Books published by Heritage Books

For both the historian and the genealogist, the Seventh Day Baptist Church of Newport, Rhode Island is unique. Founded in 1671 from Baptist roots, its members were deeply involved in the formative years of our nation in religious, political and educational development. Their descendants were a part of the westward migrations. The church records are an important source of historical and family history covering more than three centuries. This Newport history is recorded in three parts. Part I, "Entering Into Covenant," is a documented history of the church itself, including its founding, its meeting house, which still stands as a part of the Newport Historical Society property, and the impact of its members on the life of colonial America. Part II, "Membership Records," contains a list of members of the First Baptists of Newport from 1671 until 1884, when the church ceased to exist. The repetition of names on lists of different time periods may help to delineate family connections of some of the church members. A portion of the membership records of the First Baptist Church is included to show the names of those who separated to form the Seventh Day Baptist Church. Part III, "Mother Hubbard's Cupboard Is Not Bare," is a genealogical study of the descendants of Samuel and Tacy Hubbard, the most prominent family of their time, and active members of the First Baptist Church in Newport. The listings of these families were compiled from records and genealogies within the archives of the Seventh Day Baptist Historical Society. A surname index adds to the value of this work.

Under the terms of the charter of Maryland as granted by King Charles I of England, Lord Baltimore and his heirs were given all the land in the colony, with power to dispose of the land in any manner they deemed fit. A land office was set up to administer land grants and collect revenues. Settlers who applied for land grants had to pay fees at every step of the process as they obtained surveys, patents and titles. During those early days, the outer limits of Baltimore County stretched into unexplored territory. The deed records abstracted here include lands that lie within present-day Baltimore City, Cecil and Harford Counties, and parts of Carroll, Anne Arundel, Howard and Kent Counties. Twelve deed books were abstracted for this volume, which is divided into twelve chapters. Each deed book spans a period of time ranging from a few months to three years. The entries are more or less chronological, variations being due to the fact that transactions were often recorded in the books at some later date. A typical entry includes the date of transaction, names of grantors and grantees and their places of residence, acres of land involved and the names signed on the document. Other information is included when available, such as sales price, location of land, neighbors, chain of deed and landmarks. Spellings of names and places have been preserved in their original form, so the reader is encouraged to check all possible spellings of a name of interest. An every-name index assists the researcher.

Maryland has always been a state in the middle-part southern, part northern-both in the way it has dealt with race issues, and in the way it is perceived. It is the author's hope that this detailed account of the black-white experience in Maryland will enable the reader to feel and appreciate the many battles fought to get where we are today-and to realize how far we still have to go to achieve freedom and equality for all. The enormous effort that went into organizing every lawsuit and every demonstration, and the deep emotions felt by the participants are reflected in these pages. The number of early lawsuits initiated by blacks themselves and recounted by the author is a surprising feature. Discussions include: early history; employment, public accommodations, education, housing, and continuing racial issues. A personal touch is added with the author's account of her own participation in the civil rights movement in Baltimore in the 60s, with her ability to identify and interview persons she knew in CORE, and with her access to their saved clippings, papers, reports and correspondence. Numerous illustrations enhance the text. This book was a finalist in the Organization of American Historians Liberty Legacy Foundation Award in 2003.

People make history interesting. People influence us. They leave their imprints on us and become part of the fabric of our family story. This book suggests ways to discover hidden treasure from the past and challenges you to unearth more about the people in your ancestral tree. It encourages you to rediscover family values, traditions, and stories and then presents ways to experience that heritage. Packed with practical suggestions, anyone new to the pursuit of genealogy will treasure this book for its helpful questions and suggestions. Seasoned genealogists will also find a wealth of ideas and recognize a kindred spirit in the personal experiences and anecdotes that enliven this delightful guidebook. This readable book discusses searching for relative information and how to begin, learning about nationality and other ethnic ties, discovering the importance of your name, taking note of religious preferences, finding out about citizenship and what it means, tracking down military experiences, identifying causes that matter to you and your family, rediscovering ethnic traditions that have shaped your family, and much, much more...