Turtles, Wolves, and Bears: A Mohawk Family History [Paperback]

Barbara J. Sivertsen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2009 | ISBN-10: 0788404849 | ISBN-13: 978-0788404849

Written as a chronological narrative of Mohawk history and genealogy, the text is enhanced by detailed reference footnotes and about fifty Mohawk lineage charts. Excerpts from letters and memoirs add character to the history. Appendices contain transcript

Product Details

• Paperback: 358 pages
• Publisher: Heritage Books Inc. (May 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0788404849
• ISBN-13: 978-0788404849
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,684,838 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good source of early Mohawk genealogy, December 6, 1999

By 

"roxannefromiowa" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Turtles, Wolves, and Bears: A Mohawk Family History (Paperback)

This is a good book if you are looking for early Mohawk genealogy (1700s). However, if you find your ancestors in here, check the authors sources very carefully because I believe she makes a lot of assumptions. There are many interesting stories about Mohawks and people who were involved with them at the time. There are also family trees and much factual historical information. But, as I said earlier, be careful to distinguish facts from assumptions.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I am descended from Hertell, Ostock, Bradt, Van Slyke., July 5, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Turtles, Wolves, and Bears: A Mohawk Family History (Paperback)

Can you imagine my surprise when I thumbed through this jem of a book and found the first chapter was about my oldest known ancestors. How wonderful it is to read about Nicholas, Jacques, Gautsh, Kenutjie, Ostock, Istychosaquacha, Hilletie, and Francois, Van Slye and Bratt. This is my blood and part of who I am. It is the story of very early colonial America and of real people who loved their cultures and whose cultures melded and clashed and survived in the blood of their descendants. Thanks for writing their stories and I can not wait to finish reading the rest of the stories. They are common to America's and Canada's heritage. Kind Regards, Paul Scarseth

4.0 out of 5 stars Dearth of French-language scholarship, April 25, 2009

By 

Virginia E. Demarce "veasleyd" (Arlington, VA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Turtles, Wolves, and Bears: A Mohawk Family History (Paperback)

On the one hand, this is a thoroughly enjoyable book -- at least, if the reader enjoys both genealogy and Native American history.

However, in spite of the extensive scholarly citations, it does not make use of prior research published in French. As a specific example, the chapter on the Montour family does not even mention:

Vincens, Simone. Madame de Montour et son temps. Montréal: Québec/ Amérique, 1979

or the preceding seminal article by Vincens. This results in the omission of many pertinent members of the family. Thus, at best, the book only provides a starting point for understanding the Mohawk families of the northern New York frontier.