RELEASE DATE: NOVEMBER 13, 2005

KINSEARCHING

by

Marleta Childs
P. O. Box 6825
LUBBOCK, TX 79493-6825
[email protected]
 

      Millions of American researchers continue to rejoice over the revision and expansion of the respected classic ADVENTURERS OF PURSE AND PERSON VIRGINIA, 1607 - 1624/5. Sponsored by the Order of First Families of Virginia, 1607 - 1624/5, the new fourth edition is meant to be a celebration of the eagerly anticipated 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown--the first permanent English settlement in what is now the United States.

     In 2004, VOLUME ONE of the projected three piece set rolled off the press. Edited by preeminent Virginia genealogical authority John Frederick Dorman, it contained material about families with surnames beginning with the letters A-F.

     Now VOLUME TWO, FAMILIES G-P by Dorman is available! It contains information on fifty-one families: GAITHER, GASKINS, GILBERT, GOOKIN, GOSNOLD, GRANGER, GRAVES, GRAY, GRENDON, GUNDRY, HALLOM, HAMPTON, HANSFORD, HARRIS (John), HARRIS (Thomas), HARWOOD, HOLT, HOOE, HOPKINS, JOHNSON-TRAVIS, JORDAN (Samuel), JORDAN (Thomas), KENT, KINGSMILL, KNOTT, LAYDON, LLOYD, LOVELACE-GORSUCH, LUKIN, LUPO, MACOCK, MARTIAU, MASON, MATHEWS, MENEFIE, MONTAGUE, MOONE, MOORE, OFFLEY, O'NEIL-ROBINS, OSBORNE, PACE, PARRAMORE, PEAD, PEIRCE, PEIRSEY, PERRY, PIERCE-BENNETT, PRICE, PRICE-LLEWELLYN, and PURIFOY.

     By building on the investigations of numerous distinguished researchers, this current work corrects, revises, and supplements the best genealogical scholarship of the past fifty years. While the earlier editions usually carried descent through the fourth generation, this new work extends the lines of thirty-six families through the sixth generation. Sometimes recent discoveries, newly available data, and a further reevaluation of evidence pertaining to previously accepted relationships have resulted, in some instances, in complete changes in the genealogies. Family researchers who base their ancestry on earlier versions of this book should study these latest findings to see if their lineage remains in tact.

     Inexperienced researchers who are not familiar with this excellent reference need to know the book establishes lines of descent from the approximately 150 people who are recognized either as

     1) Adventurers of Purse (meaning stockholders in the Virginia Company of London) who either came to Virginia in the 1607-1625 period and had offspring or who remained in England and had grandchildren who resided in the Old Dominion;
                          or
     (2) Adventurers of Person (that is, immigrants to Virginia) during the years 1607 - 1625, who left descendants.

Most scholars agree that the total population of Jamestown prior to 1625 was around 7,000. When the famous "Muster" (essentially a census) of the settlements was taken in January/February of 1624/25, only about one-seventh of the colonists had survived the punishing conditions of the New World. Descendants of these early settlers can claim a unique ancestry in American history; in fact, some of their forebears had been living in Virginia for several years before the revered Mayflower passengers ever set foot in Massachusetts.

     This new volume identifies more than 7,600 descendants, many of whom subsequently moved to other colonies or states. A copy of the fourth edition of ADVENTURERS OF PURSE AND PERSON VIRGINIA, 1607 - 1624/5, VOLUME TWO, FAMILIES G-P is a definite "must have" for every genealogical library collection.

     The 1,111 page hardback has a map on the inside covers, a foreword, a preface, a chart of the formation of early counties, an explanation of the material's arrangement, copious footnotes (many of which are annotated), and a key to the abbreviations of sources. The index furnishes approximately 20,000 listings for places and subjects as well as the full names of people. As item number 1497, it may be purchased for $93.50 postpaid or $95.50 UPS by check, MasterCard, or Visa from Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 3600 Clipper Mill Rd., Suite 260, Baltimore, Maryland 21211 (toll free phone 1-800-296-6687; fax 1-410-752-8492; website www.genealogical.com).

     Bonnie Bright Johannes, 5594 North 10th, Apt. 103, Fresno, CA 93710-6586 (e-mail: [email protected]) would appreciate information on Elizabeth HIRT who married Michael SEULER on 14 November 1619. She was probably born in Switzerland. When?

     Charles N. Ferguson, 811 South Market, Shawnee, OK 74801 is seeking information about the family and descendants of James Hamilton FERGUSON, born in 1802 in SC, who married Mary CAMPBELL in 1822. Mary was born in 1806 in KY and died in 1886 in Bells, TX. They lived in Clinton Co., KY, 1825 - 1845. Their children, all born in Clinton Co., KY, were
     Riley H. FERGUSON, born in 1825;
     Josephine FERGUSON;
     Richard FERGUSON;
     Jasper Newton FERGUSON, born in 1833 and died in 1905, who married Mary Ann FAULKNER in 1853;
     Nancy FERGUSON, born in 1835;
     William Marion FERGUSON, born in 1838 and died in 1925 in Rockdale, TX, who married Mary Elizabeth MOREY in 1860;
     John FERGUSON, born in 1840; and
     James FERGUSON, born in 1845.
Some of these FERGUSONS settled in Rockdale, Milam County, TX. They are believed to be cousins of Charles Ferguson's line.