Books and Other References
Commercial Sources

The majority of genealogy books are not written with great profit in mind but out of love of family or strong interest in a subject. We encourage your support of the further creation and publication of books of genealogical and local historical interest by occasionally purchasing a book for your own personal library. And keep in mind that a book of local interest is a perfect gift for a friend or relative, as well as a welcome addition to your local public library or historical society.

3/28/04

David Burton Flint
http://www.dbflint-colonial-wars.com
David Burton Flint Colonial Books

Information about author and local historian David Flint's "The Life and Times of Robert Flint the Pioneer," "Trail of Broken Chains," and news of current book "Two Brothers, Two Wars, One Valley." Many related links about the Revolutionary War in the Mohawk Valley, articles of interest including re-enactment, and much more. Don't forget to click into David's bio and sign his guestbook.

11/6/03  For Immediate Release

Contact:
James Greiner 315-8662398
or Jerry Reed 315-7362313
Subject: Local History - Otsego & Herkimer Counties; Union Sixth Corps, Civil War

SUBDUED BY THE SWORD
A Line Officer in the 121st New York Volunteers
A book by James M. Greiner

[Presents the life of Captain John S. Kidder during the Civil War, as told through letters to his wife, Harriet, at home in rural New York.]

(Herkimer, NY October 15, 2003) Drawing on previously unpublished letters written by John S. Kidder to his wife, Harriet, during the Civil War, James M. Greiner recounts the triumphs and tragedies endured by one New York family. Kidder, a carriage maker living in the rural village of Laurens, responded to President Lincoln's call in the summer of 1862 for more troops by personally recruiting over seventy men living nearby. Serving under Emory Upton, considered one of the most talented soldiers produced by the Union, Kidder was captain of Company I of the 121st New York Volunteers. The regiment saw action at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Rappahannock Station, the Wilderness, and Spotsylvania. Kidder's letters home contain rich details of camp life, the difficulties of commanding men who had only recently been his neighbors, and the highs and lows associated with soldiering during the Civil War. They also reveal Harriet's struggle to maintain the family home and business due to the uncertainties of army pay.

"Greiner has left no stone unturned to provide a complete history of the 121st New York Volunteers. It's a fascinating story, told from the perspective of a field soldier. The insights into the daily life of the Union soldier are remarkable. He also explores life on the home front, showing how desertions and casualties impacted life in a rural New York village." Allen Ballard, University at Albany, State University of New York

"What is most appealing about this book is the freshness of this new materialthe window it opens onto the life of an ordinary family, which made considerable sacrifices to fight for the Union. Civil War aficionados will enjoy the opportunity to watch the war unfold through the eyes of entirely new characters." Harold Holzer, editor of State of the Union: New York and the Civil War.

Greiner had originally planned to write an updated regimental history of the 121st New York Volunteers. However, after learning of Kidder and the existence of nearly ninety letters that John wrote to wife Harriet, Greiner said; "It was so easy to set aside a regimental history project and concentrate on a biography of the remarkable husband and wife team of John and Harriet Kidder."

Subdued by the Sword also includes 26 photographs, many of them previously unpublished.

James M. Greiner is an independent historian and researcher in Herkimer, New York, and the coeditor (with Janet L. Coryell and James R. Smither) of A Surgeon's Civil War: The Letters and Diary of Daniel M. Holt, M.D.

State University of New York Press
http://www.sunypress.org/details.asp?id=60823
October 2003 / 288 pages
[Illustrated: 26 b/w photographs, 5 maps]
$18.95 paperback ISBN 0-7914-5868-7
$75.50 hardcover ISBN 0-7914-5867-9

New York Ancestry (www.newyorkancestry.com ) has a (sur)name database which includes an index of a growing number of rare and hard-to-find New York genealogical and historical books. We have placed special emphasis on the North Country, which includes Herkimer County. If a researcher should find his ancestor in our Name Search, he/she has two options: one is they can buy the book; the other is they can view a list of libraries which have the book (possibly saving the researcher some expense.)

I have a small business which reproduces old maps of towns in New England and New York. My maps of Herkimer County towns come from the 1868 Atlas of Herkimer County by B. Nichols. My maps of Montgomery County towns come from the 1868 atlas of Montgomery & Fulton County. You can see the complete list on my web page at http://www.oldmapsne.com.

Kay Gleason
Historical Ink
Old maps of towns in New England and New York and other items of genealogical and historical interest.

Heritage Books recently published Jerry Harrison's book, The Next Book of the Lockes. This extensive new Locke genealogy from Jerry Harrison expands considerably on John Goodwin Locke's definitive early work on the family, The Book of the Lockes, published in 1850. The author has extended the male lines of descent from William Locke (b. 1628) through ten generations, covering some 1,386 known male descendants catalogued using the Modified Register System. Although complete female lines have been excluded due to space limitations, the text contains many illuminating notes on family members outside the direct line of descent. The text is indexed for full names; women are listed by both maiden name and married name, wherever applicable. William Locke, Sr. is the immigrant ancestor of the Locke family studied here. He made the voyage to America with relatives on the ship Planter, embarking March 22, 1634. He settled in Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts, and wed Mary Clarke (b. 1640) in 1655. Between 1657 and 1681, she bore nine children and died July 18, 1715. William died in Woburn on June 16, 1720, at the age of 91. 2000, 611 pp., illus, fullname index, paper, $35.50 #1457 Pre-Publication Price until April 28, 2000: $28.40 Author Jerry Harrison advises us that Herkimer County lines of the Lockes are covered. For further information, please contact Jerry or visit his website.

