index. Hardcover. $75 plus $3.50 p&h.

Between 1765 and 1783 many loyalists left mainland America for Canada, Britain, the West Indies and elsewhere. In 1783 a British Act of Parliament created a formal scheme for the relief of starving and penury loyalists and to examine their claims. The Commissioners offices were set up in London, followed by commissioners going to Halifax, Shelburne, St. John, Quebec City and Montreal to hear claims. The resultant claims records are in Audit Office 12 and 13, plus Treasury records T39 all now at the Public Record Office in Kew.

All 6,255 claims have been abstracted. Each biographical entry shows the name of the claimant as spelled in the original document, with spelling variations, and his or her place of residence before the outbreak of the Revolution. In the book the abstracts are arranged alphabetically by state. This is to facilitate the tying together of particular families. There are sections for the thirteen original colonies plus East and West Florida, Canada and the West Indies.

The abstracts themselves are very detailed showing memorials and claims, often listing military service, and naming lots of individuals. Full source citations are given for all claims.

There is an everyname index with approximately 15,000 names mentioned within the claims. There is also a list of ships used for the transportation of loyalists with date and place of sailing from and to. A useful bibliography emphasizing the general history of American Loyalists is also provided.

This is a valuable resource abstracting a large amount of data from an important group of records for those seeking Loyalists. This volume supersedes earlier works by Coldham and others.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.7 no.5, 2000

Scots in Georgia and the Deep South, 1735-1845 by David Dobson. Published by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 N. Calvert St., Baltimore MD 21202. 2000. vi, 218 pp. Hardcover. $25 plus $3.50 p&h.

Scottish immigration to Georgia began in the 1730s after the founding of the colony in 1732. The Scottish Lowlanders came for economic reasons as farmers and later as merchants. The Scottish Highlanders were recruited for strategic purposes to guard the southern frontier from Spanish incursions. The end of the French and Indian Wars in 1763 saw the withdrawal of the Spanish from Florida and the French from the settlements east of the Mississippi. This led to an influx of settlers, including the Scots into the South. Many of these Loyalists left when Florida was returned to the Spanish after the Revolutionary War.

Research for this book was carried out in Scotland, England and the United States with an emphasis on primary sources. These include probate records, court records, family papers, contemporary newspapers and journals, naturalization papers, church registers, gravestone inscriptions, government documents and census returns.

The details given are varied but two examples will highlight the value of these extractions.

BULLOCH, ANN GRAHAM, widow of James Bulloch, in Mulberry Grove, Georgia, sister Elizabeth - widow of James Jackson vintner in Inverness, nephews John and Thomas, sons of Reverend Thomas Chisholm in Kilmorack, executors John Stuart, Superintendent of Indian Affairs in South Carolina, and cousin George Cuthbert, witnesses Christopher Dawson, a planter, and Mary, wife of George Cuthbert of Drakies, Georgia. Pro 26 June 1764 Georgia.
CAMERON, DONALD, soldier of the Black Watch, imprisoned in the Tower of London on a charge of mutiny, transferred to Oglethorpe’s Regiment in Georgia in 1743 [GHS, Cate Colln. 45/3172]

Unfortunately, the value of this excellent list is limited by the absence of an everyname index. This means individuals mentioned within citations are not cross-referenced. In the above examples there are no entries for the Chisholms, Christopher Dawson or Mary Cuthbert.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.7 no.5, 2000

Visitation of Ireland edited by Frederick Arthur Crisp and Joseph Jackson Howard. Published by Clearfield Company, 200 East Eager Street, Baltimore MD 21202. Six volumes originally published between 1897-1918 now reprinted in one volume 2000. 1,875 pp. Softcover. $75 plus $3.50 p&h.

This is a collection of 160 detailed pedigrees of many prominent families in Ireland during the late 19th century. The format is one of dropline ancestral charts with lots of details for the late 19th century. Many of the lines are extended back into the 18th century and some into the 17th century but the source of this information is not provided. Many of the families included are illustrated with a coat of arms, copies of seals and some signatures.

There is no introduction to the volumes or any explanation of how the pedigrees were gathered or created. Each volume has a table of contents listing the families listed, but many of these are for the title of the family, not by the family name. Each of the six volumes contains its own index, and after volume 1 there are addendums and corrections at the end of the subsequent volumes. That means a thorough search in this compilation requires searching in 11 sections of the book. The lack of a consolidated index and introduction is a major omission in the re-publication of this series.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.7 no.5, 2000

The Scotch-Irish in Northern Ireland and the American Colonies by Maude Glasgow. 1936 reprinted 1998 by Heritage Books, 1540-E Pointer Ridge Pl., Bowie MD 20716. xxi, 345 pp. Index. Softcover. $27.50 plus $4 p&h.

This book provides a fascinating look at Scotch Irish history in Ireland and North America. It is divided up into nine chapters: Irish history to the time of James I; the plantation and the Irish St. Bartholomew; continued persecution of dissenters and the Siege of Londonderry; Oakboys, Steelboys, Defenders and Orangemen; emigration to America; religious war; the union and home rule; Scotch-Irish in America and the Revolutionary War; the Scotch-Irish in America - many eminent names.

The way to access material in this book is through the table of contents. There is a brief outline followed by a more detailed description of the chapter contents and order. The index highlights only the major people and places, even then only mentioning the main sections where they occur. There are many people mentioned in the text that are not included in the index or table of contents. This is a major shortcoming for a reader looking for information concerning an individual.

The book provides a good historical overview of the turbulent times for the Scots (and English) in Ireland highlighting the different time periods when the Presbyterians were persecuted and the Catholics were tolerated or accepted. The explanations and chronologies for the subsequent migrations to North America are provided. There are many important men named with their exploits or creations in the last chapter but they are not in alphabetical order and not indexed.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.7 no.5, 2000

CD-ROM REVIEW
Heritage Books Archives: English Parish Records, Volume 1 Published by Heritage Books, 1540-E Pointer Ridge Pl., Bowie MD 20716. 2000. $31

This CD-ROM contains electronic image reprints in .pdf format of the following six publications:

The Parish Registers of St. Antholin, Budge Row, London, containing the Marriages, Baptisms, and Burials from 1538 to 1754; and of St. John Baptist on Wallbrook, London, containing the Baptisms and Burials from 1682 to 1754 - Joseph Lemuel Chester, D.C.L., LL.D. & Geo. J. Armytage, F.S.A. (1883). A transcription of the records chronologically arranged with an index to people and places.

Index to the First Volume of the Parish Registers of Gainford in the County of Durham (England): Part I, Baptisms 1560-1784; Part II, Marriages 1569-1761; Part III, Burials 1569-1784 - Elliot Stock (1889-90). Transcriptions of the records alphabetically arranged.

Little Saxham Parish Registers: Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, with Appendices, Biographies, etc., 1559-1850 - S.H.A.H. (1901). Contains the vital statistics, inscriptions from within the church and churchyard; tax lists 1327-1670, and genealogies of the Lucas & Croft(s) families.

West Stow Parish Registers, 1558-1850 and Wordwell Parish Registers, 1580-1850 with Sundry Notes - S.H.A.H (1903). Covers baptisms, marriages, and burials, supplemented by inscriptions from memorial plaques and gravestones. Among the "sundry" items are studies of prominent families, parish histories, etc.

The Publications of the Thoresby Society, Vol. 1, Leeds Parish Church Registers, First and Second Books (1571-1612) - The Thoresby Society (1891). The baptisms, marriages, and burials recorded in the first two books transcribed in chronological order and indexed.

T. Bulmer & Co.’s History, Topography, and Directory of Lancaster & District - J. Bulmer (c1912). A brief history of Lancaster, with descriptions of each parish and township within sixteen miles. Gives the names, occupations, and addresses of all residents; also identifies tradesmen, businesses, and local officials.

This is an eclectic mixture of books with one for each of the counties of London, Durham Yorkshire and Lancashire and two volumes for Suffolk. The titles hint at the contents and typically provide transcriptions of the christening, marriage and burial registers. However, they may contain a lot more. For example, the West Stow book includes in the miscellaneous records section transcriptions of the Lay Subsidies, Hearth Taxes, wills, Inquisitio Post Mortem, lists of lost tombstones, and family histories of the Lucas, Croft, Proger, Fowke, and Edwards families, plus much more information about the parish. The value of this book is increased with the addition of the book of parish records for Little Saxham which is only 4 miles away.

The .pdf file format enables the files to be read by Adobe Acrobat on both IBM compatibles and MAC computers. The CD comes with Adobe Acrobat 3.01. I had version 4.0 already on my computer and had no problems reading the files. The pages of the books are read sequentially like the original book, but bookmarks enable you to skip from one volume or section to another. Searches are made using the original tables of contents and indexes. No modern electronic indexes are provided.

This CD is valuable because it makes these old and rare publications easily accessible to the modern researcher. However, gathering a collection of publications from the same region or county of England would make subsequent volumes of even greater value to the modern researcher.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.7 no.5, 2000

Annals and Antiquities of the Counties and County Families of Wales by Thomas Nicholas. Published by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. 1875, reissued 2000. 2 volumes. 964 pp. Illustrations, index. Hardcover. $75

The subtitle of these volumes state that they contain "A record of all Ranks of the Gentry, their lineage, alliances, appointments, armorial ensigns and residences; ancient pedigrees and memorials of old and extinct families; notices of the history, antiquities, physical features, chief estates, geology, and industry of each county; rolls of high sheriffs and members of parliament for three hundred years, etc."

For Welsh researchers working with the landed classes this is an excellent resource. The book is arranged by county and provides a good description of the county as laid out in the subtitle.

For the extinct families the information provided can be brief and in some case no time periods or dates are indicated. The living families, in a different section of the chapter, are full of details and form almost a nineteenth century visitation. This is where the value is for the genealogist. The information provided was gathered personally by the author visiting each family within the county. He was given access to many family records. The book has the anticipated titled families, but also includes clergymen, army and navy officers, barristers, justices of the peace, etc.

The book is indexed by the names of the main family entries only, therefore other family names, or families of the wives are not included in the index. You almost have to know the major family connections before being able to access the lineages. However, if the county in Wales is known then the number of lineages to read is reduced.

This is an excellent resource for Americans of Welsh descent, especially for those with connections to the upper classes of society.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.7 no.6, 2000

American Data from the Records of the High Court of the Admiralty of Scotland, 1675-1800 by David Dobson. Published by Clearfield 200 East Eager Street, Baltimore MD 21202. 2000. 154 pp. Softcover. $16.50 plus $3.50 p&h.

The Admiralty Court of Scotland was responsible for civil, criminal and prize jurisdiction of the Lord High Admiral of Scotland. He was the King’s lieutenant and justice upon the seas. This work is important in that it identifies the Scottish merchants and mariners who were trading with Colonial America, along with the Scottish factors and their servants who were often the leaders for following settlements. This book indicates many trade routes and places of settlement ranging from Newfoundland to the Gulf of Guinea, and from the Baltic Sea to Barbados.

These abstracts have been taken primarily from the court’s Register of Decrees. All have some bearing on America and include cases dealing with pirates, privateers, colonial merchants, emigrants, slavers and seafarers.

Following is one example to illustrate the type of information to be found in the entries:

AC9/1297      1734 Hugh Vanns, merchant in Boston, New England, and his factor John Stark provost of Glasgow, v. Captain Archibald Yuille, merchant in Port Glasgow. For payment of a bill of bottomry on his ship the Brisbane, granted at Boston by her master James Hamilton, shipmaster of Port Glasgow.

