Descendants of George Abbott of Rowley, Mass. - Genealogy

In this review of Descendants of George Abbott, of Rowley, Mass., the reviewer finds a focused genealogy resource aimed at family historians and local history researchers. The book is a classic reprint of Lemuel Abijah Abbott's compilation and its single biggest reason to buy is the concentrated family data and historical notations it preserves; this edition pulls together entries about births, deaths, education and careers that are useful for tracing lineage. For researchers seeking primary-name references and concise ancestral notes, this work is a practical reference rather than a general history.

Key Features

• Comprehensive family listings: The reprint gathers joint descendants of George Abbott of Rowley and George Abbott Sr. of Andover in one place, making cross-referencing easier.
• Condensed biographical notes: Short entries note life events such as those who "died young" or "deceased," allowing quick assessment of generational outcomes.
• Educational and professional clues: Mentions like Dartmouth College and Doctor of Dental Surgery give leads for further institutional research.
• Historical context cues: Words such as America and Confederate States provide temporal anchors for branching family timelines.
• Classic reprint format: Reproduces older genealogical compilation style useful to those who want original wording and phrasing.
• Reference-friendly layout: The compact presentation is suited to indexing and note-taking for genealogy projects.

Who It's For

This book is best for genealogists, local historians, and descendants who are tracing the Abbott family lines in Massachusetts. Its value is strongest for researchers who already have some names or dates and need a source that lists relatives, brief life details, and institutional ties in a straightforward, reprinted form.

It is less suitable for readers seeking narrative family histories, richly sourced citations, or modern interpretive context; those users should look for annotated genealogies or recent scholarship with fuller footnotes and archival references.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Consolidates descendants of two Abbott branches into one reference for easier comparison.
• Includes succinct notes on death, education and profession that point to additional records.
• Classic reprint preserves original phrasing valuable to historians wanting contemporaneous language.
• Compact format works well as a quick reference on a researcher shelf.

Cons

• Entries are brief and lack modern citation detail, so additional verification is usually required.
• The reprint style may not include updated corrections or expanded context found in newer studies.

Specifications

Title	Descendants of George Abbott, of Rowley, Mass., Vol. 1
Author	Lemuel Abijah Abbott
Edition	Classic reprint
Subject	Genealogy / Family history
Geographic focus	Rowley and Andover, Massachusetts
Notable entries	References to Dartmouth College and Doctor of Dental Surgery
Common notes	Contains entries like "died young" and "deceased"

Our Verdict

For anyone researching the Abbott family or building a New England pedigree, this reprint offers useful, compact entries and preserved original wording that often lead to archival records. It is good value as a reference volume when used alongside primary documents and modern annotated works, but researchers should be prepared to follow up on citations that are not fully detailed in the text.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this edition include modern annotations?
Answer. This classic reprint reproduces original content and generally does not add modern annotations or expanded citations.

Is it useful for tracing birth and death details?
Answer. Yes; the entries note births and deaths and often flag cases such as "died young," providing leads for vital records searches.

Will the book help find educational or professional records?
Answer. Answer. Mentions like Dartmouth College and Doctor of Dental Surgery offer starting points for institutional record searches, but further research is needed.