Section describes examples of searches using computer databases, federal court records, indexes, justice of the peace records, and law library research, including how to search for people of color. The appendices list contact information for state and federal courts and other sources. Rapaport is a former trial lawyer and writes the column "Tales from the Courthouse" for New England Ancestors magazine. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com).

This series offers a comprehensive collection of the daily court records of New Plymouth, Massachusetts, and is an exceptional source for genealogical research. This fourth volume of court records encompasses the seven years from June 1661 to July 1668, during which time Thomas Prence was governor of the colony. He served along with Nathaniel Morton, the court secretary and a well-known chirographer, who maintained the records of the colony of New Plymouth. For the most part, these accounts and records pertain to the General Court and the Court of Assistants of New Plymouth. However, there are several miscellaneous entries. This is a demonstrative text, which plainly propounds the everyday experience of a colonial judicial system. This is an essential tool for those researching early colonial government. This book of records paints a realistic picture of life in colonial New England. It is an elucidating look into a time long past. An index to full-names, places and subjects adds to the value of this work.

This third volume of the records of court orders of the Colony of New Plymouth was transcribed from the handwritten records of Mr. Nathaniel Morton, secretary of the colony. Specifically, this edition comprises the records of the latter part of the administration of Governor William Bradford, and the first part of that of Governor Thomas Prence; covering the period from March 1651 to July 1661. This work is a comprehensive collection of the daily court records of New Plymouth, Massachusetts, and is an exceptional source for genealogical research. Relevant information includes: lists of assistants to the governor, schedules of freemen, rolls of constables and deputies of surrounding towns, surveyors of public property, names of the grand inquest, jury rosters, etc. Less pertinent to genealogy but still of interest are other records: accounts of wolves killed by Indians, a law requiring two witnesses to condemn a man, fines for drunkenness, description of fines for exchanging guns with Indians, and so on. This book of records paints a realistic picture of life in colonial New England. It is an elucidating look into a time long past. An index to full-names, places and subjects adds to the value of this work.

This series offers a comprehensive collection of the daily court records of New Plymouth, Massachusetts, and is an exceptional source for genealogical research. The plethora of information contained within this second volume includes: land grants, jury registers, names of freemen, nomination and election of constables and other town officials, assignment of committees for various tasks, etc. This is an essential tool for those researching early colonial government. This book of records paints a realistic picture of life in colonial New England. It is an elucidating look into a time long past. An index to full-names, places and subjects adds to the value of this work.