Many of the entries are longer and hint at some fascinating stories worthy of further investigation.

The book has indexes for names, places and ships making almost anything easy to find. This is a useful set of court abstracts for Americans looking for Scottish connections.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.7 no.6, 2000

The British Heritage: A Treasury of Historic Documents† edited by Elizabeth Hallam & Andrew Prescott. Published by University of California Press, 2120 Berkeley Way, Berkeley CA 94720. 1999. 150 pp. Color Illustrations, index. Hardcover. $39.95.

As researchers we know how rich the British Isles with documents. This publication presents color photographs of original documents, photographs and artifacts from the collections of the Public Record Office, British Library, National Library of Scotland, Scottish Record Office, and the National Library of Wales. These major documents presented in chronological order come from the time of King Arthur, Alfred the Great, William the Conqueror through the rise and fall of the British Empire, to the swinging England of the 1960’s and the multicultural aspects of modern Britain.

You see copies of the major documents that you would expect (but may never have seen) like the Domesday Book, the Magna Carta, Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, Act of Supremacy (making Henry VIII head of the Church of England), Articles of Union of 1707, instrument of Abdication for Edward VIII, signature of Elizabeth R on the Coronation Oath Roll.

But you also documents such as an autographed copy of Handel’s Messiah, a plan of the battle of Prestonpans, copy of Rule Britannia, a plan of Boston harbor at the time of the revolution, copy of the log book from Nelson’s flagship the Victory, ship’s passenger list from the Titanic, and nineteenth century English sports posters.

This visually appealing book is a delight to read. It provides a chronological overview of history in the text, but the many beautiful illustrations and their captions provide the details. Needless to say all documents are fully cited. This is a good book that you can easily pick up to read as time allows with any one topic being covered in one or two pages.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.8 no.1, 2001

Irish Pedigrees: The Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation†, 5th Ed. by John O’Hart. 1892. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore MD 21202. 1999. 2 vols. xxxii, 896; xxiii, 948 pp. Indexes. $150 plus $4.75 p. & h.

This is a mammoth collection for Irish genealogy. The first volume explores “the origin and stem of the Irish nation” meaning that it references the families that branched from the ancient stem of Milesius as well as the families rooted in the Celtic dawn. There are many lines stemming from the Rolls of the Monarchs of Ireland dating from 1699 B.C. down to 1166 A.D. when the English migrations under King Henry II began. The value of these lists is questionable when one of the lists goes back to Adam. Many of the lists are just names, with no dates. The first volume concludes with chapters on the “English Invasion“ under King Henry II and the “Cromwellian Devastation.“

The second volume focuses on the Anglo-Irish lines from the Cromwellian settlement with some of the lines coming down into the nineteenth century. Many of these lines are also extended to show American connections. This is supplemented with lists and information on people involved in the Ulster Plantation, the Huguenots and Palatines. The book concludes with 256 pages of appendices. Among these are lists of Irish officers in the American Civil War, the “Wild Geese,” and the armies of Spain, the Netherlands, and France.

These volumes are great for lists of names for those with early Irish connections. They may provide the researcher with clues of where to look and connections that might be made. This is especially true for those with connections to the Anglo-Irish landed families.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.8 no.1, 2001

Militia Lists and Musters: 1757-1876: A Directory of Holdings in the British Isles, Fourth Edition† by Jeremy Gibson and Mervyn Medlycott. Published by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore MD 21202. 2001. 48 pp. Softcover. $8.50 plus $1.50 p. & h.

This directory begins with an excellent summary article describing the different types of militia lists that exist and which you should be seeking out in your research.

Laws required that militiamen be recruited from each parish. This process required the creation of lists of able-bodied men between 1757 and 1831 creating many community censuses. Then there is the Posse Comitatus of 1798 and the Levee en Masse of 1803-4, along with numerous muster rolls that you need to search. Many of the Militia regiments were raised on a county basis but may have served elsewhere in the British Isles (they could not serve overseas).

This book is a county-by-county listing of what lists exist and where. These include published lists, transcriptions, indexes and original records. They are arranged by depository within each county. Sections for Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Isle of Man and Channel Islands are included.

Comparing this edition with the 1990 second edition shows a smaller type face, with good use of bolding and boxes which make the entries easier to read. Sample comparisons show entries for some counties to be the same (Northumberland) but there are extensive revisions for other counties (Hertfordshire). Only comparison will tell for your county. This is a must have guide book for anyone searching for able bodied men in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.8 no.2, 2001

Specialist Indexes For Family Historians, Second Edition† by Jeremy Gibson and Elizabeth Hampson. Published by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore MD 21202. 2001. 72 pp. Softcover. $8.50 plus $1.50 p. & h.

This index used to be part of Guide to Marriage Indexes and Census Indexes and included Specialist Indexes. Due to the proliferation of other indexes the specialist indexes have been separated. Even so this is a 72 page booklet of fine print.

The booklet has sections for each county in England and Wales. This is followed by lists for Scotland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, and Ireland. Then it moves on to specialized Great Britain indexes for migration, armed services, occupations, religious denominations, miscellaneous and recommended web sites.

For each county there are lists of indexes held by the county record offices, local studies libraries, county libraries and local museums. These are then followed by specialist indexes. These indexes may be available for search or purchase. Looking at Northumberland as an example the specialist indexes include monumental inscriptions, burials, pipers, Jacobites, participants in 1761 Hexham riots, militia musters 1781-2, and north of England mining accident victims 1858-1899. There are lots of indexes here but the only way to find out what will help you is to look.

The indexes at the end of the book are particularly useful for those with military connections or those looking for occupational resources. For example, under occupations there are lists for: brassworkers, brickmakers, brushmakers, coastguards, combmakers, divers, customs officers, entertainers, gamekeepers, glassmakers, lacemakers, gunmakers, lawyers, proctors, papermakers, perukemakers, shoemakers, stonemasons, and more. There is even an index to books and periodicals for 250 different occupational headings.

There is a lot to search for in this book. It’s well worth the purchase for those actively searching in the British Isles.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.8 no.2, 2001

Marriage and Census Indexes for Family Historians, Eighth Edition† by Jeremy Gibson and Elizabeth Hampson. Published by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore MD 21202. 2001. 22 pp. Softcover. $7.50 plus $1.50 p. & h.

This booklet has grown enough that the specialized indexes were spun off into their own publication. The organization is similar to others in the series with listings for each county in England and Wales, followed by sections for Scotland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Ireland and Regiments.

For each county it lists the marriage indexes first followed by the census indexes. The indexes include unpublished transcripts, published transcripts in book or on microfiche and databases. For each it provides the name and address of the holder or seller.

There are lots of valuable indexes in here that can save you lots of time in your research. These are records that we all use. Look here to find what indexes you can use.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.8 no.2, 2001

Irish Relatives and Friends: From “Information Wanted” Ads in the Irish-American, 1850-1871† compiled by Laura Murphy DeGrazia and Diane Fitzpatrick Haberstroh. Published by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore MD 21202. 2001. 464 pp. Indexed. Hardcover. $38.50 plus $3.50 p. & h.

The Irish-American is a weekly newspaper that began publication in New York in August of 1849. The paper contained news items and political thought of interest to the Irish community. It also contained a popular “Information Wanted” section of advertisements. These ads are valuable to researchers often stating the Irish county, townland or parish from which the immigrant came. These ads, from 1850 to 1871, were copied from microfilmed copies at the New York State Library and the New York Public Library. There are no entries for 1860 as no copies of the newspaper for that year have been located.

To make the transcripts easy to read people’s names are bolded, place names appear in small capitals, and ship names are italicized. Names or countries, major cities, American states, Irish counties and United States counties have been corrected to the commonly accepted spellings in the Columbia-Lippincott Gazetteer. Small place names, because of the many possible interpretations have been left as originally spelled in the ads.

A typical entry reads as follows:

February 10, 1866 Of Honora Gleeson, a native of LISMOYNAN, in the parish of DRANGAN, County of TIPPERARY, Ireland, who came to this country about 35 years ago, and when last heard from, about 12 years ago, her address was LITTLEFORTH, CHICAGO, LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS. She was married to Edward Gleeson, from the parish of MCCARKEY, in the same county. Information concerning her will be thankfully received by her nephew, William Greer, who came to this country in June, 1865, by writing John Gleeson, No. 161 Green Street, ALBANY, for William Greer. Chicago papers, please copy.

There are indexes to personal names, Ireland place names, United States place names, other places and New York City streets. Readers are advised to check all possible spellings. There are over 8,500 names in the personal name index alone.

The example shows that the book is not limited to the Irish in New York City but rather covers the whole county. This is another valuable resource for anyone seeking Irish family connections and their place of origin.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.8 no.2, 2001

Britain to America: Mid-Nineteenth-Century Immigrants to the United States† by William E. Van Vugt. Published by University of Illinois Press, 1325 South Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820. 1999. xi, 241 pp. Bibliography, illustrations, index, maps. Softcover $18.95.

This volume in the growing Statue of Liberty — Ellis Island Centennial Series devotes itself to the fascinating history of British migration to the United States from 1820 to the Civil War. During this period Britain and America were the two most interconnected countries in the world in terms of culture and economic growth. Britain took almost half of America’s exports and America took about 40 percent of her imports from Britain. The economic interconnection led to a constant westward migration across the Atlantic.

The book examines questions appropriate for any migration study. These are: Who were they, and why did they migrate to the United States? Where did they come from, and where did they settle? What kind of work did they do in Britain and America, and how did they differ from the entire British population from which they selected themselves? To what extent was their migration related to the social and economic adjustments that came with modernity, especially industrialization and urbanization? What kinds of experience did they have as both Britons and Americans? What, in short, were their stories?

An overview of the migration and a discussion of the transition from a folk or familial migration to a labor migration sets the scene for the rest of book. Different sub-populations are examined: farmers; immigrants from industry and crafts; miners; the Welsh; the elite (merchants, professionals and gentlemen); and women. The process of becoming American is explored by looking at religion, the Civil War and institutions. Each population group is illustrated with the specific stories of many individuals and their families. Migration in this time period is heavily towards the Old Northwestern states of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin.

The book uses vital records, census, and shipping lists, along with biographies from county histories to build stories of the immigrants. These stories are woven together to paint a picture of the immigrant experience and motives which defy categorization. However, the stories build a compelling picture. This book would be well worth reading by anyone with mid-nineteenth century immigrants wanting to place them within their own context. There are extensive footnotes and bibliography to guide researchers into similar records to create their own ancestor’s story.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.8 no.3, 2001

The Encyclopedia of the Irish in America† edited by Michael Glazier. Published by University of Notre Dame Press, Notre Dame, IN 46556. 1999. xxi, 988 pp. Photographs. Hardcover. $89.95

This is the place to look if you want to learn about the Irish in America, whether that is a person, a place or a topic.

This encyclopedia has writings by scholars in America, Ireland, Canada and Britain who were free to express their opinions without any constraint. The entries are alphabetically arranged rather than thematically. If you know the subject or person you seek, check for that entry. If not found, then look at the beginning of the book where there are nine double-columned pages of topics acting as an index to entries. Searching through this list should get you to the desired subject.

For a topic you may find part of a column or multiple pages of details. The articles often conclude with a bibliography for further research. For people and major events, photographs are often included.

One of the nice features for genealogists is that for every state and many major cities, an entry describes the history and activities of the Irish in that locality. These entries conclude with bibliographic references for further research.

