Genealogical Notes or Contributions to the Family History of Some of the First Settlers of Connecticut and Massachusetts is a reprint of a volume originally published in 1856. The book represents the compiled notes of an early American Genealogist, Nathaniel Goodwin. This collection is a effectively a descendants report, with extensive notes by Goodwin, on forty seventeenth-century families from Connecticut and Massachusetts. Many of these lists extend five to six generations.
This book provides organized information on the family heritage of hundreds of individuals. It would be nearly impossible to estimate the thousands, or tens of thousands or more, descendants living today. Even when written in 1833, Goodwin did not intend this book as a complete genealogy of certain families, but rather as “genealogical notes to assist others in tracing out their family histories.”
Goodwin’s notes fills in gaps and names along with other tidbits. Take this short example given for one David Hollister, born November 21, 1681:
“Settled in Glastenbury. Mr. David Hollister, died December 27, 1753, in the 76th year of his age. His widow, Mrs. charity Hollister, died January 12, 1786, in the 89th year of her age. Children,—Six, named in his will”
Besides the obvious value of naming a wife, along with marriage and death date, is the positive indication that there was a will and that it names his children. Something the researcher can look for, knowing it at least existed at that time. Most notes offer similar extended family information beyond the names and birth years of direct descendents for each family.
Contents
Memoir of Nathaniel Goodwin
Genealogy of the Goodwin Family
Adam Blakeman of Stratford, CT
Leonard Chester of Wethersfield, CT
Daniel Clark of Windsor, CT
John Dwight of Dedham, MA
William Edwards of Hartford, CT
William Goodrich of Wethersfield, CT
John Goodrich of Wethersfield, CT
William Gurley of Northampton, MA
John Hollister of Wethersfield, CT
John Hopkins of Hartford, CT
John Ingersoll of Hartford, CT and of Northampton, MA
Lewis Jones of Watertown, MA
William Judson of Concord, MA and of Stratford and New Haven, CT
John Kent of Suffield, CT
Richard Mather of Dorchester, MA
Michael Metcalf of Dedham, MA
Joseph Mygatt of Hartford, CT
John Nott of Westhersfield, CT
John Porter of Windsor, CT
Robert Sedgwick of Charlestown, MA
Rev. Henry Smith of Wethersfield, CT
Jared Spencer of Cambridge and Lynn, MA and of Haddam, CT
Thomas Spencer of Harford, CT
Rev. Samuel Stone, Harford, CT
Samuel Storrs of Mansfield, CT
Samuel Terry of Springfield, MA and of Enfield, CT
Stephen Terry of Windsor, CT
Matthias Treat of Wethersfield, CT
Richard Treat of Westhersfield, CT
Andre Ward of Wethersfield, Stamford, and Fairfield, CT
Governor John Webster of Harford, CT and Hadley, MA
Governor Thomas Welles of Harford, CT
Nicholas Worthington of Hatfield, MA
Appendix
John Case of Windsor and Simsbury, CT
Edwards Family
Goodrich Family
William Spencer of Cambridge, MA and Hartford, CT
Family of Richard Treat
William Whiting of Hartford, CT
John Lord of Hartford, CT
Errata
Index
Genealogical Notes or Contributions to the Family History of Some of the First Settlers of Connecticut and Massachusetts is available from Family Roots Publishers, Price: $24.45.