Book Reviews

Book Reviews The Tangier Smith Family: Descendants of Colonel William Smith of The Manor of St. George, Long Island, New York. By Ruth Tangier Smith, M.D. and Henry Bainbridge Hoff. (The Order of Colonial Lords of Manors in America, Publication No, 34. 1978) Illustrated, Index. 102 p. paer bound. $5.00. In Suffolk County Long Island, New York, a Smith family descendant is usually assumed to be a member of the family of Richard "Bull" Smith, the founder of present Smithtown. However, in the case of the "Tangier" Smith family, the authors have bravely weathered what might have been a hurricane of confusion. Colonel Smith was born 2 February 1654/5, at Newton Bromswold, Northamptonshire, England. His parentage is still a matter for further research, although Thompson, in his History of Long Island rumored court connections, not proven. Colonel William Smith kept a journal which was continued by his son, Colonel Henry Smith, a copy of which appeared in the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1:4-5; 20-22. It commenced with William's marriage on 26 November 1675, at Tangier, Africa, to Marsha Tunstall of Surrey, England. They had six sons and seven daughters. Colonel Smith had joined his uncle William Staines, a merchant, at Tangier. There he prospered until, in 1683, he was that city's last mayor. His early association with Tangier gave rise to his identity as "Tangier Smith." The Smiths returned to London in 1683. In July 1686, they came to New York. Colonel Smith purchased land on Long Island, on Little Neck (now Strong's Neck) in Brookhaven Township. In 1689, he took up permanent residence there on land still owned by his descendants. In 1693, a tract of land was combined with the original purchase, to create the Manor of St. George by patent from Governor Fletcher. A second patent in 1697 was granted and added to the Manor. Of their thirteen children, nine of them died without issue (most in infancy) leaving only four with children. These four were: Colonel Henry Smith who married three times, his wives were Anna Shepard, Frances Caner and Margaret Biggs. He had four sons and six. daughters by Anna Shepard; no issue by Frances Caner, and two daughters by Margaret Biggs. Martha Smith, who married Colonel Caleb Heathcote of the Manor of Scarsdale, and had two sons and four daughters. 242 Book Reviews 243 Major William Henry Smith, who had one son by his first wife Hannah Merritt; two sons and five daughters by his second wife, Hannah Sayre, widow of Captain John Cooper of Southampton. Gloryans Smith, who married the Reverend George Muirson, who died in 1708, leaving one posthumous son. By the third generation, the grandchildren of William "Tangier" Smith began to marry the descendants of Richard "Bull" Smith and the authors are to be congratulated for sorting out these records with such expertise. As with any genealogy which tries to carry descendants of the progenitor to the ninth generation, some of the lines fade along the way: This is inevitable, when letters to descendants go unanswered, or they ride off into the sunset never to be heard from again. The numbering system is the one which seems often to be more complicated in its simplicity when it stretches out to more than four or five generations. In the eighth generation, for example, co-author Dr. Ruth Tangier Smith carries the number 1-10-3-5-3-3-3-1. It is a self-evident designation (the first child of the third child of the third child, etc.) but it can become unwieldy. Other than this, the work is excellent, done with painstaking detail and expertly annotated. Note: The book is available, at $5.00, from Henry B. Hoff, 300 Central Park West, New York, New York 10024. Dorothee Hughes Carousso, L.H.D. Descendants from First Families of Virginia and Maryland, 1978, by Maude Crowe, (P.O. Box 57290 West End Station, Washington, D. C. 20037). Hardcover. 234 p. index. $25.00. In 1938, Maude Crowe set out to trace her maternal Haile, Heale or Hale, and her parental. Crowe, Crow or Cro ancestral lines. Following a labyrinthian trail through some nine generations, she has concluded her research some 40 years later. Solidly based on original records, the compiler has endeavored to reconstruct these families as they were in their age and era. The result is an unconventional genealogy that covers a span of 350 years (1620-1970). Each generation is prefaced by a historian's objective formulation of the political, religious, industrial, social and economic factors playing, upon the protagonists in this family drama. A splendid index and a facile numbering system permits quick and accurate location to members of more than 450 families treated in the text. A chief criticism of the book might be that Maude Crowe is too modest in her title, for she traces roots that feed into the Virginia and Maryland first families from other states including Pennsylvania and Delaware. Among 244 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine them are the Comer, Hussey, Hawkins, Cox, Mind, McPhatridge, Seiler/ Saylor, Kizer, Shipley, Hale, Hamilton and Peoples families. Again, many of her ancestors were centereirin Tennessee, Kentucky, the Carolinas and Indiana; but the trail led her across the continent. Among the numerous descendants are those with family names of Aker, Atkins, Buckingham, Chamberlain, Chenowith, Conner, Hyland, Kigley, Kincheloe, Milburn, Miller, Range, Smith, Snider, Taylor, Tilson, Williams and Yates. Maude Crowe's letterhead states: "Climbing Your Family Tree Can Be Fun." indeed, it can; and her book delightfully proves her claim. Aubrey H. Baldwin The German Immigration into Pennsylvania. Through the Port of Philadelphia from 1700 to 1775 and The Redemptioners. By Frank Reid Diffenderffer. (Gen- ealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore, 1979) Illustrated, indexed. 