If you are looking for a large subject then do read the list of topic titles completely as some creativity is needed. For example, if you are researching Irish emigration you will find multiple entries under various titles beginning with the word emigration such as Emigration 1801-1921. At the end of this entry the article points you to further entries - Famine, The Great; Irish in America; Foster, Vere. However, if you also read the entries for Ellis Island and Famine Coffin Ships you are pointed towards Emigration 1801-1921. The directional entries at the end of an article are not necessarily reciprocal. Therefore make sure you have covered all the entries on a topic.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.8 no.3, 2001

Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia: Extracted from the Original Court Records of Augusta County 1745-1800† by Lyman Chalkley. 1912. Reprinted 1999 by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. 3 volumes, 2000 pp. Hardcover. $150 plus $6 p. & h.

When Augusta County, Virginia was created in 1738 its boundary to the north was Fairfax’s Northern Neck Grant and the boundaries of Maryland and Pennsylvania; on the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains; to the south by the Caroline line; and to the west it included all land held by the British without limit. In other words this was a vast stretch of territory. The area was heavily populated by the Scotch-Irish. In 1745 the county held its first court. For about 12 years it was the only court for recording of documents and events. After that small parts were separated off to form other counties.

Volume 1 abstracts the court order books (1745-1799); plus notes from county court judgements, original papers on suits (1745-1825); and petitions filed in court from 1745. Volume 2 has records of the circuit and district courts, marriage bonds, licenses and returns (1748-1800); land entries (1744-1751); guardians’ bonds (1782-1801); administrators’ bonds (1776-1810); tax delinquents (1748-1804); proceedings of the vestry of Augusta Parish (1746-1799); with records of military service in colonial and revolutionary wars. Volume 3 provides will abstracts (1745-1818) and deed abstracts (1745-1792). Each volume is fully indexed, with a combined total of about 50,000 names.

This is a major abstraction covering a very large geographic area. Reading the abstracts provide lots of fascinating details in the life of the residents. A good gazetteer will be needed to put many of the people into a specific place, and occasionally you will find details of where they came from in the old country.

This is a valuable tool for anyone searching early Scotch Irish in old Virginia.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.8 no.4, 2001

A Guide to Irish Churches and Graveyards† by Brian Mitchell. Published by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 N. Calvert St., Baltimore MD 21202. 1990, reprinted 2001. 253 pp. Hardcover. $35.00 plus $3.50 p. & h.

This book identifies all churches and burial grounds in Ireland which existed between 1848 and 1864 as identified in Griffith’s Primary Valuation of Ireland.

The information is provided in 6 columns in a tabular format. These columns provide: (1) map reference number used in A New Genealogical Atlas of Ireland; (2) name of the civil parish in alphabetical order within the county; (3) name of the townland, town or street in which a church or graveyard was located in the mid-nineteenth century; (4) Ordnance Survey sheet number on which the townland can be located; (5) symbol designating denomination of churches, chapels and meeting houses; (6) identification of all graveyards, burial grounds or cemeteries.

When you have identified the place of origin of your Irish ancestors you can determine what churches and cemeteries existed in the specific and surrounding parishes from this book. Using this information you can search in The Guide to Irish Parish Registers by the same author to see what pre-1870 registers have survived.

This book should be in every Irish collection.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.8 no.4, 2001

Aberdeen Obituaries 1748-1854† by Frances McDonnell. Published in 2000 in the US by Willow Bend Books, 65 East Main Street, Westminster, MD 21557. 1996 & 1997. 216 pp. Softcover. $19.

This is a collection of five books originally published separately in Scotland, but conveniently pulled together in one for this US printing. The five sections cover: 1748-1770; 1771-1799; 1800-1822; 1823-1839; 1840-1854.

There is one introductory page, in the middle of the book, at the beginning of the third section. This introduction tells us that these are obituaries from The Aberdeen Journal which carried an obituary column from its beginning in 1748. The extractions continue until the end of 1.854 with the beginning of civil registration in Scotland. They provide a valuable collection filling in many of the gaps created by the shortage of Scottish burial records, mortcloth rentals, and monumental inscriptions.

As you might expect in this time period the majority of obituaries concentrate on the gentry, the professional middleclass and merchants. The entries are obviously strong in Aberdeen and the northeast of Scotland, but there are entries from all over the British Isles and some oversees entries. For example: Forbes, Roderick Capt. 8.6.1761. Capt Roderick Forbes, in the service of the East India Company, son of Charles Forbes, Brux, died in Persia in April 1760.

As is the custom in Scotland many of the women use their maiden names. Only occasionally will there be cross references to the name of the husband. However the name of the husband usually appears within the text in bold. For example: Osborne, Jane Mrs 17.3.1786. Died at Shannaburn. Daughter of the late Principal Osborne, and wife to Provost William Mowat of Aberdeen.

The five sections to the book means that extra care is needed to check all sections for your surnames. Care is further needed because of the incorrect page headings for the 1823-1839 section. Care is needed but this is a valuable compilation, for a resource that is difficult to access in North America. These indexes should be checked by anyone researching in Aberdeen or the northeast of Scotland.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.8 no.4, 2001

Researching English & Welsh Civil Registration Records† by Dr. Penelope Christensen. Published by Heritage Productions, c/o Louise St. Denis, 30 Wellington Street East, Suite 202, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5E 1SE. April, 2001. 300 pp. Softcover with plastic comb-binding. CAN$19.

This book is designed as a practical textbook used for one of the courses offered by the National Institute for Genealogical Studies in partnership with the University of Toronto. You can find out more about the institute at <www.genealogicalstudies.com>. However it is also a stand alone text.

The opening title page provides the following statement - “Obtaining birth, marriage and death certificates is an essential element of good genealogical research. It is not always an easy process. Here are the practical details needed to understand the system, use the indexes and find and interpret the certificates.” This is a good description of what the book does.

This book is full of practical advice on subjects many researchers don’t even think about. For example, on page 29 it reminds researchers that your ancestors may have always lived in the same house, yet because of civil registration district changes in 1852, 1946 and 1965 your family’s certificates may actually be recorded in different districts. We often assume once we have found the district for our families that this is a constant. Not so.

There are lots of tables in this book and lots of information not readily accessible in other sources. For example, your family may possess a certificate issued for a specific statutory purpose (e.g., Family Allowances Act, or National Savings Bank). This book lists many of the options though it doesn’t explain what they all are or when used.

The book does a good job of highlighting problem areas - district changes, naming, spelling and illiteracy, illegitimacy, errors and more.

If you have English or Welsh civil registration research to do this is a good practical book to have to assist you in your research. It has lots of information that is not readily accessible.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.8 no.4, 2001

Finding Your Scottish Ancestors, 2nd. edition† by Dr. Penelope Christensen. Published by Heritage Productions, c/o Louise St. Denis, 30 Wellington Street East, Suite 202, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5E 1SE. 2000. 222 pp. Softcover with plastic comb-binding. CAN$17.

This book is designed as a practical textbook used for one of the courses offered by the National Institute for Genealogical Studies in partnership with the University of Toronto. You can find out more about the institute at <www.genealogicalstudies.com>. However it is also a stand alone text.

The title page begins with the statements - “The 4 primary sources and the most reliable ones are all obtainable at any Family History Center. This book presents a sound strategy for thorough and productive research.”

This sub-title gives a good indication of what the book is going to cover. The four topics are: civil registration of birth, marriage and death; censuses; parish registers; and probate.

The book assumes that you have access to a local Family History Center. The author is the staff trainer at two FHC’s in British Columbia.

The book provides useful tables on Scottish names and naming patterns, Scottish abbreviations and terminology, counties and regions (although there is no mention of the 1996 changes), and an alphabetical list of parishes and districts with their appropriate numbers. These cover the first half of the book.

The assumption is made that people want to do their research inexpensively. Sometimes this leads to poor advice. For example early on it talks about saving money by ordering photocopies of individual page entries from parish registers. The usual advice is to order the microfilms of the parish record and search for any relatives on the film. The price difference is minimal.

The book discusses the 4 primary record groups. The advice given is very practical. Alternative routes to get information are discussed - for example using Scots Origins versus using the civil registration indexes at the FHC. There are no examples of what the records actually look like, but there are some typed sample extractions that give an indication of content. The text often refers the reader to books by Cory and Irvine for further information.

The book concludes with some good sample extraction forms for Scottish research. These include: Index extraction forms for Civil Registration - births, marriages and deaths; a summary table of index years searched; census extractions; parish register extractions; IGI extraction sheet.

Overall, this is a practical introduction to using the FHC for Scottish research. You will need more resources to interpret how to use the records and identify what you have found.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.8 no.4, 2001

Tracing Ancestors in North Staffordshire, 6th edition† by H. Eva Beech. Published by The Birmingham and Midland Society for Genealogy and Heraldry. Purchase from Mrs. H.E.Beech, 56 Trent Valley Road, Penkhull, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 5JA, England. 2000, 42 pp. Illustrations, Softcover. £4.50 overseas postage included.

This is a slim, easy to read and very practical book for anyone doing research in the North Staffordshire area. The book is divided into 5 chapters: Where do I start?; How do I continue?; Baptisms, Marriages and Burials; Wills, deeds and tithe apportionments; Other records.

These chapters each cover all the basics that you would expect in a book designed for any beginner in English research. What adds to the value of this book though is all the additional local information that is hard to find outside the local area. For example, on page 8, we find information on the location and starting dates for the Corporation cemeteries and crematorium in the area. On page 10, we find details about the names of the local newspapers with dates of operation and whether indexes are available.

The book contains good practical suggestions that you don’t typically find in beginners books, like using electoral registers to find approximate dates of death (p. 8) and using reprints of House of Commons reports to learn about the lives of children in the potteries or the mines (p. 35). There is also valuable local information discussing the boundary and name changes among chapelries and parishes in the area which is so valuable for those who are learning about the area from a distance (p.20).

There is no index in this book, so access to these resources may be harder to locate. In spite of no index, this is a good practical guide for anyone researching in the North Staffordshire area.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.8 no.5, 2001

Upon the Parish Rate: The Story of Louth Workhouse and the Paupers of East Lindsey† by Bill Painter. Published by the Louth Naturalists’, Antiquarian and Literary Society, The Museum, 4 Broadbank, Louth, Lincolnshire LN11 6EQ, England. 2000. 128 pp. Illustrations, index, map, photographs. Softcover. £6.95.

Many of us have ancestors or relatives who received parish relief or spent time in the poor law union workhouse. Have you ever wondered what it was like, or why the rules changed over time? This detailed and well documented book will tell you.

The introduction and first two chapters deal with the Elizabethan poor laws and how they were administered up to the formation of the poor law unions in 1834. The next three chapters deal with the 1834 to 1860 time period covering: the construction and administration of the workhouse; describing the Union, how the Board of Guardians were elected and who the supporting officers were; illustrating daily life for the children, the adults, unwed mothers, vagrants and those in ill health. The remaining five chapters bring the history of the workhouse up to date, showing how the poor laws and attitudes changed with time, yet always putting them into the contemporary context. During all these time periods details about the daily life of the residents are provided.

