ervation Resources F 1 .N43 Copy 1 NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY Incorporated 1845 SOCIETY'S BUILD 18 Somerset St Stanbopc iprcss . GILSON COMPANY BOSTON, U.S.A. New England Historic Genealogical Society. HISTORY. The New England Historic Genealogical Society was formed in 1844, "for the purpose of collecting, preserving, and publishing genealogical and histor- ical matter relating to New England families, and for the establishment and maintenance of a cabinet." Few genealogical books were printed in America prior to the founding of the Society, Since its incorporation, almost every genealogical work of consequence in America is traceable, either directly or indirectly, to the influence of the Society, which is the most important genealogical society in America. MEMBERSHIP. The Society consists of Honorary, Corresponding, Life, and Resident Members. Resident Members pay five dollars on admission, and five dollars annually on the ist of January, and receive the New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Membership is not Hmited to residents of New England, and is open to women. 3 4 NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC Any member may become a Life Member and receive the Register, by the payment of fifty dollars at one time. Engraved certificates of membership are furnished if desired. Application for member- ship should be made through some Life or Resident Member. In order to increase the number of Life and Resident Members, blank forms for nomina- tions vdll be furnished upon application to the Corresponding Secretary. MEETINGS. Stated meetings of the Society are held at i8 Somerset Street, Boston, on the first Wednesday of every month, except from June to September inclusive. At these meetings original papers and essays are read. NEW ENGLAND HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER. The New England Historical and Genealogical Register is published by the Society quarterly in January, April, July, and October of each year. Each number contains ninety-six or more octavo pages of valuable and interesting matter concerning the History, Antiqmties, Genealogy, and Biography of .'America, vritha portrait of some deceased member. Commenced in 1847, it is the oldest historical and genealogical periodical now published in this GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY 5 country; and its contributors comprise a list of the most eminent and competent writers on gen- ealogy in New England, with many in other States and foreign countries. Terms, of Subscription, three ($3.00) dollars per annum, in advance, commencing January; free to Resident Members paying five ($5.00) dollars an- nually, and to Life Members who have paid fifty ($50.00) dollars at one time into the Life Member- ship Fund. A full set of the magazine sells at more than double the original subscription cost. OTHER PUBLICATIONS. At the present time the Society is pubHshing: — I. The Vital Records (Births, Marriages, and Deaths) of Massachusetts towns, from the date of incorporation to the end of the year 1849. These are printed by a fund of $20,000 set apart from the bequest of Robert Henry Eddy to the Society, and are sold to members and others, if ordered in advance of pubh'cation, at the rate of one cent per printed page. Only a limited number of copies is printed. The type is then distributed, and the extra copies held on sale at a considerable advance on the sub- scription price. The Vital Records of Montgomery, Pelham, Walpole, Peru, Alford, Hinsdale, Medfield, Lee, 6 NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC Becket, Sudbury, Tyringham, Bedford, New Brain- tree, Great Barrington, Washington, Gill, Arlington, Waltham, Chilmark, Bellingham, Palmer, Medway, Newton, Edgartown, Norton, Dalton, Sturbridge, Medford, Dracut, West Stockbridge, and Wil- liamstown have been printed by the Society, and those of Middlefield, Scituate, Heath, Billerica, Weymouth, Foxborough, Wayland, Pembroke, Holliston, Dover, Duxbury, Granville, Tisbury, Carver, Brookline Hingham, Hopkinton, Town- send, Taunton, Lincoln, Worthington, Hanson, Stow, Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, West Bridge- water, Chester, Richmond, West Springfield, Brock- ion, and Nantucket are in course of preparation. An effort is being made by the Society to induce the other New England States to print their early records of births, marriages, and deaths. 