Many Americans share German ancestry, and in fact this is one of the largest ethnic groups in America but finding the resources and records is not at all an easy task. Germany as it is today did not exist until after WWII and therefore there are no simple ways to obtain documentation of these early German immigrants. To understand why and to overcome this hurdle one must first know the history involved and this book puts that history into a delightful to read nutshell.
From the early Germanic tribes that spread west on the European continent clashing with the Romans, the rise of the Germanic Holy Roman Empire and the German Franks all the way up to the loose confederation of principalities, duchies and free cities the first part of the book takes you on a journey into an area far larger than the modern Germany of today without sounding like a history textbook. The book covers the first Germanic immigrants to come to America in 1562 and the first permanent Germantown settlement in Philadelphia in 1683.
Many came to escape religious persecution and the ravages of the Thirty Years War. My own German ancestors were the Palatines of the lower Rhine,who came here in the years 1700-1710 financing their voyage through the British government who used the intolerable situations to recruit families to work the English plantations, such as Robert Livingston's vast holdings in the areas of New England. Many would finish their indentured service to go on and make their own way, fighting in the Revolutionary War and taking positions of leadership in their new home. The vast exodus of German immigrants continued well into the 1800's as famines struck and the Germanic areas of Europe stayed in a continuous state of war. It is no wonder that so many of us share German ancestry or that it can be so elusive to trace. Just by knowing the history of this vast area once home to so many Germanic people and the many reasons they left their ancient homes those of German descent will find it easier to trace their ancestry to the first German immigrant and beyond.
After this short but interesting history, Kevan M. Hansen takes the reader step by step through the adventure of research helping to understand the various resources and tools available. How to avoid pitfalls, spelling and language challenges and to break through brick walls to help the amatuer genealogist's journey to the rich heritage and history of German ancestry. It is an intriguing journey of learning and discovery bringing the reader a step closer to the people who made us who we are today. The book is a delight to read and the format makes the investigation into German ancestry an adventure that is well worth reading, even for the non genealogist who is just curious about his or her own German roots.
ISBN-13:
978-0916489830
ISBN-10:
0916489833
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