Review by Choice Review
Barthelmas's volume will appeal to a limited but motivated audience. Many other works have profiled the 56 signers of the Declaration; what gives this particular volume its utility is its emphasis on the genealogy of the signers and of their wives. In addition to solid information about the personal lives and public careers of the signers, each section gives information about their children, their wives, and the families of their wives. Each signer's paternal lineage is emphasized, but there is much on his maternal ancestors as well. An index of names and an appendix listing the interrelationships among the signers and their families are helpful. Barthelmas's volume will be of greatest value in the growing number of libraries that support genealogical research. C. V. Stanley; Washington & Lee University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
Of the 57 signers of the Declaration of Independence, all but a handful are unknown. Several books have been published on the public lives and accomplishments of these men, one as early as 1827. But these earlier works tended to ignore ancestry. The work under review summarizes the public life of each signer but adds a great deal of genealogical data. This is the book's strength and the principal reason it is reviewed here. Each chapter (one to each signer) is preceded by a full-page likeness (usually a contemporary painting or line drawing), with the signer's name and dates. The biographical data follow, ranging from a full page to two or three. In some entries, this is followed by a section of "additional information," usually related to property, residences, and burial site. The genealogy itself is often three or four pages. It provides information on the families of both the signer and his wife or wives. Coverage of the lineage of the signer is sometimes pursued to the fourth generation. The method of presenting the genealogy is not the usual "tree" method; it is done in narrative form, giving not just names and dates but also accomplishments. From these narratives, a tree may readily be constructed. This feature enables the author to present a great deal of information in a limited space. The work will be invaluable to Daughters of the American Revolution researchers, and it should be found in every genealogical library, as well as in public libraries that have large genealogical collections or departments.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
Review by Booklist Review