Baptists first, 1802, followed by the Methodists about 1814, and the Universalists in 1843. An account of the "Millerite " delusion and its pitiful effects follows, then the history of the temperance movement, schools, masonic and military bodies, postoffices, hotels, the several villages and their " nicknames," manufactories, lawyers, physicians, traders, &c. It will be noticed that the author puts "politics" just before" mills," which may or may not evidence his attitude in the matter of civil service reform." A number of entertaining stories and incidents are here related, and then come biographical sketches and family notices. In the Appendix is given "Extracts from the Diary of Stephen Chase, 1801-1806," and also a complete census of the town for 1870. The many excellent pictures of the town's prominent sons are a pleasant feature of the work, and among these many will recognize with pleasure the genial faces of the author himself, ex-Gov. Sidney Perham, R. K. Dunham, Esq., Hon. Charles P. Kimball and others. The writer of this notice has been more particularly interested in the history since finding among these faces two valued friends and college "chums," two really self-made made men, Professor Charles O. and Rev. Harrison S. Whitman. Every part of the work is neatly executed, and all made accessible by an excellent index of names.

By the Rev. G. M. Bodge, Dorchester, Mass.

History of Billerica, Massachusetts, with a Genealogical Register. By the Rev. HENRY A. HAZEN, A.M., Member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society. Boston A. Williams and Co., Old Corner Book-Store. 1883. 8vo. pp. 319+188. Price $3.

Family Genealogies and Town Histories are among the later products of the New England mind. In the early childhood of many who are still active upon the stage, this class of works was almost unknown. Within the last thirty or forty years they have been greatly multiplied. And certainly that man deserves well of his fellowmen who makes an exact record of the members of his family, from his earliest American ancestor down to the latest-born generation; or who traces carefully the history of some New England town through the changes of its existence. Books of this character will not be so exciting to the young people as the last new novel, but they will continue to live and to have an increasing interest and value long after most of the novels weekly issuing from the press shall be utterly forgotten. which makes up the peculiar glory of our New England history, as a whole, is found in the history of the individual towns. An old New England township, with its two chief historical currents, the civil and the religious, running parallel, is a very unique institution, and hardly any one of our towns is so inconsiderable as not to furnish the materials for an interesting and instructive record.

That

The History of Billerica, by the Rev. Henry A. Hazen, with over three hundred pages of general narrative, and with its nearly two hundred pages embodying the genealogy of all families belonging to the town before the year 1800, five hundred and twenty pages in all, with copious references to those arriving after that date, will be found a very valuable addition to this branch of our literature. The author is well known for his pains-taking exactness, and this volume is the fruit of an immense labor.

One short chapter from the pen of the Rev. Edward G. Porter, of Lexington, gives us some pleasing glimpses of the ancient Billericay in Essex County, England, from which our American Billerica derived its name. The territory which the town covers was anciently given to Cambridge to prevent a second colony from removing from that town to Hartford, whither Mr. Hooker had already led his church. A map of Cambridge, when it included in its southern extension the present city of Newton, and what was recently the town of Brighton, and reaching in its northern stretch up to the present city of Lowell, has been likened to a bird of small body, furnished with two unequal but gigantic wings.

The town of Billerica was incorporated in 1655. It will be impossible for us to make even the slightest attempt to trace this history through its several steps. But it may be said with perfect safety that few town histories have ever been written with more care and laborious research than this.

The volume is also made attractive by many excellent pictures, chiefly of public buildings and private residences. The head of Gov. Thomas Talbot, a resident of the town, who has taken a lively interest in the progress of this work, stands as the frontispiece to the volume.

There are some pages in this book that will give the reader a most impressive idea of the fearful anxieties which the inland dwellers of New England passed through in those fearful years, 1675 and 6, during King Philip's War. This impression will

come not so much from general description as from the measures which the people adopted for their safety.

By the Rev. Increase N. Tarbox, D.D., of Newton, Mass.