This is the story of one Poor Law Union and its Workhouse in rural Lincolnshire. Not all workhouses around the country were administered in the same manner. Some were better while others were much worse. The details and documentation in this book will give you a better idea of what life in these institutions was like. It therefore forms a great case study for documenting the life of a segment of the population that is often ignored. Yet many of our ancestors at one or more times in there lives will have spent some time as a recipient of assistance from the parish or poor law union. I know some of my ancestors spent time in these institutions.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.8 no.5, 2001

Sufferings of Early Quakers: Westmorland 1651 to 1690; Cumberland 1653 to 1690; Durham & Northumberland 1658 to 1690; Isles of Man 1656 to 1685; Lancashire 1652 to 1690†. Facsimile of part of the 1753 edition by Joseph Beese, with new index of people and places by Michael Gandy. Published by William Sessions Limited, The Ebor Press, York YO31 9HS, England. 2000. 128 pp. Illustrations, index. Softcover. £14 overseas postage paid.

This is one section from a large two volume work, Collection of the Sufferings of the People called Quakers by Joseph Besse, and first published in 1753, after 26 years of research. The book focuses on the sufferings and persecutions endured for the Truth by the Quakers between approximately 1650 and 1689. In 1689 the Act of Toleration gave some protection to Dissenters. Over time this book has become a standard source for Quaker genealogy and social history in the seventeenth century.

The persecutions varied in their intensity with time and place often depending upon who the local ministers or land owners were. The Quakers were persecuted for a variety of reasons often related to their refusal to pay tithes, rates or assessments. They also suffered because of the way they lived out their faith, refusing to take oaths, refusing to bear arms, refusing to use the established ministers or priests, and more, all of which is explained in the introduction. The book contains numerous dialogue transcripts, texts of letters by Quakers, and lists of people prosecuted. Reading the text puts your ancestors into their true context.

A good modern index to the many people and places has been included in the book.

For Americans this book is important as it predates the establishment of Quakers in Pennsylvania. Many of the early settlers can be identified in the Sufferings and thus there place of origin can be identified. Once a name or place is found in this source you need to search in the Quarter Sessions, the Books of Suffering, the Digests of Births, Marriages and Deaths for more information.

Ebor Press has published a volume for Yorkshire, and another which covers New England, Maryland, and the West Indies. Further volumes are anticipated.

[Check out other resources by this publisher at <www.sessionofyork.co.uk> if you know you have English Quakers]

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.8 no.5, 2001

Scottish Schoolmasters of the Seventeenth Century† by David Dobson. Published in 1998 in the US by Willow Bend Books, 65 East Main Street, Westminster, MD 21557. 1995 (in Scotland). 40 pp. Softcover. $6.

This is a simple but helpful guide to identifying seventeenth century Scottish schoolmasters which are arranged in alphabetical order. The details vary but often include the place where they taught, a date, and sometimes biographical information. The source(s) of the information is provided and comes from numerous archives and publications, including the Scottish Record Office (now National Archives of Scotland).

A typical entry reads: WRIGHT, SAMUEL, schoolmaster of Dunbar, East Lothian, died 8.1672, husband of Margaret Traill who died 7.1685. [Greyfriars] [SRO.RD2.24.699/1669]

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.8 no.5, 2001

Scottish Catholic Parents and Their Children 1701-1705† by Frances McDonnell. Published in 1998 in the US by Willow Bend Books, 65 East Main Street, Westminster, MD 21557. 1995 (in Scotland). 44 pp. Index. Softcover. $6.50

In March 1701 the General Assembly passed an Act by which Presbyteries were required to send in details of all persons who were still Catholics, entertained Catholics, and a listing of places where Mass was held, with the names of witnesses. As might be expected there was resistance encountered in bringing “Papists off from their errors,” as a result of which the Commission could apply to the Government for protection of Ministers who undertook this work.

The introduction implies that in some areas of the country there had been no Presbyterian ministers operating since the Reformation and thus the people were still Catholic. This booklet obviously does not name them all. However it does contain a valuable list of families that were identified as Catholic in this time period.

The book lists individuals and their families by Presbytery. There is an all name index to make location of individuals easier. The details given vary greatly from just a name in a location to biographical information about an individual or family.

One example for Lochmaben in Dumfries: Grierson, James. Second son of Sir Robert Grierson, now living with his wife at Laghall in Troueer parish beside Dumfries has been suspect of having apostatized from the Protestant to the Popish religion several years ago. His lady, .... Ferguson, daughter to Isle Ferguson is a Protestant.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.8 no.5, 2001

The Scots Overseas: Emigrants and Adventurers from: Aberdeen and North East Scotland (2 parts); Fife; Moray and Banff; Angus and Perth; Southern Scotland; Glasgow and the West of Scotland; Orkney and Shetland; The Lothians; Argyll and the Northern Highlands†. Published in 2000 in the US by Willow Bend Books, 65 East Main Street, Westminster, MD 21557. 1993-1996 (in Scotland). Softcover. $23

This is a compilation of 10 separate volumes ranging from 21 to 32 pages in length. This means that you need to check all 10 sections if you don’t know exactly which area of Scotland your ancestors originated from. There is no consolidated index. Each volume claims to be the first in an anticipated collection of volumes for each region. Only Aberdeen and North East Scotland has a second volume in this compilation. Primary and secondary sources were used to create each volume. The index to source abbreviations is at the front of each volume.

The information within individual entries contain can vary greatly, but they all include a source citation so that you can follow up your research.

A sample entry from the Lothians volume reads: WEBSTER, GEORGE born 15.10.1744 in Edinburgh, son of Reverend Alexander Webster and Mary Erskine, civil paymaster EICS, died in Bengal 7.1794. (F.1.120)

Some of the entries may be contained in other compilations by Dobson, especially as they relate to North America, but this is not guaranteed. Plus other family members may have emigrated to other parts of the world. This is a nice compilation but a bit of a lucky dip.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.8 no.5, 2001

Irish Marriages: Being an Index to the Marriages in Walker’s Hibernian Magazine, 1771 to 1812† by Henry Farrar. 1897. Reprinted by Clearfield Publishing Company, 200 E. Eager St., Baltimore MD 21202. 2001. 2 vols. in 1, 531 pp. Softcover. $39.95 plus $3.50 p. & h.

Walker’s Hibernian Magazine was published from 1771 to July 1812. Until 1800 the English and Irish marriages were chronicled under different headings. After 1800 the marriages were combined. This volume only indexes the pre 1800 Irish marriages, and all marriage since 1800.

Not indicated in the title is the fact that the book also contains a 51 page index to the births, marriages and deaths published in Anthologia Hibernica for 1793 and 1794, the two years that the publication existed.

An index entry for the bride is abbreviated and the groom’s entry has to be read for the full details. For example:

Carmichael, Capt. Henry Lisle, 67th Foot = Ferrall, Catherine, Dominick St. Aug. 1789 - 447

Ferrall, Catherine = Carmichael, Capt. H.L. 1789 - 447

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.8 no.5, 2001

2,000 Manx Mariners: An Eighteenth Century Survey† by Francis Wilkins. Published by Wyre Forest Press, 8 Mill Close, Blakedown, Kidderminster, Worcs DY10 3NQ, England. 2000. 148 pp. Illustrations, index. Softcover. £12.95 plus £5.95 airmail postage or £2.70 seamail postage.

The use of 2,000 in the title of this book is an understatement designed to emphasize the sheer numbers of Manx mariners involved in different occupations during the eighteenth century. These occupations include: local boatmen, herring fishermen, wherrymen, coastal traders, overseas traders, Guinea traders, Guinea crews, and the Royal Navy. These occupations form the eight sections of the book. The sections are not always clear cut, for as the author acknowledges in her introduction herring fishermen carried contraband during the off-season, and wherrymen sometimes went fishing. All may have been impressed into the navy.

This survey initially grew out of research into the Isle of Man’s involvement in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. The survey was expanded. Table one provides a list of the sources used for each section. This is a valuable listing for alternative sources for anyone doing maritime research, especially in or around the Isle of Man.

Each section of the book is full of biographical information about Manx mariners, illustrating the wealth of information that is available for these people with a little bit of searching in the right sources. The end notes give full source citations to anyone identified, often a source in the Manx National Heritage Library in Douglas, or the Public Record Office at Kew. The index includes all men named within the text of each chapter. There are 13 appendices which include alphabetical lists of names, and identifying information, in the different marine occupations that are not in the consolidated index. There is also a bibliography of additional reading for those who want to explore any of the topics further.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.8 no.6, 2001

Family Histories in Scottish Customs Records† by Francis Wilkins. Published by Wyre Forest Press, 8 Mill Close, Blakedown, Kidderminster, Worcs DY10 3NQ, England. 1993. 79 pp. Softcover. Illustrations, index. £10 plus £5.95 airmail postage or £2.70 seamail postage.

The introduction to the book states that this book “is an attempt to introduce a virtually untouched source of information about family history - the ‘CE’ Records held at the Scottish Record Office in Edinburgh and some local archive offices.” The author has succeeded in doing this. I just wish I had Scottish ancestors that were customs officers given the information that can be found in these records.

The Scottish CE records are divided into 11 classes. Classes 1 to 5 for Customs, 6 to 10 for Excise and 11 with some shipping registers. This book focuses on the details in the Customs books. Class 1 contains letters from the Collector (and Comptroller) to the Board of Customs in Edinburgh or London. Class 2 is letters from the Board of Customs to the Collector. Class 3 is General Letter Books. Class 4 is Miscellaneous Customs Records. Class 5 is Materials originating in subordinate Ports or Creeks.

This book is a sequel to Scottish Customs and Excise Records by the same author. The prior book used examples from Strathclyde, while this book uses examples from Dumfries and Galloway. This book grew out of pilot study to see how much personal information could be extracted from the custom records. As you might expect these records are good for recreating the careers of revenue officers and smugglers. What’s surprising is the number of people identified with other occupations, including merchants, tobacconists, farmers, fish curers, mariners, ship owners, ships masters, widows and orphans of late employees all of whom came into contact with custom officials at one time or another. A list of 119 people, with occupations are identified in Dumfries in 1786 and included.

What this book does through examples is show how the life and lifestyle of an individual can be reconstructed in fascinating detail. The examples are well presented and give the researcher the hope that they too might find their ancestors mentioned in these records. There is an every name index to the stories in the book.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.8 no.6, 2001

Camden Past and Present: A Guide to the Camden Local Studies and Archives Centre, 2nd Ed.† edited by Mark Aston, Malcolm J. Holmes and Richard G. Knight. Published by London Borough of Camden, Leisure and Community Services Department, Local Studies and Archives Centre, Holborn Library, 32-38 Theobalds Road, London WC1X 8PA, England. 2000. 43 pp. Index. Softcover. £2.95.

This is a fascinating guide to over 150,000 items in the Archives of the London Borough of Camden. This guide follows the format created by the Greater London Archives Network for its series Greater London History Sources. This consistency will make finding similar sources in other archive guidebooks easy.

For researchers thinking of parishes this includes material from St. Andrew Holborn, St. Giles in the Fields, St. Pancras, St. George the Martyr Queen Square and St. George Bloomsbury. The guide covers much more than just parish related material. It includes anything related to this major London borough: maps, directories, electoral registers, central government, local authorities, schools, theatres, businesses, manors, manuscripts, and much more. There is much material that you would expect but reading the details gives you some fascinating collections. These include: for St. Pancras a Register of disorderly houses [Houses used for prostitution] 1880-1900; and among the poor law union records of St. Andrew Holborn Above Bars there are payments to women who nurse their own children 1791-1792, 1796-1799 [I wonder what the laws were behind this payment?].