2. Proceedings of the Annual Meetings, contain- ing obituary notices of deceased members; distrib- uted free to members of the Society and to all donors to the Library. 3. Biographies of deceased members, prepared by the Society's Historian, and printed by the Towne Memorial Fund. 4. A Consolidated Index of persons and places in the first fifty volumes of the New England Histor- ical and Genealogical Register, in process of pub- lication. Two volumes are completed. 5. Walors's "Genealogical Gleanings in Eng- GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY 7 land," the result of nearly twenty years' work, and costing nearly $30,000, in two volumes. 6. Abstracts of Wills from the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, at Somerset House, London. Regis- ter Soame, containing the wills of the year 1620, has over 600 pages, with about 40,000 names of persons and 10,000 of places. The price is $6.00 per volume . To carry on English research successfully, the Society should have a special fund of $15,000, dona- tions to which are solicited. The Society has undertaken to copy and arrange systematically all records of births, marriages, and deaths, from court files, early New England news- papers, church records, clergymen's and sextons' private records, gravestone inscriptions, and family Bibles; but to do this work, special donations amount- ing to at least $10,000 are needed. Some of these records should be printed. Stationery of a uniform character will be furnished free by the Librarian to members and others who will undertake any copying for the Society. The Society has taken steps to encourage the printing of indexes to all wills, deeds, and court files, and of the proprietors' records and town pro- ceedings of New England towns. LIBRARY. The Library of the Society is open daily (Sundays and holidays excepted), from g a.m. to 5.30 p.m., 8 NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC and is free to all. It contains many thousands of volumes, pamphlets, and manuscripts relating to New England families and localities. The Library is consulted by from fifty to one hundred persons daily, many of whom come from distant places for this purpose, and assistance in the selection of books is cheerfully given by attendants. Members are allowed to consult books at the shelves. Donations of cash for current expenses, and of genealogical books, are thankfully received. Recent genealogical publications presented to the Library are noticed in the Register. BUILDING. The Society has been heavily taxed during recent years by the rapid and constant increase of interest in history and genealogy, and its building is no longer adequate for the proper use and display of its library and its cabinet of Colonial and Rev- olutionary relics, nor has it sufficient permanent funds for the maintenance of its Library and the prosecution of its work. If a new building is to be erected, at least $150,000 in donations will be re- quired. Any of the executive ofiicers will be glad to advise persons intending to give or bequeath money to the Society. GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY AIDS TO GENEALOGICAL BEGINNERS. Beginners should first gather all available infor- mation from older relatives and from family papers. After consulting published books, one should search the wills and administrations of estates in the Pro- bate records, and should trace the property of per- sons under consideration in the Registry of Deeds. The Records and Files of the County Courts should also be examined. Town Records of Births, Mar- riages, and Deaths, Church books of Baptisms and Marriages, and the Cemeteries should be consulted. Records of military service have been published by the various States. The following books of reference will be found useful in beginning genea- logical research : — Munsell's "Genealogical Index." Savage's "Genealogical Dictionary." Pope's "Pioneers of Massachusetts." Hotten's "Lists of Early Passengers." GrifSn's "Index to Local History." "New England Historical and Genealogical Regis- ter," 60 volumes. "Essex Institute Collections." The Society does not undertake research work; but will, upon request, give the names of compe- tent professional genealogists. lO NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC PUBLICATIONS OF THE SOCIETY FOR SALE. New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Prices given on application. Memorial Biographies of ) single volume . $2.50 Members, 6 volumes ^ set 1 2 . 