by Joel Munsell's Sons (Author)

This is a richly informative, multi-volume encyclopedia of genealogical reference, the first of its kind produced in America, and it contains the pedigrees of 7,500 persons resident in the United States in the nineteenth century who trace their lineage to a colonial ancestor. Indeed, the Munsells' stated purpose in compiling the work was to "record for all time many important facts in the history of families which would otherwise be lost."