"Lineage tells the story of genealogy's attraction and power, for individuals and families and institutions alike, in 18th century British America. In early America people produced a profusion of information about their family connections, often because they were moved to write or create genealogies but also because they were required to by their church or their local government or a court. They created all manner of textual genealogies on sheets and scraps of bound and loose paper, in account books and in the blank pages and margins of printed books, but also in images and using material from silk threads to stone carving. The power in family connections was governmental, legal, and religious, as well as cultural and social, echoing the structures of Britain itself- but in the American context it also structured slavery and freedom in which, despite the patriarchy of law and society, children's status was determined by their mother's. The twin forces of intimate meaning and instrumental purpose made genealogy in British America distinctly potent. In archives from across British America, from Georgia to Maine, the importance of genealogy is clear through family records, private and public material culture, court records, and more, created by people across the socio-economic spectrum, from enslaved people seeking freedom as well as "founding fathers" seeking status. While the American Revolution wrought change in American society, it did not change the signal importance of genealogy. Genealogy and the logic of lineage was a legacy from the colonial period that would continue to mark the United States in its early history and beyond. Understanding the deep history of genealogy helps us to better understand foundational features of American history"-- Provided by publisher.
Lineage offers a deep understanding of genealogy as a foundational element of American history, illuminating its vital role from the colonial era through the birth of the nation.
In eighteenth-century America, genealogy was more than a simple record of family ties--it was a powerful force that shaped society. Lineage delves into an era where individuals, families, and institutions meticulously documented their connections. Whether driven by personal passion or mandated by churches, local governments, and courts, these records appeared in diverse forms-from handwritten notes and account books to intricate silk threads and enduring stone carvings.
Family connections wielded significant influence across governmental, legal, religious, cultural, and social spheres. In the American context, these ties also defined the boundaries of slavery and freedom, with a child's status often determined by their mother, despite the prevailing patriarchy. This book reveals the profound importance of genealogy that was chronicled by family records, cultural artifacts, and court documents. These materials, created by both enslaved individuals seeking freedom and founding fathers seeking status, demonstrate the culturally and historically specific nature of genealogical interest.
Even as the American Revolution transformed society, the significance of genealogy endured. The legacy of lineage from the colonial period continued to shape the early United States, underscoring the enduring importance of family connections. Lineage offers a deep understanding of genealogy as a foundational element of American history, illuminating its vital role from the colonial era through the birth of the nation.
