near his native town, în 1815, where he was successful, and for some time had a full range of business in that and the neighboring villages. In 1837 he removed to Boston, and there continued his professional pursuit to the last of his days: although for several years he seldom attended courts and principally devoted himself to chambercounsel and drawing of wills and trust estates, &c., in the drafting of which he excelled. He also for several years, as an associate with the lamented Augustus Peabody, held the office of justice of the jail-delivery for the county of Suffolk. Mr. Tolman was naturally diffident, and was reluctant to put on the armor of an advocate, but he was a safe counsellor, and among litigants was a ready peacemaker.

He was married in Boston, 30 April, 1846, to Miss Elizabeth Call (born 30 May, 1808), daughter of the late Col. Jacob Stearns, of this city, by the Rev. Ephraim Peabody, D.D. His wife died 26 Nov., 1866, æt. 67, leaving only one child, a daughter, Elizabeth S., who was born 25 April, 1851. Though he entered into the conjugal state at the eleventh hour, he found himself a much happier man; for he was tenderly attached to his partner, who was a most amiable woman.

After her death his health seemed to decline; he felt, as it were, alone in his old age, and that solitude then may be too solitary; yet he seemed to linger upon the outskirts of the unseen world nearly three years.

He belonged to the fraternity of Freemasons, which he joined early in life, and sustained many high offices in that society.

July 4, 1825, as district-deputy grand-master he was deputed to lay the corner stone of the court-house in Dedham; on which was afterwards erected a beautiful granite edifice of the Doric order. He delivered an address on the occasion, which was spoken of in high terms by those who witnessed the ceremonies.

He was elected senior grand-warden of the grand lodge of Massachusetts three times in 1841, '42, and 43; and in 1848 he succeeded the lamented R. W. John J. Loring as grand treasurer, an office to which he was annually chosen until December, 1861, thirteen years.

Mr. Tolman was one of the six thousand Masons of Boston and its vicinity, who signed the eloquent declaration drawn by Charles W. Moore, Esq., protesting against the false accusations of their enemies; and he lived to see the institution again revive and become larger and more prosperous than ever.

Mr. Tolman was a member of the legislature of Massachusetts ten years. In 1849 and 1850, he was chosen a state councillor for Suffolk, under the administration of Gov. George N. Briggs. He was elected a member of this society 1 April, 1863. He was a man of great equanimity and gentleness, and a congenial companion. In all his dealings and business he was strictly upright and conscientious; ever ready to do an act of kindness and cautious in speaking of the failings of others. It was with him a fixed principle to owe no man; and in whatever concerned his domestic or personal economy he was methodical and neat to a nicety.

It has often been remarked that the taste and disposition change with the approaches of old age; and that even melancholy and moroseness are then too often seen in the wrinkles of conversation. Nearly two thousand years ago, the great Roman satirist spoke thus sadly of the ills and sorrows of longevity:

"Difficilis, querulus, laudator temporis acti

Se puero, censor castigatorque minorum."

This may be true in many cases-perhaps too often. Mr. Tolman was an exception. Life sometimes, like good wine, mellows with age. He was a man easy to please, invariably cheerful, and satisfied with the dispensations of Divine Providence. He habitually looked upon the bright side of the world; for in the complexion of his mind he was an optimist; and at no period of his life did his genial and smiling face exhibit a falling off to the dolorous lamentations or croaking fears of a pessimist. His faith was firm that our Heavenly Father will order all things, both here and hereafter, for the good of his children who look up to Him.

:

His constitution, naturally tender and delicate, began to fail toward the decline of life there was a nervous sensibility, especially in sudden changes of weather, to which he was always subject, perhaps in part from never having cultivated his mus cular powers in his youth. This rendered him feeble in frame and timid in exposure. Indeed, he was a living barometer, which rose and fell with the atmosphere, and could anticipate an east wind long before its humid influences were felt around But it seemed to be his body, not his mind, that suffered.

us.

His last sufferings were not long nor severe. His remains were conveyed to Stoughton, after funeral services were performed at St. Stephen's Church in this VOL. XXIV.

30

city, at which a number of brethren and several members of the grand lodge were present; and in Stoughton the brethren of Rising-Star lodge convened at the stationhouse, went in procession to the grave, and there paid the last honors to his memory. The obituary notice of him in the Boston Transcript, 22 June, 1869, was a happy epitome of the virtues and character of this excellent man. He was one of the most gentle and amiable of men, universally beloved and esteemed wherever he was known."

BOOK-NOTICES.

[NOTE. We regret that we are again compelled to postpone several book-notices and other articles. Our contributors will see that we are doing all we can to accommodate them, by giving a large number of extra pages in each number.—ED.]