For those with ancestors in this part of London this guide is invaluable and will give you enough options to keep you busy researching for years.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.8 no.6, 2001

London and Middlesex Exchequer Equity Pleadings, 1685-6 & 1784-5: A Calendar† edited by Henry Horwitz and Jessica Cooke. Volume XXXV for the Year 1998 of the London Record Society Publications. Purchase from Miss. Creaton, Hon. Secretary, London Record Society, c/o Institute of Historical Research, Senate house, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU, England. 2000. xxi, 162 pp. Hardcover. £25.50 postage paid for non-members.

The stated aim of the book is “to illustrate the potential rewards of searches in Exchequer equity records for students of the history of London and the metropolis by way of calendaring a limited selection of the pleadings in equity (bills, answers and related documents) consisting of every London and Middlesex suit filed for two years of the Court’s operation as a general court of equity - the first year of James II’s reign (6 Feb. 1685-5 Feb. 1686) and the twenty-fifth year of George III’s (25 Oct. 1784-24 Oct. 1785). All told there are 151 suits for the former year, and 194 for the latter.” (p. viii).

The introduction does describe the process in equity court and why so many cases were soon settled. The principal disputes in equity court concerned land, deceased’s estates, debts and bonds, and commercial arrangements.

The original indexes to these records generally name the plaintiff and the first defendant. What these abstracts show is that there is often a long list of defendants, many of whom are related to one another (with relationships stated). This volume provides separate indexes for names and subjects for each time period.

If your ancestor lived or worked in London or Middlesex in either of these time periods the wealth of names make this volume worth checking.

[The London Record Society was founded in 1964 to publish transcripts, abstracts and lists of the primary sources for the history of London, and generally to stimulate interest in archives relating to London, the Society aims to publish a volume a year. The volumes appear in hard covers, and are carefully prepared by specialists in their subject. Each volume contains a substantial historical introduction to the edited text, and a full index. Individual membership is £12 per annum. Contact the Hon. Secretary, London Record Society, c/o Institute of Historical Research, Senate house, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU, England]

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.8 no.6, 2001

The Scottish Settlers of America — The 17th and 18th Centuries† by Stephen M. Millet. Published by Clearfield Publishing Company, 200 E. Eager Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. 1992-1995, reprinted 1999. 234 pp. Softcover. $25 plus $3.50 p. & h.

This material was originally published sequentially in thirteen issues of the U.S. Scots Magazine between the Winter of 1992 and the Winter of 1995 issues. This series forms an excellent historical introduction to the whole issue of Scottish emigration to North America, especially for the Colonial time period.

The thirteen chapters cover: The Scottish Homeland; The Scottish Peoples; Scottish Population and Emigrations; The Push of Scottish Emigration; The Pull of American Immigration; Profiles of the Scottish Immigrants; The Scottish Colonies before 1707; Scottish Settlements of the Chesapeake Bay; Scottish Settlement of the Carolinas and Georgia; The Scots of New England and New York; The Scottish Settlement of Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey; The Scots and the American Revolution; Summary and Conclusions. The organization of the chapters suggests that you will easily find information about the historical context for your ancestor which ever colony he or she came to. The reality is that the whole book needs to be read to get the complete picture. But Mr. Millet’s writing style makes this easy and an enjoyable read.

The collection of these articles into one book has now made access to these writings easy. However, it is a pity that the effort was not made to index the chapters. It would have greatly increased the value of the book.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.9 no.1, 2002

Islands of Essex, 2nd edition† by Ian Yearsley. Published by Ian Henry Publications, Ltd., 20 Park Drive, Romford, Essex RM1 4LH, England. 2000. 158 pp. Illustrations, index. £9.95.

There are more islands along the coast of Essex than any other English county. This book describes them all from the small sandbank to the more substantial inhabited islands. It talks about the islands that used to exist that have become part of the mainland, or have been eroded away by the power of the sea, to the islands that are continually forming as the coastline changes.

The book follows a journey around the coast starting in the south with the Canvey Group and working north through the Essex Archipelago, the Crouch and Blackwater Group, the Mersea Group to the Walton Backwaters and the River Stour. For each island it presents the history and the development or use of the island. I particularly liked the discussion about Canvey Island because it talked about The Great Tide of 31 January 1953, when the dykes broke. (This is one of the two events I associate with the year of my birth, the other being the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II). Unfortunately, in that flood 58 islanders lost their lives.

The book gives a good historical presentation on how planers intended to develop the different islands and how they actually were, if at all. These schemes varied greatly from tourist spas or holiday resorts, commuter or bedroom communities, to industrial centers. Some were implemented and some were just dreams. Many of the islands have now been set aside as naturalist areas because of the rarity of the animals, insects and plants that exist in the area.

The book concludes with a good bibliography for those with Essex or island ancestors. A fascinating book if your ancestors come from the coastal areas of Essex, no matter in which century.

[Editors note - This publisher produces a number of books dealing with the history of communities in Essex, London and East Anglia. There are books dealing with the communities of: Colchester; Brentwood and South Weald; Harlow; Valley of the Stour; Basildon; Havering; Shoebury; Suffolk Observed (historical background on all 430 Suffolk towns and sights worth seeing). If your ancestors are in this area contact the publisher for a current catalog]

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.9 no.1, 2002

30 Miles North: A History of Lake Forest College, Its Town and Its City of Chicago† by Franz Schulze, Rosemary Cowler and Arthur H. Miller. Published by Lake Forest College, 555 North Sheridan Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045. 2000. Illustrations, index. Hardcover. $35

This large, glossy book is a delight to read. For anyone with connections to the community of Lake Forest or its college this book will be found to be fascinating. It is full of details and illustrations that put the community and college into both its historical and social context.

The early history links the college, with the communities of Lake Forest and Chicago. This is a story of New England congregationalists and Scottish Presbyterian leaders wanting to be close to the mercantile and business opportunities of Chicago but at the same time be separate and apart where their teachings and beliefs could dominate. A place where they could be separate from the Irish and Germans that were sweeping into Chicago in the mid-1800’s.

As anyone who has been to Lake Forest knows, the community is set up with curved streets and no through streets, all intentional. The college’s history, its formation, failure (because of the Civil War) and reestablishment is well described, with details on the key people involved. This is good history showing the importance of issues, such as the impact of the strong anti-slavery movement and the key role that women played in re-establishing the college. This is an institution that in the late 19th century rivaled Northwestern and the University of Chicago in size.

Two other phases of the college’s history are described. This being from World War I through the Depression years. This is followed by the post-World War II years where the college has affirmed its reputation as a fine liberal arts college.

The book is well illustrated with lots of photographs of the area, the campus, and the people involved in the history and life of this institution. The index includes many of the significant people in this history but it is not a complete index to everyone listed in the book.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.9 no.1, 2002

Heritage: Scottish Americans in the American South† by Celeste Ray. Published by University of North Carolina Press, P.O. Box 2288, Chapel Hill, NC 27515-2288.2001. xix, 256 pp. Index, maps, photographs. Softcover. $16.95.

This book explores the nature of what it means to be Scottish and have Scottish heritage. It shows how Scotland’s regional identities of Highlands, Lowlands and Scots-Irish have become blended and subsumed under the images of the Highlanders. An image constructed in the nineteenth century through romanticism, militarism and tourism. The romantic images created by the writings of Sir Walter Scott and his peers have in many ways created a stereotype of what it means to be Scottish, especially for Americans. This is an image that at the time would have been unrecognizable in Scotland. This is added to with strong military images of the Jacobites and Scottish Regiments in the British Army. Then the importance of tourism has fostered these images. The image of what it means to be Scottish is not static but changes with the creation of new traditions such as the “Kirkin’ o’ the Tartan,” Heritage Society dinners, clan societies (stories of their beginnings, often mythical), clan or society tartans. At all Scottish events there is an emphasis on kin, making them friendly, welcoming public gatherings where one “never meets a stranger.”

The author in writing this book jumps back and forth between the present and the history that shaped the modern traditions. Even at times acknowledging the fascinating contradictions. There is a strong emphasis in the book on the Cape Fear, North Carolina Scots and the impact they had with their migrations in the mid-1700’s. Plus, how this large Scottish migrant group has shaped Scottish activities, especially in the South

This book will not help you trace your ancestors. However, this is a wonderful book to read to understand how the image of what it means to be Scottish has been created, and why it is the way it is.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.9 no.2, 2002

Register of Merchants Taylors’ School 1562-1699† by Rev. Charles J. Robinson. Published in 1882 and Reprinted by Willow Bend Books, 65 East Main Street, Westminster, MD 21157-6103. 2001. xvi, 392 pp. Softcover. $32.

This is volume one of what was originally a two volume set providing a list of the students enrolled in the Merchant Taylor School in London from 1562 to 1874. (Hopefully the publisher will find and reprint the second volume).

The Grammar school originated with the revival of learning that marked the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Most of the boys attending the school began between the ages of 10 and 13. They come from all over England but the area in and around London dominates. Many of them went on to be educated at Oxford or Cambridge and then held positions with in English Society. Do not think of this as a trade school for Taylors; it certainly is not.

This register is collected from a variety of documents and registers. The result is a variation in the format of the individual entries.

From 1562 to 1644 the name of the boy is provided, often with a birth date, and sometimes with the name of the father and his occupation.

From 1644 to 1660 the entries are more detailed with a consistent format. So for the 1649-50 school year we have the following example: John Milner, eld. Son of Richard, gent. B. In Michael Royal, 1 May 1637. There is a footnote suggesting that this might be the John Milner who became Consul General in Portugal (If I could only be this lucky).

From 1661 to 1699 the boy’s name is given occasionally with a date of birth.

Throughout the book there are extensive footnotes referring the reader to other sources with information about the named child or the parents. This is a nice book with lots of names for an early time period.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.9 no.2, 2002

A Guide to the Historical Records of The Royal Bank of Scotland†. Produced by the Archives Section, The Royal Bank of Scotland, Regent’s House, PO Box 348, 42 Islington High Street, London N1 8XL. 2000. 123 pp. Illustrations. Softcover. £8.50 for overseas orders

This practical archival guide begins by putting The Royal Bank of Scotland’s archives in context and discusses the historical records of banking. This is truly a fascinating read and opens up al sorts of research possibilities.

The bulk of the book provides details about the different collections within the archives. For each collection it provides:

Identity statement - providing essential information to identify the archival collection or series. This includes the title, dates of creation, level of description and the size of the collection. Context - regarding origin and custody of the collection or series. This includes the name of the creator (usually bank, organization and occasionally an individual), biographical or administrative history. Content and structure - describes the subject matter and arrangement of the collection. This may include partnership/corporate records, financial records, legal records, customer records, head office branch records, staff records, property records, note issue records, marketing / public relations records, branch records. Allied materials - gives information about important related materials such as publications.

The complete text of this guide book is also available online at <www.rbs.co.uk/group_info/memorybank/research_room/Study/default.htm>.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.9 no.2, 2002

The Great Estates: Six Country Houses in the London Borough of Bexley† by Oliver Wooller. Published by Bexley Local Studies and Archive Centre, Bexley Council, Central Library, Townley Road, Bexleyheath, Kent DA6 7HJ. 2000. 116 pp. Illustrations, index, photographs. Softcover. £5.95

This is an excellent example of what local history can and should be. The author examines in detail six estates within the London Borough of Bexley: Hall Place; May Place; Foots Cray Place; Danson; Belvedere and Lamorbey. The origins of the estates vary greatly from the times of Roman villas up to the English Civil War. But for each the history of the property, the buildings and the families involved are brought up to the present.

