Lineage, Genealogy and the Power of Connection in Early America by Dr. Karen Wulf was just published this year and I learned about the book on American Ancestors.
Dr. Wulf is a historian, Director and Librarian of the John Carter Brown Library and Professor of History at Brown University.
Of course, the title is what drew me in and, not surprisingly, this work is definitely a scholarly publication.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Genealogy as Statecraft
1. Bible, King and Common Law
2. Vernacular Genealogy
3. Death and the Ancestral Connection
4. The Chroniclers
5. Oceans of Kin
6. Always Mama’s Baby
7. Founders on Foundings
8. Lineage in a New Nation
Epilogue: The High Stakes of American Ancestry
Notes
Bibliography
Index
The book opens with a detailed discussion of how the Bible came to such importance in the life of Protestant England and the natural transference of that importance into the lives of early settlers in colonial America.
The Bible emphasized genealogical connections through the ages. Royal and noble lines were well documented and colonists wanted the same documentation present in their own lives. Those family connections – who was related to whom – were important, both to families and government authorities.
Wulf goes on to demonstrate how genealogy was woven through every day lives, affecting everything from inheritances to being born free or enslaved.
Familial ties are brought to life by the many specific examples of records accessed by Wulf in her quest to share ancestral stories. When I say “many” examples, there are likely hundreds throughout the book. Families discussed range from the extremely prominent Founding Fathers to everyday families getting by. The research required to complete this project must have taken years, as the records cited cover wide geographical areas that might only be accessed in libraries with manuscript collections. Social, religious and business factors even required connections across the oceans.
Just an aside – Of course, I kept hoping to find one of my ancestral families among the examples, but, unfortunately, found none.
However, the author has done an excellent job demonstrating the many ways that families kept their early genealogical records and the importance of understanding and maintaining connections that influenced social standing, political alliances and business affairs.
The epilogue provides not only closure to the genealogy influences of the past, but also points to its energized future created by new generations who recognize the importance of documenting our history through our families.
As stated at the beginning of this review, while Lineage is a fascinating peek into the importance of genealogy and lineage in America’s early history, this is a scholarly work. It’s not light, fast reading, but I do recommend this book for those with a serious interest in learning more about the genealogical threads that make our history cohesive.
Lineage: Genealogy and the Power of Connection in Early America by Karin Wulf can be ordered online for $34.73 (Amazon Prime, hardcover) or $23.99 (Kindle).
