This work continues the series of books about Maryland families. The author, already known for his work on the Fry, Fulks, Hines, Hurley, King, Lowder, Maddox, Niekirk, Pratt, Soper, Walker, and Watkins families, now turns his attention to the Burdette families. This book is primarily a study of the descendants of Benjamin Burdette and Benjamin Burdette Sr., who are not a father-and-son pair. In the same manner as the earlier Maryland Heritage books, this book begins with a look at the early history of the Maryland Colony, and the formation of the counties. The book is divided into four basic segments. In Chapters 1 through 5, it presents a study of the descendants of Benjamin Burdette, who died in 1833. In Chapters 6 through 8, it presents a study of Benjamin Burdette Sr., who also died in 1833. The third segment begins with Chapter 9, which gives descendants of John Burdette, who was born c. 1796. In Chapter 10, there is a brief discussion of the family of one Perry G. Burdette, born c. 1849. In Chapter 11 is described the family of Greenbury W. Burdette, born c. 1818. Each of these latter three chapters contain families who are probably related to one or the other of the principal Burdette lineages in chapters 1-8, but are not now proven to be. It is at least proven that some of their descendants intermarried with some of the other family members. Chapter 12 presents information discovered during research about a number of other Burdette family members who have not yet been placed within the framework of the groups under study in the first three segments of the text. A bibliography of about seventy-five titles testifies to the wide range of sources used in this compilation, and an every-name index supplies about 3,600 names. This book would be a welcome head start for anyone researching the Burdette surname in this area.
