As a lay-historian (and I reckon any reasonably dilligent genealogist with at least a few years under his or her belt can claim this moniker) I have a rather lengthy list of cherished books on which I have come to depend. These books range from narrow local histories to family genealogies to broad historical surveys. Many were recommended by fellow New England researchers and others were discovered during my countless forays into new and unexplored libraries and LDS Family History Centers. Each in its own way has proven outstanding. What you see below then is my list of personal favorites - those books on New England or Colonial America that have proven so uniquely valuable that I return to them time and time again. Since by now I own a copy of most of them (at least those still in print) I have included a brief review of each to help the unacquainted reader. Hopefully this list will help others who are starting to build their own New England collections.
| Title | Review | Availability |
| New England's Generation, The Great Migration and the formation of Society and Culture in the Seventeenth Century, by Virginia DeJohn Anderson, 1991. 232 pages. | A very readable yet fact-filled look at what brought the Puritans to America and, once here, what their lives were like. It provides great context for the researcher. | How to obtain
(hard) How to obtain (Soft) |
| Albion's Seed, Four British Folkways in America, by David Hackett Fischer, 1989. 946 pages. | Probably the seminal work of early American history - certainly in our time. Written to appeal equally to the scholar and non-professional historian. Comprehensive look at migration patterns (both U.K. & U.S.), religious motivations, inter-marriage of notable families, occupational factors | How to obtain
(Hard) How to obtain (Soft) |
| The Hastings Memorial, A Genealogical Account of the Descendants of Thomas Hastings of Watertown, Mass. From 1634 to 1864, by Lydia Nelson (Hastings) Buckminster, 1866. 183 pages. | The first and still the only truly comprehensive genealogy of the Hastings family. Contains amazingly few errors (e.g., spurious noble ancestry for Thomas). A great book and a "must have" for Hastings researchers. Contains specific Hastings content. | Out of print but hard bound photoduplicate can be purchased from the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) for approximately $40. Members can also borrow this book (for nominal fee) from NEHGS Book Loan Service. |
| Family Memorials, Genealogies of the Families and Descendants of the Early Settlers of Watertown, Mass. Including Waltham and Weston..., by Henry Bond, M.D., 1855. Approximately 1100 pages. | Perhaps the best and single most comprehensive local history/ genealogy ever written for ancient New England families. It is almost unbelievable that one man could have put this together. The best. Contains specific Hastings content. | Out of print and rare but can be found sometimes at antiquarian bookstores such as Tuttles in Brattleboro, VT. If found, it will probably sell for several hundred dollars. NEHGS Members can also borrow this book (for nominal fee) from Book Loan Service. |
| Puritan Village, The Formation of a New England Town, by Sumner Chilton Powell, 1963. 211 pages. | This book won the 1964 Pulitzer Prize for History. An excellent study of the settling of Sudbury, MA. Contains useful context for those studying other towns as well. Great information about notable settlers such as Edmund Rice. | How to obtain (Soft) |
| Builders of the Bay Colony, by Samuel Eliot Morison, 1930. 405 pages. | Contains hard to find biographical information on the early "movers and shakers" (e.g. John Winthrop, etc.). When you need it you really need it. | Out of print. Can possibly be obtained through Tuttle Antiquarian Books or Amazon's out of print service. |
| Ancestors of American Presidents, by Gary Boyd Roberts, 1989.330 pages. | Even if you aren't interested in notable kin (oh come on now fess up) you will find the family trees contained in this book exceedingly valuable. New England families were very inter-related and this book shows how with easy to follow illustrations. Excellent resouce! | Mr. Roberts is associated with the NEHGS and they sell his books. |
| Watertown Records Comprising the First and Second Books of Town Proceedings with the Land Grants and Possessions also The Proprietors' Book and the First Book and Supplement of Births, Deaths and Marriages, by the Watertown Historical Society, 1894. | This is where you go when you want to see the sheer magnitude of Dr. Bond's task in writing his Watertown Genealogies mentioned above. Every aspect of day to day life is mentioned in this book. Thomas Hastings, who served in many public capacities during his long life, is mentioned perhaps more than any other citizen. Caputures the essence of 17th century Watertown. Contains specific Hastings content. | Out of print but hard bound photoduplicate can be purchased from the NEHGS. |
| Plymouth Colony, Its History & People 1620 - 1691, by Eugene Aubrey Stratton. 481 pages. | An outstanding combination of local history and family genealogies. | Out of print. Try anyway? |
| Genealogical Register of the First Settlers of New England, by John Farmer, 1829. | Perhaps the most comprehensive source for first and second generation puritans. Doesn't always answer the question but usually points you in the right direction. Contains specific Hastings content. | A hard bound reprint can be purchased through the Genealogical Publishing Co. in Baltimore. |
| The Little Commonwealth: Family Life in Plymouth Colony, by John Demos, 1971. 197 pages. | A thorough sociological view of early American life looking at everything from marriage, raising children to traditions and taboos. Good context. | How to obtain (Soft) |
| The Charles, by Arthur Bernon Tourtellot, 1941. 356 pages. | This is part of the excellent "Rivers of America" series. While it more than does justice to the river it really uses the Charles as a narrative vehicle for telling the story of the people and towns who graced its banks. Highly readable with great anecdotes and historical context. Another one in the series to look for is about the Connecticut River. | Becoming hard to find. Check your local used book store...that is where I found mine. |
