The Channel Islands, primarily Guernsey and Jersey, contributed greatly to the influx of immigrants to the American colonies and the young United States, but the Island emigrants generally receive little attention from genealogists as a distinct ethnic group.
In the beginning, they contributed important fishing and ship-building skills, but now their descendants are found in all walks of life. They were so numerous, and so widely dispersed among the colonies, that it is probably safe to say that most American families, that have been here for three or four generations, have some roots in the Channel Islands.
This work contains interesting and useful background information on the Islands and Islanders, including maps, lists of Island surnames by state, etc. The bulk of the work is a genealogical dictionary which identifies thousands of known (or probable) Channel Island immigrants to America, and some of their descendants.
There is also a section with brief sketches of people well-known in American history who had Channel Island roots: Sir Edmund Andros, John Bertram (merchant), General Sir Isaac Brock, the Cabots of Boston, Sir George Carteret, Buffalo Bill Cody, Philippe Langlois (Phillip English), Deming Jarves, Lillie Langtry, William N. Le Page (remember his glue?), John Wesley Masury (paint manufacturer), Nathaniel Messerve (ship builder), Paul Revere, Henry David Thoreau.
This is a reprint of the 1984 edition, updated with six pages of corrections and additions.
