THE NEW ENGLAND Bibliopolist, OR NOTICES OF BOOKS ON American History, Biography. Genealogy, &c. EDITED BY JOHN WARD DEAN, A.M. VOLUME VII. 1892-1893. BOSTON : PRINTED BY DAVID CLAPP & SON. 1893. JAN 18 1892 BRARY The New England Bibliopolist: Published quarterly by the New-England Historic Genealogical Society, at 18 Somerset st., Boston, Mass. Price 25 cts. a year, or 10 cts. a number. Entered at the Post-Office, Boston, Mass., as second-class mail-matter. BOOK NOTICES. [THE Editor requests persons sending books for notice to state, for the information of readers, the price of each book, with the amount to be added for postage when sent by mail.] Records of the First Church at Dorchester in New England: 1636-1734. Boston, Mass.: George H. Ellis, 141 Franklin Street. 1891. 8vo. pp. xxvi.+ 270. Price $3. This volume is issued in pursuance of a vote of the Church in July, 1888, to print its first manuscript volume of records. It is a welcome addition to the resources of the historian and the genealogist. The committee charged with the work consisted of the pastor, the three deacons, Rev. S. J. Barrows and Mr. William B. Trask, who are members of the Church. The preparation of the principal preface or introduction, which is an important and highly interesting part of the book, was assigned to the two gentlemen named. The publication is in fulfilment of a purpose long entertained, and which, from time to time, has had prompting and encouragement on the part of others not connected with the Church, who appreciated the great, and, possibly, in some particulars, unique value of these ancient records as historical data. A favorable moment appeared in an opportunity to obtain a competent transcriber having both the time and zeal requisite for the patience-testing, and in some respects perplexing, task. 66 The transcriber is Rev. Charles H. Pope of Kennebunkport, Me., who though not immediately identified with the Church is so at the second remove, it having been the church of his ancestors from the first settlement of the town. The fidelity of his labors will be recognized by all who are in any degree familiar with the original volume. The extent of these labors is not quite indicated by the title of copyist," which he assumes in his brief and pertinent preface. The reading of the final proof sheets, with constant reference to the original page, and the preparation of a complete index of names, a general index and an index of places, are comprised in the services rendered. The literary part of the preface proper, or introduction, is the work of Rev. Mr. Barrows, who had the assistance of Mr. Trask in the researches necessary for the presentation of the statistics pertaining to local history. |