An Historical Address delivered at the Service Memorial at St. Andrew's Church, Scituate, September 3, A.D. 1882. By the Minister of the Church (which, in 1811, became St. Andrew's Church, Hanover), the Reverend WILLIAM HENRY BROOKS, S.T.D. Published by Request. Boston: A. Williams & Co., Old Corner Bookstore. 1882. 8vo. pp. 42.

The Rev. Dr. Brooks in this address gives a history of St. Andrew's Church, of which he is rector. The address was delivered on the afternoon of the third of September last on the site of the first church edifice of this parish, which was opened for public worship Oct. 11, 1731, a little over a century and a half ago. The site is in the present town of South Scituate, and is about a mile distant from the present edifice of St. Andrew's Church in Hanover, erected in 1811. An interesting history of the church and its ministers, previous to its removal to Hanover, is here given.

Historical Sketch of Greene Township, Hamilton County, Ohio, delivered by C. REEMELIN before the Twenty-Third Annual Festival of the Greene Township Harvest Home Association, August 31, 1882. Cincinnati: Robert Clarke & Co. 1882. 8vo. pp. 29. Price 25 cts.

Mr. Reemelin is the author of "A Critical Review of American Politics," noticed by us in July last. The sketch before us is intended to be a companion and supplement to the historical address of the Hon. Alexander Long at Greene Township in 1869. Many subjects which have an interest outside of the locality are treated of, such as the efforts by France and England to obtain supremacy in America, the American land systems and the Symmes Purchase. Appended is a list of 395 of the earliest settlers of the township, between 1802 and 1850. Thirty of these settlers are now living, of whom the author is one.

Giornale degli Eruditi e Curiosi, Corrispondenza litteraria italiana ad esemplo dell' Intermédiare francese e del Notes and Queries inglese. Padova, Alla Direzione del Giornale, Riviera Businello N. 4055. Published weekly. 8vo. pp. 16 each number. Subscription Price 20 lire ($4) a year.

A new weekly journal with the above title, on the plan of the London Notes and Queries, has just been commenced at Padua in Italy. The first number was issued in October last. The numbers before us are filled with interesting matter. We trust that the work will be found as useful among the Italians as the various periodicals of this character issued in different countries have been to their respective peoples. The New York Nation of December 7 gives the following list of such journals:

"Notes and Queries, 1849-82, the parent of them all; De Navorscher, Amsterdam, 1855-82; L'Intermédiaire des Chercheurs et Curieux, Paris, 1864–82 (No. 347 is dated October 25); one published at Madrid called, if we remember right, El Intermediario; Educational Notes and Queries (Salem, Ohio, 1875-81); and finally the long-titled Miscellaneous, Literary, Scientific, and Historical Notes, Queries, and Answers (No. 1, July, 1882, Manchester, Ñ. H.)”

Chicago Historical Society's Collection. Vol. I. History of the English Settlement in Edwards County, Illinois. Founded in 1817 and 1818 by Morris Birkbeck and George Flower. By GEORGE FLOWER, with Preface and Foot-notes by E. B. WASHBURNE. Chicago: Fergus Printing Company, 1882. 8vo. pp. 402.

The citizens of our western states are displaying a zeal in historical publications truly commendable. One of the volumes which leads to this opinion is this account of the early days of the English settlers of ancient Edwards County, in the southeast part of Illinois. It was written by George Flower, one of the chief purchasers of the land, through whose encouragement and zeal those from England came and settled upon it. Mr. Flower came from England in 1817, and in the year following, with Moses Birkbeck, also of England, made the purchase. Mr. Flower returned to England to encourage emigration, while Mr. Birkbeck remained in the colony. Mr. Birkbeck died in 1824, and Mr. Flower lived to advanced years, and in times of leisure penned these memoirs and reminiscences. The manuscript was placed in the keeping of the Chicago Historical Society, and now, through the liberality of L. Z. Leiter, is published. The book contains portraits of Messrs.

Birkbeck and Flower. It also has a good index, without which no historical book should be published; but lacks a map. The residences of these pioneers was at or near the present Albion, in the midst of rich and fertile prairie lands. A country which has its early history so well written out may consider itself as fortunate. The manuscript was edited by the Hon. E. B. Washburne, of Chicago, whose notes lend value to it. This initial volume of the Society's Collection is an excellent one, and we hope it is a prophecy of what may be looked for in the years to come. By the Rev. Anson Titus, Jr., Weymouth, Mass.

