New England Court Records: A Research Guide for Genealogists And Historians [Paperback]

Diane Rapaport (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 6, 2006

Discover ancestors and trace New England history in court records from the 17th to the 21st centuries. Whether you are a novice researcher--or an experienced genealogist or historian--this book will help you to research court records with confidence. Learn how to read and use court records--with clear explanations of legal terms, illustrations from real cases and step-by-step research examples. This book also shows you where to find court records, in hundreds of sources--courthouses, archives, books, microfilm, and the latest CDs and Internet databases (which you can access without leaving home!).

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Old court records are scattered, at best. Throw in the esoteric language and changes in the laws through four centuries, and the difficulties of finding, reading, and comprehending legal documents are daunting. Rapaport's love of American history and her legal expertise have enabled her to produce a useful resource directory that also inspires researchers to delve into the culture of the subjects they research.

Part 1, "Understanding the Basics," provides an overview of the American legal system in general and the courts of the New England states in particular. The various types of court records are described, and logical places to find original and published versions are suggested. Part 2, "Getting Specific, State by State," offers court-history time lines and describes which records can be found for every court in each New England state. A separate chapter covers federal courts. Courts not part of the judicial branch, such as military and tax courts, are not included, nor are deed registries.

Part 3, "Sampling the Sources," uses colorful examples to show how court records can reveal the flavor of a period as well as factual information. Researching slander in Maine, bankruptcy in post-Civil War Vermont, and justice of the peace records in Connecticut, for example, shows how litigious society has been since early days and paints interesting character sketches of the individuals involved. Readers familiar with the author's regular column, "Tales from the Courthouse," in New England Ancestors magazine know how fascinating some of these records can be.

The appendix lists contact information for courts, archives, law libraries, and publishers; provides a legal glossary; and recommends further reading, including online sources. Although much of this information can be found elsewhere, its inclusion here is helpful. A valuable reference tool as well as a training manual for historians and genealogists interested in New England. The publisher's Web site [http://www.QuillPenPress.com] provides free updates. Sally Jane
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

A very important work -- definitely a required addition for the collection of every genealogical library. -- Columns (Newsletter of Int'l Society of Family History Writers & Editors), March 2006

If you're doing research in the New England courts, this book is probably the most valuable resource you can consult. -- Archival Anecdotes (A Publication of the Friends of the National Archives), Spring/Summer 2006

Make room on your shelf of must-have New England genealogical reference books for this thorough and indispensable guide. -- Vermont Genealogy, July 2006

May well be this year's best and most important new reference book for New England genealogists. -- Newsletter of the Genealogical Society of Vermont, May 2006

The essential reference to understand and locate legal records in the New England states. This book is a winner! -- Ancestry Daily News (Ancestry.com), March 3, 2006

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 488 pages
• Publisher: Quill Pen Press, LLC; 1 edition (February 6, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933623071
• ISBN-13: 978-1933623078
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #978,761 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Diane Rapaport, a former trial lawyer, has made a new career as a historical consultant, award-winning author and popular speaker. She offers an unusual combination of expertise and experience - in law, history and genealogy - and she enjoys discovering and telling the stories of our past. She specializes in court records and other historical resources of New England, and her current research focuses on African Americans, Native Americans, and other non-English people (Scots, Irish, etc.) in colonial America.

Her latest book, The Naked Quaker: True Crimes and Controversies from the Courts of Colonial New England (Commonwealth Editions, 2007), was a finalist for ForeWord magazine's 2007 Book of the Year Award for History. Her first book, New England Court Records: A Research Guide for Genealogists and Historians (Quill Pen Press, 2006), won three 2007 Benjamin Franklin Awards from the Independent Book Publishers Association - Best History Book, Best Reference Book, and finalist for Best New Voice in Nonfiction. Diane also writes for magazines, including her popular "Tales from the Courthouse" column for New England Ancestors (journal of the New England Historic Genealogical Society), which earned three Excellence in Writing awards from the International Society of Family History Writers and Editors. Diane maintains an active lecture schedule, and she is available for programs nationwide.

Visit Diane's websites for more information about her publications and lecture schedule (www.dianerapaport.com), and her research and consulting services (www.quillpenhistorical.com).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New England Court Records, March 3, 2006

By 

David Kendall Martin, FASG - See all my reviews

This review is from: New England Court Records: A Research Guide for Genealogists And Historians (Paperback)

It is so well organized, it will be handy for many future projects. I am impressed with its depth of coverage and its human tone with what could be an unfriendly presentation. Thanks immensely for putting this reference into the hands of those of us scrambling for answers to our New England genealogical puzzles.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Timely and Wonderful, March 3, 2006

By 

J. Bruce Amstutz (Brunswick, Maine) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: New England Court Records: A Research Guide for Genealogists And Historians (Paperback)

This is a timely and wonderful reference work. For those interested in uncovering information about seventeenth-century New England ancestors, this is an excellent resource guide. As many family researchers know, court records for the 1600s are one of three important sources of genealogical information, the others being vital records(town and church)and wills. The early settlers were litigious, being able to file their complaints easily and cheaply in the courts, without lawyers. Hence, there is a wealth of family information in these court files -- often highly amusing.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A New Standard in the Field, March 3, 2006

By 

Malcolm C. Hamilton "Retired Harvard librarian" (Arlington, MA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: New England Court Records: A Research Guide for Genealogists And Historians (Paperback)

Rapaport, a former trial lawyer, has worked for years as a legal practitioner with court records. This thorough and important work on a little known subject, outside the legal profession, will become a standard for genealogists and historians. For the first time, we have an extensive but readable guide to the intricacies of the often surprising riches found in court records. She provides an overview of the American legal system, the specifics of New England courts, types of court records, and where to look for them in each of the states, county by county.

This book is a must-purchase for any serious genealogical library, personal or professional.