| The Flowering of New England, 1815-1865, by Van Wyck Brooks, 1936. 550 pages. | This beautifully written book explains how the land of staid puritans began to evolve into the liberal mecca that is Massachusetts today. Hawthorne, Emerson, Alcott, Thoreau...they're all here. One of the best sources for capturing the intellectual cross-currents of life in the 19th century. | How to obtain |
| New England Outpost, by Richard I. Melvoin, 1989. 368 pages. | A very interesting book on the settlement of Western Mass. and Deerfield in particular. Contains specific Hastings content. | How to obtain (Soft) |
| Pathways of the Puritans, by Mrs. N.S. Bell, 1930. 212 pages. | The fairly rare book published for the Mass. Bay Colony Tercentenary Commission contains a wealth of hard to find information of the people and places of early New England. | Rare...try Tuttles. If you find one expect to pay a premium. |
| The First Salute, by Barbara W. Tuchman, 1988. 147 pages. | An excellent source on the Revolutionary War era my one of America's foremost historians. | How to obtain
(Hard) How to obtain (Soft) |
| Chronicles of the First Planters, by Alexander Young, 1846 | An outstanding source for information on the journey to America and the hardships of the first settlers. | Reprinted by the Genealogical Publishing Co. in 1975. Copies should be available through them. |
| The Beginnings of New England, by John Fiske, 1889. 328 pages. | A scholarly work, well written and packed full of interesting lithographs, and maps. Heavy emphasis on the origins of puritanism, the pilgrim exodus, etc. Another great context book. | Out of print. This book is hard to find. Best bet is probably to try Tuttles. |
| The Oxford Book of Royal Anecdotes, by Elizabeth Longford, 1989. 546 pages. | For the many that have royal lines this book is full of great anecdotes about your ancestors. After reading this, you may have a new appreciation for what you thought was mis-behavior on the part of the current royal family. | How to obtain (Hard) |
| Mobility and Migration, East Anglian Founders of New England, 1629-1640, by Roger Thompson. 305 pages. | An invaluable source for information on the origins, occupations and family inter-relationships of early New Englanders. | How to obtain (Hard) |
| History of the Thomas Adams and Thomas Hastings Families, of Amherst, Massachusetts, by Herbert Baxter Adams, 1880. 66 pages. | Prof. Adams' genealogy is a very good source for information on both his Adams ancestry and his line of descent from Thomas the immigrant via son Dr. Thomas Hastings and wife Anna (Hawks). Contains specific Hastings content. | Originals of this book are rare but a rebound photoduplicate version was (probably still is) available through Tuttle's. |
| Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume 1607-1896, published by The A.N. Marquis Company, Revised Edition, 1967. 689 pages. | I refer to this excellent book more often than most. It contains thousands of famous and also long-forgotten Americans. The biographical citations are very valuable because, in most cases, they list full dates of birth and death, names of parents and name of spouse (to include maiden name). | If you are lucky you might pick this one up as an ex-library book as I did. You might also try Tuttle's. |
| The Genealogical History of the Clark and Worth Families..., by Carol Clark Johnson, Private Printing (Ohio), 1970. | Contains specific Hastings content. Of main interest for the Hastings researcher is this books speculative ancestry for Thomas Hastings the immigrant. The author's supposition is covered in my article on his ancestry | My be viewed, for a nominal membership fee, at www.GenealogyLibrary.com. NEHGS Members can also borrow this book (for nominal fee) from Book Loan Service. |
| The Hawaiian Islands, From Monarchy to Democracy, by Nancy Webb and Jean Francis Webb, New York. | Contains specific Hastings content. Of main interest for the Hastings researcher is this discussion of the missionary Judd family (TH descendants) and their great influence on the social and political life of the Hawaiian Islands. | |
| Dorothea Dix: New England Reformer, by Thomas J. Brown, Harvard Univ. Press, 1998. 432 pages. | Dorothea Dix was a respected 19th social reformer and, at least as portrayed in this book, a rather difficult and vainglorious person. Contains specific Hastings content. Of main interest for the Hastings researcher is the fact that Dorothea Dix was a TH descendant. | This book is available through Amazon.com. Approximate cost is $30. |
| Theodore Parker: Yankee Crusader, by H.S. Commager, Peter Smith Publishers, 1984. | Rev. Theodore Parker was a highly respected 19th theologian and social activist who was a friend and intellectual peer of Emerson, Holmes and other New England luminaries. He was considered one of the brightest men of his day. Contains specific Hastings content. Of main interest for the Hastings researcher is the fact that Rev. Parker was a TH descendant. | This book is available through Amazon.com. Approximate cost is $16.50. |
| Life and Correspondence of Theodore Parker, by John Weiss. | See above. Contains specific Hastings content. Of main interest for the Hastings researcher is the fact that Rev. Parker was a TH descendant. | Out of print. This book is hard to find. Best bet is probably to try Tuttles. |
| Put the Vermonters Ahead, by George N. Parsons, 1996. 216 pages. | Members of the Hastings family and related families were well represented in the Union regiments of Vermont. This is a very readable history and useful reference tool. | This book is available through Amazon.com. Approximate cost is $30 (Hardcover). |
| Coolidge: An American Enigma, by Robert Sobel, 1998. 400 pages. | The many Hastings descendants who share a Coolidge lineage will find this very well written book on President Coolidge quite interesting. | This book is available through Amazon.com. Approximate cost is $24 (Hardcover). |
| My Grandfather's House; A Genealogy of Doubt and Fear, by Robert Clark, 1999. 288 pages. | This book traces the evolution of one man's old line Puritan family from profound belief in God to 19th Unitarian and transcendalists and finally, ironically, his own growing affinity for the Catholic Church. | This book is available through Amazon.com. Approximate cost is $24 (Hardcover). |
Heritage Books, Inc., 1-800-398-7709, heritagebooks@usn.pipeline.com
Tuttle Antiquarian Books, Inc., 1-802-773-8229, tuttbook@interloc.com or
www.abaa-booknet.com/usa/tuttle
NEHGS, 1-888-296-3447, sales@nehgs.org, or www.nehgs.org
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