The Commemoration of the Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the First Church, Charlestown, Mass., November 12, 1882. Privately printed. 1882.

The exercises commemorating the quarter millenary of the First Church of Charlestown last autumn, consisted of a Sermon by the Rev. Alexander McKenzie, D.D., an Historical Sketch of the Church by James F. Hunnewell, Esq., and addresses by the Rev. Rufus Ellis, D.D., the Hon. Charles Devens, the Rev. Henry M. Dexter, D.D., the Rev. A. S. Freeman, D.D., and the Rev. A. S. Twombly.

The Rev. Dr. McKenzie in his sermon introduced some of the principal incidents in the history of the church, but the historical sketch of Mr. Hunnewell will particularly please the student of local history for the thoroughness of its details on this subject. Mr. Hunnewell has devoted much attention to the history of Charlestown, and especially of this church.

Record of the Parish List of Deaths, 1785-1819. By Rev. WILLIAM BENTLEY, pastor of the East Church, Salem. Salem: Printed for the Essex Institute. 1882. Svo. pp. 176.

This record is a reprint from the Historical Collections of the Essex Institute, which has heretofore printed many other valuable records. It has been copied and edited by Ira J. Patch, of Salem. The Rev. Dr. Bentley is well known to our readers as a very learned man and a painstaking and accurate diarist; and these records, which extend over a third of a century, are much more than mere entries of deaths. One entry will be given as a sample. Under date of Nov. 19, 1803, we find this death recorded: "John Bray, a venerable man. Of gradual infirmity. 80 years old, married at 24 years and had a married life of 28 years. Ilis wife, a Driver, long dead. Two sons, dau. married B. Webb, one son married. His parents died aged. He was long infirm. A man of the greatest industry and most peaceful temper. Essex opposite Herbert. A shoemaker." The War of 1886 between the United States and Great Britain. Cincinnati Published by Robert Clarke & Co. 1882. 12mo. pp. 25. Price 25 cts.

This brochure belongs to the same class of fictions as the "Battle of Dorking" and "Dame Europa's School." The United States being unprepared for war is supposed to give provocation to Great Britain, who attacks and utterly subdues her; but the panacea of free trade being forced upon our country, a sound currency and an efficient military organization follow, and the nation's disaster turns to a blessing." The reader will meet with suggestions that are worthy of consideration. History of Augusta County, Virginia. By J. LEWIS PEYTON. Staunton, Virginia : Samuel M. Yost & Son. 1882. 8vo. pp. 387+7. Price $3.50.

This work reaches us too late for an adequate notice in this number. The county which originally extended to the Mississippi river has been the seat of important events in the history of our country, and the author by his previous works, some of which have been noticed in these pages, has shown his capability for the task. The Valley Virginian, in a notice of the book, says: "The work displays the systematizing capacity of the author. It abounds in glowing descriptions of nature, profound thoughts and lofty sentiments-the style being every where characterized by warmth and animation." We shall notice the work more fully in April.

The Wheelman. The Wheelman Co., 608 Washington Street, Boston, Mass. Published monthly, pp. 80 each number. Price $2 a year or 20 cts. a number. This periodical was commenced last October, and the first three numbers are before us. Its field has hitherto been unoccupied in American literature. It is intended to hold "the same relation to the bicycling weeklies that the literary magazine holds to the newspaper press." It is well filled with interesting matter for the bicyclist, and is well printed and illustrated by fine engravings on wood.

Vick's Floral Guide. 1882. 8vo. pp. 134. Published by James Vick, Rochester, N. Y. Price 10 cts.

The Floral Guide for the current year contains three beautiful colored platesone of flowers and two of vegetables, with the usual variety of matter and more than a thousand illustrations.

The Descendants of George Little who came to Newbury, Massachusetts, in 1640. By GEORGE THOMAS LITTLE, A.M., Member of the Maine Historical Society. Auburn, Me. Published by the Author. 1882. 8vo. pp. xvi.+620.

