Vol. 2 has title: Lineages of the National Society of the Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims.

Vol. 2 has title: Lineages of the National Society of the Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims.

Contains the lineage records of 6,800 members of the National Society of the Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims. Descent is traced from the earliest immigrant ancestor to the present member of the Society, the sole condition of membership being that the ancestor must have arrived in the colonies between 1620 and 1700. Includes the lineages of all members of the Society from 1909, when it was founded, to 1952. Originally published 1929-1953.

Above is a photograph of Oberhofen Castle where at least three generations (circa 1585 to 1650) of Ritschards served as castle baliff. The photo was taken by the author during a visit in October 2004. This is the village where Christian Ritschhart, his family and 80 year old mother-in-law lived before emigrating to America in 1750.

None of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776 could have imagined a few years earlier that they would be part of such an event. All had been loyal British subjects earlier in their lives, and several had held British government posts in their home colonies. In 1743, Samuel Adams became one of the first to advocate for independence and he was gradually joined by others as English control became increasingly oppressive. A biography and genealogical history of the 56 signers, and of Secretary Charles Thomson who attended all meetings and witnessed the original broadside with John Hancock but did not actually sign it, are presented in this unique reference work. Each of the 57 entries open with a biography of the man, focusing on his education, political career and the events that led him to advocate for independence, based in large part on contemporary sources. This is followed by a narrative genealogical history, providing names, birth and death dates, marriages, children and other details of the signer's ancestors. Photographs of the men are included.