The Stickney Family: a Genealogical Memoir of the Descendants of William and Elizabeth Stickney, from 1637 to 1869. By MATTHEW ADAMS STICKNEY. Salem, Mass.: printed for the Author.

Press, 1869. 8vo.

pp. 526.

Essex Institute

We

This volume is one to be fairly placed in the front rank of our genealogies. The record is full, the dates exact, the surmises few and apparently judicious, and in all these respects it satisfies the requirements now made for a really good family history. William Stickney, the emigrant, is believed to have been the son of William S., of Frampton, co. Lincoln, Eng., and grandson of Robert Stickney of that place. say believed, since the author does not supply the data from which this opinion was formed, and we are left in ignorance of their value. It is perhaps as well to begin with William the emigrant, who came hither with his wife and some three children, was admitted to the Boston church in 1638, and was soon after one of the first settlers at Rowley, Mass. From him has sprung a goodly progeny, of which about six thousand are recorded in this book, and for several generations Essex county seems to have been their chief residence.

As will be evident to every one who examines this record the author has been indefatigable in examining all possible sources of information, and nothing can be left to be gleaned in the fields that he has traversed.

The book is well printed and well indexed. The plan is simple and easily comprehended, though we should have preferred the adoption of that sanctioned by the REGISTER. On pp. 443-500 are entered the families descended from marriages of the daughters of Stickneys, and on following pages are brief genealogies of the families of Burpee, Davis, Fowler, and Stickneys not descended from William.

The illustrations are portraits of William, Isaac, Matthew A., Joseph Henry, John K., William, and Josiah Stickney, a representation of a monument at Rowley, and a cut of" Styckney" arms. On the point of family arms, indeed, the author is wisely guarded. He notes that a family of the name used arms at an early date, but only adds that "our emigrant ancestor may have been entitled to the same coat armour "; to which safe conclusion no one can demur. We regret slightly that the arms are so conspicuous on the covers of the book, as thereby the unwary may easily be led into pushing may into must.

W. H. W.

The Burnham Family: or Genealogical Records of the Descendants of the four Emigrants of the name, who were among the early settlers in America. By RODERICK HI. BURNHAM, Longmeadow, Mass. Hartford: press of Case, Lockwood & Co. 1869. 8vo. pp. 545.

In quite strong contrast to the Stickney genealogy above noticed will be found this record of the Burnhams. Containing about as many pages of print, this genealogy is however defective in the points for which the former deserves praise. It does not seem thorough, and the plan is extremely cumbrous. There is a great collection of valuable material, but the author seems embarrassed by his stores, and to show a lack of power to assort and arrange them properly.

Pages 57-180 are given to the descendants of Thomas Burnham, of Hartford; 181-304 those of John B., of Ipswich; 305-432 those of Thomas B., of Ipswich; 433-448 those of Robert B., of Ipswich; 419-506 to miscellaneous records; 507-519

to the Burnham Estate; and a number of indices complete the volume. The author without any evidence terms these three Ipswich settlers, brothers; he may be right, but the chances are against him. The Connecticut family seems to be clearly distinct.

A noticeable peculiarity of this volume is the extent to which it is pervaded by the "estate" fable. At brief intervals throughout the book the reader lights upon paragraphs relating to a vast estate in England belonging to the American Burnhams. It is the old nauseating trash so familiar to us in a score of other family histories. From thirty to forty millions of pounds sterling await the claimants, and only one little link wanting. The family, however, seems to lack the easy credulity of the Ingraham heirs, and as yet have not obtained so thrilling an account of the efforts made to suppress the all-important evidence. If, however, they are fools enough to provide the money, no doubt agents can be found to spend it for them. We have to notice a decline in this form of mania, but we must still tell any intending author of genealogies that such nonsense is out of date and out of place, and subjects the book in which it is published to the suspicion of inaccuracy throughout.

We regret that we cannot give a better account of this genealogy, but the standard is now so high that something more than industry and zeal are required to make as good a history as some now extant.

W. H. W.

The Descendants of Joseph Loomis, who came from Braintree, Eng., in the year 1638, and settled in Windsor, Conn., in 1639. By ELIAS LOOMIS, LL.D., Professor of Natural Philosophy and Astronomy in Yale College. New-Haven: Tuttle, Moorhouse & Taylor, 221 State-Street. 1870. 8vo. pp. 292.

This is a clear catalogue of those of the name of Loomis descended from Joseph Loomis. It is shown that the emigrant came from Braintree in 1638 in the Susan and Ellen of London, Edward Payne, Mr., by the deposition of a fellow passenger, Joseph Hills of Charlestown, aged about 36 in 1639. There is also a letter written from Braintree in 1651, by William Lyngwood to his "cousin Clark" of Hartford, mentioning the writer's cousins Loomis and Cullick "and the rest of my cousins and friends there with you."