00 Rolls of Membership 50 Waters's Genealogical Gleanings in England, 2 volumes, set 10.00 Abstracts of Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, Register 5oawe, 1620 6.00 Vital Records : — Montgomery Pelham Walpole Peru Alford Hinsdale Medfield Lee Becket Sudbury Tyringham Bedford New Braintree Washington Great Barrington Gill 00 Arlington $2.25 25 Waltham 3.75 75 Chilmark 1.25 50 Bellingham 2 . 75 50 Palmer 3- 00 25 Med way 4-5° 25 Newton 6.50 00 Edgartown 3-5° 25 Norton 5 . 25 25 Dalton 1.25 50 Sturbridge 5.00 75 Medford 6.00 25 Dracut 4.00 75 West Stockbridgc 1 . 50 25 Williamstown 2.25 25 And others as published GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY II OFFICERS. The officers of the Society are a President, a Vice-President for each of the New England States, a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Librarian. The Council of fifteen members consists of the President, Vice-President for Massachusetts, the two Secretaries, the Treasurer, and the Librarian, and nine elective members, three of whom are elected annuall}' for a term of three years. There are also an Historian, an Editor of Publications, and a number of standing Committees, appointed annually by the Council. OFFICERS FOR 1907. President. Hon. James Phinney Baxter, A.M., Litt.D. Portland, Me. Vice-Presidents. Caleb Benjamin Tillinghast, A.M., Litt.D. . . . Boston. William Davis Patterson Wiscasset, Me. Jonathan Eastman Pecker, B.S Concord, N.H. Hon. William Wallace Stickney, LL.D. . . Ludlow, Vt. George Corlis Nightingale Providence, R.I. James Junius Goodwin Hartford, Conn. Recording Secretary. George Augustus Gordon, A.M Somerville . 12 NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC Corresponding Secretary. Henry Winchester Cunningham, A.B. , . . Manchester. Treasurer. Francis Apthorp Foster Falmouth. Librarian. William Prescott Greenlaw Sudbury. The Council. Ex-Officiis. Hon. James Phinney Baxter, A.M., Litt J). Caleb Benjamin Tillinghast, A.M., Litt.D. George Augustus Gordon, A.M. Henry Winchester Cunningham, A.B. Francis Apthorp Foster. William Prescott Greenlaw. Fo7- TQoy. Mary Alice Ke.\ch Providence, R.I. Frederick Lewis Gay, A.B Brookline. Charles Knowles Bolton, A.B Shirley. For iQoy, igo8. Helen Frances Kimball Brookhne. George Winslow Wiggin Franklin. Myles Standish, A.m., M.D Boston. For igoy, igo8, igog. Albert Alonzo Folsom Brookline. Waldo Lincoin, A.B Worcester. Mrs. Ida Louise Farr Miller Wakefield. GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY 1 3 OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES FOR 1907. Appointed by the Council. Historian. William Richard Cutter, A.M Woburn Editor of Publications. Henry Ernest Woods, A.M Boston. Committee on Finance. James Phinney Baxter, A.M., Litt.D., Chairman Portland, Me. Henry Winchester Cunningham, A.B. . , . Manchester. Francis Apthorp Foster Falmouth. Waldo Lincoln, A.B Worcester. Charles Knowles Bolton, A.B Shirley. Committee on Real Estate. James Phinney Baxter, A.M., Litt.D., Chairman Portland, Me. Nathaniel Johnson Rust Boston. EDMU?fD Dana Barbour •. Boston. Henry Winchester Cunningham, A.B. . . . Manchester. Thomas Hills Boston. Committee on the Library, George Brown Knapp, A.M., Chairman Boston. Helen Frances Kimball Brookline. Myles Standish, A.m., M.D Boston. Joseph Gardner Bartlett Boston. William Prescott Greenlaw, ex-officio .... Sudbury. 