The Mohawk Valley is a geographically isolated, at least by eighteenth and nineteenth century standards, section of central New York. So named after the Mohawk Indians, members of the Iroquois Confederacy, who inhabited the region. Early fur traders established the first permanent settlement in the area in 1662. Beginning around 1709 a larger influx of Dutch, English, and Palatine settled westward along the Mohawk river. The relative isolation of the area led to substantial inter-family marriages crossing back and forth amongst the local families for many generations.
Compendium of Early Mohawk Valley Families is a two volume set by Maryly B. Penrose. As the name suggests, these books are a compendium of 18th and 19th century vital records for those living in the Mohawk Valley. Because of the strong religious convictions of the inhabitants, surprisingly good records were kept and preserved.
The Compendium is ordered alphabetically by surname. Individual data was collected from available marriage, birth, baptism, death, probate, pension, military, land, and census records. The two volume set also contains a brief history of the area and two appendices. Appendix A lists all know members of the Tryon County Militia with rank and regiment. Appendix B is an alphabetical listing of heads of families and corresponding entries as taken from the 1790 Federal Census of Montgomery County, New York.
At nearly 1150 pages, this compendium is a powerful collection of vital data for those living in Mohawk valley during the 17 and 18oos.
You can order a copy of Compendium of Early Mohawk Valley Families, Volumes I and II by Maryly B. Penrose at Family Roots Publishing Item #CF4558