There is no attempt at biography in the volume, but the dates are given with exactness and the index is large and well arranged. It is a good example of the simplest and most necessary form of a family history.

W. H. W.

By HENRY MARVIN Bene1870. 8vo. pp. 474.

The Genealogy of the Benedicts in America. DICT. Albany: Joel Munsell, 82 State-St. Another large, and we are happy to say valuable, addition to our library claims attention. The Benedicts are fortunate in having found a worthy chronicler of their history, and the author is to be congratulated on having prepared a book which will long be remembered to his credit.

The ancestor of these Benedicts was Thomas B. of Norwalk, Conn., who died in 1690, aged about 73. A tradition of early date, better substantiated than usual, says that for three generations previously the family line had been through only sons, each named William, and that their residence has been Nottinghamshire. It is added that Thomas's father married secondly a widow Bridgum, and that the emigrant was accompanied to this country by his step-sister Mary Bridgum, whom he afterwards married. From this marriage proceeded five sons and four daughters. The sons were Thomas, jr., John, Samuel, James and Daniel, to the descendants of each of whom a section is herein given, though the largest part by far is devoted to the offspring of John.

The plan adopted is that familiar to the readers of the REGISTER, the heads of families being numbered and the exponential figure of the generation added to the name. The index is large and the typography excellent. The illustrations are portraits of Rev. Abner, Rev. Henry, Rev. Joel, Seth W., George W., Charles L., Robert D., Erastus C., Abner, George B., Abner R., Erastus C., Adin W., O. W., Farrand N., William B., Joel T., Abner, Lewis, Lewis, Jesse W., Coleman, George A., Aaron, Z. Russell, James, and Charles Benedict.

The biographical sketches are numerous and well written, and give convincing proof that the Benedict family has contained an unusual number of members who have been men of culture and marked intellectual ability.

We would especially praise the introduction as containing some very sensible and well expressed views on the importance of genealogical inquiries.

W. H. W.

Root Genealogical Records, 1600-1870. Comprising the General History of the Root and Roots Families in America. By JAMES PIErce Root. New York: R. C. Root, Anthony & Co., 62 Liberty-St. 1870. 8vo. pp. 533.

This handsome volume, issued by Munsell, is deserving of the same praise as the preceding work. It is well printed, well arranged, and contains an immense collection of facts of interest to the family. The first portion, pp. 43-90, relates to the Rootes family of Salem, represented first by three brothers, Thomas, Richard, and Josiah (to which probably Joshua R. of the same town is to be added), but which was continued only in the line of Josiah's children. This Josiah came in the Hercules in 1634, being an emigrant from Great Chart, co. Kent. The genealogy enumerates 328 descendants.

The next portion, pp. 91–315, is given to those by the name of Roote (without the terminal s), descended from Thomas Roote of Hartford, who is thought to have been born at Badby, in Northamptonshire. Pp. 314-508 contains the records of the progeny of John Roote of Farmington, who is supposed to have been a brother of Thomas. Miscellaneous notes and large indices complete the volume.

The English affiliation is perhaps the weakest part of the book, and we wonder that a family willing to have so good a history prepared, should not have made the comparatively slight expenditure necessary to follow out the clue given.

We repeat that this is a genealogy of the first class, and one we may add hardly to be paralleled out of New-England.

W. H. W.

An Account of the Ancestors and Descendants of John Lardner Clark and Sophia Marion Ross, who were married 1st August, 1797. By CLIFFORD STANLEY SIMS. Prescott, Canada: P. Byrne, printer. 1870. 8vo. pp. 11. This pamphlet is of limited scope, as the title indicates. The Clark pedigree is traced to Thomas C. of Guilford, Conn., an early settler. The Ross family, however, is one of more recent transplanting, being descended from Dr. Alexander Ross, who emigrated to Mount Holly, New Jersey, and died in 1780.

W. H. W

The Gilpin Family, from Richard de Guylpyn in 1206, in a line to Joseph Gilpin, the emigrant to America. With a Notice of the West Family, who likewise emigrated. 1870. 8vo. pp. 12.

This curious little pamphlet is signed by J. Painter, of Lima, Del. co., Pa., and evidently was printed in some local office. Joseph Gilpin, a Quaker, came to Pennsylvania in 1695 and founded the family here. We do not understand how he is connected with the English family of the name, and we hope that the author will hereafter give his authority. The records of the Society of Friends seem peculiarly full of personal narratives, and we are therefore willing to presume that in this case the inexperience of the author, rather than a lack of evidence, is the cause of the meagre account.

W. H. W.

A Contribution to the Genealogy of the Stafford Family in America; containing an Account of Col. Joab Stafford, and a complete Record of his Descendants in the male lines. By HENRY MARVIN BENEDICT. Albany: Joel Munsell, 1870. 8vo. pp. 27.