The families involved, as you would expect on large estates, are of the gentry or professional classes. The families are put into their appropriate historical context. We read about: the Calverts and the connections with Colonial Maryland; the Boyd’s and Styleman’s with their strong connections to the East India Company; the Gideon-Eardleys with their financial successes (in spite of the failure of the South Sea Company) and their operation in Exchange Alley which later became the London Stock Exchange; the Drapers and their involvement in the English Civil War. We also read about many more families connected with the estates. Each time the author does a superb job of placing them into the context of British and World history.

In the midst of the history of the families we read about the changes they made to the property and buildings. We learn how property changed hands, and surprisingly for Americans how much of the property was held with long leases and not actually owned.

There are lots of excellent illustrations and photographs reproduced in this glossy publication. All the historical details are thoroughly footnoted. There is a one caveat and that there is a good index but it is not an all name index.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.9 no.3, 2002

Ships from Scotland to America 1628-1828, Volume II† by David Dobson. Published by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore MD 21202. ix, 173 pp. Hardcover. $22.50 plus $3.50 p. & h. It is important to read the introduction in this book. The assumption is made that although some immigrants arrived in the US and Canada on emigrant ships the majority will have arrived on cargo vessels. They came to work and to trade, coming to Georgia and the Carolinas for cotton and rice, to the Chesapeake for tobacco, to the Canadian Maritimes for lumber. The only large scale emigrations were into the Carolinas prior to the Revolutionary War and into Canada after the Napoleonic Wars. The primary assumption is that many Scots came on trading vessels. This book is primarily based on the Exchequer records in the National Archives of Scotland which identify vessels, skippers, and cargoes on which duties or bounties were charged or given. These records are almost complete from 1742. They are designed to record customs duties, but do on occasion refer to passengers. This index is supported with extractions from newspapers. As a researcher you need to find out if your ancestor might have come on a particular ship, or another.

Any statement about carrying passengers is in bold within the citations. A typical entry with passengers reads: LITTLE CHERUB OF PHILADELPHIA, 246 tons, M.H. Parkinson, fr. GK with 20 passengers to Philadelphia 28 June 1815; fr. GK to Philadelphia 4 March 1816. [E504.15.108/111]. The abbreviations are explained in the introduction.

The names of the ships are in alphabetical order. However, there is a supplemental index which for each year of arrival gives a page number indicating that a ship arrived in that given year.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.9 no.3, 2002

Bibliography of Welsh Sources† by Annie Lloyd. 4635 Stoner Ave. #4, Culver City, CA 90230-5773. 2000. 72 pp. Softcover with plastic comb binding. $8 plus $2.50 p. & h. As the author says in her foreword this is the “tip of the iceberg” as to the amount of books available for Welsh research. However, this is a good place for you to start looking because information about Welsh resources is not usually as readily available as for the other parts of the British Isles.

The book is divided into topical sections. As you would expect there are sections for each of the Counties of Wales, plus a number of US states with strong Welsh connections. There are topical sections covering: abbeys and castles; atlas, gazetteers and maps; bibliographies; borough records; church records ; nonconformity; religion; manorial records; emigration / immigration; heraldry; occupations, trades and crafts; taxation; history and lots more subjects. The bibliographic citations are in most cases complete enough that you should have no problem finding them in a good library catalog, and for many of the modern resources the compiler provides the ISBN number.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.9 no.3, 2002

Techniques to Finding the Place of Origin of Your Welsh Ancestor† by Annie Lloyd. 4635 Stoner Ave. #4, Culver City, CA 90230-5773. 2002. 28 pp. Softcover with plastic comb binding. $3 plus $2.50 p. & h.

This brief anecdotal guide is the result of a lecture given at the 2001 British Isles Family History Society - U.S.A. conference. It provides examples of the types of US records that may give the place of origin in Wales. The examples are plentiful to get you thinking, but they are not unique to the Welsh and in fact are applicable to almost any ethnic group. The booklet concludes with addresses and web sites for family history societies in Wales, major Welsh websites, and brief descriptions of major Welsh settlements in different states suggesting where the immigrants may have originated.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.9 no.3, 2002

The Irish in the South: 1815-1877† by David T. Gleeson. Published by University of North Carolina Press, P.O.Box 2288, Chapel Hill, NC 27515-2288. 2001. xii, 278 pp. Bibliography, illustrations, index. Softcover. $19.95. Irish migration into the South is a small part of the Irish story (84,000 out of 1.2M Irish in the 1860 census). However, the Irish did have an impact in the South, especially in the urban areas such as: Savannah, GA; Memphis, TN; New Orleans, LA; Mobile, AL; Charlestown, SC; and Richmond, VA where they congregated and worked.

The study begins in 1815 with the end of the end of the Napoleonic Wars and the beginning of the strong Irish migrations to the South. It ends in 1877 with the formal end of Reconstruction. The predominant group in this migration was the Irish Catholics but the Protestant Irish and migratory Scots Irish are also discussed. All were regarded as outsiders in the Old South as soon as they spoke. But the Irish were strong in many communities as they became involved in politics, especially supporting the Democrats. They gradually became socially and politically involved, and showed their commitment to their new country with the outbreak of the Civil War.

This assimilation process is discussed in detail using many archive sources and much current research on the subject. The modern scholarship challenges some of the thinking proposed by earlier scholars such as Kerby Miller in his major study Emigrants and Exiles: Ireland and the Irish Exodus to North America with which many genealogists will be familiar.

This book is well worth the read, especially for those with Irish in the South. But, even for those with Irish ancestry in the north this book highlights current scholarship and thinking about the Irish experience. The text is well footnoted leading you to many other sources. The book provides an excellent bibliography and an extensive listing of Irish manuscripts collections in both US and Irish archives.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.9 no.3, 2002

On the Trail of Bonnie Prince Charlie† by David R. Ross. Published by Luath Press Limited, 543/2 Castlehill, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 2ND. 2000. xxiii, 134 pp. Illustrations, maps. Softcover. £7.99 ($14.95)

What a delightful way to explore Scotland and eighteenth century Scottish history by following in the footsteps of Bonnie Prince Charlie. The book sets the scene with the Bonnie Prince’s birth in Italy, the political scene in Europe, along with a genealogy chart to show his claim to the throne. The bulk of the book follows the Prince’s journeys across Scotland and deep into England, from his arrival in Scotland on 23 July 1745 to his departure on 20 September 1746. This time period covers events that are important to many with Scottish ancestry, such as the Battles of Prestonpans, Clifton, Falkirk and ultimately Culloden, leading to the defeat of Jacobites and the end of the Scottish clan system. The book does a wonderful job of interlacing the history with what you will get to see on the ground when you travel to these areas of Scotland and England. Following the Bonnie Prince you will get to see the Scottish Highlands, Islands, Lowlands, industrial and rural Scotland, and some of the best scenery Scotland has to offer. If you are planning a trip to Scotland this book would make a great thematic pilgrimage for you follow. This is highly recommended for its history, modem geography and its worth taking on the trip with you.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.9 no.4, 2002

On the Trail of Queen Victoria in the Highlands† by Ian R. Mitchell. Published by Luath Press Limited, 543/2 Castlehill, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 2ND. 2000. xxiii, 138 pp. Illustrations, maps. Softcover. £7.99 ($14.95)

This book through the use of an index map and ten localized maps outline the journeys of Queen Victoria in Scotland. The anecdotal laden, easy to read text puts those travels into historical context, often using the words of the Queen herself to describe the journey. The early history is the search for a Scottish home, resulting in the purchase of Balmoral. This is followed by her short and long “walks” around Scotland. For the Queen a walk involved servants, ponies with hampers and reinforcements posted at stages along the route. You should not expect those same luxuries. The book provides the traveler with 21 described walks taking you over the same ground that the Queen traveled. Many are short and easy, while others are longer, more strenuous and will take a full day. The walker is always advised to go prepared for changing Scottish weather and to have the appropriate local ordnance survey map for the area, which is given in the walk outline. Take this book with you on the walk and get a rich sense of the history of the ground over which you are traveling.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.9 no.4, 2002

Viewing the Breathless Corpse: Coroners and Inquests in Victorian Leeds† by Sylvia M. Barnard. Purchase from the author at 2 North Park Road, Leeds LS8 1JD. 2001. 112 pp. Illustrations, index. Softcover £5 plus £1.51 p. & h.

This guide to coroner records is divided into two sections. The first describes the history of the coroner, especially in Victorian times but shows the changes that have occurred in modem times. It looks specifically at the three men that were the coroners during the reign of Queen Victoria, addresses who would have been involved in an inquest, describes the function and operation of the coroners court, the inquisition and looks at the verdict. This section provides a good overview, relevant for anywhere in England.

The coroners’ records for Leeds, Yorkshire have not survived. What the author has done is select specific examples from coroners’ inquests that were reported in the local newspapers. The author is highly involved in the preservation of the Beckett Street Cemetery (Leeds Burial Ground) and so all the people are buried in this large cemetery. Each extraction provides a short introduction followed by the newspaper text. The examples cover topics such as adults accidents, death from natural causes, death from disease; industrial accidents, suicide, drink, murder and manslaughter, children, misadventure and visitation of God. The examples are good, showing how the courts function but also providing a lot of valuable social history. The book has an every name index.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.9 no.4, 2002

Southwark’s Burying Places Past and Present: A Guide to Burial Grounds in the London Borough of Southwark† by Ron Woollacott. Purchase from the author at 185 Gordon Road, London SE15 3RT, England. 2001. 31 pp. Index. Softcover. £4.50

This is a location guide and history of over 75 extinct and existing burial grounds in the present London Borough of Southwark which includes the districts of Bermondsey, the Borough, Camberwell, Dulwich, Newington, Peckham, Walworth and Rotherhithe. The introduction outlines the important Burial Acts as they apply to the area, including those of 1852 and 1853 which empowered parish authorities to establish Burial Boards, establish their own cemeteries resulting in 35 churchyards closing for burials. The earliest burials in the area are in the twelfth century, with many of important individuals from the seventeenth century being highlighted in the mini-histories. There is an excellent bibliography for further research in the area. This an inexpensive guide of great value to any researching in the London Borough of Southwark

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.9 no.4, 2002

The Genealogist’s Internet† by Peter Christian. Public Record Office Genealogist’s Guide. Published by Public Record Office, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU, England. 2001. Index, illustrations. 208 pp. Softcover. £9.99.

Finally, an excellent guide to using the Internet for British Isles research. Yes, many of the techniques are the same no matter what nationality you research, but it so nice to have British Isles examples rather than American.

The author assumes that the reader is connected to the Internet, familiar with e-mail and a web browser, but has no further experience. This means that some of the topics covered may be familiar, many of the sites may have been used, but the reader may not have taken advantage of all the advanced capabilities. The author makes many suggestions on how to fully utilize the capabilities of the many sites. I found lots of helpful suggestions that I had not thought about before, plus being pointed to some great sites to check out.

The book itself points the beginning genealogist towards informational sites but an understanding of basic research principles is assumed. There are chapters in the book that deal with: On-line Starting Points; Sources On-line; Archives and Libraries; Surnames and Pedigrees, Social Groups; Geography; Historical Background; Discussion Forums; Search Engines; Publishing Your Family History On-line; The World of Family History; and Issues for On-line Genealogists. The book concludes with a brief glossary, bibliography and subject index.

I wanted to and enjoyed reading this book cover to cover. I would suggest this approach with even experienced on-line researchers because included throughout the text are suggestions on how to better utilize the capabilities of specific sites. You never know which tip is going to be the one for you to open the door to more data. All the major sites you would expect to find are examined - GENUKI, the PRO, Society of Genealogists, FamilySearch, Cyndi’s List, and GenWeb. But throughout the book are pointers to hundreds of useful topical sites.

