In My Library

I am not a book reviewer, and don’t intend to be. These are very short notices of books I have recently acquired and find fascinating. No one has asked me to review these books, or has sent me free copies, or in any other way influenced my opinions about them.

In My Library, No. 9

May 12, 2017 By Marfy Goodspeed in In My Library Tags: early legislation, early settlers, land titles, proprietors

The Martin Family History, vol. 1, Hugh Martin (1698-1761), Hunterdon County, NJ

by Francie Lane, 2014, in four volumes

This genealogy covers the family of Alexander Martin of Scotland or Northern Ireland, born about 1670, who emigrated to America with his second wife and his eight children. Each of these children gets a chapter describing their families based on Ms. Lane’s extensive research. There is one extra chapter on Rev. Thomas Martin, son of Hugh, grandson of Alexander. Since so many members of this family lived in Hunterdon County, the index includes a list all the towns in Hunterdon that were mentioned, a feature I appreciate.

Like many others, Ms. Lane was frustrated by the lack of a good genealogy about her ancestors, so she remedied the omission by writing her own. Considering how important the Martin family is to Hunterdon’s history, it’s a good thing she did. The second volume will also be of interest to Hunterdon researchers. It covers descendants of Col. James Martin (1742-1834) and Martha Martin Rogers (1744-1825), children of Hugh Martin.

Copies of all four volumes may be obtained at the website www.lulu.com. Type “Francie Lane” in the search box. A fifth volume is in the works.

The Pittstown Roads

February 26, 2016 By Marfy Goodspeed in Franklin Township, Hunterdon County, In My Library Tags: roads, The Revolution

In My Library: “All Roads Lead to Pittstown” by Stephanie B. Stevens

Better late than never. I’ve finally read Stephanie Stevens’ book All Roads Lead to Pittstown, published by the Hunterdon County Cultural and Heritage Commission. What a fascinating story she has to tell. I was dimly aware of Pittstown’s role in the Revolution, but what Stephanie has found adds enormously to our knowledge of the time. She managed to find references to Pittstown (specifically the mills of Moore Furman) in the letters of George Washington, the pension application of William Anderson, and the journal of James Parker, whose farm was located on Route 513 between Clinton and Pittstown.

A Proprietary History

April 8, 2015 By Marfy Goodspeed in Burlington County, Gloucester County, In My Library, West New Jersey Tags: early legislation, proprietors

A new history of the New Jersey proprietors and their jurisdictions

Today the mail brought me the latest issue of the Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, published by the Genealogical Society of New Jersey. This issue, vol. 89, #4, departed from the usual format by devoting the entire magazine to one article, in celebration of the 350th anniversary of the creation of New Jersey.

What Comes from Owning the Land

October 4, 2014 By Marfy Goodspeed in In My Library Tags: land titles, maps, mills, surveying

In My Library: Owning New Jersey, Mapping New Jersey, Owning the Earth and New Jersey Linseed Oil Mills

Owning New Jersey; Historic Tales of War, Property Disputes & the Pursuit of Happiness

by Joseph A. Grabas, published by The History Press, 2014
What a great name for a book. I’ve wanted to own this book for decades, even though it did not exist until now. Joseph Grabas is a well-known figure among New Jersey historians, for his ability to take what he has learned from his many years as a title searcher and turn it into fascinating New Jersey history. He’s done a beautiful job of showing how interrelated land ownership and politics can be, and how those systems have influenced New Jersey history right from its very beginning. It’s also a very readable book. It is easy to overlook how much we can learn from old records—records that seem to be dry and uninteresting, unless an inquiring mind like Mr. Grabas takes a close look at them. Then they reveal great human dramas, both comedic and tragic. This book has much to teach us.

In My Library: Four New Books

May 8, 2014 By Marfy Goodspeed in In My Library

Governors of New Jersey (revised and updated), Roadside Geology of New Jersey, Lambertville’s Legacy and Land Records of Bucks County.

New Jersey’s Covered Bridges

April 12, 2014 By Marfy Goodspeed in Delaware Township, Hunterdon County, In My Library Tags: bridges

Richard J. Garlipp, Jr. New Jersey’s Covered Bridges, Images of America, Arcadia Publishing, 2014.

New Jersey's Covered Bridges by Richard J. Garlipp, Jr. — New Jersey’s Covered Bridges by Richard J. Garlipp, Jr.

If you’ve ever had first hand knowledge of a story in the newspaper, chances are you’ve said to yourself, “the reporter got it wrong.” This also happens with books, including this one. Mr. Garlipp has long been a student of the history of covered bridges, and has undertaken a large and under-reported subject. But Arcadia books are not held to a very high standard and do not engage in fact-checking, so the results are sometimes a disappointing mixture of fact and fantasy. History is challenging, and mistakes are all too easy to make, as I have often learned to my dismay. I just wish this book had been better.

In My Library: Two Hunterdon Books

June 17, 2013 By Marfy Goodspeed in Hunterdon County, In My Library Tags: Buchanan's Tavern, Civil War, D&R Canal, quarries, railroads

Hunterdon County Needlework and Hunterdon County in the Civil War.

On Saturday (June 1st) I visited the Hunterdon County Historical Society in Flemington to see what had become of the familiar old Deats Memorial Library. Significant changes have been taking place there, triggered by the need to meet building requirements for handicap access. The results are impressive, and I am looking forward to spending time in these new digs.

New Jersey, A History of the Garden State

October 13, 2012 By Marfy Goodspeed in In My Library

I don’t do book reviews, so this is not that. But I just got my copy of New Jersey, A History of the Garden State, edited by Maxine N. Lurie and Richard Veit, with an introduction by Marc Mappen, and I’ve got to say—run out and get this book! It’s a terrific collection of articles on the different periods in New Jersey’s history, starting with Richard Veit’s excellent first chapter on Native Americans who lived here, as far back as 12,000 years ago and into the colonial period. Thank you Rich. It came just in time to help me sort out this confusing history for my own blog.

I’m really looking forward to reading the next chapters, because they are all written by the top people in the field: Michael Birkner, John Fea, Howard Gillete Jr., Brian Greenberg, Larry Greene, Graham Russell Gao Hodges, Paul Israel, Maxine N. Lurie, G. Kurt Piehler and Richard Viet.

No doubt about it. If you love New Jersey, you’ll love this book.

John Reading’s Diary

October 17, 2010 By Marfy Goodspeed in Amwell Township, In My Library, Reading Tags: land titles, surveying

This past Saturday, a group of Reading descendants, who have joined together as “The Mount Amwell Project,” gathered in Sergeantsville for one of their regular meetings. I was honored to be asked to speak to the group, and took the opportunity to try out on them a first chapter to a history of Delaware Township that focused on John Reading and his discovery of “Mount Amwell.”