Col. Joab Stafford was born in 1729, and was great-grandson of the emigrant ancestor, Thomas Stafford, of Providence and Warwick, R. I. The record of his descendants is carefully prepared and deserves proportionately the praise bestowed on the Benedict genealogy. It is accompanied by a portrait of Spencer Stafford, a son of Col. Joab, and one of the most prominent citizens of Albany, for many years, and is illustrated with several wood cuts.

A notice at the end mentions that a history of the family is being prepared by Martin H. Stafford, whose address is P. O. box, No. 2836, New York city. w. H. W. Memoirs of the Long-Island Historical Society. Volume II. The Battle of Long-Island; with preceding and subsequent events. Brooklyn, N. Y.: Published by the Society. 1869. 8vo. pp. xiv., x. and 549. The Long-Island Historical Society gives ample evidence of the enterprise and ability with which its affairs are conducted, and its publications are valuable contributions to American history. The volume, whose general title is given above,

is from the press of Munsell, and is of course well printed. It is devoted to a collection of the chief original documents bearing upon events connected with the battle of Long-Island, and these are preceded by an extended introductory narrative from the pen of Mr. Thomas W. Fields, one of the directors of the Society. The volume is entitled to more than ordinary notice, not only for its intrinsic value, but for the temper and style in which the writer has performed his work.

This battle has received special notice from most of our historians, and yet its discussion has generally been unsatisfactory to the critical student of our military history; mainly so for the reason that the materials for compiling a full and accurate narrative are meagre, especially in the matter of official reports; to which should be added the fact, that it is but recently that the topography of the scene of operations has been thoroughly understood.

Mr. Field has introduced into his narrative the most material facts, and writes in flowing, animated and clear language. He is familiar with the scene of the events which he describes, and, having a perfect understanding of what he wishes to say, has no difficulty in making his meaning obvious to the reader. He does not betray evidence that he is advocating a pre-conceived theory; nor is he of that class of writers who deliberately sacritice candor, or the truth, in order to point an epigram or create a sensation; or, who manifestly delight to invade the repose of the dead (whose swords most fortunately for such writers are forever sheathed), that they may filch away some badge of merit for the adornment of a favorite hero.

The narrative begins with the first meeting of a few loyal citizens of Long-Island, in 1774, to consider the alarming aspect of public affairs, and ends with the retreat of the American forces in 1776. We have been particularly interested in the author's recital of the history of the attempts made to bring the loyal portion of the inhabitants into sympathy and cooperation with revolutionary measures elsewhere; also, with his account of the expeditions, under the authority of the provincial congress of New-York, against the loyalists, and of the partizan warfare which ensued a warfare exceeding in bitterness and malignity that which occurred any where else in the colonies, unless the Carolinas be excepted.

This preliminary survey is essential to a full understanding of influences that entered largely into the subsequent events on Long-Island.

In this connection, the author vindicates the memory of these loyalists from much of the odium that, partly from design and partly from ignorance of the facts, has been so systematically heaped upon them. We thank him for his candor-we had almost said his bravery-in doing this. Let the fanatical or shallow mouthers of cheap stump-ratory continue to rail at the American loyalists, and at those who would do them simple justice, if they will. But let our historians have the courage and manliness to tell the truth, and the whole truth. In doing this they will be compelled to acknowledge that a large class of honest and honorable citizens dared to be loyal to their king, in spite of persecution and cruelties practised, in many instances by irresponsible parties, who made their profession of patriotism too often but the cloak under which to conceal their base purposes; in spite, too, of social ostracism and the loss of worldly possessions. They preferred the government, under which they and their fathers had so long lived in peace and prosperity, to the rule of untried men, some of the most active of whom, they alleged, were but place-hunters, who clamored loudly about oppression of personal rights and of property-rights which they would have been at a loss to define, and property which could not have been readily found by the tax-gatherer-and who, it was further alleged, would have compromised for all their wrongs by a seat in parliament, or by a local office.

The writer's account of the course of events following the landing of the British forces, including the battles of Flatbush, Gowanus and Brooklyn, and of the siege that followed, is characterized by the same clearness and fulaess of statement which we have already remarked.

The felicitous manner in which he describes the retreat of the vanquished forces, and his sketch of the character and heroic death of Gen. Woohull, are also particularly worthy of notice. Nor ought we to omit to call attention to his account of the soldierly and patriotic conduct of private John Callender. The latter, it will be recollected, was tried June 27, 1775, for cowardice at the battle of Bunker's Hill (so called), where he served as captain of artillery, and was found guilty. The finding and sentence were approved by Gen. Washington, July 7th, and Callender was "cashiered." He at once enlisted as a private, and by his bravery in the battle of Long-Island won for himself the special approbation of the commander-in-chief, and a restoration to rank. Such a result may well make VOL. XXIV. 30*