Web addresses do change so a web site is provided to try and keep all links in the book current. Even the preface mentions a number of sites that have changed since the first printing of the book.

I regard myself as an experienced online British Isles researcher but I found new approaches and site suggestions in here for me to try out. I recommend this practical book.

Note: This book is now in its third edition (2005), which has also been reviewed in this newsletter.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.9 no.5, 2002

Army Service Records of the First World War, 3rd. Ed.† by William Spencer. Public Record Office Readers Guide No. 19. Published by Public Record Office, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU, England. 2001. Index, illustrations. 112 pp. Softcover. £9.99.

For anyone wanting to find and understand records relating to their First World War I army ancestors this book is a must. This broad title obviously focuses on the records of the over 8 million men and women, officers and soldiers who served during the war, a large percentage of the British population. Unfortunately, records for only about 3 million have survived.

The second edition of this guide was written in 1998, was 77 pages long, and co-coincided with the release of the officers’ records of service. Since then many other service records have been released, including the voluminous ‘burnt document’ series. What you will not find in the collection are records of those soldiers who continued to serve, were recalled or re-enlisted after 1920, or officers after March 1922.

The book itself has been completely restructured to accommodate the release of new records. The book begins by addressing the service records of individuals in the different groups - officers, soldiers, nurses, Indian Army and Royal Flying Corps. It then examines the records to put your ancestor into context, and the records that may mention your ancestor. These include: unit war diaries, trench maps, campaign medals, awards for gallantry and meritorious service, courts martial, prisoners of war, casualties and war dead, the dominion forces, and concludes with records outside the PRO.

If you are approaching the subject for the first time, read the whole book just to get a sense of the variety of records that are available for the war. Then re-read with your ancestor in mind looking for the records in which your ancestor might be recorded. Pay particular attention to where it says the records have been microfilmed, in which case they might be available through your local LDS Family History Center (although some of the filmed records are not in the catalog yet). Plus some of the records are now available on CD-ROM (trench maps, war dead) or available online (Commonwealth War Graves).

Unfortunately there will be records that you want to look at that will only be available at the PRO. You can either visit yourself, or you can hire a researcher to do directed work on your behalf. The book itself provides illustrations so that you will know what the records look like.

The book includes 4 short case studies in the relevant chapters showing how to trace an officer, a soldier, a nurse, and a soldier in the Indian army. These are shorter case studies and in a different format than the three case studies in the second edition, so don’t throw the earlier edition away it is still valuable.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.9 no.5, 2002

Tracing the History of Your House: A Guide to Sources† by Nick Barratt. Published by Public Record Office, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU, England. 2001. Index, illustrations. 225 pp. Softcover. £12.99.

This book is about the documents that relate to the land and to the houses on that land, not to the architectural features of an ancestors house.

English records dealing with land, its ownership and transfer can be very intimidating to even experienced researchers. The is partially due to the lack of easily accessible information about the records, what they contain, why they were created in the first place and how to effectively use them. This is further complicated by the fact that only some of the records are accessible on microfilm in the US.

This book pulls together lots of information for disparate time periods and explains the different record groups. Some of which you may have used, but this volume will add more to your understanding of these records.

The book has sections addressing : how to get started; maps, plans and land surveys, land law and conveyancing; title deeds; manorial and estate records; records of property inheritance; legal disputes; house occupancy; tax and rates records; records of national events; sources for ‘modern’ houses; and how do we live. The book concludes with a clear outline on how to prepare a research plan and a case study.

Some of the records discussed you will be familiar with such as census, probate records, etc. But the book gets you to think about them in terms of tracing the history of the house, not just your ancestors. However, the book takes you beyond the basic records into those that are less frequently used, but can provide valuable information. Each topic is presented with the background information and details you will need. The reading is heavy going in places, but is worth the effort if you are wanting to work with these sources. The book contains a good bibliography if you want more.

This book is certainly an authoritative guide providing valuable information even when the records themselves are more likely to be at local or county record offices and not at the PRO. The book is limited primarily to English and Welsh land records as the situation in Scotland and Ireland is different. I am certainly looking forward to working more with this volume and the records they describe.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.9 no.5, 2002

Honoring Our Ancestors; Inspiring Stories of the Quest for Our Roots† by Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak. Published by Ancestry Publishing, Inc., Orem UT. 2002. $12.95

I cannot think of a better way, to “honor our ancestors” than this book for billions to read. I was truly taken with the collage of lives, as heritage and tales were woven together.

Can you imagine recreating an 1889 “road trip” minus the covered wagon but with a few hundred more dollars...then taking photos of themselves along the way at each place where their ancestors had also set foot, so many years ago? This will make a unique memory book for all to look back upon.

On 11 September 2002, I read a wonderful 9-1-1 eulogy. It was rather fitting for the day...Think about some “Unknown Soldiers” families, having to grieve and mourn a second or third time? And no family there for the burial and closure. The author of this book takes their place.

99 Orchard Street on the Lower East Side on Manhattan in New York City is now a Tenement Museum. Over the years, this was home to over 7,000 immigrants. The museum recreates and celebrates the immigrant experience by bringing their stories to life, including the tiny details of the original apartments.

My favorite? Scavenger Hunts by photograph. This sounded like so much fun! They gained permission to use other peoples property at various sites and were able to “milk the concrete cow” for one activity. You just have to read the book to find out the others that took place.

There is a wonderful story written about the Legacy Project for War Letters from Americans that is superb. This is a non-profit organization... “Cemetery Savers” must unite! Little did this young mother know how much she would be helping herself when she started this project!

And then there were two teenage girls, living miles apart, tracking their blood connection born in 1826. Thanks to a third partner, another cousin they found online, they developed this site, “The UnWritten”, long-distance and it shows how to research, write and save your photo stories. All of these girls are fourth cousins, teenagers, interested in family history - how refreshing.

There is also the story of the traditional heirloom diaper that is handed down in one family. Oh, “ya gotta” read that one...Dinner with a dead president in the cemetery for your anniversary? What a way to celebrate, don’t you think?... 4-H projects in the cemetery? Yes! All of us picnic there, don’t we? More and more often now we hear of the younger generation having projects to do with family history that make us proud.

This is an inspiring book in so many ways. Megan has outdone herself again. Gathering these stories must have been a joy; culling them must have been heartbreaking. I certainly enjoyed these gripping, funny, sad, superb stories and I just know you will, too. To paraphrase one reviewer, these are “amazing stories, told with passion, humor and respect.”

Reviewed by Peggy Rockwell Gleich
BIGWILL v.9 no.5, 2002

Tracing Echoes† by Dr. Nicky Bird. Published by the author, 2a Downie Place, Musselburgh, EH21 6JW, Scotland. 2001. $19.95. 72 pp.

This is a fascinating, well produced glossy publication which is very different from what is normally reviewed here. The thread that holds the book together is the wonderful photographs or Julia Margaret Cameron a prominent Victorian photographer who lived and worked on the Isle of Wight in the 1860’s.

Dr. Bird has pulled together a number of interesting pieces. There is an essay by art historian Pamela Gerrish Nunn and Cameron and her work. There are quality reproductions of Cameron’s work from museums and private collections. What makes this book unique is that Bird has done genealogical research to trace descendants of some of Cameron’s sitters and these people have been photographed. You get to see similarities and differences between the modem descendants of the women that Cameron photographed.

A section provides an image of Dimbola Lodge, Freshwater Bay, Isle of Wight when Cameron lived there and this is contrasted with current photographs of the outside and inside of the house. The book concludes with an interactive dialogue between the author, Russell Roberts and Philippa Wright about how and why this work was created and its meaning.

This is certainly an interesting publication that could be used as a model of how to focus on one specific person, their work and their impact.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.9 no.6, 2002

Exploring Our Lives; A Writing Handbook for Senior Adults† by Francis E. Kazemek. Santa Monica Press LLC, PO Box 1076, Santa Monica CA 90406. 2002. 309 pp. $14.95

This delightful book is about honoring memories, yours and others. The purpose is to help capture and shape memories into a variety of written forms, such as poetry, memoirs, children’s books, and photographs. You do not need to be a “senior” to use this book, but Kazemek says “A lifetime of valuable experiences [is waiting to be used] and writing about them will sharpen those memories and deepen their meanings.”

This book touches on many ways of writing with great examples and helps. Writing about objects in the first chapter is to get you immediately writing, using a list of words and phrases simply describing an object of choice. Use your sense of smell, of taste as well as hearing, seeing, and feeling to describe these objects, Kazemek suggests. The journalist’s Five W’s & H are also recommended: Who, What, Where, When, Why and How for all of your written work. Then there is “visual mapping” to consider. I always called this cluster writing. This is a definite help to those having a difficult time remembering events or coming up with particular words.

Writing about any topic and using your own life as the source material is another suggestion from Kazemek. Write about all the firsts in your life and those experiences. People you’ve known. Look out your window and what do you see in spring, trees budding, winter, snow glittering and glistening on the branches. Your first Halloween or Thanksgiving. The first date with your husband or wife, and so on.

Writing one story always triggers reminders for other stories “whether it be for personal use or because you have a deadline looming over your head.” The book will guide you with many examples and specific instructions, with encouragement to attempt different approaches to your writing.

Kazemek suggests reading your writing out loud, to which I heartily agree. Hearing out loud what you have written does let you make improvements before you give it to your family or anyone else. Most of our writing is meant to be shared and read by and with others. Some, we write only for ourselves.

He gives suggestions and examples in individual chapters for writing children’s picture books, writing fiction and non-fiction books, diaries and dream journals plus various types of poetry. A specific chapter is also devoted to Writing Groups and Resources.

Seniors now have time to remember, reflect, reconsider and reconstruct their past lives. Kazemek believes our writing should also be shared. Writing helps you exclaim, “Yes, what a life I’ve had after all!”

I’d like to leave you with this thought: Remember, writing and a writing group to bounce stories off of, is cheaper than therapy. This is an excellent book and I recommend it highly, whether you are a senior or a junior.

Reviewed by Peggy Rockwell Gleich
BIGWILL v.9 no.6, 2002

How Our Ancestors Lived: A History of Life a Hundred Years Ago† by David Hey. Published by The Public Record Office, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU, England. 2002. 197 pp. Illustrations, index. Hardcover £19.99 This book was written to coincide with the release of the 1901 census for England and Wales by the Public Record Office (PRO). It is designed to help the reader put their ancestors into a correct historical context. It provides a social history of the late Victorian and Edwardian time period concentrating on the topics of prime concern to family and local historians. These include family life, housing, work, movement, education, religion, leisure and more. The book shows how life experienced varied depending upon social class and locality within England and Wales. One of the major benefits of social history for this time period is that photographers were active and the book is well illustrated showing many aspects of daily life.

Parts of the book are not easy to read as statistical comparisons are made about different aspects of life between the different census years, e.g. size of families in houses, fertility rates, etc. However, these are important examples of how to use and interpret data for your own research, and illustrate how to put your ancestor into context. The bulk of the book however is easy to read and contains lots of facts about our ancestors and their lives.

Throughout the book there are vignettes of real families found in the census who are then put into their local context. For examples the Wakefield family in Lincolnshire who are used to illustrate how over time most people moved only a very short distance from where they were born. There is a chapter illustrating how to effectively pull genealogical data and social history information together to tell an effective story even for ordinary families. These families include the Downers and Sandys who were New Forest laborers in southern Hampshire, plus the Heys from Thurlstone in the West Riding of Yorkshire.

