Genealogical Gleanings in England (Volume I)
By Henry F. Waters AM
INTRODUCTION
The efforts made by the New England Historic Genealogical Society, through its Committee on English Research, to procure funds sufficient to enable it to make an exhaustive search of the English Records, on a plan never before attempted, for everything which concerns the family history of the early settlers of this country; its great good fortune in securing the services of the eminent antiquary, Henry FitzGilbert Waters; his peculiar qualifications for the task, and the superiority of the method adopted by him, are all set forth in the New England Historical AND Genealogical Register for July, 1883.
Mr. Waters sailed for England May 5, 1883, and at once entered upon his great work. The step thus taken was a most important one, and marked a new departure in genealogical research. The notes printed in the Register for July, 1883, were the results of Mr. Waters's first few days' work among the records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Somerset House, London. They arrived here barely in time for publication in that number of the Register, and were a foretaste of what was to come. Before a twelvemonth had passed he had accumulated a vast amount of historical and genealogical material, including abstracts of more than six hundred wills relating to American families, and he has since then industriously added to his invaluable collections, until they are now unequalled both in extent and in importance.
Some of the results of his researches, under the title of "Genealogical Gleanings in England," have been given to the public in the "New England Historical and Genealogical Register," the organ of the Society. It has now been deemed advisable to reprint some of these "Gleanings" in a form more convenient for reference. The present volumes include the various instalments published in the Register from July, 1883, to January, 1899, inclusive.
In addition to these genealogical researches, Mr. Waters has made historical discoveries of the highest value. We owe to him the finding of the Winthrop map and the Maverick MS, two of the most important contributions made in our day to our early colonial history. These discoveries excited great attention among historical students, not only in this country, but also in England.
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