Bill Barker, author of "Early Families of Herkimer County, NY - Decendants of the Burnetsfield Palatines", has made available on 3.5 disks his book about early Montgomery County families. The set of disks, in RTF format costs $20. When ordering please indicate whether you need PC or Macintosh format. Payment must be sent with your order, payable to "Bill Barker": Bill Barker, 25 Wheeler Street, Shelton, CT 06484

A new book by Allan D. Footeby, copyright 1998, and a joint publication, North Country Books, Inc., 311 Turner St., Utica, NY and Mohawk Valley History Project, 4 Cheriton Drive, Whitesboro, NY. According to Laura Perkins, the book is available at the Oneida County Historical Society, and in local book stores, for $20.00.

"This is the story of the many descendants of Maria Elizabeth Schaffer, Emigrant to America, who arrived in Colonial New York in 1710.

Maria and her two sons, Johannes and Henrich, were of hardy stock and settled in the area which is now known as the Village of Schoharie, Schoharie Co., NY USA. Pastor Berkenmeyer mentioned Johannes Schaffer often in ALBANY PROTOCOL. Johannes signed as a Justice on the call from the Lutheran Church at Schoharie to Rev. Dr. Gerdes in London 25 August 1741 (Luth. Church in N.Y. and N.J., p. 171). His family appears on Pastor Somer's Family List ca. 1744 (Schoharie Luth. Chbk.) Pastor Berkenmeyer called Henrich the brother of (Jo)hannes in 1736 (Albany Protocol, p.189).

In 14 generations, Maria Elizabeth Schaffer has 8,168 descendants enumerated in this book. If you count spouses, too, there are 12,241 descendants listed. In the past few months a branch of the family which uses the surname, "Shaver," those who remained loyal to England in the Revolutionary War, has been discovered in Canada through the efforts of Gordon Stinson, Edward Kipp and Lynn Cook. Some of them have been included in this book, but there are many, many more, a very prolific family. Maybe in the future a book on the Canadian family can be compiled.

This book is about 1,585 pages in length, printed in 2 volumes and includes an index. There are personal notes on many entries, giving available data as birth, baptismal and marriage records, military history, personal anecdotes, obituaries, occupation, education and more.

This book has been researched and written by Herman W. Witthoft, Sr., with the assistance of his wife, Doris, his daughter, Melissa and his sisters, Florence L. Hulsizer and Martha A. Kopra."

Copies of the book are available, $55.00, plus $5.00 shipping, total $60.00 (American) from: Herman W. Witthoft, Sr., 141 Hudson Ave., Chatham, NY USA. (Telephone: 518-392-4544. E-mail Us)

"This is the story of the many descendants of Johann Conrad Kilts, Emigrant to America, who arrived in Colonial New York about 1743. "Conrad Kilts acquired land at Stone Arabia in 23 September 1743 from Adam Walrath (Schedule of Titles of the Stone Arabia Patent). Conraeth Kilz was a witness to the division of lot #20 between the Lutheran and Reformed congregation in Stone Arabia 27 March 1744 (Vosburgh's Transcription of the Stone Arabia Chbk.) Conradt Kults was naturalized 14 November 1750 (Scott & Stryker-Rodda, p. 41). Conrad Kilts and wife Zuzanna Margaretha sponsored Johannes Kilts in 1754 (Trinity Lutheran Churchbook, Stone Arabia). Coenrat Kitts and Peter Kells were freeholders at Stonerabie in 1763 (Albany Co. Freeholders)." (MORE PALATINE FAMILIES, Henry Z. Jones, Jr., Universal City, CA, 1991)

In 13 generations, Johann Conrad Kilts has 6,438 descendants enumerated in this book. If you count spouses, too, there are 9,825 descendants listed.

This book is about 1,500 pages in length, printed in 2 volumes and includes an index. There are personal notes on many entries, giving available data as birth, baptismal and marriage records, military history, personal anecdotes, obituaries, occupation, education and more.

This book has been researched and written by Herman W. Witthoft, Sr., with the assistance of his wife, Doris, his daughter, Melissa and his sisters, Florence L. Hulsizer and Martha A. Kopra."

Copies of the book are available, $55.00 (USA), plus $5.00 shipping (USA), or $15.00 shipping (Canada) from: Herman W. Witthoft, Sr., 141 Hudson Ave., Chatham, NY USA. (Telephone: 518-392-4544. Contact Us

From Richard Hayes:
" NELLIS - NELLES Immigrants from the Palatinate, 1710", Vol. 1, The First Eight Generations was published in Dec. 1997 by the Nellis and Nelles Family Associations and the Herkimer County Historical Society. Vol. 2 of this set, upon completion, will be sent to all purchasers of volume 1. The price for both Volumes is $75 plus $4 postage. Checks should be payable to the Nellis Family Association. Send your order to:

Jay Nellis
7434 Temple Court
Rockford, IL
61108-4451

Jay will notify the Herkimer County Historical Society of your order and they will send the book to you.

Richard Hayes

Jim Hier's company Family Papers sells and searches for genealogical documents, photos, letters and manuscripts/ historic autographs. They help family historians and genealogists locate, own and preserve authentic documents and letters pertaining to their ancestors. Check out their beautiful site with sample listings and on-line documents.

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