Additions to Your Genealogy Library

Here are some new books that you may wish to add to your genealogical library:

--”Genealogical Resources in the New York Metropolitan Area,” edited by Estelle M. Guzik. (404 pages) Jewish Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 6398, New York, N.Y. 10128 $28 postpaid.

This is a comprehensive guide to all genealogical sources in New York City’s five counties, plus Long Island, Westchester, northern New Jersey counties and in Albany, N.Y. and Trenton, N.J. It includes the facility’s name, address, telephone number and hours of operation, and under each repository are listed the holdings, geographic scope and time span of records, finding aids, access and copying facilities.

--”Winton (Barnwell) County, S.C. Minutes of County Court and Will Book 1” (1785-1791) by Brent Holcomb, C.G. (178 pages, reprint), Brent Holcomb, P.O. Box 21766, Columbia, S.C. 29221 $31.75 postpaid.

South Carolina ancestors are not the easiest to trace, and records found in the court minutes are sometimes the only mention we find of our elusive relatives. Winton County, one of the four counties formed in the Orangeburg District of S.C. in 1785, is the only one of this district which has any 18th-Century records extant, according to the author. Winton later became Barnwell County. Included are tax lists for 1787, plus the usually fascinating information found in county court minutes -- accounts of horse stealing, property and estate disputes, jury and road lists.

--”Family Diseases: Are You at Risk?” by Myra Vanderpool Gormley, C.G. (165 pages) Genealogical Publishing Co., 1001 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, Md. 21202 $17.45 postpaid.

This book explores the relationship of genetic disorders and ancestry and whether you and your family may be at risk for certain inheritable diseases. It discusses your mental and behavioral roots, and how to trace and compile your family’s family health tree. There’s specific help for adoptees, plus a directory of organizations to contact for additional information on particular disorders.

--”A New Index: Lancaster County, Pa. Before the Federal Census” by Gary T. Hawbaker and Clyde L. Groff (204 pages). Gary T. Hawbaker, P.O. Box 207, Hershey, Pa. 17033. $16.50 postpaid.

This is Volume 5 of a series of Lancaster County, Pa. records, and contains data on more than 11,000 people, primarily from 1770 tax records. While it is arranged alphabetically by surname, which foils determining who the neighbors were, the extensive comments on many individuals contain genealogical data such as “deceased,” or “another listed in 1771.” Often occupations are given, which aid in distinguishing individuals of the same name.

--”Genealogies of Rhode Island Families (Two volumes, 1,608 pages),” Selected and Introduced by Gary Boyd Roberts, Genealogical Publishing Co., 1001 N. Calvert, Baltimore, Md. 21202 $98.50 set, postpaid; ($52.50 postpaid, each volume separately)

This enormous and important work contains all the articles on Rhode Island families that have been published in “New England Historical and Genealogical Register” since its inception in 1846. The indexes to the two volumes contain 40,000 entries. Volume I covers surnames, A-M; Volume II, N-W.

In addition to the genealogies, there are many source records provided, such as Newport births and deaths, 1760-64; Westerly Presbyterian church records; and early settlers of Block Island. Volume I contains Roberts’ extensive bibliography for 100 Colonial Rhode Island Families which includes the major printed sources for these genealogies, listed alphabetically by surname, enabling researchers to discover additional material on these lines.