Source:Slafter, Edmund Farwell. Memorial of John Slafter

Full Title

Memorial of John Slafter: with a genealogical account of his descendants, including eight generations

Description

A privately printed book documenting the first eight generations of the Slafter family in America, starting from John Slafter, who came to America about 1680, first settling in Lynn, MA where he had ten children. Sometime about 1710 the family moved to the Tolland County, CT area, where John lived at least until 1739 and as late as 1754. The Slafter name was carried on by three sons, although the line of one of the three modified the name to Slater.

The author, the Rev. Edmund F. Slafter, born in 1816, is a great-great-grandson of the original immigrant John Slafter. He seems a very diligent and methodical genealogist, being clear about what he does not know, and laying out the evidence for/against on points where he is uncertain.

Contents

The book has the following contents:

• Introduction. includes discussion of Slafter surname possible origins and variants.
• John Slafter bio. about 3-1/2 pages.
• Eight generations. 132pp. some 3577 descendants are documented (plus over 1000 spouses), in an interlocking numerical report that facilitates tracing up and down between generations. for most entries, the brief genealogical vitals are given. in many cases, interesting brief biographical notes are added. for one particular descendant, John Slafter (1739-1811), described as a "typical New England pioneer", a 9-page biography is given.
• Shafter family. 3pp on the family of James Shafter, and the circumstantial evidence suggesting that he may have been the "missing" tenth child of John Slafter.
• List of college graduates among the descendants.
• Honor roll of war veterans among the descendants.
• Indexes: (I) of Slafters by given name, (II) of descendants in the female line by surname, and (III) of those who married into the family, by surname, given name

There are also several lengthy footnotes providing detailed ancestries of several maternal lines, including Fenton, Seaver, Johnson, Hazen, Bullard, and Sumner. Generally, the lineage to an original colonial immigrant ancestor is provided.

Rev. E.F. Slafter

• residence of Dea. John Slafter (image)
• portrait of John-G Saxe, LL.D.
• the old parsonage, residence of Sylvester Slafter (image)
• portrait of Rev. Edmund F. Slafter (the author)

Usage Tips

The book was privately printed for the family. Today it is available from a variety of sources:

• On microfilm: FHL film number 1425612 Item 5. May be ordered through the nearest Family History Center.
• Online images: on ancestry.com (may require paid subscription)
• Spiral-bound photo-reproduction: printed on demand, for purchase from Quintin Publications, item# S18