The book should be read by anyone working with the 1901 census who wants to go beyond the gathering of names, dates, places and really put some flesh onto the bones. The book concludes with a detailed bibliography for ongoing research into almost any aspect of an ancestor’s life.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.10 no.1, 2003

Scotland: A History, 8000 B.C. — A.D. 2000† by Fiona Watson. Published by Tempus Publishing Ltd., The Mill, Brimscombe Port, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL5 2QG, England. (or Tempus Publishing Inc., 2 Cumberland Street, Charleston, SC 29401). 2001. 288 pp. Illustrations, index. Softcover £9.99 ($14.99).

Prof. Fiona Watson is the historian and presenter for the BBC Television series In Search of Scotland, as explained on the dust jacket of the book. The book itself does not mention the series. However, the book provides an excellent easy to read overview of over 10,000 years of Scottish History. The book is not a dry history tome but rather attempts and succeeds in providing “a basic and unavoidably selective chronology of the main events and trends, while at the same time indicating where the key areas of controversy lie” (p.15). This book is designed for the general history reader. There are no footnotes, and the bibliography is brief and selective, naming books that will generally be readily available, even in North America.

For most family historians the greatest interest will lie in the last three chapters: Reformation to Revolution 1542-1702; Scotland in Britain 1702-1850; Scotland Renewed 1850-2000, which is just under half the book. It is these chapters that will allow you to put your ancestors into historical context. The chapters look at the major political, military, religious, industrial and economical changes. The earlier chapters shouldn’t be ignored as they address many questions often lost in Scottish culture, especially in North America, such as who were and where did the Vikings, Scots, Picts, Britons and Anglo-Saxons live. When and how were they united into what we now think of as the Scots. The book concludes with a chronology, list of monarchs, and genealogies of some key royal families.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.10 no.1, 2003

More English Adventurers and Emigrants, 1625-1777: Abstracts of Examinations in the High Court of Admiralty with Reference to Colonial America† by Peter Wilson Coldham. Published by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 N. Calvert St., Baltimore MD 21202. 2002. 122 pp. Indexes. Hardcover $25 plus $3.50 p.& h.

Volume I of English Adventurers and Emigrants covering the period 1609-1660 was published in 1984, and volume II for 1661 to 1733 in 1985. Both were extractions from the High Court of Admiralty (HCA) Records now at the Public Record Office that provided references to colonial America. The HCA Examination Books in Instance for the time period after 1745 were destroyed. An attempt to overcome the problems created by this destruction has been made by making extractions from other HCA records. These records include: criminal examinations HCA 1; minutes and drafts HCA 3; assignation books HCA 6; Instance (Equity) papers HCA 13; Exemplars (i.e. drafts & miscellaneous documents) HCA 14; Instance Papers HCA 15; Exemplars from 1772, Instance Papers from 1774 HCA 16; Miscellaneous Papers HCA 30; Treasury Board Papers TI. When all these other classes were examined new records were found for the earlier time periods, sometimes giving more information on people mentioned in the earlier books, but sometimes completely new information.

The cases found in the book includes prize money, piracy, crews filing claims for non-payment of wages, appeals from colonial Vice-Admiralty Courts and crimes committed at sea. This is a book that needs to be searched if you have colonial maritime ancestors both in North America or the British Isles. For example, I found crew lists for ships sailing out of Whitehaven in Cumberland to Virginia. There is an index to persons, places and ships making searches very flexible.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.10 no.1, 2003

More Emigrants in Bondage: 1614-1775† by Peter Wilson Coldham. Published by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 N. Calvert St., Baltimore MD 21202. 2002. 217 pp. Softcover $30 plus $3.50 p.& h.

This is an addition to the 1988 The Complete Book of Emigrants in Bondage 1614-1775 and its 1992 Supplement. These earlier publications highlighted the gaps in records extracted. A number of those gaps have now been filled adding an additional 9,000 names (some are amendments to names in the earlier books). The annotations are in the same brief highly abbreviated format. For a fuller context the introduction the earlier volumes will need to be read.

The information here is extracted from central criminal records: Midland Circuit Criminal Process Book 1739-1742; Sheriff’s Cravings 1718-1776; State Papers (Criminal) for 1718-1740. Plus extractions from county records for Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, City of York and the records of Alderman John Hewitt, Jr for 1748-1763, plus English newspapers and Maryland State Archive records.

Besides the earlier books in this series the reader will also be advised to check by the same author, The King’s Passengers to Maryland & Virginia (1997, Family Line Publications). The content and arrangement varies between the books, with no guarantee as to which book will give the most information on an individual. The source citations are however more complete in The King’s Passengers.

The book concludes with an accumulated compiled list of ships known to have carried convicts to the American Colonies between 1671 and 1783 (only 5 known before 1716). For each ship it provides the date of sailing, name of ship, name of master, port of departure, destination, number of felons transported and a source reference. Also included are 43 biographical sketches of transportees identified in Maryland records. These are individuals are different from those included in the biographical sketches in The King’s Passengers.

This is one of those books that need to be checked if you are having trouble locating your ancestor because it extracts highly diverse and specialized British records. However, it is probably not needed by everyone.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.10 no.1, 2003

Probate Jurisdictions: Where to Look for Wills, 5th Edition† by Jeremy Gibson and Else Churchill. Published by Genealogical Publishing Company, 1001 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD 21202. 2002. 71 pp. Maps. Softcover. $9.50 plus $3.50 p.& h. This is one of those inexpensive must have guides for anyone doing English research, especially if you have ancestors in more than one jurisdiction. The fourth edition was published in 1994. The bulk of the book is the same as earlier editions; however, it does provide updates on newly published indexes and some movement of records and record offices, e.g. -Principal Registry for post 1858 wills, and movement of PCC records from Chancery Lane to the Family Records Centre.

For each county the guide gives a map of probate jurisdictions, including peculiars. It states where the post 1858 registered copy wills are stored. Then it describes the pre 1858 situation giving locations of wills, administrations, inventories, act books, etc., with details on any published (or unpublished) indexes or abstractions. It then concludes with a description of all the exceptions.

There are sections that deal with Scotland, Wales, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. There is no mention within the different sections about what has or has not been microfilmed by the LDS. You use this guide to go looking in the FHL catalog.

With any guide to resources it is often out of date before it is even printed. For example, it does not mention all the wills being put online by the PRO. But this is an exception and if you are starting your British research this is one of those helpful must haves.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.10 no.1, 2003

The Parish of Urr: A Civil and Ecclesiastical History† by David Frew. Published in 1909 by Thomas Fraser. Reprinted by Willow Bend Books, 65 East Main Street, Westminster, MD 21157. 2002. 345 pp. Illustrations, index. Softcover. $31

The Parish of Urr is in the Eastern District of the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, now the part of Scotland known as Dumfries and Galloway. Dalbeattie is the principal town in the parish, along with the communities of Haugh-of-Urr, Hardgate, Springholm, Crocketford, and Milton. The parish is put into the history of the region, but the details provided make this a fascinating read. For example, when dealing with the controversies of the late seventeenth century the book describes the reactions of the parishioners when their “Presbyterian” minister was replaced by an “Episcopalian” minister whom they were firmly opposed to, and what happened when the dragoons were used to find and kill the troublemakers. When the nineteenth century is addressed there is a strong emphasis on the key leaders in the parish and their influence on agricultural developments. Each of the villages and the town of Dalbeattie are described along with the parish boards and associations, antiquities, customs, and manners.

When the ecclesiastical history is addressed, again the parish is put into its historical context by looking at the situation before and after the Reformation (1560) through the Revolution (1688). Two ministers are highlighted in particular Rev. John Hepburn (1688-1723 and Rev. Alexander Murray (1806-1813). Other ministers and ecclesiastical issues are addressed more briefly. Details about the other denominations and churches within the parish are provided.

The book concludes with a number of lists including: names of property and a history of their landowners; lists of elders in the churches some dating to 1647; lists of members of the public boards in the parish such as the poor’s board, the parochial board, parish council, school board, etc; plus a list of the commissioners and town councilors of Dalbeattie since 1858.

This is a fascinating book about a specific parish. However, it is also useful read for anyone with ancestors in Southwest Scotland because it provides a discussion of the major issues within the area and time periods. The same issues your ancestors would have been involved with.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.10 no.1, 2003

Tracing Your Naval Ancestors† by Bruno Pappalardo. Published by Public Record Office, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU, England. 2002. 222 pp. Illustrated, index Softcover. £14.99.

This wonderful guide book is a must for anyone doing Royal Navy research. The book is targeted to family and naval historians, archivists, librarians and medal collectors. As such, it covers a wide and diverse range of records and secondary sources which can be used to trace genealogical and career information for men and women who served in the Royal Navy from 1660 to modern times. The book also addresses the recently released records of the Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Royal Naval Division, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Services, Women’s Royal Naval Service and First World War service records.

There is a detailed table of contents and an index that will help you once you are familiar with the records. However, for those new to Navy records I would suggest that you read the whole book. I found myself reading the book with my ancestors in my mind. I need records relating to a navy surgeon and a Royal Marine (there is a separate book for marines, but I want to know about the ships and where they were sailing). Taking this approach allows me to learn a lot more, and get a feel for the large variety of records that are available. Plus allows me to identify relevant records and indexes for the appropriate time periods that I would never have thought of looking under. Few of the records have been microfilmed by the FHL, so this is preparatory work for the next trip to the PRO, or I can direct a researcher acting on my behalf.

The book is divided into chapters covering: History and Organization of the Royal Navy; Officers; Ratings; Features of Naval Service ; General Genealogical Sources; Reserve and Auxiliary Forces Service Records; ADM 12 Digests and Indexes 1793-1958. The chapters are well subdivided with headings in bold making it very easy to find the material you need. There are also numerous illustrations of documents so you will know what you are likely to find.

There are two excellent and detailed case studies tracing the career of an officer and a (pre-1853) rating. They take you the step by step through the search process showing you what records to examine and in what order. The examples are for sailors with full interesting careers and not everything will be available for every sailor. But the possibilities are there waiting for the researcher.

This is a book you will use and is a must for anyone wanting to do Royal Navy research.

Reviewed by Paul Milner
BIGWILL v.10 no.2, 2003

The First World War: The Essential Guide to Sources in the UK National Archives† by Ian F. W. Beckett. Published by Public Record Office, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU, England. 2002. 288 pp. Index Hardcover. £19.99.

There is much research that can and should still be done to advance research on themes related to the First World War and this book is the ideal starting point.

As the book correctly points out much has been written about the war, but a lot of the writing is based on personal experience (memoirs) and high level information (general histories). The official records did not begin to be released to historians until the mid-1960’s. The personnel records were not released until the 1990’s and some of the records still have a 100 year closure on them and thus have not yet been released.

This book is not a guide book on how to trace your military ancestors. The book has been developed to allow the researcher to explore different thematic aspects of the war and to provide information on what official records exist. This is an ideal reference book to put your ancestors into context.

The book has four sections with the themes of: The Higher Direction of the War; New Ways of War; The Nation in Arms; War, State and Society. Each section is further subdivided, taking War, State and Society as an example we find the themes of: The Growth of Government; War Finance; War and Industrial Mobilisation; Labour; Women; Food Supply; Social Values and Leisure; State Welfare; The Management of Morale; Aliens and the Enemy Within.

Each Chapter and sub-theme begins with a helpful explan