14 NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC Committee on Publication. Caleb Benjamin Tillinghast, A.M., Litt.D. Chairman Boston. Don Gleason Hill, A.M Dedham Charles Knowles Bolton, A.B Shirley. Francis Everett Blake Boston. Edmunt) Dana Barbour Boston Committee on Papers and Essays. Albert Alonzo Folsom, Ch-airman Brookline David Henry Brown, A.B Medford William Carver Bates Newton. Frederick Lewis Gay, A.B Brookline Mary Ella Stickney Waltham. Committee to Assist the Historian. Andrew Fiske, Ph.D., Chairman Weston. Rev. Silvanus Hayward, D.D Southbridge. Rev. Anson Titus Somerville. Ernest Lewis Gay, A.B Brookline. Edward Chauncey Booth, A.B., M.D Somerville. Wilforo Jacob Litchfield, M.S Southbridge. Arthur Wendell Burnham Newton. Committee on English Research. Charles Sherburne Penh.^llow, A.B., Chairman Boston. Francis Apthorp Foster Falmouth. Joseph Gardner Bartlett Boston. Jerome Carter Hosmer Boston. William Eben Stone, A.B Cambridge. Committee on Heraldry. Henry Ernest Woods, A.M., Chairman Boston. Francis Apthorp Foster Falmouth. Boylbton Adams Beal, A.B., LL.B Nahant. GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY I 5 Committee on Epitaphs. John Albree, Chairman Swampscott. Charles Sidney Ensign, LL.B Newton. John Bliss Brainerd, M.D Brookline. Mrs. Nellie Chamberlain Pray Boston. RuFUS George Frederick Candage Brookline. Charles French Read Brookline. George Walter Chamberlain, M.S Weymouth. Committee on Collection of Records. John Bliss Brainerd, M.D., Chairman .... Brookline. Arthur Greene Loring Woburn. Albert M.atthews, A.B Boston. Mrs. Ida Louise Farr Miller Wakefield. Mrs. Ethel Stanwood Bolton, B.A Shirlej'. William Lincoln Palmer Cambridge. William Prescott Greenlaw, ex-ojpcio .... Sudbury. Committee on Consolidated Index. Francis Apthorp Foster, Chairman Falmouth. William Prescott Greenlaw . ". Sudbury. Nathaniel Gushing Nash, A.M Cambridge. Committee on Sale of Publications. Caleb Benjamin Tillinghast, A.M., Litt.D. Chairman Boston. Henry Ernest Woods, A.M Boston. Henry Winchester Cunningham, A.B. . . . Manchester. George Augustus Gordon, A.M Somerville. William Prescott Greenlaw Sudbury. Committee to Increase Membership. George Sumner Mann, Chairman Brookline. Charles Knowles Bolton, A.B Shirley. Albert Alonzo Folsom Brookline. Frank Ernest Woodward Maiden. Helen Frances Kimball BrookUne. 1 6 NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC FINANCIAL NEEDS OF THE SOCIETY. The attention of all persons interested in historical and genealogical research is called to the following estimate of the financial needs of the Society; For a new five-story fire-proof Library building, with a hall to seat 300 persons, stack room for 250,000 books, and a read- ing room for 80 readers (tenta- tive plans can now be seen at the Society's rooms, and sug- gestions are invited) $60,000 Library fixtures, furniture, etc. 30,000 Land, 5,000 square feet, pur- chased, but not yet paid for 30,000 Si 20,000 For addition to permanent fund, for purchase and binding of books, and increased expenses for care of a new building (calHng for $3,000 additional income per annum) 75>°^° For copying records of births, marriages, and deaths from court files, church records, clergymen's and undertakers' private records, graveyard in- scriptions and family Bibles 10,000 GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY I 7 For preparing and printing a catalogue of the 65,000 books and pamphlets belonging to the Society $8,000 For Alphabetical Abstracts or Digest of personal items in the Boston News-Letter and other New England newspapers, from 1704 to 18 1 5, estimated to be equal to 8,000 printed pages 6,000 For Genealogical research in England, a permanent fund 15,000 For estimated loss in printing Vital Records to 1850 of Mas- sachusetts towns 5,000 The Treasurer, Francis Apthorp Foster, 18 Somerset Street, Boston, and all other oflScers of the Society, will be glad to advise persons intending to give or bequeath money to the Society. FORM FOR A BEQUEST. I give, devise, and bequeath to the New England Historic Genealogical Society, a corporation duly incorporated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and located in the City of Boston in said Commonwealth, the sum of dollars for the general purposes of said Society. (// it is the devisor^s intention that the sum bequeathed shall be devoted to any particular object, it should be clearly and defi- nitely stated.) LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 013 995 005 7 #