Beyond the usual problems encountered in genealogy-lost records, inaccurate indexes and transcriptions, and variant spellings (to name a few)-Irish-American research presents a unique set of obstacles. So much of Irish genealogical investigation depends on knowing the exact location of where your ancestor came from in Ireland. The prevalence of common surnames, the lack of a nationwide search capability, and faulty family tradition can make it difficult to discern your ancestor's true origins and will give anyone a genealogical headache.

New York is a crossroads for many of our ancestors. Some families may have been in New York State for less than a generation on their way farther west, whereas other families became permanent settlers. New York's sources for genealogical inquiry, however, are often lacking-statewide registration of vital records did not start until 1881!

The immigrant ancestors of the Hawkins and Lawshe lines covered in this book arrived in America within twenty years of each other in the early 1700s. Their backgrounds differed vastly: Philemon Hawkins descended from a family of merchants and seamen in England, while Johannes Jacob van Laaschet left Prussia for America with other members of the Brethren congregation.

John Stephen Rando Jr.’s ancestry stretches back into many corners of the world, including Italy and Scotland. Nowhere is his family’s story more intriguing, however, than in its success in the United States, where they were part of stunning and significant historical events. His eighth great-grandfather, Francis Cooke, arrived on Mayflower in 1620 and became a respected leader in his community. Cooke’s family was one of the first to prosper in their new home. Three family members witnessed America’s dramatic bid for independence from Great Britain.

Hannah Mather Crocker's early 19th-century work presents a unique history of Boston and its environs from the 1620s to the 1820s. A leading female writer and women's rights advocate, Crocker pays special attention to women's work and culture, providing a significant resource for women's historians, scholars of feminist political thought, and early-American historians alike. This book contains a masterfully transcribed and annotated version of the text and appendix from the original manuscript, which has been housed at the American Ancestors archives for over 130 years.

In this issue:

Families: Chipman, Churchill, Collins, Drew, James, Keen, Simmons, Winslow

Sources: Stoughton [Mass.] Marriages, 1727-1851