Early Families of Middletown,
Connecticut - Volume I: 1650-1654
Early Families of Middletown, Conn. - Vol. I: 1650-1654
By Reginald W. Bacon
(Newburyport, Mass.:
Variety Arts Press, 2012, 2024)
8.5x11.0, 208 pages, hardcover
ISBN: 978-0-9817945-5-6
LOC: 2012949502
Early Families of Middletown, Connecticut - Vol. I: 1650-1654, presents profiles of the 23 families that established the English settlement on Connecticut River first known as Mattabeseck, plus timelines, land grant maps, and comprehensive chapters on Middletown-focused historical and cultural context. Each profile is a survey of what is known about a given family, drawing together vital records, public records, and excerpts from standard works in the public domain. Included when useful is analysis of conflicting or ambiguous evidence. The Middletown-related 17th-century context chapters include the author's research on topics such as English origins of the early colonists, Puritanism, early burying grounds, domestic architecture, public services, the indigenous Wangunk people, and African-Americans in early Middletown. Family names include Allen (Allyn), Bacon, Blumfield, Cornwell, Hall (four families), Hamlin, Harris (two families), Hubbard, Kirby, Martin, Miller, Savage, Smith, Stocking, Stow, Treat, Webster, Wetmore, and White. With four timelines, 13 maps, and 100 photos and illustrations spread throughout 208 large-format pages, the book aims to be an information-packed resource descendants and historians interested in the fascinating dynamics of the "second generation" New England settlement.
The 2024 hardcover revision includes 12 additional land grant maps; selected gravestone photos and images of early probate records; and an updated bibliography. (Note that Volume II is now available. See below for details on how to order the two-book set.)
The author, Reginald W. Bacon, is a history and museum professional with specialties in 17th-century New England architecture and domestic life, and early 20th-century vaudeville and circus. He is the author of 17 books on varied history and performing arts topics, and through no choice of his own, happens to be descended from 30 pre-1700 Middletown families(!).
We are proud to report that Early Families of Middletown, Conn. - Vol. I: 1650-1654 was recognized with the 2013 Brainerd T. Peck Award for Family History. The prestigious award --- and cash prize --- were presented to the author by the Connecticut Society of Genealogists at its Literary Awards program in May 2013. Read more about the award and read the CSG book review here.
$50.00 (US) includes book-rate shipping in the U.S. (Inquire for additional international shipping cost.)
Payment accepted by PayPal (see "Buy Now" below).
OR! ... ORDER BOTH Volume I and Volume II for $100.00 (includes shipping) ... and SAVE $20.00! (See the separate "Buy Now" button below.)
To order by postal mail, send order details, your shipping address, and payment by check to Variety Arts Enterprises, P.O. Box 489, Newburyport, MA 01950.