328 p. $15,00. Originally published as "Pennsylvania: The German Influence in its Settlement and Development; A Narrative and Critical History," by The Pennsylvania-German Society, in 1900. It is difficult to characterize this work since it was written in the rather romantic style of its time. The author discusses the causes leading to German migration to Pennsylvania, the discomforts of their voyages across the ocean, the political implications of their arrival. There is a curious chapter dealing with the Germans as farmers. Diffenderffer was apparently much surprised by a published statement: "The Germans perhaps were less given to the enjoyment of agriculture than the Scotch-Irish and other settlers . ." One cannot blame him for his reaction; he has little trouble building a firm rebuttal. The second part of the book deals with the German "Redemptioners". Diffenderfer was distressed by the use of this term in relation to the Germans of meager means who reached these shores, as indentured servants. It is his claim that "Redemptioners" were "the Criminals and felons . which the mother country dumped upon her new Province ." He gives us an excellent description of the trials and travails of the journey of the indentured servants and of the cupidity of those who preyed upon them. Although the book offers little genealogical material it does provide good background information for those interested in this particular group of persons. Genealogical Data Relating to the German Settlers of Pennsylvania and Adjacent Territory: From Advertisements in German Newspapers Published in Philadelphia and Germantown, 1743-1800. By Edward W. Rocker. indexed by Thomas L. Hollowak. (Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore, 1980) 242 p. $15.00. This unusual compilation has lain in typescript in the library of the Germantown Historical Society since 1935. The papers used were Christo- Book Reviews - 245 pher Sower's Germantown Newspaper, 1743-1762 (Pennsylvanische Geschicht-Schreiber, later called Petinsylvanische Berichte); Henry Miller's Siaaisbote, 1767-1779; Philadelphische Zeitung, 1736-1757; Philadelphische Correspondenz, 1781-1800 and Germantauner Zeitung, 1785-1790. Edward Hacker, the compiler, was the librarian of the Germantown Historical Society. It was Professor Don Yoder who brought the typescript to the attention of the Genealogical Publishing Company, A wide variety of notices provide a wealth of information, concerning occupations, place of business and residence, family relationships and in many cases, place of origin in Germany. The following examples should give the reader an idea of the range of the notices: May 16, 1745 Johann Gottlieb Graeuninger, born at Erlingen, near Sinsheun, arrived in this country in 1738, with his brother, Martin. They were separated, and Johann Gottlieb, who is now in Anweil (New Jersey), seeks news of his brother. September 16, 1749 Peter Kock, merchant, of Philadelphia, died on the lOth at his plantation, along Wissahickon Creek. August 1, 1755 Samuel Sansom, Philadelphia, advertises that his servant, Charlotte Maria Conradin, ran away. She is a native of Hanover, 22 yeers old and had served seven months. January 26, 1776 Georg Strieper, sign of Adam and Eve, Callowhill street, Philadelphia. The addition of an index increases the value of this work. Lord Mayor's Court of London, Depositions Relating to Americans 1641-1735. Compiled and with an introduction by Peter Wilson Coldham. (National Genealogical Society, Washington, D. C. 1980) index. 119 p. casebound $10.00. paperbound $6.00. 20% discount to members of National Genealogical Society. Each of the depositions abstracted in this compilation provides unpublished information regarding American colonials .or Englishmen having business interests in America. From these abstractions one can . learn the occupations and location of English citizens, their business interests in America and very often their family relationships to those in the colony. In some cases records of birth, baptism and marriage are given, as well as many records of death. Mr. Coldham is a professional genealogist and record searcher specializing in the English emigration to America, His abstracts have been augmented, in some cases, by supplementary details by the American genealogists: Robert W. Barnes, Lewis D. Cook, Charles Hughes Hamlin and Kenn Stryker-Rodda. 246 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Pennsylvania Historical Bibliography: Additions Through 1973, by John B. B. Trussell, jr. (Pennsy!vania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg 1980) index. 87 p. $3.50, may be ordered from the Commission, Box 1026, Harrisburg 17120. A continuation of the first volume, Additions Through 1970, published in 1979, and previous bibliographies of Pennsylvania history. The listings cover Environmental, Colonization, Economics, Cultural, Government, Special Events from 1682 to 1946. Also listed are publications having to do with Local History, Church History and Ethnic Groups. It is to be hoped that when volume III in this series is printed that The Pennsylvania Gene-a/logical Magazine will be among the list of "Periodicals Used." A Manual of Archival Techniques, edited by Roland M. Baumann. (Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, 1979) 127 p. $235, may be ordered from the Commission, Box 1026, Harrisburg 17120. The book is designed to aid local and private institutions owning collections of historical material who do not have professional assistance in preservation. Varioup specialties relating to this field are dealt with by experts. An "overview of the Administration of Historical Records" hay been written by Peter J. Parker, Chief of Manuscripts, The Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Among the subjects treated are: the arrangemeni of archives; problems of security; conservation and preservation of historical materials, and State and Federal sources of aid. In each case expert spell out in great detail ways and means to achieve success in thest problems. An Index to Genealogical Periodical Literature, 19604977. Volume 9 in the Galt Genealogy and Local History Series. By Kip Sperry. (Gale ResearcE Company, Book Tower, Detriot, Michigan 48226, 1979) 166 p $24,00. Almost one hundred genealogical and historical magazines have beer indexed for this publication. The Subject Index identifies the major article! of interest to genealogists and historians. The Author and Title Index makes it possible to follow the work of various experts in numerous publications. Since few people have access to all this printed material, much les! the time to read it all, this is an invaluable aid to those who wish to keep uF with newly published work.