Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-02


divisions for the names of his grand
parents. The third row from his own
contains eight spaces for the names
Of his eight great-grandparents. In
name and the date of the birth. mar
riage and death of the person. Having
thus gone back three genera tons, the
interest in genealogical research is SO
anxious to broaden the family fan by
the records of still earlier ancestors.
The subject of genealogy has become
one Of the most popular in public IL
braries. and the num-
Genealogical Der of genealogical
Qualifications publications has in
1uD11cat1oAS. creased greatly dur
ing the past quarter of a century. In
the Library of Congress in Washington
is found the largest collection of gen.
eral genealogical material in the United
States. There arc local libraries in
some of the states. especially the Bos-
ton library. which contain more ma
terial for local Eenealogy than the Lii
brary of Congress, but there is no other
institution having SO large a general
collection. 1t is the intention Of those
in charge to continue to make genealogy
a speciality. There are few books per-
tanning to American genealogy that are
not found upon it's catalogues. and every
new book coming out upon this subject
is purchased unless it comes to the Ii
| brary by copyright.
The western EenealogiStS come to the
Library Of Congress because most of
the people Of the western states are de-
scendants of those who came from the
east and therefore student wishing
! n1- -.
| quires access to records Of eastern fami-
| lies. These are generously supplied at
, the great national library. This library
also has considerable collection OF
Great Britain and Ireland, so that any
one whose ancestors came from these
countries is also likely to find full in
formation for his needs.
The Daughters Of the American Revo
luton are credited with fully eight
| tenthS of the interest
ChalkleY in American genealogy
| Even though some OF
HAoA"SoAiPIS' their own records may
| contain inaccuracies, their service to tn
genealogical record of the country can
not be overestmated. This year they will
add to this service by the publication
of one of the most important addition:
to genealogical literature in the coun
try. This will be known as the Chalk
ley Manuscripts. 1t consists of alb
stracts from all the old records OF Au
gusta county, Va, from 1145 to 1870
Including the records OF the old distric
court whose sessions were held IN Au
gusta, but whose jurisdiction EXTENDED
to West Virginia. western Pennsylvania
part of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, all O
kentucky and part of Tennessee. Thes'
were copied by Judge Lyman ChalkieA
of Staunton. Va, and their publication
will open up mine of genealogical
wealth for the middle west
1t must not be understood. however
that the Daughters of the Revolution, tn
Sons of the Revolt
nescendants IF ton, the &C IN
/ Danes or any of tn
tne fllSIlAuS. kindred organization
include in their membership more tina
a small fraction of the persons in Amer
lea who are actually descendants fror
colonial or revolutionary ancestry. 1t
frequently intimated that the number {
people who came over In the Mayhowe
must have been much larger than hi:
tory RECORDS, because VI TIC hoihOSi
people who claim such ancestry. AS
matter of fact, the number of actu;
descendants of the Mayfiower is create
than is generally reckoned. Genealogls
usually reckon on an estimate OF I"
and one-half or three descendants frol
a. roval parsonage. The number of a.
scendants from William the Conquero
so often referred to, is usually based Q
an estimate of three. The early founder
Of this country had large families. s
that seems a low estimate from then
But an estimate averaging two descent
ants to each of the 1O2 passengers WI
came in the Mayfower. and allowin
that same small estimate for each su,
in existence in the United States in 19t
no less than 1.671, 16S persons who WEI
real descendants of Mayfower .passer
gers. This number may safely be COZ
sidered as having reached 100000 toda.
Most of these are unaware of their al
cestry, because of the general lack
Interest in genealogical research.