Memorial of the Descendants of the Hon. John Alden: A Family Genealogy

Produced in 1867, this memorial genealogy of the Alden family is valuable in the modern day for its deep research; it carefully charts eight generations from their common ancestor, Plymouth Colony founder John Alden.

A superb example of genealogical research, this book meticulously lists and discusses the various Alden descendants through the centuries. Most of the profiles are short, simply noting the births, marriages, children, death and age at death of the various persons. Some however take care to include the accomplishments and distinguishing traits of certain Alden family members, such as their professions, noteworthy deeds and community influence, often through academic or church-related activities. Persons are sequentially numbered to aid reference.

Given its age, this book is distinguished for citing sources which have since become obscure and very difficult to find. Family correspondences, notices in the local newspapers, various registry archives in the northeastern United States, plus a variety of miscellaneous papers, were referenced to achieve high accuracy. When information couldn't be found - for example, the first name or surname of a spouse - the book simply uses underscores to highlight the omission. For Alden descendants and general enthusiasts of genealogical research, this book excels as a resource.