A Record of the Blakes of Somersetshire, especially in the line of William Blake, of Dorchester, Mass., the Emigrant to New England: With One Branch of His Descendants. From the Notes of the late HORATIO G. SOMERBY. Boston: Privately printed. 1881. Sm. 4to. pp. 64.

A Genealogical Record of the Descendants of Captain Samuel Ransom of the Continental Army, killed at the Massacre of Wyoming, Pa., July 3d, 1778. Compiled by his Great-great-grandson, Captain CLINTON B. SEARS, Corps of Engineers U. S. Army. St. Louis: Nixon-Jones Printing Co. 1882. 8vo. pp. 234. Copies furnished at $2 in plain binding, and $3 in morocco, if ordered within four months. After that $5, if any remain unsold. Address the author, St. Louis, Mo. The Townshend Family of Lynn, in Old and New England. Genealogical and Biographical. By CHARLES HERVEY TOWNSHEND, of New Haven, Conn. Revised Third Edition. New Haven, Conn. 8vo. 1882. pp. 138.

Genealogy of the Descendants of Nathaniel Clarke of Newbury, Mass. By GEORGE K. CLARKE, Member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society. Boston: Press of T. R. Marvin & Son. 1883. 8vo. pp. 120. Price $2, including postage. Address: George K. Clarke, 18 Somerset Street, Boston, Mass.

A Record of the Descendants of John Clark of Farmington, Conn. The Male Branches brought down to 1882. The Female Branches One Generation after the Clark Name is lost in Marriage. By JULIUS GAY. Hartford, Conn.: Press of the Case, Lockwood and Brainard Company. 1882. 8vo. pp. 94. Price $2, including postage. To be obtained of Mervin W. Clark, 208 State Street, Portland, Maine.

A Record of the Descendants of John Baldwin, of Stonington, Conn.; with Notices of the other Baldwins who settled in America in Early Colony Times. Prepared by JOHN D. BALDWIN of Worcester, Mass. Worcester: Printed by Tyler & Seagrave. 1880. 8vo. pp. 68.

The Genealogy of the Hall Family, or Ancestors and Descendants of Noah Hall. By J. D. HALL, Jr. 1882. From the Press of F. U. Scofield, Danielsonville, Conn. 8vo. pp. 31.

Records of the McCrillis Families in America. Compiled and Arranged by H. O. MCCRILLIS, Taunton, Mass. Taunton: Printed at the Office of John S. Sampson. 1882. 8vo. pp. 42.

The Soule Family of North Yarmouth and Freeport, Maine. By Dr. CHARLES E. BANKS and ENOS CHANDLER SOULE. "Old Times" Office, Yarmouth, Maine. 1882. 8vo. pp. 31.

A Sketch of Some of the Descendants of Owen Richards, who emigrated to Pennsylvania previous to 1718. By LOUIS RICHARDS, Reading, Pa. Philadelphia: Collins, Printer, 705 Jayne Street. 1882. Royal 8vo. pp. 20.

A Biographical Sketch of Robert Gould Shaw (1776-1853). Prepared for the New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Mass. Printed for the Family. 1880. Royal 8vo. pp. 34.

1622. Genealogy of the Whittier Family. 1882. Compiled and Arranged by CHARLES COLLYER WHITTIER. Boston, Mass. Broadside, 30 in. by 43 inches. Meeting of the Montague Family at Hadley, Mass., Aug. 2, 1882. Boston: Franklin Press. Rand, Avery and Company. 1882. 8vo. pp. 107.

Address of the Hon. Andrew J. Bartholomew, of Southbridge, Mass., delivered Aug. 10, 1882, at Stony Creek, Conn., on the occasion of the First Reunion of the Descendants of Lieut. William Bartholomew. Boston: Press of Coburn Brothers. 1882. 8vo. pp. 37.

Descendants of Daniel Stone of Dorchester, Mass. By WATERMAN STONE, Esq., of Providence, R. I. 8vo. pp. 4. Boston, 1882.

We continue our quarterly notices of genealogical works.

