"It’s been fun, time consuming but if compiling all this information helps someone find which branch of the family tree they came from, then it has been worth it."
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Research of Family Names: Book One by Joyce Sutton Trafford Publishing
book review by K.R. Mecom
The inception of Joyce Sutton's Research of Family Names began with a simple story that she had always been told; the story of how her forefathers had served in the American Revolution. Wanting to discover the truth to this story, Sutton set off on a journal to trace her family history. This first book focuses on Sutton's side of the family as well as her husband's side, Robert Sutton. Through meticulous research, Sutton traces the surnames Cramer, Watson, Husted, Levick, and Sutton. There are a wide range of various documents that Sutton uses in her research including pension forms, marriage and death certificates, photographs, military records, and birth certificates.
While the information found in the book is thorough, it is sometimes hard to understand exactly what one is looking at. On the whole, the book could have benefited from more explanation about what the documents are and what information they are showing. There no commentary from Sutton about the records and information she is presenting her reader, which can leave one at times lost in the genealogical records and family histories. On the whole, the book would be more successful if there was more clarification from Sutton about what the documents mean and what family information they give. However, if your family is a Cramer, a Watson, or even a Sutton, this book is sure to guide you through the depths of your own history. Sutton has done all the work for you with her research. This book would be an invaluable source to you if you share a family line with Sutton. But even if you don't, Sutton's book could show one what to look for if they were searching through their own family history.