The first book on the list, the Little Genealogy, is by the author of the small but elegant work noticed by us in October, 1877. The present work is greatly enlarged, and contains the record of nearly six thousand descendants of the emigrant ancestor. It is arranged on the Goodwin or Connecticut plan, with some improvements. Much labor has evidently been bestowed on this book. The records are full and the dates precise. The book is handsomely printed and thoroughly indexed, including places as well as names.

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The Blake record by Mr. Somerby is edited by William H. Whitmore, A.M. It traces the ancestry of William Blake, an early settler at Dorchester, Mass., to Robert Blake who had his residence in the township of Calne, where he was assessed to the subsidies of Edward the Third, in 1347, to an amount far exceeding that of any other inhabitant of the town," through Henry, William, Henry, Robert, William, William,' Humphrey, John and Robert, 10 his father, of Over Stowey, co. Somerset, England. The conjecture in the Blake Genealogy (Boston, 1857) page 10, that the Dorchester settler was William son of Giles and Dorothy (Twedy) Blake of Little Baddow, Essex, proves erroneous. The names of the author and editor are a sufficient assurance that the work is thoroughly prepared in every respect. It is elegantly printed.

The Ransom genealogy by Capt. Sears, U.S.A., gives the descendants, to the number of more than seventeen hundred, of Capt. Samuel Ransom of the Revolutionary army, who was born at or near Ipswich, England, about 1737. A prefatory "Historical Sketch " gives an account of Capt. Ransom and his immediate family. The work is wonderfully full as to details, and very precise as to dates. Particulars which, though important, are seldom found in such books, seem to have been scrupulously sought for. The book is got up in an elegant style, and has a model index. Two editions of the Townshend Family have been printed before that whose title is given above, which is much enlarged and greatly improved. The first (Boston, 8vo. pp. 15) appeared in 1875, and was a reprint of an article in the REGISTER for January of that year. The second (Ridgefield, Ct., 8vo. pp. 27) appeared in 1881. It is more than a quarter of a century since Mr. Townshend commenced collecting materials for a genealogy of his family, and the result of his labors, the most important of which appear in these pages, leaves very little doubt that the emigrant ancestor of this country, Thomas Townsend of Lynn, Mass., was the son of Henry and Margaret (Forthe) Townshend of that name, baptized at Bracon-Ash, Jan. 8, 1594-5. Margaret Forthe was a cousin of the first wife of Gov. John Winthrop. The late Col. Chester had undertaken to make an exhaustive research for the purpose of settling the doubt, but was prevented from doing so by his death last year. His investigations had however satisfied him that the supposed connection, whieh was confirmed by tradition, was extremely probable. We have here also a very full account of the English family, which is traced in an unbroken line to Roger de Townshende in the fifteenth century. A large appendix of documents is given, bearing upon the history of the family and the point in question.

has

The next book, devoted to the descendants of Nathaniel Clarke, of Newbury, been prepared in a very thorough manner. The author in his preface states that "all the genealogical matter of a material nature previous to the year 1800 has been proven and authenticated by examination of the original documents, and this practice has been continued to the present time, whenever it could conveniently be done." The book is well prepared, well indexed and well printed. As the edition is small, descendants will do well to secure their copies early.

The next book gives the descendants of John Clark, of Farmington, Conn. Mr. Gay, of Farmington, the author, seems to have done all that he could do to make his work perfect. Mr. Clark, the ancestor of this family, is not found in Farmington before 1657, but his descendants think that he was the John Clark who was one of the early settlers of Cambridge, Mass., supposed to be the person of that name subsequently in Hartford, Ct. But the descendants of John Clark, of Saybrook, Ct., doubt this, and claim that the Cambridge and Hartford settler was identical with their ancestor. Mr. Gay presents the prominent authenticated facts concerning the John Clarks of the four towns, and leaves the question in dispute to be determined by future researches. The book deserves much praise for the manner in which it is prepared. It is arranged on the REGISTER plan.

The genealogy of the Stonington Baldwins is by the Hon. John D. Baldwin, the senior editor of the Worcester Spy, who has devoted much time to collecting materials for this work. Mr. C. C. Baldwin acknowledges his indebtedness to him for